Older generations were usually simple and unpretentious, and Macey was no exception. Although Felicia had bought her many things, she couldn't bear to part with her old possessions. Before them sat an old table and old plates; the dishes were unadorned, the meal simple home cooking—nothing exquisite.

This shabbiness irked Arnold, accustomed to a life of luxury. He couldn't muster an appetite, his disdain evident in a slight frown. Felicia, concealing nothing, said coldly, "You can leave now. I won't see you out."

Macey was surprised by Arnold's abrupt departure, but a moment's thought revealed the reason, prompting a soft chuckle. Arnold left.

As he exited the neat little house, laughter drifted out. His expression was complex, even irritable. That evening, he'd surprised even himself. He'd stopped Olivia from troubling Felicia, inexplicably joined them for dinner, and even introduced himself to Macey as Felicia's fiancé.

Arnold cursed under his breath. He refused to admit this was his own doing; it had to be Matthew's influence, forcing him to claim Felicia. This irrational behavior would not be repeated. He wouldn't meddle in Felicia's affairs again.

With Arnold gone, Felicia enjoyed her meal, content. Macey inquired about her recent situation; Felicia simply replied that everything was fine.

Macey sighed. "You're just trying to make me feel better!"

Felicia smiled. "Nana, you should be enjoying life at your age. Don't worry so much. By the way, did you take the medicine I sent for your leg?"

"I did! I'm all better now, don't worry," Macey replied.

They were tidying the table when a commotion erupted outside. Felicia lifted the curtains to see villagers arriving, bustling with activity and carrying goods. Upon seeing Felicia, they rushed over, beaming.

"Licia, it's really you! Oh, we've missed you so much!"

"Licia, here's a scarf I knitted for you! It'll be cold soon. The pattern is simple, I hope you don't mind!"

"Licia, this basket of strawberries is for you. I picked the biggest ones this afternoon from the greenhouse!"

Their voices overlapped, a wave of gifts and warmth engulfing Felicia. She accepted everything with gratitude, showering them with compliments, their laughter growing louder. After pleasantries, she declined their invitations to visit and they departed in small groups.

Looking at the mountain of gifts, Felicia joked, "Every time I come back, I'm treated like this. I'm going to get spoiled by all these presents!"

Macey replied, "That's only right. You've invested so much in the village over the years—building schools, repairing roads, and improving agricultural production so that every household has an income. They're grateful, so it's only natural."

A few years ago, Alverton was impoverished and backward, lacking roads and leaving only the elderly and neglected children. Life was harsh. But Felicia remembered the villagers' past kindness and, through her efforts, single-handedly revitalized the village. She invested heavily in building roads and a large greenhouse. The resulting income brought back the middle-aged couples who had worked in the city, reunited families, and provided children with a school.