A Heart for the Town, A Knife in My Back

1

"Sis, hurry to the Town Hall! The townsfolk are waiting for you there!"

I had just opened my phone to prepare for today's "Support Our Farmers" Livestream when my younger sister burst in, panting.

Thinking it must be about yesterday's payment issue, I handed her the phone. "Start the livestream in twenty minutes," I told her and rushed out the door toward the Town Hall.

The meeting room, usually quiet and nearly empty, was now packed. Every pair of eyes glaring at me was filled with resentment and hostility. Someone pointed a finger straight at me and began shouting.

"Jill Butcher, you ungrateful thing! Back when your family was dirt poor, weren't we the ones who loaned you money? And when you got into college, we organized that fundraiser for you! Every family in this town chipped in – some gave fifty dollars, others gave a hundred or more! And now that you've made something of yourself, you claim you're here to repay us, helping us sell our crops – apples, melons, everything, but instead, you're pocketing our hard-earned money! Jill, you're worse than a beast. Even animals wouldn't stoop this low!"

I stood frozen in confusion. Just yesterday, everything had been fine. How had things turned so ugly overnight?

Seated at the head of the table, my old friend, Caroline Thomas, spoke up, her voice cutting. "Jill, you've let us all down. Things have come this far, and you're still not admitting it?"

2

"Admit what?" I shot back, my voice rising. "Caroline, if anyone here knows me, it's you. How can you believe this nonsense?"

Caroline gave me a pitying frown.

"Jill, yesterday, a business partner called the Town Hall. They said you earn seven to eight thousand dollars per livestream, sometimes tens of thousands! Our apples, after accounting for packaging and shipping, sell for only $4 a pound. In two days, we sold 2, 000 pounds, and each household received just a few hundred dollars. So where's the rest of the money? Did you pocket it all?"

"Do we even need to ask?" another voice interjected. "She's a college graduate who's been out in the city for five years. She's bought a house, a car, and now she's planning to renovate her family's home. Of course, it's all with our hard-earned money! Jill, how could you be so heartless? Living it up on our hard-earned money – don't you worry about karma catching up with you, or choking on those fancy drinks of yours?"

As I scanned the room, I noticed Caroline smirking slightly, her arms crossed smugly over her chest. It was clear to me now – these people had been fed lies, and Caroline was behind it.

Our town was nestled deep in a remote, rural area. Even now, many older folks believed educating daughters was a waste of resources.

Back I was a child, my father was determined that I should get an education. "A girl needs to be educated if she wants to break free from this place and build a better life," he would always say.

Even after I was accepted into an Ivy League university, the townspeople still dismissed my education as useless, assuming I'd just get married and settle down.

When I returned to the town two months ago, my goal was to use my success to challenge those outdated beliefs and repay the community for their support back then.

But instead, it seemed I became a target of jealousy. Especially for Caroline.

3

Caroline's father has been the head of our town council for over thirty years. After finishing middle school, Caroline married someone from our town and was given a position as an accountant and community outreach coordinator for local women's affairs, courtesy of her father's influence.

Growing up, Caroline and I were inseparable, sharing everything as best friends. When I returned to town, I confided in her about my plans.

"Jill," Caroline had said curiously, "is livestreaming really that lucrative? Show me how it works – I'd love to try it myself!"

It was her father who had organized my fundraiser all those years ago, and I'd always remembered that kindness. Without much thought, I shared nearly everything with Caroline about how I managed my account and built my audience.

Three days ago, I had to close on my new house, which happened to be on the same day as a scheduled livestream. So, I asked Caroline to step in for me.

It seemed she thought that after filling in for just three days, she could push me aside and take over the entire operation.

I watched her now, feigning concern and heartbreak, while her furrowed brows barely concealed her true intentions.

"Caroline," I said coolly, "do you really think the money I used to buy my house and car came from exploiting the town's hard work?"

Caroline responded with a pointed tone. "And where else? If it weren't for everyone here supporting your education, you'd be just like me now – a mother of two kids."

