Chapter 103

Summer was also awakened by the gunshot.

But she only woke up for a moment, changed her sleeping position, and quickly fell asleep again.

She woke up at her usual time in the early morning.

Summer sat up in bed, stayed awake for a while, then got up to tidy her bed. As she was tidying, her gaze fell on the empty bed in the middle. She was a bit surprised—Sophia was up earlier than her today.

But this wasn't something too unusual.

Summer didn't pay much more attention, quickly finished tidying her bed, got dressed, braided her hair, and carried her washbasin outside to freshen up.

Logan had already finished brushing his teeth.

Summer greeted him with a "Good morning" and squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush.

As she brushed, her eyes wandered around aimlessly until she noticed someone standing outside the yard.

Their yard was surrounded by a picket fence, so anyone passing by could be seen.

Summer looked carefully while brushing her teeth and saw that it was Sophia standing outside.

She finished brushing her teeth and rinsed her mouth.

Puzzled, Summer casually asked, "What is she doing outside so early?"

She didn't expect Logan to respond, nor did she think Logan would know the reason.

But Logan replied, "Henry went out in the middle of the night and hasn't returned yet."

Hearing this, Summer was stunned and looked at Logan.

Logan had already washed his face and, after saying this, carried his washbasin back to the dormitory.

Summer snapped back to reality, quickly washed her face, and carried her washbasin back to the dormitory to apply some lotion. Then she went out again to chop wild vegetables with Logan to feed the chickens.

She quietly asked Logan, "Did you hear someone setting off fireworks in the middle of the night?"

Logan, chopping wild vegetables, said, "I heard it, but it probably wasn't fireworks."

Nobody sets off fireworks for no reason, especially in the middle of the night. Fireworks aren't cheap; they are usually saved for New Year's celebrations.

Summer thought for a moment while watching Logan and then asked, "Could it have something to do with Henry?"

Before Logan could reply, the alarm rang in the boys' dormitory, and the others started getting up one after another.

Seeing them coming out of the dormitory, Summer and Logan didn't continue the conversation.

They finished chopping the wild vegetables and mixed in some cornmeal before feeding the chickens.

Meanwhile, the three male volunteers who had just come out of the dormitory started chatting while washing up.

"Where are Henry, Charlie, and Gabe? Why aren't they in the dormitory?"

"No idea, maybe they went out early."

"Did they go digging for wild vegetables?"

The mention of digging for wild vegetables left everyone feeling uneasy.

Lily, noticing Sophia standing outside the yard, changed the topic and asked, "What is she doing outside so early?"

Grace, who had many grievances against Sophia, glanced outside and replied irritably, "Who knows, who cares?"

Saying they didn't care, they indeed didn't care.

The six of them finished washing up and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Although they were holding a grudge, they still prepared breakfast for ten people.

Summer and Logan naturally cooked for the two of them, not interfering with the others.

Halfway through cooking, they suddenly heard Sophia call out, "Henry!"

Hearing the shout, those in the kitchen stood up, some craning their necks to look outside.

Soon, Henry, Charlie, and Gabe entered the yard.

But they didn't come back alone; several villagers followed them, led by Ken, the militia captain, holding a rifle. The others were also from the militia.

Looking closely, they saw that Henry, Charlie, and Gabe had their hands tied behind their backs.

Realizing something was wrong, Lily and the other five hurried out of the kitchen, including the male volunteer, Billy, who had been tending the fire. He threw a lot of branches and hay into the fire before leaving.

Logan stayed by the stove, tending the fire.

Summer didn't leave the kitchen either but stood by the window, looking out at the yard.

Ken was furious, and Lily and the others didn't dare to speak up.

Ken pushed Henry, Charlie, and Gabe into the dormitory, had their hands untied, and ordered, "Pack your things!"

The others dared not show any expression, quietly following into the dormitory without making a sound.

Although they were eager to know what had happened, no one dared to ask.

Sophia, however, approached Ken and asked, "Captain Ken, what's going on?"

"What's going on?" Ken glanced at Sophia, then swept his gaze over the other volunteers.

After scanning them, he said in a stern voice, "You all better watch and listen carefully! These three were caught red-handed stealing grain from the village warehouse last night! From today, they will be publicly shamed and sent to labor reform! Any of you who dares to touch the village's or anyone else's property will face the same fate!"

Hearing Ken's words, Lily and the others seemed to shrink in size.

They held their breath, their faces full of fear.

Sophia, too, was completely panicked, her eyes welling up with tears.

This time was different from before. Previously, when they made mistakes, the worst that happened was a public criticism meeting where they were scolded. Maybe Henry would be criticized on stage.

But this time, they were to be publicly shamed and sent to labor reform!

Unable to hold back, Sophia pleaded with Ken, "Captain Ken, we did it because we had no food left. The village wouldn't allow us to advance our rations. If they weren't desperate, they wouldn't have done such a thing. Please forgive them this time; it won't happen again. We'll eat wild vegetables instead."

Ken glanced at her, then at the others, and suddenly said sternly, "We are already being lenient by only holding these three accountable! If you keep talking, you'll all be sent to labor reform!"

Ken's harsh words made Lily and the others shudder.

Hearing this, Sophia's body also trembled, especially her lips. Her eyes filled with tears as she pressed her lips together, not daring to speak again.

Henry, Charlie, and Gabe had already packed their bedding.

Sophia, tears streaming down her face, looked at Henry helplessly and called his name, "Henry…"

But Henry didn't seem to be affected much.