The old lady completely ignored the fact that Bennett was the first to hit people, refused to give food, and then slandered and insulted them. She actually just forced me to go work in the fields, fetch water, chop firewood, and even my younger sister couldn't escape!

Andrew Carter really couldn't stand it anymore. I'm not made of dough—both for myself and for my sister, I must fight back. The current situation is just too terrible for me. Bennett has received permission from Mrs. Carter, so from now on, things will only get worse. All the chores will be dumped on me and my sister, and if we make even the slightest mistake, we'll be punished. Life will be unbearable.

To get out of this bad situation, there are only two ways. One is to hope that Dad and Mom come back soon and stand up for us. But Dad went with Mom to a funeral, and who knows when they'll return. Besides, even if they do come back, would Dad dare say anything to Mrs. Carter? Over the years, because Dad insisted on practicing martial arts, Old Lady has been very dissatisfied with him. In the end, it would just mean the two of us suffering together.

The other way is to take the initiative to find the horse and clear my name.

All the unfair treatment started because of the so-called lost horse incident. As long as I find the horse, there will be no reason to force me to work anymore.

Moreover, Andrew Carter suspects that it was cousin Richard Carter who took the horse. If it really was him, then things will get interesting. Bennett's own son made the mistake, but Andrew Carter ended up suffering for no reason. Let's see how she explains that!

Right, could it be that Bennett deliberately had her son steal the horse, just to find an excuse to deal with me?

Andrew Carter was already prepared to suspect Bennett with the worst possible intentions.

No matter what, I have to find the horse.

In order not to become a pitiful child laborer, Andrew Carter decided to go all out!

Having made up his mind, Andrew Carter called over his younger sister.

"Big brother needs to go out and take care of something. You take good care of our little brother. The two of you stay in our yard and don't run around, okay?"

"Mm!" Stephen Carter nodded vigorously.

Andrew Carter also pulled his little brother aside, told him to behave, and after comforting the two children, Andrew Carter left the house. Almost three days had passed—where was he supposed to look for the horse?

……

After leaving home, Andrew Carter followed his memory and found the riverside where the horse was often kept. The stream wound its way along, with green grass on both sides. When thirsty, the horse could drink water; when hungry, it could graze. It really was a great place to keep a horse.

Andrew Carter observed carefully and became even more certain that the horse probably wasn't stolen. The reason was simple: on both sides, not far away, were large fields, full of people working. Everyone was a fellow villager.

If a thief had led the horse away in broad daylight, someone would definitely have seen it and told the Wang family.

Unless it wasn't an outsider, but a thief from within the family!

Andrew Carter walked to a field ridge, where a farmer had just finished weeding a row and was sitting by the edge resting.

"Uncle Thompson, may I ask, three days ago, did my cousin Richard Carter lead a horse past here?" Andrew Carter asked politely. The farmer replied casually, "I think so..."

Before he could finish, someone suddenly coughed twice. It turned out to be his wife, who hurried over, shot him a fierce glare, and then smiled at Andrew Carter, saying, "Thomas Carter, we weren't working in the fields that day, so we don't know."

After saying this, she gave her husband a punch. "What are you standing around for? Get back to work!"

Andrew Carter had no choice but to ask the next person. He asked four or five people in a row. Some really seemed not to know, but most looked troubled—even if they knew, they didn't want to say.

By noon, Andrew Carter found a stone by the stream and sat down.

To say he gained nothing wouldn't be right. He was now even more certain that it was his cousin who took the horse.

As for why the villagers didn't want to say anything, the reason was simple: it was a Wang family matter. If they spoke up, they'd offend Edward Carter and Bennett. No matter how much trouble there was, outsiders saw the Wang family as one unit, no matter how much they fought. Why get involved?

What's more, Andrew Carter was just a young boy with no status in the Wang family. Would speaking up for him do any good? No one wanted to do something thankless.

Just then, Uncle Miller drove his cart back from Cangzhou. As he passed the stream, he jumped off the cart, went to the water, scooped up some cool water, and took a couple of sips.

"That feels great!"

On his way back, he deliberately passed by Andrew Carter and said in a low voice, "James Carter and another young man led the horse away."

"Ah!"

Andrew Carter was stunned and wanted to ask more, but Uncle Miller had already gotten back on his cart and driven off.

So it really was him!

His suspicions confirmed, but judging by Uncle Miller's attitude, he clearly didn't want to testify for me—he just didn't want me to be kept in the dark.

I still need to find real evidence... Andrew Carter held his head, thinking for a long time, when suddenly his eyes lit up.

How stupid!

If I can't find the horse, can't I find the person?

Since Richard Carter took the horse, if I find Richard Carter, won't I find the horse?

Andrew Carter had an idea. He left Tutazhuang, ran along the main road for more than ten miles, panting, and arrived at a big town—Niujinzhuang, with three or four hundred households, the largest village in the area.