She continued with a self-righteous air. "Jill, we may be friends, but when it comes to principles, I can't let this slide."

I asked, disappointed but calm, "What exactly do you all want?"

"You need to pay back the money you stole from us," she demanded. "And don't forget the slot fees either! If you don't return what you owe, don't even think about leaving this room!"

I let out a bitter laugh and took off my cap, tossing it onto the table.

"My account is something I built over eight years, bit by bit," I said firmly. "The slot fees? I charge those to outsiders, not to you. Do you think I charge you for damages? Do you think I don't pay my staff?"

I paused for a second, then went on, "Let me remind you, I paid out of my own pocket to turn the dirt roads around this town into asphalt so you could ship your apples faster! Where were you all then? Where were your complaints when I was spending my own money?"

The room fell silent.

Someone sitting to Caroline's right leaned over and whispered to her. "Caroline, why didn't you tell us any of this? You told us the town council paid for those roads. How could it actually be Jill?"

Just last night, after the livestream, I had poured my heart into sharing feedback with her, pointing out what could be improved and how to handle the next session better.

Yet, somehow, all the credit for the good I'd done had been conveniently claimed under the town council's name.

4

"Jill, what's the point of saying all this?" Realizing her scheme had been exposed, Caroline shot up, pointing a finger at me, her voice sharp with indignation. "Fixing a road for the town – something so minor – and you still feel the need to brag about it? Seriously?"

She crossed her arms, her voice rising. "You went to school all these years while the town supported your dad. So what if you give back a little time and money to the town? You earn ten grand per livestream, maybe a hundred grand a month. What you've spent on the town doesn't even make a dent in your wallet."

Caroline's words emboldened the villagers, and their murmurings turned into demands.

"You should be renovating houses for every family, Jill! And buy us all cars while you're at it!" one voice shouted.

"My son's getting married – why don't you lend me twenty thousand?" another chimed in.

"My grandson needs a house. Buy him one. And I'm sick and need fifty thousand for medical bills. You can cover that too!" someone else added.

Their entitlement was staggering, as if the money I had earned was theirs by default, like leaves falling from trees in autumn.

The truth was, I hadn't taken a single cent from them – in fact, I'd poured my own money into helping them. Yet, stirred up by Caroline, they believed I'd been exploiting them all along.

In that moment, I finally understood why, back in college, some of my classmates would mutter behind my back, "People from poor, remote towns are nothing but trouble."

To these people, money was everything, and they couldn't stand to see me better off than them.

They conveniently forgot that without me, their crops would have rotted in the fields like every other year, earning them nothing. They ignored the fact that without my funding to fix the roads, their town would still be inaccessible after every rain or snowstorm.

All the things I had done for free went unnoticed. The only thing they cared about was the money.

"Since you think I'm making so much money, I'll cancel every order for the unsold apples. I'll personally pay for all penalties and losses!" I declared. "As for the apples already sold, I have the transaction list. I'll pay each household eight dollars per pound, as agreed. But the money I earned? That has nothing to do with you!"

The moment I mentioned giving them money, their eyes lit up greedily. But inside, I felt hollow.

This was the town that once helped me when I needed it. And now, after paying them back a hundredfold, I owed them nothing more.

5

I turned to leave when someone's voice stopped me.

"Caroline, if Jill the ingrate won't sell apples for us anymore, will you?"

Caroline puffed out her chest with exaggerated confidence. "Of course! My dad's been the town leader for decades, always putting the people first. As part of this town, I'll absolutely step up to help everyone!"

"But Caroline," another voice interjected hesitantly, "what account are you going to use? I was scrolling through Jill's account the other day, and her follower count is huge. Plus, she gives away tons of gifts during her streams. Do you think we can sell anything without her audience?"

The person's voice wasn't loud, yet it brought the entire room to a sudden hush.

