Chapter 543: Stupid Method
Tang Xiaonan bought two mung bean popsicles, sharing them with Amanda Chapman. The frozen treats offered some relief from the heat, and they continued on their way, finally reaching Xavier Village.
"Let’s go check if Mark Xavier is still alive first."
Halfway there, Amanda Chapman pulled Tang Xiaonan in a different direction, heading for Mark Xavier’s house. Tang Xiaonan agreed. They had to make sure the poor fool hadn’t done anything stupid.
Mark Xavier’s home wasn’t far from Tang Xiaonan’s grandfather’s house, just four or five houses down. A woman in her forties was there, shelling edamame. With high cheekbones and a gaunt, fleshless face, she didn’t look like a kind person. This woman was precisely Mark Xavier’s stepmother.
"Is Mark Xavier home, Auntie?" Tang Xiaonan asked politely.
The woman recognized Tang Xiaonan and forced a smile. "Xiaonan, here to play with Mark? He went to gather pig feed, but he should be back soon."
"Well, when Mark Xavier gets back, could you tell him to find me at my grandpa’s house? I have something important to talk to him about," Tang Xiaonan said earnestly.
"Alright."
The woman agreed readily. Mark Xavier’s stepmother actually had an excellent reputation in the village. She was a master of deception, never laying a hand on Mark or his sister, whether in public or private. Sometimes, when their father beat the siblings, the stepmother would even step in to stop him. However, this woman was no stranger to fanning the flames of conflict. It had been her idea to marry off Kelley Xavier. In short, the woman was a master-class manipulator who played the part of a saint—a true actress.
Tang Xiaonan and Amanda Chapman went to her grandfather’s house. Only her grandma was home, as everyone else was out working. Fortunately, Armstrong Huxley was catching loaches nearby and was quickly fetched. When he saw Tang Xiaonan’s sun-flushed face, Armstrong was puzzled. ’My cousin hates being out in the sun. What could be so important that she’d run all the way over here in this heat?’
"Cousin... I have something really important to tell you."
Tang Xiaonan pulled Armstrong Huxley into the courtyard for a private word. Before she could speak, however, they heard a vendor outside calling out, selling popsicles. Armstrong’s eyes lit up. Forgetting all about the "important matter," he dragged Tang Xiaonan out to buy some.
The popsicle vendor was the same man they had run into on the road earlier. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw Tang Xiaonan and even gave her a discount: two mung bean popsicles for five cents. Thrilled, Tang Xiaonan spent fifteen cents, getting exactly six popsicles.
Armstrong Huxley had two younger brothers, and with her, Amanda Chapman, and their grandma, that was exactly enough for one each. She had plenty of money these days. Jim Thorne and Goldie Thorne both gave her spending money from time to time, as did Adrian Hawthorne, but she rarely had a chance to use it.
Her grandma wouldn’t eat the popsicle, though, worried it would be too cold for her teeth. Tang Xiaonan put the spare one in a cup, planning to give it to Mark Xavier later. As they ate their popsicles, she explained Mark’s situation. Armstrong hadn’t taken it seriously at first, but his expression grew more and more solemn as she spoke.
The story about his younger cousin being a reincarnated spirit child was known throughout Clearspring Township, so Armstrong Huxley didn’t doubt her. Besides, Mark Xavier was a stubborn guy; he really might be foolish enough to do something like jump into the pond.
"Cousin, why don’t you ask Mark Xavier to sleep over tonight?" Tang Xiaonan offered her simple plan.
Armstrong Huxley nodded. "Okay, I’ll talk to Mark Xavier in a little while and have him sleep over at my place."
Amanda Chapman, however, chimed in, "But what if that fool doesn’t agree?"
"How about you tell him you’re scared to sleep alone at night, Cousin, and you’d feel better with company?" Tang Xiaonan suggested, only to earn a massive eye-roll from Armstrong Huxley.
He was a red-blooded man; he wouldn’t be scared sleeping in a graveyard, let alone his own bed. There was no way he would use such a moronic excuse.
"Just leave it to me. I have a plan."
Armstrong Huxley didn’t want to discuss it further with two silly little girls. He was an adult now, and he would handle this like one.