To the east of Niujinzhuang, nestled against the mountains and by the water, there is a neat fenced courtyard with seven or eight brick-tiled houses. Amidst a cluster of thatched cottages, it stands out conspicuously—it is the private school, with accommodations for students from other villages.

It is said that the teacher is extremely strict. Students must get up before dawn to recite their lessons, and there are still classes in the evening. Therefore, except for students from the village itself, everyone else must board at the school.

Andrew Carter was not a bit unfamiliar with it. In the past, when he played nearby, he often went outside the private school. Even from far away, he could hear the sound of students reading inside.

A boy of eleven or twelve—how could he not understand!

Among the boys at home, his cousin Richard Carter had entered the private school to study and learn to read, while he could only stay at home. How could he not be envious? All his past mischief and troublemaking were perhaps just attempts to attract attention and vent his dissatisfaction... Andrew Carter could clearly feel the envy and frustration hidden in his heart.

"Sigh, there will be a chance. It won't be long before I can go to school and study too!"

Andrew Carter clenched his fists. He didn't rush to the school to look for someone, but waited outside for quite a while. Finally, he saw a boy of about fourteen or fifteen come out, and Andrew Carter hurried to meet him.

"Brother, I am Richard Carter's younger brother, my name is Andrew Carter. My family sent me to find my big brother—he's to be matched for marriage."

Richard Carter is fifteen by traditional reckoning. In a peasant family, he might have been married already, so the other boy was not surprised. Instead, he beamed with joy.

"Haha, Richard Carter is really lucky! I didn't expect to be drinking at his wedding so soon." The boy gestured excitedly, even happier than if he were getting married himself. "No wonder Brother Carter has been asking for leave these days. Turns out something good is happening."

Andrew Carter continued to probe, "May I ask, is my big brother at the school?"

"No, yesterday he asked the teacher for leave again, said he was going to David Thompson's house. The two of them are the closest, always together no matter what they do."

"Then where is David Thompson's house?"

"In Sanhe Village, about five li from here. Do you want me to take you?" This boy was quite warm-hearted, but Andrew Carter quickly waved his hand, just asked for the direction to Sanhe Village, and then hurriedly took his leave.

Time to catch the thief! Andrew Carter clenched his fists tightly.

He rushed all the way to Sanhe Village, drenched in sweat.

He asked around for David Thompson's house, found the backyard, and peered over the mud wall. Sure enough, there was a horse tied beside the cowshed, looking restless and pacing back and forth.

It was the Wang family's horse!

Andrew Carter recognized it at a glance, his heart pounding with excitement—he almost wanted to rush in and lead the horse away right then and there, just to show Bennett.

But he still didn't know where Richard Carter was, so he couldn't act rashly. Just then, he heard voices coming from the road, heading this way. In a panic, Andrew Carter quickly hid behind a pile of firewood, right behind a big poplar tree that completely concealed him.

At that moment, someone spoke, and a voice complained, "Brother Carter, you might as well have handed the horse directly to Jin Laohu. Look, it's been at my house for three days now—eating grass, eating feed, and even whinnying in the middle of the night. I can't even get a good night's sleep."

"Sigh, Brother Thompson, just bear with it. Four strings of cash is no small matter. If I don't get the money, I can't give him the horse. Besides, if I take it out in broad daylight and someone sees it and tells my family, I'll get a beating."

Through the gaps in the branches, he could see clearly—it was indeed his cousin Richard Carter!

Next to him, that "Brother Thompson" said disdainfully, "What's there to be afraid of? As long as you buy the dogfight results from the Living Immortal, bet a treasure, win big money, and even if you sell another horse, your family can't do anything to you."

"That won't do!" Richard Carter quickly waved his hand. "Brother Thompson, you don't know—my family isn't as open-minded as yours. My great-grandmother is an old stick-in-the-mud, stubborn and unyielding. She never lets her descendants gamble. If she finds out, she'll skin me alive."

"Sigh, Brother Carter, let me remind you, tomorrow is the dogfight finals. No matter what, you have to sell the horse today."

"Don't worry, I've arranged it. Tonight Jin Laohu will bring the money, and tomorrow morning we'll go buy the results and place our bets. We won't miss a thing."

"Alright, it's settled then!"

The two of them discussed as they walked in through the back door, deliberately checking on the horse before finally feeling at ease and returning to the house.

They didn't speak loudly, but Andrew Carter's ears were sharp—he heard every word, clear as day. Not only did he confirm that it was his cousin who stole the horse, but he also learned the reason!

They wanted to buy the dogfight results and bet to get rich! Keep dreaming!

In his previous life, Andrew Carter had seen countless scams. If someone could really predict the outcome, wouldn't they get rich themselves? Why would they sell it to you? Of course, Andrew Carter didn't need to expose the scam—besides, they might not believe him anyway.

Better to quickly find someone and catch them red-handed, so Bennett can see for herself!

Chapter 5: The Wronged Thomas Carter

Andrew Carter quietly crawled out from behind the firewood pile, followed the main road, and ran out of Sanhe Village, heading straight home. As he ran, his mind was racing.

Among the elders of the Wang family, Bennett was out of the question—she would definitely side with her son. As for Mrs. Carter, she was old and partial, and probably wouldn't believe him easily either.

Grandma Foster? She didn't get involved in things, and her health wasn't good.

After thinking it over, only his eldest uncle Henry Carter was left—he had to find him!