The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 674

Very few villagers in Ashford Vale could read before Natalie arrived. Literacy was almost nonexistent back then.

However, after Natalie and her team set up the school, they not only taught the children but also ran adult education classes for a while. So, most of the villagers could at least read basic documents now.

That was why the agreements Marcus had Elijah pass around were mostly understood. The terms were simple—every child in the village, regardless of gender, needed to attend school.

Parents were required to pay for tuition and living expenses. If they did not have money, they would have to sign a labor agreement. That meant they were expected to do whatever work Natalie's team assigned them to without complaint.

If you gave them an inch, they would take a mile. People like them would not appreciate help, so they could not be pampered. The more you gave them, the more entitled and unreasonable they became.

So, if kindness did not work, it was better to instil fear until it became a habit. That way, the next generation would be exposed to education and new ideas, growing up completely different from the villagers today. Daniel and Denzel were proof of that.

"Anyone who doesn't want to sign the papers should speak up now," Marcus said, his voice cold and emotionless as his gaze swept across the crowd.

"If you don't want to listen, take a good look at what happened to Maverick and that guy."

Marcus turned his eyes to the bruised and bloodied man still kneeling on the ground. "If anyone wants to join them, step right up."

No one moved, and the field went completely silent.

Elijah raised his voice. "If there are no objections, start signing."

"We have no problems. We'll sign! We'll sign!" someone finally said, breaking the silence.

The rest quickly echoed in agreement. Elijah handed out pens and copies of the agreement, and the villagers signed their names. Once the last signature was collected, Marcus gave Elijah a subtle nod and turned to leave without another word.

"Please, sir! Take the chip out of me!" the beaten man cried, clutching Elijah's leg as he wept miserably.

"I'm begging you. I was wrong! I won't act out again, I promise! I'll stay in line. I'll dig up herbs and earn money. I'll let my daughter go to school, and I'll keep quiet. I swear! I won't stir up trouble again. Please, the fear is going to keep me up at night."

Elijah raised a brow and let out a half-smile. "You're really that scared?"

"Yes, sir! I'm scared to death!"

"Alright, then. I'll take it out." Elijah crouched beside him. He did not bother with anesthetics and casually sliced open the man's thigh. With a flick of his blade, he dug out the tiny chip and held it up.

The man was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, but he exhaled with deep relief. "Thank you, sir. Thank you!"

Elijah stood and pointed toward the infirmary. "Go get it bandaged. And consider this a friendly reminder—Maverick still has a chip inside him. If you don't want him dragging you down with him, you'd better keep an eye on him."

Everyone nodded frantically. "Yes, yes! We'll watch Maverick! We'll definitely watch him!"

Elijah finally gave a satisfied nod. "Let this be burned into your heads—boys and girls are both your children. There will be no more prejudice. You will not sacrifice your daughters so your sons can benefit. Any so-called 'man' who relies on his sister's suffering to get ahead is nothing but trash.

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