Or, to put it more plainly, I’m just one of The Foster Family’s pathetic simps! And not just any simp—a particularly timid one, hiding my feelings deep inside. Usually, I don’t even dare to look at the goddess, let alone talk to her.

　　But back to the point, if this Mrs. Foster existed in my world, she’d definitely be a superstar with tens of millions of fans and an endless line of simps.

　　This kind of truly vivid, classically beautiful lady’s aura is something no modern celebrity could ever cultivate, no matter how hard they tried.

　　In my memories, during the off-season, my mother would work as a maid at the The Clark Family, serving by Mrs. Foster’s side. Mrs. Foster was actually quite kind to her and had even visited our home a few times.

　　As for why she didn’t really avoid me, it was naturally because I was too insignificant. Even though she was a noble lady high above, she’d never bother to avoid a nobody like me.

　　Suddenly, Nathaniel Brooks felt a bone-chilling cold and quickly wrapped his clothes tighter.

　　His mother, The Johnson Family, immediately looked over with concern, her eyes filled with deep worry.

　　“Madam, madam…” The hurried footsteps outside belonged to a delicate young maid who rushed in, her pretty face full of panic as she blurted out, “The Ming Residence, the Ming Residence has suffered a disaster!”

　　The Ming Residence was the respectful title for the county magistrate, Samuel Clark.

　　The Foster Family’s beautiful face changed color. She abruptly stood up and walked out, the young maid following at her side, anxiously saying, “The Ming Residence couldn’t pull the right strings to avoid punishment and has been thrown into prison. I heard a Protector recommended a meritorious soldier to take over as magistrate. They say this soldier once saved the Protector’s life and drove off the Zhou troops, earning great merit. As a reward, all the magistrate’s family and servants are to be given to him as slaves?!”

　　The Foster Family’s body trembled violently, her face drained of color. The young maid hurriedly supported her, still anxiously saying, “Madam, you must think of something! The imperial envoy and the confiscation officers have already left Haizhou City—they’re only a few steps behind Ma Wulang’s fast horse. They’ll be here any moment!”

　　But Mrs. Foster was already gasping for breath. Clearly, she had no idea what to do in such a crisis. Hearing that the family property would be confiscated and that she and all the household would be sent off as slaves, she was on the verge of collapse, her legs giving way as she staggered off with the maid’s support.

　　“What are we going to do? The The Clark Family is in trouble! What will happen to the mistress?” The Johnson Family had overheard bits and pieces. Hearing that the mistress who had always been so kind to her was in distress, she felt miserable and couldn’t help but wipe away tears.

　　By now, the fragments of memory had almost completely fused. Nathaniel Brooks, thinking through the causes and consequences, understood: the Zhou army had invaded south, and Donghai County was near the northern border. Hearing that the war was going badly, Samuel Clark had already prepared to surrender, even ordering the city banners to be changed.

　　But for some reason, the tide of battle turned, the Zhou army was defeated, and so Samuel Clark was naturally held accountable afterward.

　　And it wasn’t just Samuel Clark; almost all the county officials were swept up in the purge.

　　Still, something didn’t feel quite right.

　　Although I’m not clear on all the details of this period, didn’t the Later Zhou never lose when they campaigned against Southern Tang?

　　When the last ruler of Southern Tang hadn’t yet ascended the throne, the two sides fought for several years, and didn’t it end with Southern Tang ceding all territory north of the Yangtze?

　　Sigh, could I be remembering wrong?

　　But, who is Mrs. Foster going to be sent to as a slave?

　　Nathaniel Brooks was a bit speechless. Although in this life’s memories there was a certain attachment to Mrs. Foster, and even a guilty desire to defile her, these memories were ultimately weaker and not dominant.

　　Nathaniel Brooks didn’t feel any urge to draw a sword and cut down villains to rescue her from dire straits—just a vague sense of regret.

　　“Lady Lu, are you home?” someone called from outside. Entering the courtyard was a shriveled old woman. Seeing her triangular eyes, it was clear she wasn’t a good sort—this was the neighbor, Mrs. Clark.

　　The Johnson Family’s face immediately changed when she saw her come in, as if she was terrified of her.

　　Nathaniel Brooks could tell that, unlike the respect shown to Mrs. Foster, his mother was genuinely afraid of Mrs. Clark.

　　“Mother? How much do we owe her?” In Nathaniel Brooks’s memory, he vaguely recalled that Mrs. Clark was the family’s biggest creditor. Every time she came, she’d plunge the household into gloom.

　　“Not much, not much, just a bit of interest—nine dou of rice in total!” Mrs. Clark was old, but her hearing was sharp. She was still outside but had already heard.

　　“Granny Liu, Ning’er just got back a few days ago…” The Johnson Family was on the verge of tears. Already weak and lacking in presence, she was no match for the always sharp-tongued and mean Mrs. Clark.

　　Mrs. Clark snorted coldly, “So he was a big soldier for a few days—so what? He’s lucky not to have died in the wild! But that’s no excuse to renege on your debt, is it?”

　　The Johnson Family hung her head in shame, wiping away tears.

　　Nathaniel Brooks frowned slightly.

　　Mrs. Clark was already sneering at him: “Dalang, you’ve never worked, and the family’s fields have all been sold off. Are you pretending not to know about this now? Back when your mother was arranging your marriage, she borrowed seven dou of rice from me, promising two more dou as interest. Even though the marriage didn’t happen, do you think you can just not pay back the rice?”

　　“Granny, please give us a little more time…” The Johnson Family couldn’t bear to see her son embarrassed. Her husband had died early, and her son was her everything—she’d do anything for him.

　　Mrs. Clark snorted, “And how much time have I already given you? Lady Lu, don’t you dare act against your conscience!”