Chapter 228

"Oh dear, that Thomas Bright is truly despicable..."

Amy Bright listened to the murmurs around her, a faint smile playing on her lips. She deliberately put on a pitiful expression, her voice barely above a whisper. "My uncle has always been kind to me. He even shares food with Grandma..."

"Pah!" Someone in the crowd spat in disgust.

"If Thomas is filial, then there's no such thing as an unfilial person in our brigade!"

"Everyone knows he's a lazy good-for-nothing. Now he's even scheming against his own niece?"

Helen Carter, the women's director, sighed inwardly. This girl was too naive, still defending those who bullied her.

John Stone Sr., the brigade leader, frowned deeply. "Take her home, then go have a word with Thomas. Tell him if he dares lay a finger on Amy again, he and his wife will be hauling manure next year!"

He remembered clearly how the Bright siblings had fought like cats and dogs when Amy's parents passed away.

"Understood," Helen nodded. "I'll go right away. Demanding money from a niece to marry off their own son—what kind of nonsense is that?"

Amy continued murmuring about her uncles' kindness, how they'd kept her and her brother from starving all these years. Now it was time to repay them.

"Uncle took everything from our house... but he's family..." Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head.

This only fueled the crowd's anger. Grandma Bright was the true elder, yet Thomas shamelessly robbed his own niece!

Helen escorted Amy home, comforting her along the way. Then she marched straight to Thomas's house.

"Thomas Bright!"

"Director Carter! What brings you here?" Thomas's heart sank. Had that wretched girl tattled on him?

"I'm warning you—stay away from Amy! If anything happens to her, you'll answer to me first!"

With that, Helen stormed off.

Thomas and his wife Nancy exchanged uneasy glances.

"That brat went to the brigade leader?" Thomas's face darkened.

"She must have!" Nancy hissed through gritted teeth. "We've already taken the betrothal money—what do we do now?"

"I'll find out." Nancy hurried out.

Villagers shot her contemptuous looks along the way.

"Some people have no shame!"

"Thick-skinned, that's what they are!"

Nancy stomped her foot in frustration. That ungrateful girl—they were doing her a favor finding her a decent match!

"Girls have to marry eventually. We're doing her a kindness!" she seethed inwardly. "Wretched orphan—no wonder her parents died!"