Chapter 180

After dinner, David and Tommy quickly cleared the dishes. Emily Johnson emerged from the house with a mysterious air, holding several items: a yellowed dictionary, a brand-new pencil sharpener, a few sharpened pencils, and a colorful Rubik's Cube.

"Come see what I've prepared for you," Emily said with a smile, beckoning them over.

"The dictionary was salvaged from the recycling station—you can't buy this at the Supply & Market. The other things were either bought there or from a traveling peddler."

Tommy curiously picked up the Rubik's Cube. "Mom, what's this?"

"It's called a Rubik's Cube," Emily replied, taking it and giving it a quick twist. "See? You can turn it like this. The goal is to scramble it and then solve it so that each side has the same color."

She then expertly demonstrated how to sharpen a pencil, wood shavings falling away to reveal a fine point.

"Mom, these must have cost a lot, right?" David asked worriedly. With their father away, where had she gotten the money?

"Not much," Emily reassured him, ruffling his hair. "Starting today, I want you both to practice your handwriting. When school starts next year, I’ll send you both to class."

The two boys, too embarrassed by their yellowed tongues to go outside, busied themselves—one diligently practicing writing, the other engrossed in the Rubik's Cube, occasionally swapping tasks. The puzzle toy had completely captured their attention.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted next door at George Lee's house.

The widow's in-laws stormed in, demanding repayment of a debt, showing no regard for the fact that the Lee family had just lost their daughter.

"Three hundred dollars! Not a penny less!" the widow's mother-in-law bellowed, hands on her hips.

George Lee puffed on his pipe, unfazed. "Go ahead, make a scene! Your daughter-in-law committed adultery. If this goes to the commune, both she and my son will end up in jail!"

He exhaled a smoke ring. "I’ve looked into it—if someone in the family serves time, their descendants won’t be allowed to attend school!"

His words doused the in-laws' fury like cold water. In the end, with the mediation of the brigade leader, the Lee family settled the matter by paying a hundred dollars.

Not long after, the ex-wife's family of Jack Lee also came to cause trouble. They smashed up the Lee household in a rage but stopped short of actually sending Jack to jail.

The widow, now cast out by her in-laws, simply moved into the Lee home and began living with Jack.

"Emily! Emily!" A frantic knock came at the door.

Emily opened it to find Daisy Miller, the neighbor, her face alight with gossipy excitement.

"Come in, have a seat," Emily greeted warmly.

Daisy lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Emily, guess what? Someone spotted Margaret Lee in town!"

"What?" Emily's hand jerked, nearly knocking over the sugar jar. "But didn’t they say she drowned?"

She quickly poured Daisy a cup of sugar water, making sure it was generously sweetened.

"Oh, Emily, you’re too kind," Daisy protested, though her eyes lingered on the sweet-smelling drink, eager to share this shocking piece of news.