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, Urs, the vige’s throwing a potluck tonight. You should bothe.”
“You look like you’ve struck a deal, Jocelyn surmised that nothing made Uriah happier than someone
willing to invest in their vige.
Uriah nodded with a smile. “Indeed, we have.”
“Congrattions!” Jocelyn said cheerily. The vige’s going to keep getting better.”
“Absolutely,” Unah agreed with conviction. “It will.”
After he left, Jocelyn and Urs packed up their things. Urs 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,” Urs joked about sizing up the mysterious benefactor.
Jocelynughed. “To get rich, build roads first. If they can manage that, it’ll be a great start.”
Urs sighed, “True. The road outside is practically impassable when it rains, and that old stone bridge
at the entrance to vige looks like it’s seen better days. I fear it might notst much longer
“And seriously, surrounded by these hills, I’ve been wondering what could actually boost the economy
here,” Urs added, knowing that a real physical economy was crucial for a vige 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 ns for development”
“Right”
They finished packing and returned to their temporary home, where the smoke from the vige 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 vige was livelier than usual. Children paraded
around in new clothes sent from parents far away, their faces glowing with satisfaction
Jocelyn, wrapped in a cozy down jacket and wearing handmade warm wool slippers, took Urs’s
hand and headed to the vige hall together
From a distance, Jocelyn could see a green SUV parked outside the vige 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 visitor.
At Uriah’s house, everyone was contributing to the feast, bringing out the best food they could offer,
determined not to disappoint their guest.
Despite being poor, the vige folk wouldn’t let anyone eat poorly.
Jocelyn sat on small stools and joined thedies in picking vegetables while Urs helped stoke the
fire.
Everyone was busy, aware that the guest they were hosting might change the fortunes of their vige.
Tables were set up in the courtyard, covered with stic to keep the wind at bay
The food was ready, and now they just awaited the arrival of their benefactor.
Uriah’s wife went to fetch the guest. Before long she entered the courtyard followed by her husband
and a tall man in a ck overcoat and crisp suit pants His presence was like a colorful bead dropped
among in ones, distinctly striking.
Jocelyn couldn’t believe her eyes as the man walked in, and Urs nearly squealed in surprise. She
kept ncing at Jocelyn, tugging at her sleeve, “Why is he here?”
Jocelyn wanted to know just as much.
Why?
Urich seated Melvin at the head of the table, then quickly called Jocelyn and Urs over. In their eyes,
Jocelyn and Ursuta were also honourable guests to their vige.
Jocmyn felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.
stunned by the turn of events, Urs whispered encouragingly, “Don’t freak out.”
wasn’t scared. She was just shocked.
She took her seat at the far end of the bench with Urs beside her.
Uriah, the vige secretary, and other officials all sat with Melvin, Jocelyn and Urs, while the rest of
the viges wisely chose other
tables to dine at.
Uriah started the evening with a toast of tea instead of wine, weing Melvin and thanking Jocelyn
and Urs for their contributions to the vige’s children.
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The atmosphere lightened as the shy kids began to y andugh together, filling the space with a
comforting harmony.
The vige hadn’t buzzed with such life in a long time.
Jocelyn ate quietly, listening as they discussed the vige’s situation and Melvin’s ns for
sponsorship.
? ? ? ? ? ?
Melvin agreed that fixing the roads was a priority. With good transportation conditions, everything else
would follow.
Uriah nodded fervently, as road repairs were costly to be a top priority.
Melvin, brimming with chansma and seriousness, was now irresistibly captivating in people’s eyes
As they discussed potential projects, Jocelyn and Urs ate their meal in silence
Throughout the dinner, Melvin didn’t say a word to Jocelyn, not even a casual greeting.
After over two hours with darkness settling in, the meal finally ended.
Jocelyn and Urs wanted to help clean up, but the vige’s women insisted they rest and leave the
cleanup to themselves.
Reluctantly, Jocelyn and Urs departed.
When they left. Melvin was nowhere in sight Probably he had been back at the vige hall with the local
officials for further discussions
“Why’s he here? Urs was still trying to wrap her head around it.
Jocelyn didn’t have a clue either.
There were so many rural areas around. What were the odds he’d end up here?
“Do you think he followed your steps? Urs ventured a guess.
Without a second thought, Jocelyn shook her head, “No way.”
Never mind the state of their rtionship, the only people who knew she wasing here were her
parents. She hadn’t even told Harrison.
Maybe it really was just a coincidence?
For all they knew, Melvin might have just wanted to do some charity work, so as to give back to the
community?
“Hey look, that’s him.” Urs stopped in her tracks, nodding toward the figure ahead.
There, on the narrow path they had to take to get back home, stood Melvin. Tall and lean, his presence
was somehow entuated by the stark daylight that lent him an air of detachment.
Jocelyn took a deep breath and tightened her grip on Urs’s hand, “It’s okay.”
“He’s obviously here for you, Ursmented, “Aren’t you going to talk to him?
“What’s there to talk about?” Jocelyn genuinely didn’t think there was anything left to talk with him.
Urs didn’t push it further. Arm in arm, they started walking towards Melvin
They would have to pass right by him since the path was too narrow for anything else.