Chapter 130

Ethan clutched the crumpled ten-yuan bill, his fingers trembling slightly. To him, this money meant survival.

"Sister-in-law, I'll remember your kindness." Ethan's voice choked with emotion. He knew Emily was protecting him.

Ten yuan—enough to make that greedy sister-in-law of his ache for quite some time. At least she'd stay quiet this winter.

Just as he stepped out of the Stone family compound, he nearly collided with Michael returning with firewood on his shoulder.

"Third Brother..." Ethan hung his head like a guilty child.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"

Inside, David and Tommy had already chattered about the incident. After hearing the story, Michael smirked coldly. "Serves her right."

That ten yuan would surely keep that woman awake at night with regret.

True enough, Ethan's sister-in-law lay moaning on the kang, skipping lunch entirely. His brother squatted by the door smoking his pipe while their two sons huddled silently in a corner.

"That girl came by earlier," Emily said while knitting. "I asked her to help with this sweater and gave her some patterned fabric as payment."

Michael wasn't surprised. Before her memory loss, his wife could barely hold a needle—no way she'd suddenly master knitting now.

"Amy Bright—that's the name Samuel gave his sister." Michael sighed. "Poor kid."

Emily's hands stilled. Amy Bright? That name appeared in the original story!

Suddenly she remembered: come spring, Amy would be tricked by human traffickers and disappear without a trace. In those times, the fate of abducted girls was unthinkable.

"Sweetheart?" Michael noticed Emily had gone pale.

Emily snapped out of it and changed the subject. "Ethan's still wearing thin clothes and straw sandals. How will he survive winter? He brought some yams today, so I gave him half a pound of noodles."

Michael's expression darkened. Why did his wife keep worrying about other men?

"Mountain kids are tough like that," he said, a hint of jealousy in his tone. "Ethan's resilient—won't freeze to death."

Emily didn't press further. She knew supplies were scarce these days, cotton especially precious. She'd keep watching—if things got dire, she'd find a way to help.

Since that night they'd shared a bed, Michael had permanently moved into the main room. Their days passed quietly yet warmly.

Soon, the new houses for Robert and William's families were complete. On moving day, both households threw lively feasts.

Emily arrived bearing gifts—a bag of sugar and two pounds of dried noodles for each family. By village standards, this was exceptionally generous.

"Oh, sister-in-law, you're too kind!" Elizabeth Stone beamed, clasping Emily's hands with praise.

Patricia Stone insisted they stay for dinner. Surrounded by both families, Emily maintained a polite smile throughout.

Only Michael noticed how his wife's gaze kept drifting toward the courtyard—where Ethan sat against the wall in his threadbare clothes, chewing on a cold bun.