Chapter 3

"Your Uncle Basil's plot isn't any good, and besides, I don't need that much room."

"But Uncle Leslie, I don't think I ever agreed to let you take over my whole homestead plot, did I?"

"You've already got this house built, so fine, but you can't take any of the rest."

"What do you mean, 'your homestead'? This is our Whitney family land! Now that your father's dead, this homestead belongs to your eldest cousin. What right does a mere girl like you have to inherit it?"

"Uncle Leslie, it's broad daylight and your brother's already dead. The property ownership certificate for this plot has my name on it."

"So what if it's got your name on it? I'm the head of this family, and I decide how our land gets divided!"

I knew Leslie was unreasonable and overbearing, so I didn't plan to waste any more breath on him.

I had just turned around when Leslie called out behind me, "You going to go see the village head?"

"No need. It'd be pointless. The village head gave me permission to build this house. Your eldest cousin's dating the village head's daughter, so the village head and I are about to be family."

I was shaking all over with anger. If he weren't my own uncle, I'd have started cursing him out already.

I took out my phone, and Leslie immediately roared.

"What, you want to call the police? Even if the police come, it won't do you any good! This is a family matter, and the police can't touch it!"

Looking at Leslie's fleshy, thuggish face, I suddenly went calm.

He wasn't afraid of anyone, so I'd just find someone he was afraid of.

"Uncle Leslie, you're reading too much into it. I only wanted to reply to a work message."

"A little thing like this in our family, why would I call the police?"

Once Leslie saw I'd opened my texts, he gave a snort.

"Smart of you to know your place."

I opened Basil's chat: Uncle Basil, I've decided to transfer the use rights of the homestead plot to you. You'd better get back here as soon as you can, or Uncle Leslie's going to take over all of my land.

Basil replied instantly: I'm already on my way back.

Marlene leaned in. "That three hundred thousand dollars in dowry for our son—have you got it together yet?"

"Rosalie won't give it up!"

Marlene shrieked, "How can you be so useless? Without money, how is our son supposed to get himself a wife!"

She suddenly rushed at me and snatched my bag.

"What are you doing!"

Marlene tore through the bag like a madwoman. "We'll just call this money a loan from you. Once your Uncle Leslie and I have money, we'll pay you back for sure!"

"You can stop digging. The card with my savings is in the city—I didn't bring it with me at all."

She dumped everything I had onto the ground. Sure enough, there was no bank card.

"Fine, Rosalie, so you're guarding yourself against us."

Blake stood there with his hands on his hips. "I'll just go back to the city with her and get it. If she doesn't dare hand the money over, I'll beat her to death!"

"That won't do, son. There are too many police in the city. What if this little brat calls the police? Without the village head to protect you, what would you do then?"

Blake was beside himself. "Then what do you want me to do? Suzy already said she won't marry me without three hundred thousand dollars in dowry!"

Marlene's crafty eyes rolled. "I've got it!"

"That Douglas Gray at the edge of the village is forty-five and still hasn't gotten himself a wife, and his family's got money. Why not marry Rosalie off to him? We'll ask for three hundred thousand dollars in dowry—just enough to get my son a wife!"