Chapter 640: Not a Well-Behaved Person

The next day was the weekend. That evening, Patrick Thorne came home, but Howard Thorne didn’t. He was a high school senior now, and with his intense study schedule, he only came back once a month. With Kelley Xavier tutoring him, his grades were improving quickly. On top of that, Kelley had voluntarily switched to the science track to make it more convenient to help him.

’In the book, Kelley Xavier was a liberal arts student, but this time she’d switched tracks completely. A top student, indeed. She could switch between liberal arts and sciences with ease, always coming in first no matter what.’

"That little vixen is a temporary worker at the textile mill?" Patrick Thorne asked. Jim Thorne had told him all about yesterday’s events as soon as he got home.

"The textile mill, that’s right. Your younger uncle said he was going to ask around about that vixen. Hmph. As if he needs to. I could tell with one look she’s no decent woman. Absolutely just like..." Phoebe Huxley cut herself off. The children were around; she had to be more discreet.

Patrick Thorne said, "I’m going into the city tomorrow. I’ll ask around then. A classmate of mine has connections at the textile mill, which will make it easier to get information."

Tang Xiaonan immediately thought of Ellie Ashton. "Patrick, is it Ellie Ashton?"

Patrick Thorne looked a little embarrassed and nodded. "Her aunt works at the textile mill. She’s the Women’s Director."

"Then hurry up and ask. Get the full story. Your foolish younger uncle has been completely bewitched by that vixen. The sooner you can make him give up, the better. Otherwise, she’ll lead him astray for sure," Phoebe Huxley urged.

’She absolutely did not want to be sisters-in-law with that vixen. This one was even worse than Rosalind Green.’

The next morning, Patrick Thorne headed into the city. He rode his younger uncle’s bicycle, first going to the town to pick up Ellie Ashton before they continued on to the city together. Ellie was very helpful, and as soon as she heard the matter concerned the future marriage of Patrick’s younger uncle, she readily agreed to help.

Patrick Thorne had another reason for this trip: to buy a house in the city. He planned on attending high school there, and the recent deal with the machinery factory had earned him quite a bit of money—more than enough for a house. His plan was to scout out some places first, and once he settled on one, he would have his parents come to the city to handle the deed transfer.

It was nearly evening when Ellie Ashton and Patrick Thorne returned. Tang Xiaonan called out warmly, "Hi, Ellie!"

"Nancy, you’ve gotten even prettier."

Ellie Ashton gently pinched Nancy’s cheeks, and her words made the little girl even happier. She loved it when people called her pretty—she was happy to hear it even if it was just insincere flattery.

The moment Phoebe Huxley saw Ellie Ashton’s dress and refined air, she knew she couldn’t be casual with her guest. And when she heard from Nancy that Ellie’s father was the Party Secretary of the city’s machinery factory, Phoebe was practically overwhelmed with flattery. That evening, she cooked a feast, using the very best ingredients the family had.

"It’s nothing special, not like what you eat in the city, but please, help yourself." Phoebe Huxley said with a broad smile, though her mind was already racing. ’This Party Secretary’s daughter gets along so well with Patrick. Maybe I could become in-laws with a Party Secretary one day! I’ll have to talk to Patrick later, tell him to spend more time with her. You have to nurture these things from the start!’

"You’re too kind, Auntie. This is better than what my family eats for the Lunar New Year!" Although Ellie Ashton was just being polite, the meal Phoebe Huxley had prepared was truly lavish. Her own family rarely ate so extravagantly; much of the time, they just ate at the factory cafeteria.

Phoebe Huxley was grinning from ear to ear. Her opinion of Ellie Ashton rose even higher. ’Pretty, sensible, and not stuck-up at all. What a wonderful girl.’

Patrick Thorne recounted what he had learned that day. "That woman, Beatrice, has a bad reputation at the factory. She slacks off on the job, argues with her coworkers, and she’s been through several boyfriends already."

In truth, there were some details Ellie Ashton’s aunt hadn’t felt comfortable sharing with someone so young—namely, that Beatrice had cohabited with her boyfriends. More than one of them. Plenty of people at the factory had seen it.

Ellie Ashton said earnestly, "My aunt said the factory has already decided to fire Beatrice. She’ll be gone in six months at the most. My aunt also said it would be best not to let her marry into your family. She’s not the type of person who will live a quiet, proper life."