Free Web NovelChapter 358: Chapter 358: Unsung Hero
"Vernon Spann isn’t a Golding! Even if you use clan law, it doesn’t apply to him. Jethro Golding, are you trying to kill him to shut him up?"
The same voice from before cried out again, its source indistinct. Jethro Golding’s dark gaze swept across the area, trying to find the person who was opposing him at every turn. But below was a dark sea of people, and it felt like anyone could be a suspect.
On the verge of death, Vernon Spann managed to force his eyes open, just in time to see Jethro Golding’s vicious expression. His heart sank and a cold sweat broke out. ’I can’t die,’ he thought. ’I still have to go back to the city and live a good life.’
’That old bastard really doesn’t pull his punches!’
Vernon Spann gritted his teeth. He would remember this.
"I’m not part of your Golding family! By what right do I have to suffer your family’s clan law!"
Using the last of his strength, Vernon Spann rolled to one side, dodging a whip. His wounds scraped against the sand and stones on the ground, the pain so intense he nearly went to meet his maker. The anonymous voice had reminded him—he didn’t have to take these lashes at all. Damn it!
Phoebe Huxley’s eyes lit up. She yelled at the top of her lungs, "Vernon Spann didn’t marry into the family! His surname is Spann! What right do you Goldings have to whip him? If you’re going to whip someone, whip that hussy Phoenix Golding!"
"That’s right! The Golding family’s whips should be used on Golding family members. Why whip an outsider!"
"There are still four lashes left! Don’t tell us you’ve run out of strength again, Jethro!"
...
More and more people started shouting, all of them unhappy with Jethro Golding’s obvious favoritism. There were even members of the Golding family among them. After all, Phoenix Golding’s actions had harmed the interests of the entire village this time. Everyone wished they could beat her up themselves.
Preston Thorne was secretly pleased. He felt immense gratitude toward the unsung hero speaking from the shadows. He stopped Jethro Golding, who was about to lash out again. "Everyone’s right. Vernon Spann didn’t marry into the family. His and Phoenix Golding’s domestic problems should be sorted out between the two of them. Invoking clan law is going too far. Let Phoenix Golding take the remaining lashes!"
"On what grounds? Vernon Spann *did* marry into our family! He’s a Golding!" Linden’s mother shrieked.
Raina shot back, "The son and daughter Vernon Spann and Phoenix Golding had both have the surname Spann. What kind of man ’marries into the family’ when his own children carry his name? Do you think we’re all idiots?"
"What does it matter whose surname they take? Vernon married into my Golding family’s home! We’re magnanimous; we don’t care what surname the children have!" Linden’s mother started spouting nonsense.
Raina sneered mockingly, "Oh, your family is so magnanimous. Your daughter’s a public toilet—any male can sleep with her, so of course it doesn’t matter what surname the children have. In that case, why don’t you have your son and grandson take the surname Pig or Dog?"
"Mom, you don’t get it," Phoebe Huxley said, her words even more vicious. "I bet Phoenix Golding herself doesn’t even know whose kids those two are, so of course it doesn’t matter what their surname is!" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
In truth, she had just said it offhandedly, but Phoenix Golding and her daughter Jacqueline Spann’s expressions both changed drastically. So did Vernon Spann’s. The entire family’s reaction was intriguing, but it was too dark for anyone to notice.
The crowd was amused by the words of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo and started to jeer along with them.
"Phoebe hit the nail on the head! Of course the surname doesn’t matter, because they have no idea whose surname it should be!"
"Just how many men does a woman have to sleep with to lose track? Tsk!"
"Seventeen or eighteen, at least!"
...
"You’re full of shit! My Phoenix is pure and innocent! If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll fight you to the death!" Linden’s mother leaped up and began screaming curses.
Phoebe Huxley looked at her coldly. "Forget about being pure and innocent for a second. First, pay back the twenty-eight yuan you owe my family. You have twenty days left. If you don’t pay up, I’m coming to your house to take your things!"
The crowd roared with laughter, their gazes turning contemptuous. She talks about being pure and innocent, but she’s doing dirty deeds behind everyone’s back. If she hadn’t offered some sort of benefit, would Felix Thorne have given her so much meat?
