Chapter 3Grandma's Soup for the Villain's Soul

A moment later, the light in his eyes went out again.

Caleb shook his head and promised me: "Three days. I'll pay you back in three days."

After saying that, the boy scrambled up, not even bothering to say goodbye, and fled in panic.

Looking at his desolate back, I fell into deep thought.

"System, what is the situation with Caleb's family now?"

"I don't know." The System said honestly, "The original book glossed over his tragic youth."

I looked up at the sky speechlessly: "What use are you!"

Helpless, I had to ask around myself.

When neighbors mentioned Caleb, everyone had something different to say.

"He was originally a good kid, but unfortunately dragged down by his crazy mother."

"That brat, I kindly took him in to work before, but he ran away after working for less than two hours. What a piece of trash!"

"That's nothing. He stole my chicken the other day. I'll drag him to the magistrate sooner or later."

"..."

I keenly grasped a key point.

Maybe this was why Caleb was unwilling to stay and help.

Something was dragging him down, preventing him from focusing on work.

A fifteen-year-old boy with sound limbs forced into this state.

I didn't rashly go to Caleb's house but waited quietly for the third day.

I believed that the future Prime Minister who could cover the sky with one hand would not disappoint me.

Sure enough, Caleb arrived as promised.

The boy had changed into a clean shirt. Although patched, it was much neater.

He put a small piece of silver into my palm and bowed solemnly.

"Paid back in full."

I asked him: "Did you really go to the docks to carry bags?"

He didn't look like it.

Caleb seemed to have been spoken to about an embarrassing secret. His lips moved slightly, but he didn't respond for a long time.

I gave the silver back to him: "I don't want money from improper sources."

"No!"

Afraid I would misunderstand, he immediately retorted loudly: "This is what I got from copying books for the squire's son."

"Why didn't you do such a good job before?" My eyes glanced at his slender fingers.

Although rough and chapped, I could vaguely see thick calluses on the pads of his index fingers.

He had been secretly studying.

Without paper and pen, he carved on the ground with stones.

I suddenly probed: "It seems you are quite talented. How about I send you to study? If you pass the exams in the future, just provide for me in my old age."

"Are you willing to make this deal?"

Caleb looked up suddenly, his eyes full of disbelief.

But he quickly shook his head again.

"No, I don't like studying at all."