“This is just common sense. Anyone who’s been through the ups and downs of this world knows these things.” Henry Walker sighed and said, “It’s only a sheltered young lady like you who wouldn’t think of it.”

“You…” Emily Foster couldn’t even be angry, and pressed on, “What do you think the Zhao family will do to counterattack?”

“They’ll just respond to each move as it comes.” Henry Walker said calmly, “For example, they might spread rumors that the Lin family bribed high officials and is trying to overturn the case, making it known to everyone. Tell me, who would still dare to stand up for your family then?”

Emily Foster’s face turned deathly pale, so shocked she couldn’t utter a word.

“There’s an even simpler way. All they have to do is notify the circuit inspector who handled the original case. Do you think he wouldn’t do everything in his power to stop the case from being overturned?”

Emily Foster was stunned with fear. Yes, if there was immense pressure from both inside and out, would the high official who promised to help her overturn the case just go through the motions and then give up?

Thinking of the Zhao family’s methods, it seemed almost certain…

“Then, what should I do…” Emily Foster’s big eyes filled with tears, and she bit her bloodless lower lip tightly, saying, “Does it mean that even if I lose everything, I still can’t clear my father’s name?” Thinking of how she had done everything she could, yet still couldn’t let her wronged father rest in peace, she finally couldn’t hold back and collapsed onto the table, sobbing bitterly.

Women from Jiangnan, with their soft Wu dialect, even their crying was so low and melodious, like a song. Henry Walker actually found it quite pleasant to listen to.

But the Uncle outside didn’t think so. He suddenly pushed open the door and growled, “Miss, what’s wrong? Did he bully you?!” Looking closely, he saw the two of them sitting properly across the table, not at all as intimate as he’d imagined.

Emily Foster didn’t care about him, just kept crying, completely losing control of her emotions.

A thousand-mile dike can collapse from an ant’s nest. Emily Foster’s family had suffered a great disaster: her brother committed a capital crime, her father died in anger and frustration, and at just sixteen, she had to shoulder the heavy burden of the Lin family with her delicate shoulders. In the past six months, in the provincial capital and Nanjing, she had faced countless closed doors, endured endless cold stares and ridicule. She was already overwhelmed, only holding on by sheer willpower. Now that Henry Walker had shattered her last bit of faith, how could she not break down?

The Uncle and Grace, however, thought the two of them were having relationship troubles, and were secretly shocked: Goodness gracious, Miss Foster is so heartbroken—could it be she’s the one chasing after him?

Thinking this, the Uncle looked at Henry Walker differently—what a master! Only a true master could be a toad eating swan meat!

Grace, being a girl herself, couldn’t bear to see another girl so heartbroken over love. But comforting Emily Foster was out of the question, so she walked over to Henry Walker, pinched him secretly, and whispered, “Aren’t you going to say something to comfort her?”

“How am I supposed to comfort her?” Henry Walker had no idea what they were imagining, and said with a wry smile, “It’s not even my business.”

“Are you even a man!” Uncle immediately roared, startling Miss Foster, who lifted her tear-stained face and said with watery eyes, “Uncle George, it’s not his fault.”

“Miss, you’re still defending him!” Uncle looked at her with a face full of pity and anger, thinking, even if your family’s in trouble, you shouldn’t treat yourself like this. He shook his fist the size of a bowl and said, “Kid, are you looking for a beating?”

“All right.” Henry Walker couldn’t make sense of the situation, but a wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him. To avoid a beating, he could only say to Emily Foster, “Come back another time, and we’ll discuss it together, see if there’s still a way out.”

Miss Foster was already dizzy from Henry Walker’s words, and actually nodded obediently, “Okay.” Only after speaking did she realize she’d been crying in front of so many people, and felt embarrassed. She quickly stopped crying, wiped her eyes, but couldn’t help sobbing.

Uncle George and Grace were now full of admiration for Henry Walker. Uncle George, with the wisdom of experience, sighed inwardly: ‘Our girl is going to be wrapped around his finger for life…’

“Hurry up and go, my mother will be back soon.” Since Grace now saw Miss Foster as her future sister-in-law, her attitude changed and she kindly reminded, “Even if you two want to make something happen… you have to take it slow, right?”

“Yeah.” Henry Walker nodded, “There’s plenty of time, no need to rush.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Miss Foster stood up and bowed, then said anxiously, “The next market day is in ten days, isn’t that too long?”

Uncle George wished he could find a hole to crawl into. Miss, can’t you be a little more reserved?

“The day after tomorrow, my mother and my eldest brother are going back to the countryside to celebrate Third Granduncle’s birthday.” Following her mother’s principle of ‘face is worth nothing, practicality is everything,’ Grace decisively became an informant. There was no choice—finally someone was willing to stick with her brother so devotedly, who cared if she was a foe or not, just secure her first.

“All right, I’ll come again in three days.” Miss Foster bowed again, put on her veil, and left with Uncle George.

After leaving the alley where the Wang family lived, Uncle George finally couldn’t help but say, “Miss, don’t let that kid fool you, he’s no good.”

“I know,” Miss Foster nodded, “but this time, he seems different…”

“Didn’t see it.” Uncle George muttered under his breath, and seeing her absent-minded look, could only sigh inwardly: ‘Looks like in a lover’s eyes, not only is there Xi Shi, but also Pan An…’

Chapter 0007: Destined

After her mother came back and saw the two bamboo baskets, she asked in surprise, “Who was here?”

“The Lin family’s young lady…” Grace said softly.