Chapter 17

"Richard bullied David! He tore his new clothes and made him bleed!"

William Stone was working in the field when he heard the news. He threw down his hoe and ran home. Without a word, he grabbed a broom and started beating Richard, making the boy howl in pain.

Patricia tried to intervene, but her father-in-law John Sr. barked, "Let him teach the boy a lesson!"

Robert and Elizabeth watched coldly. They remembered clearly how often their nephew had bullied their own children.

After the beating, Richard cried himself to sleep without dinner. Patricia wiped her tears, the bruises from Emily's beating still aching on her body.

"I won't swallow this insult!" Patricia gritted her teeth. "When Michael comes back, I'll—"

"Shut up!" William glared. "Have you forgotten how he dealt with us last time?"

Patricia immediately fell silent. She still remembered the beating from last year when Richard stole food from David and Michael caught them. When she complained, Michael avoided her—only to beat her husband later.

"That wretched..." Patricia muttered under her breath.

"Who told them to show off with new clothes when it's not even a holiday?" Patricia fumed. With the limited fabric rations, every family struggled to make ends meet.

Meanwhile, Emily frowned at the eggplants in her kitchen.

"What should I cook for lunch?" she murmured to herself. Noodles? Dumplings? But where would she get meat? The children were young but sharp-eyed.

She decided on braised eggplants with two fried eggs over noodles.

"Mommy, I'm hungry..." Tommy rubbed his belly. Though he'd eaten well at breakfast and had milk powder with cake earlier, his stomach growled again.

David took his brother's hand. "Let's go find Mommy."

The two tiptoed into the kitchen where Emily was busy cooking.

"Mommy..." Tommy called timidly.

Emily turned and her heart melted at the sight of her two little boys. "Why aren't you napping?"

"I'll help with the fire," David said, expertly squatting by the stove.

Emily felt warmth in her chest. "What would you like to eat?"

"Meat!" Tommy's eyes sparkled. "Tommy loves meat best!"

Emily couldn't help but smile. Who didn't crave meat these days?

"And you, David?"

"Anything that fills my stomach," the boy whispered.

Emily's nose stung. His maturity broke her heart.

"Remember," she knelt down seriously, "you mustn't tell anyone about our milk powder and cakes. What if people come to take them away?"

Tommy immediately covered his mouth, his big eyes darting around. David nodded solemnly, his small face tense.

Just then, the courtyard gate burst open—

"Emily Johnson! Get out here now!"