Chapter 478: Chapter 478: Her Family (4)

In her past life, back when Vera Xavier lived with the Xavier family, her relationship with her sister had been pretty good. They were still young and would bicker and squabble, but it was just childish fighting. No matter how fierce their arguments got, they would make up in an instant and be as close as ever.

Chloe had always been headstrong and efficient. She was always complaining that Vera was too slow, that Vera would spend ages crouched on the ground studying medicinal herbs while gathering pig feed, or that Vera couldn’t even manage to carry half a sheaf of rice during the harvest.

For the most part, before Vera Xavier left the Xavier family, it was Chloe who took care of her.

Vera Xavier returned the hug and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Before Chloe could answer, a middle-aged woman in her forties emerged from the house. She had sharp, triangular eyes, a flat nose, and a dark, sallow complexion. In a strange, sarcastic tone, she said, "Chloe, I’m trying to help you. Just look at your home—you’re dirt poor and have nothing to your name. Archer the Butcher’s family is countless times better off than yours. If you marry him, you’ll be able to live a life of luxury, won’t you?"

’Archer the Butcher?’ Vera’s mind snapped to attention. ’The man Chloe married in my past life was a butcher named Archer!’

With tears in her eyes, Chloe said, "I just turned seventeen this year! I want to continue my studies. I don’t want to get married!"

The middle-aged woman sneered. "I know you’re a good student, but what’s the use of that? No matter how much a girl studies, she still has to get married in the end. Your family is as poor as dirt. It would be useless even if you got into a university—they can’t afford to send you!"

Chloe’s eyes reddened. Deep down, she knew the woman was telling the truth. Her family’s financial situation was dire; they didn’t have the money to pay for her education.

Seeing Chloe’s expression, the woman gave a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes. "Besides," she continued, "your father borrowed two thousand yuan from Archer the Butcher this spring for planting costs. There was too much rain this year, and when the reservoir released its floodwaters a while back, all the crops on your land were washed away. Archer the Butcher is just trying to be kind and help your family out. Acting like this is just plain ungrateful."

Hearing this, Vera finally understood the situation. Mr. Xavier had borrowed two thousand yuan from Archer the Butcher in the spring for farming expenses. But then the reservoir had flooded, their fields yielded nothing, and now the butcher had set his sights on Chloe.

She had lived in this village for over a decade and understood all too well how things worked here.

The villagers were generally simple folk, but their poverty made them place a heavy importance on money, giving them a sort of peasant cunning.

And every village had one or two so-called "village bullies" who would pick on the honest, simple-minded residents for their own amusement.

Vera knew of Archer the Butcher from her past life living with the Xavier family. In her distant memories, she could recall him bullying her family. She also remembered the lecherous way he used to look at her back then.

’She’d never imagined this was how Archer the Butcher had managed to marry Chloe in her past life.’

Just then, Mrs. Xavier, Mr. Xavier, and Drew came out of the house as well. They hadn’t expected Vera to show up and asked in surprise, "Vera, what are you doing here?"

Vera offered a small smile. "I’m heading to Veridia University to register tomorrow, so I came to see you all today."

The news that she was the top scorer on the college entrance exams had already spread throughout Crestfall.

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