Chad had always been the most timid. Hearing Old Walter's words brought tears to his eyes. He scrambled out of the cart and shouted loudly toward Clara in the ox cart ahead:
"Mom!"
Clara had heard Old Walter's comment. Having survived all manner of apocalyptic disasters and mutant zombies, plants, and animals, she was steady as a rock.
She smiled warmly at Chad. "Don't be afraid. If the sky really falls, we just lie flat."
Chad instantly felt his heart settle back into his round little belly.
Old Walter blinked. Suddenly, the narrow confines of his mind opened up.
What use was worrying?
What was meant to come would come. Just be ready to face it—life still had to go on!
Once he thought that way, a smile tugged at his lips.
Looking at Clara, sitting leisurely in the ox cart and taking in the scenery, he found himself curious about her past—what kind of life she must have lived to be so open-minded.
By evening, the group finally returned to Liew Clan Village. They'd left with just one horse cart, but came back with a second ox cart. Martha and the others at home were completely bewildered.
Not that it was hard to guess—it must have been Clara's purchase.
Doreen jumped down from the cart. Seeing Kate, who came out holding her child, she said happily: "Third Sister-in-law bought another ox cart and promised to lend it to us. We can ride it to my parents' place to share the good news!"
Kate's gentle smile showed she knew her sister-in-law loved appearances.
Still, why had Clara bought another ox cart? Was it for plowing?
Caleb carried things into the yard. Seeing his wife and child standing outside in the cold, he herded them back inside.
He set the goods under the eaves of the main hall, then grinned at Kate and, thinking he was speaking quietly, said, "Clara bought the ox to plow the fields."
Lester came in right after with more goods and heard it clearly. He snorted. "What, Brother, jealous?"
Caleb scoffed. "You can't even manage ten acres and you still dare talk."
"What's wrong with that? My wife has the means to buy an ox and plow the land—that's amazing!" Lester puffed out his chest proudly.
Caleb couldn't be bothered with him. He called Logan out to help move the goods, then waved Lester away impatiently. "Go, go, go—get home."
Martha stepped in. "Where are you going? Stay for dinner. It's so late, going home to cook will just be a hassle."
Though she addressed Lester, her words were clearly meant for Clara and the children.
From outside, Clara replied, "We'll go home to eat. We need to settle the ox and horse first—go ahead without us."
Martha tried to insist, but Clara declined. She didn't want to make another trip—better to take care of the animals right away.
After all, it wasn't like there was no one at home to cook.
Lester's smile dropped instantly. He stepped into the main hall and spotted Caleb's son, Max—the baby soft and warm in his tiger-head hat, wrapped snugly so only his plump white cheeks showed.
The baby was sleeping, but stirred uneasily at the noise, pursing his rosy lips. The sight melted Lester's heart.
Under Caleb and Kate's tense watch, Lester quickly reached out and poked Max's cheek before leaving, satisfied.
The moment he left, Caleb rushed to check his son. Kate laughed at his overreaction.
"Who's going to eat your child? Lester just touched him lightly—he's perfectly fine."
Seeing that Max was indeed sleeping soundly, Caleb finally relaxed—only to look toward the doorway and catch Lester glancing back with a smug grin. It made him want to chase him down for a beating.
Too bad, by the time he reached the door, Lester and Clara had already driven off with the children in the two carts.
From the doorway, Doreen called, "Clara, I'll come borrow the ox in the morning!"
"Got it!" Clara called back.
Looking down at the big blue ox, she murmured, "The fields are yours from now on. Do your best, Old Blue."
Deb poked her head out of the horse cart. "Ma, let's just call him Old Blue!"
Clara chuckled. Naming things really had become a habit. "Alright—Old Blue it is."
With her mother's approval, the girl laughed with pure delight.
That laughter echoed through the dusky evening, sending shivers down Ben and Chad's spines.
Once home, the family of six unpacked, settled the ox and horse, and by the time dinner was over, night had fallen. After a quick wash, they each went straight to bed.
The next morning, Doreen and Brandon came with Ryder to fetch the ox cart.
Clara was still asleep, but Lester—forced by his studies—was already awake, reciting lines indoors.
Wearing a headband that read "Lord Protect Me" and clutching an oversized handwritten text, he muttered under his breath as he answered the door. Pointing toward the backyard with his free hand, he told them to get the cart themselves and use the back gate to take the ox.
He glanced at them only once to confirm who it was, then his eyes glued back to his book as he drifted ghost-like into his room.
The three visitors exchanged bewildered looks. Just as they stepped through the doorway, Lester suddenly reappeared in front of them, raising a finger to his lips in a "shh" gesture.
They nodded in understanding, glanced at the still-closed master bedroom door, and tiptoed like thieves into the backyard to hitch up the cart.
When they were ready, Lester popped up again, standing inside the main door to wave them out before shutting it quickly behind them.
Moments later, the sound of clattering pots and pans came from inside.
"Ryder!" Brandon called.
The boy, who'd been listening with his ear to the door, stayed a few seconds more before running to climb into the cart.
As soon as he sat, he blurted in wide-eyed wonder, "Dad, Mom—has Uncle Lester gone crazy? Waking up early to study is one thing, but now he's in the kitchen making breakfast!"
That was beyond anything the boy thought his uncle capable of.
Brandon and Doreen were just as stunned, murmuring in disbelief, "Looks like Lester really has changed…"
On the twelfth day of the first month, the old house hosted Max's full-month banquet.
Clara actually rose early for once—though only because Doreen had come before dawn, shouting like a soul-caller.
"Benches, tables, bowls, chopsticks—oh, and the kitchen knife too! Your knife is the best!"
Barking the orders, Doreen bustled off to the next house.
Yawning, Clara went to Lester's room, dragged him out, and said, "Benches, tables, bowls, chopsticks, and the kitchen knife—all to the old house. Hurry!"
Though interrupted from his studies, Lester didn't dare utter a word of complaint. He put down his book, only pausing at the door to glance back and mentally confirm the lines he'd just memorized before heading out.
Clara went to the children's room and quietly told them to get up later and go to the old house for food, then followed Lester with the tables, chairs, pots, and utensils in hand.
(End of Chapter)
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