Sweat dripped down the handsome face of a man swinging a hoe over the hard ground where cucumbers, pumpkins, and several other fruits would be planted.
The sun was quite stinging; there was no umbrella to block the evil sunlight all over his body because he was alone in the middle of a deserted and arid field. There were only deciduous plants, a drought because it had not rained in the last few weeks.
Thony White's father-in-law deliberately asked him to work on the fields, making plant paths so that if it rained, he could immediately plant fruit seeds. But the hoe he swung sometimes couldn't even cut through the rock-hard ground.
"Huh, it's hot today." David looked up, looking up at the blazing sky.
He fixed the straw hat on his head, blocking out the light as best he could so as not to burn his face.
"Cheers, David! To get Elijah as a complete wife, you must finish this work immediately."
David Brown, the man. He was a poor man who married a daughter from a White family. The family rents five hectares of fields which are used to grow corn, fruits, and also some wheat.
The White family can be said to be a wealthy family because the land price in Fok's village is relatively high. If the villagers rent the land, they will be proud and feel the richest. It made David wonder about their bad qualities.
They were not rich to him, but there was one richer than all the villagers, namely the owner of all the land the residents rented. His name is still being kept a secret even though he is said to be a young, diligent and handsome man. Many girls admire him even though no one has ever seen his face.
Silly girls!
Before long, several people passed at the same time. They carried a woven bamboo basket in which to carry freshly harvested corn.
"Look, isn't that the son-in-law of the White family? His body is filthy; he has never shone since the first time he got married because every day it is baked in the sun," said Caroline Miller, a woman who also rents some land in this village.
In addition, she is also still a single woman because she intends to become the woman who owns all the land in this village. That's why even though she had just walked from her house to the shop next door, she was already dressed up like she would attend the president's son's wedding.
"True, he is only a son-in-law on paper. David Brown is a man who still owes a dowry to the Whites. That's why I heard the news; Elijah is tired of him and no longer serves him like husband and wife."
"Poor man. Already a servant in the fields, he also lost the love of his wife."
"Yes, I'm sure Elijah will soon turn away. And before the dowry is paid off, Elijah will have to marry another man."
They laughed as they walked away, leaving David, who could hear what they were saying, but he frowned.
"Married again? With whom?" David asked himself silly. "Elijah is my wife, whether she loves me or not. No one will be able to take it from me. Because I'll never let him." The man shook his head slowly as he continued to hoe the ground to level.
Until David realized someone was coming from behind. "You better hurry up and finish your work! Your child is crying at home, and you are still here! The other farmers have left the fields; you're still lazing around here?! Useless son-in-law!"
David straightened, then looked to the side. "Ah, Mother? What are you doing here?" she asked with a sweet smile.
Esme snorted; the reddish-white-faced woman looked very annoyed whenever she faced her son-in-law.
"You've been my son-in-law for five years! But look at your work; it's still a mess!" Esme also deliberately destroyed the order of the path that had been made by David as if to vent her frustration. "If this continues, how will I profit? I'm sorry I made you son-in-law, David Brown!"
David Brown couldn't help but stare at his mother-in-law's annoyance. His gaze was still gentle; his smile was small and could not make his handsome face blemish.
"Go home! You studied the book again to make a good and right plant path in the library! I don't want your work tomorrow to be this bad!" Esme shouted in annoyance, causing David to drop his shoulders with a short sigh.
Unsteadily he walked away, leaving the field and down the gravel-strewn path. The tall, burly man seemed to be kicking pebbles with a tired face, but he still smiled even though what he passed was a group of mothers who liked to gossip about him.
He deliberately stayed away from the crowd, too lazy to listen because it would only make his earshot.
Not long after, David arrived at a house. From outside, he already heard the voice of his little son raging until he swung faster towards the door and saw Aciel Brown crying and struggling in his mother's lap.
"You're lying, Mom! Dad is an amazing man! He's not a coward!" His little son screamed that he heard, making him gasp for breath.
"But your father wasn't rich; he was just a farmer." Arnav Wilson spoke up.
The man who was Elijah's cousin looked proud of his status. Especially when she saw David in the doorway, she got even more excited.
"All right, boy. Don't cry for your father; it will only be in vain. Come here, let's come to Uncle. Uncle will take you to town later and buy a lot of toys," asked Arnav, but Aciel hugged Elijah's body tightly.
"I don't want to! Uncle will only talk! Uncle will mock and badmouth my father when I'm with you!"
"I can do it for you anyway." David greeted immediately, walking briskly toward his little son and wife until Aciel's gaze fell on him, and he screamed with puffy eyes.
"Dad! Why did you just come home? I've been waiting for you for a long time!"
David smiled, grabbing his handsome son into his arms. Meanwhile, Elijah had turned his face and shifted his seat from there, not wanting to help calm his son anymore.
"New dad from the field, sorry dad's late. What makes this great father hero cry now, hmm?" David asked while kissing his son's forehead.
"My friends say that my father is a coward for not being able to take me out of town in the car and around. I'm offended to hear that. I know my father was a great man. My father was the most extraordinary man in the village. Dad can take me to the city in a fancy car, right? Help me show it to my friends!" said Aciel with a hopeful face.
David smiled while Elijah shook his head stupidly with a tired look at his son's overly high demands. As for Arnav, smiling lopsidedly because he already knew that David's answer was no, because he couldn't.
"Of course, Dad will bring a luxury car in front of you. When do you want? Just say it."
Elijah turned quickly, then shouted. "David, don't be crazy!"