Chapter 138

There was a girl who couldn’t take her eyes off something just over Jocelyn’s shoulder. When their gazes met, the girl pointed behind Jocelyn.

Puzzled, Jocelyn tumed around, only to see nothing there.

As school was about to let out, Uriah came to find them. His face was beaming with a joy he couldn’t hide. “Jocelyn, Ursula, the village’s throwing a potluck tonight. You should both come.”

“You look like you’ve struck a deal, Jocelyn surmised that nothing made Uriah happier than someone willing to invest in their village.

Uriah nodded with a smile. “Indeed, we have.”

“Congratulations!” Jocelyn said cheerily. The village’s going to keep getting better.”

“Absolutely,” Unah agreed with conviction. “It will.”

After he left, Jocelyn and Ursula packed up their things. Ursula mused, “Wonder who’s got such a kind heart.”

“Whoever it is, if they can improve the situation here, that’s all that matters. But you know, the beginning is always the hardest part. I just hope they’re serious and not just putting on a show, getting everyone’s hopes up only to let them down.”

“We’ll see tonight,” Ursula joked about sizing up the mysterious benefactor.

Jocelyn laughed. “To get rich, build roads first. If they can manage that, it’ll be a great start.”

Ursula sighed, “True. The road outside is practically impassable when it rains, and that old stone bridge at the entrance to village looks like it’s seen better days. I fear it might not last much longer

“And seriously, surrounded by these hills, I’ve been wondering what could actually boost the economy here,” Ursula added, knowing that a real physical economy was crucial for a village so behind the times

Jocelyn understood her concerns. “If we get the chance tonight, we’ll ask around. A person willing to come here and put money into road building certainly has some plans for development”

“Right”

They finished packing and returned to their temporary home, where the smoke from the village hall’s preparations wafted invitingly through the air. The weather was nice with the sun shining and not as cold as the days before.

With the holiday season just around the corner, the village was livelier than usual. Children paraded around in new clothes sent from parents far away, their faces glowing with satisfaction

wrapped in a cozy down jacket and wearing handmade warm wool slippers, took Ursula’s hand and

parked outside the village entrance, its tires caked with mud a testament to the difficulty of the journey it had undertaken. This must be the vehicle of their generous

feast, bringing out the best food they could offer, determined not to disappoint

poor, the village folk wouldn’t let

in picking vegetables while Ursula helped stoke the fire.

were hosting might change the fortunes of their

covered with plastic to keep the wind at

just awaited the arrival of their benefactor.

by her husband and a tall man in a black overcoat and crisp suit pants His presence was like a colorful bead dropped

as the man walked in, and Ursula nearly squealed in surprise. She kept glancing at Jocelyn, tugging at her sleeve, “Why

wanted to know just

Why?

at the head of the table, then quickly called Jocelyn and Ursula over. In

the spot,

events, Ursula whispered encouragingly, “Don’t freak out.”

She was

Chapter 138

took her seat at the far end of the

and other officials all sat with Melvin, Jocelyn and Ursula, while the rest of the

dine at.

a toast of tea instead of wine, welcoming Melvin and thanking Jocelyn and Ursula for

and laugh together, filling the space with a comforting harmony.

village hadn’t buzzed with such life in a

discussed the village’s situation and Melvin’s plans for

ན རྫ རྫ

agreed that fixing the roads was a priority. With good

nodded fervently, as road repairs were costly to be

seriousness, was now irresistibly captivating in people’s eyes

they discussed potential projects, Jocelyn and Ursula

the dinner, Melvin didn’t say a word to Jocelyn, not

with darkness settling

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