The people of Northbrook had long been hardened by .


    Even if the world forget about them , they knew how to fend for themselves.


    Theyd hail the gods on makeshift carts to sell in the neighboring city It wasnt enough to make them rich , but in kept food on the table .


    Hard work was just part of the deal .


    But this year , the relentless downpours had caught everyone off guard .


    No one had been prepared for the sheer force of the storms .


    dece kept her stance low key , and even when she was injured , she didnt make a fuss .


    The gathered fruit farmers exchanged nces , hesitating Then , a few younger ones finally booke the Three days .


    Just three days , Shes a streamer .


    Maybe she really can help The others still looked uneasy , but in the end , they nodded .


    Mandy red or tocheck Graces injuries , but she shook her head .


    Im fine .


    Fine ? Not a chance .


    Her entire back was probably bruised The Grace had already pulled back the p of a tent belonging to some of the younger farmers and stepped inside , issing instructions as she went .


    Send a message to every single customer who ced an order , she told Mandy .


    Tell them personally inspected the orchards and found that Northbrook apples are sweeter .


    Were switching the shipment to Northbrook apples .


    If theyre okay with that , well ship .


    If not , they can request a refund .


    Mandy frowned Why send that message ? Weve got over to thousand orders lined up .


    If we just ship them out , no one will know the difference between Southbrook and Northbrook apples .


    We could sell over 20 thousand pounds in an instant .


    Besides , Northbrook apples taste great anyway .


    Grace caught sight of the younger farmers , whose faces were burning with anger .


    She quickly cur Mandy off .


    For the people of Northbrook , pping a Southbrookbel on their apples is an it .


    Back then , Southbrook treated them like outcasts , pushing them our of the circle of prosperity like a bunch of bandes .


    And now if they let their apples ride on Southbrooks reputation , its no different than groveling Like they said , theyd rather let their apples for on the ground .


    Some people in this would clung stubbornly to their principles , no matter the cost just liker the people of Northbrook .


    Their elders never bowed their heads .


    Naturally , neither would the younger generation .


    That unyielding pride ran through their veins .


    Some might call them foolish , but having a code to live by wasnt such a bad thing .


    At least they werent like the people of Southbrook , who repaid kindness with betrayal .


    The young farmers beside them lit up at Graces words .


    Exactly ! My mom always said we should never ride on Southbrooks cortails .


    You have no idea how disgusting they were decades ago .


    People died because of them .


    Even our most respected His voice choked up .


    The chief was killed .


    My mom was only a teenager back then .


    She always said he was a highly educated man from a top university .


    But instead of chasing a cushy city job , he chose toe here , determined to help us build a better life .


    It was his idea to start growing apples in the first ce .


    Back then , Brookfield wasnt split to Southbrook and Northbrook yer .


    But then a Southbrook official took all the credit for the apple industry and kept getting promoted , rank after rank Everyone was furious and wanted to set the record straight , but the chief told them to let it go .


    As long as people could make a living , that was all that mattered .


    But soon after , Southbrookpletely shut us out .


    They cklisted our apples .


    The chief went to negotiate for our rights , but before the meeting even started , he was beaten to death with arake .


    Southbrooks government paid his family a measly 300 bucks inpensation .


    Three hundred dors .


    That was the price they put on a mans life a man who had given up everything for his people .


    Only now did Grace truly understand how Northbrook hadendured all these years .


    How could the older generation ever let go of such a grudge ! The young man wiped his eyes .


    The chief was only in his 20s back then .


    With his background , he couldve lived like a king in the city .


    wa rock and This nele , who was still in the city when she got the news , jumped in her car and drove straight to Southbrook , determined to take him home .


    Bet on the way , someone thera shattered her windshield .


    She crashed and died too .


    Graces fingers curled tighter around the apple in her hand .


    Even her breathing felt heavy .


    Mandy couldnt hold back anymore , and her face was red with rage .


    e you kidding me ? What kind of monsters are they ? Did the murderer at least get the death penalty ? The young man lowered his eyes , pressing his lips ingethe .


    They were 10 years old .


    Twelve years old .


    Achild that age was still was still too young to face real punishment .


    They wouldve just been sent to juvenile reform .


    Mandy trembled , her chest heaving with fury .


    Then , the suddenly realized she had suggested repackaging Northbrook apples as Southbrooks just moments ago .


    Shame burned through her .


    Im sorry I didnt know .