This time it was Richard Carter who was dumbfounded. What a coincidence—too much of a coincidence. The middle-aged man walked in, took a money pouch off his shoulder, and generously tossed it to Richard Carter, his voice gruff: “Count it. See if it’s enough.”

Richard Carter was both angry and scared, and hurriedly pushed the money pouch back to the other man.

With a stern face, he said, “I was just joking. Who said I was selling the horse? This is my family’s treasure. Didn’t you see my uncle has come?!” Richard Carter winked repeatedly, signaling the other man to understand his predicament and just leave.

But the other man wasn’t about to let it go. Four strings of cash for a good horse was an incredible bargain.

He glared sideways, fuming, “James Carter, we had a deal. You give me the horse, I give you four strings of cash, and we’re square. If you go back on your word, hmph… do you know how tough I, George King, can be?”

As he spoke, he actually rolled up his sleeves, revealing dark, bulging muscles, scaring Richard Carter into retreating again and again, feeling both guilty and embarrassed.

“Enough!”

At this point, Richard Carter could no longer deny it. Henry Carter grabbed Richard Carter by the collar, lifting him like a chick and pulling him to his side.

“You brat, you dare lie to me? Come on, let’s go home and see your great-grandmother. Let’s see how the old lady protects you now!”

Henry Carter was about to leave with his people, but George King wouldn’t have it. He stretched out his arm and sneered, “Friend, I don’t care about your family’s business. The horse was promised to me, you’re not taking it away!”

The uncle was tough with his own family, but when faced with outsiders, he became timid, at a loss for how to respond. Andrew Carter, having caught his breath, walked over with a smile.

“This gentleman really has a good eye, knowing our family’s horse is excellent. Unfortunately, you can’t buy it.”

“Why not? Does the Carter family’s word mean nothing?” George King shouted angrily.

“Of course we keep our word. We’re just worried that if you buy the horse, you’ll be in danger.”

“Kid, are you threatening me?”

Andrew Carter chuckled, “To tell the truth, our family’s horse is being raised for the court. In the fourth year of Qingli, the court bought tens of thousands of warhorses from Hedong to deal with Western Xia. Surely you know about that?”

“Of course I know. So, your family’s horse belongs to the court?”

“That’s right!” Andrew Carter said loudly. “Three generations ago, our Carter family were military officers for the court. When fighting Western Xia, my grandfather died for the country. This horse is a warhorse breed. If the court requisitions it, who knows when it’ll happen? If the horse is gone and they investigate, will we take the blame, or will you?”

Of course it would be you!

George King was only good at bullying country folk. Hearing the court was involved, he lost all his bluster. Instead, he forced a smile and said, “So you’re descendants of a military family—my apologies, my apologies. I’ll take my leave.”

The once aggressive George King was sent packing by just a few words from Andrew Carter. Even Henry Carter was astonished—his nephew truly had the bearing of a general!

He insisted that Andrew Carter ride the horse, while Richard Carter could only follow along sheepishly. By the time they returned to the Carter family home, it was already past the second watch of the night.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they shouted, “Grandma, I found the horse!”

It wasn’t long before the whole Carter family was roused.

Mrs. Carter came out herself and looked carefully. “It’s our horse, all right… Wait, why is Richard here?” Bennett was also alarmed. When she saw the horse in the courtyard and Richard Carter, a shadow fell over her heart.

Uncle Henry Carter glanced at Bennett, teasing, “Second sister-in-law, do you see now? Andrew was wronged. You hit him—shouldn’t you do the same now?”

“Nonsense! How could Richard steal a horse?” Bennett still tried to argue, but Mrs. Carter knew this was serious. Andrew Carter had not only been beaten but also punished. If he was truly wronged, when his father Charles Carter returned, there would be hell to pay!

Mrs. Carter glared fiercely at Bennett. “Enough arguing. Go to the ancestral hall to talk!”

Chapter 6: Punishment and Reward

The Carter family ancestral hall was brightly lit. Every member of the family, young and old, was present—no one was missing. Andrew Carter’s grandmother Foster, Bennett’s second son Matthew Carter, and even the already asleep Samuel Carter and Stephen Carter were all called up. The two little ones, still drowsy, didn’t know what was happening and could only doze in their brother’s arms.

“Kneel!”

Richard Carter’s legs went weak and he instinctively knelt. Bennett wouldn’t have it, angrily saying, “Brother-in-law, why are you scaring the child?”

Henry Carter was so angry he shouted, “Second sister-in-law, even now you’re protecting him? Maybe you even encouraged him to steal the horse, trying to harm the fourth branch’s family?”

At these words, Bennett’s face turned deathly pale. In fact, after hitting Andrew Carter, she remembered that Richard Carter had indeed asked her for four strings of cash. Bennett thought her son’s expenses were already high enough and didn’t give it to him. Later, when the horse went missing and Andrew Carter said his big brother took it, Bennett did consider that maybe her son had taken it.

But first, she didn’t want to believe her son would steal; second, she wanted to punish Andrew Carter; and third, maybe subconsciously she thought if her son took the family’s horse, it meant he was clever… Who would have thought he’d be caught red-handed? Now Bennett was thoroughly embarrassed.