"Hey, just think about it—even if Young Master Carter didn't put in much effort, he still studied at the Immortal Sect for seven years. That's not something ordinary people can compare to..."

"Aiyo, I heard Young Master Carter was at the bottom of the class, and he's already this impressive. Then how strong must Young Master Bennett be now..."

The onlookers around discussed as they gradually dispersed.

"If you were short on silver, why didn't you tell my father? Why did you insist on going to that playboy's family's pharmacy to buy medicine on credit? Is it so easy to owe money to the The Walker Family?"

After returning to the shop, Henry Carter said angrily.

He knew his father often helped Emily Parker and her mother, but no matter what, it shouldn't have come to the point where they had to buy medicine on credit.

"I... I really... had no other choice..."

Emily Parker was scolded by Henry Carter, and tears welled up in her eyes. She turned away and quietly wiped them away.

Henry Carter was taken aback, realizing she must have her own difficulties. He sighed and gently questioned her.

At first, Emily Parker refused to speak, but in the end, Henry Carter put on a stern face and managed to get the truth out of her.

After hearing the story, Henry Carter couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

It turned out that ever since Henry Carter went to the Immortal Sect to study, Mr. Carter often sent some silver to The Parker Family mother and daughter. Concubine Harris saw this and, though displeased, didn't say anything since she was afraid of offending Henry Carter, who was still at the Immortal Sect at the time. But just a month ago, when news of Henry Carter being expelled from the Immortal Sect reached Four Elephants City, Concubine Harris immediately showed her true colors and forbade Mr. Carter from giving even a single copper coin to the mother and daughter.

Half a month ago, Emily Parker's mother's illness worsened and they urgently needed silver for medicine. She wanted to ask Mr. Carter for help, but ran into Concubine Harris at the door, who mocked and scolded her mercilessly, being as sharp-tongued as possible. Emily Parker was, after all, just a teenage girl—how could she endure it? She didn't even get to see Mr. Carter, and could only return home empty-handed, crying her heart out.

With no other choice, even though she knew the The Walker Family was hard to deal with, she had to grit her teeth and buy medicine on credit.

As expected, she was taken advantage of by Charles Walker. The medicine that should have cost just one or two taels of silver was forced up to ten taels with compounding interest. Now, he even brought thugs to catch her. If Henry Carter hadn't happened to be there, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Hmph, for Concubine Harris to do such a thing—does she really think that just because I was expelled from the Immortal Sect, I'm worthless now?"

Henry Carter seethed inwardly, never expecting Concubine Harris to go so far, nearly causing Emily Parker to fall into ruin.

"Take this silver for now, and you don't need to keep the shop open anymore. Just focus on taking care of your mother at home. Although her illness is gone, she's been sick for so long that her body is very weak and needs a good period of rest. Don't worry about anything else—I'll take care of it!"

Henry Carter left Charles Walker's money pouch at the tofu shop and, deep in thought, returned to the Carter Residence.

At this time, Mr. Carter was already up, smoking a water pipe in his room. Henry Carter went to see him and shared his thoughts. He planned to take a sum of silver to buy a farm for the The Parker Family, set up a few shops, and hire an honest steward to manage the business. This way, the Parker mother and daughter wouldn't have to show themselves in public anymore. Although it wouldn't compare to their former family fortune, at least they could live in peace.

After hearing this, Mr. Carter hesitated and said, "That would probably take about three thousand taels of silver. Our The Carter Family can afford it, but right now all the family business is managed by your Big Brother. For such a large sum, he has to approve it before we can take it out... How about this: when your Big Brother comes back, I'll talk to him. Our families have been friends for generations, so we should help the The Parker Family!"

Henry Carter nodded. Since his father had spoken, he didn't ask further. Anyway, Emily Parker now had the money pouch he took from Charles Walker, which, even if it didn't have ninety taels, still had twenty or thirty—enough for them to live comfortably for a while. As for arranging the Parker's new property, it just needed to be done before he left Four Elephants City, so there was no rush.

After breakfast, a servant came to report that The Eldest Young Master had sent word that he would hurry back before evening.

Mr. Carter was very pleased and ordered the servants to arrange a banquet, preparing for a family reunion that night.

Henry Carter also felt a bit nostalgic for that Big Brother. Back before he entered the Immortal Sect, he and his Big Brother got along quite well. At that time, he seemed younger than his Big Brother, but in reality, he had the soul of an old man who had crossed over from another world. Most of the time, it looked like the Big Brother was protecting his younger brother, but in fact, it was always the younger brother coaxing the Big Brother—their relationship was naturally close.

But after he entered the Immortal Sect, he was gone for seven years, and now he didn't know what his Big Brother was like.

Before evening, he and Mr. Carter sat in the main hall, waiting for Big Brother to return.

But they waited and waited, until the sun set and the lanterns were lit, and still there was no sign of The Eldest Young Master.

Mr. Carter grew uneasy and sent servants out several times to inquire. Although these were peaceful times and there were rarely any rumors of great demons nearby, he still worried that his eldest son might have been taken by a monster. Back then, Emily Parker's father was taken by a demon from Blackwood Mountain on his way home after collecting payment, which led to the The Parker Family's decline.

After several inquiries, the servants only reported that they hadn't seen him. Mr. Carter was restless and anxious.

It wasn't until halfway through the hour of the pig (around 10:30 p.m.), after the food and wine had been reheated several times, that Big Brother finally staggered home, drunk.