Caroline forced a smile, her tone saccharine as she turned to me. "Jill, since we're best friends, could you hand over your account to me? The town's support made you who you are today. Isn't it time to give back? Don't worry – I'll take good care of your account! You're a college graduate and a big influencer; I'm sure you can just start a new one!"

Before I could respond, my younger sister Rachel stormed in and positioned herself in front of me.

"Caroline, how shameless can you get? You want to act noble while stabbing my sister in the back?" Rachel spat. "For years, my sister's been providing food and essentials to seniors during the holidays. She's funded kids' education and even spent over twenty thousand fixing the roads. She's paid back the town ten times over! If you're so capable, then why don't you go create your own account!

Unlike me, Rachel hadn't gone to college and had stayed in town to support our parents. Honestly, she was much tougher than I ever was.

Her words left Caroline flustered, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Rachel, watch your mouth! You act like this town can't survive without your sister!"

My sister pulled me back home, and we tacitly agreed not to tell Dad about what had happened. We simply told him that live streaming wasn't a good idea right now.

That same day, Caroline started her own live-streaming account under her name. She talked herself hoarse for over three hours and barely made a handful of sales, most of which came from my followers.

With my schedule cleared, I decided it was a good time to start renovating our family house.

The next morning, I hadn't even gotten out of bed when my sister shook me awake. "Jill! The mayor of North Hollow wants your help selling apples!"

"Jill, I heard your town doesn't want you streaming for them anymore. Our town's apples and oranges aren't selling either. Could you help us by live-streaming to sell them?" the major asked.

Yesterday's events still left a sour taste in my mouth.

The mayor, noticing my hesitation, quickly reassured me. "Don't worry, Jill. Our town isn't ungrateful like that. We'll pay for packaging and shipping costs, and we'll handle all the customer service issues!"

His sincerity was a stark contrast to Caroline's father, the mayor of my own town, who hadn't said a word about his daughter's actions.

Before I could respond, Rachel piped up, "Jill, the people in North Hollow are really nice. If you're not sure, let's go check out their orchards first."

She also added, "Take your live-streaming equipment with you. If everything feels right, you can start streaming right there!"

6

I agreed to her suggestion.

After getting dressed and packing up my streaming gear, we headed to North Hollow.

The difference between the two towns was immediately clear.

In North Hollow, people greeted me with respect and admiration. Parents pointed me out to their kids, saying, "Study hard, so you can grow up and give back to the town like Jill does!"

From the town center to the orchards, everyone waved and said hello.

"You're earning money through hard work, Jill. We won't hold that against you! If you don't help us, we'll have to wake up at dawn and travel far to sell these apples for way less! You're talented; you've earned your success. We're not jealous!"

These words warmed my heart.

After walking through the orchards, I saw that their apples and oranges were in excellent condition. I decided on the spot to start a live stream.

Using giveaways to draw in viewers, I quickly boosted the audience to over 20, 000 in under 30 minutes. Then I began posting the sales links for their apples and oranges.

In just an hour and a half, over a thousand orders came through, selling seven to eight thousand pounds of their products.

The people of North Hollow were thrilled, scrambling to pick their fruits to fulfill the sudden demand.

The mayor insisted we stay for a celebratory meal, calling in the town's best chef to prepare a feast. My sister and I were treated like honored guests.

That afternoon, after returning home with full bellies, I was just settling in for a nap when loud shouting erupted from the courtyard.

"Jill, you vile woman!" Caroline stormed in with seven or eight burly men, her voice filled with rage. "You knew we were trying to sell our apples, and you deliberately went to North Hollow to sabotage us! Are you trying to ruin us?!"

I stood calmly and replied, "I have bills to pay. Why wouldn't I take an opportunity to earn money? I'd be stupid not to!"

I smirked. "Caroline, don't tell me you're mad because your live stream flopped?"

"Shut up! If you don't stream, we'll sell just fine!" she snapped.

"Fine," I said, shrugging. "I'll give you three days. After that, whether or not I stream has nothing to do with you."