The Sterquil was surprised by his neighbor's refusal to help.
Isn't he known for being incredibly helpful? Eight thousand means nothing to him, yet he ignores the significant river pollution and refuses to assist me! What kind of person is he? The refusal angered him, causing him to see the neighbor as a hypocrite and a liar.
Even other villagers are starting to view him with suspicion, acknowledging the validity of my argument. Given his large house near the river and the waste, it seems more reasonable for him to take responsibility for waste disposal rather than relying on others in the village for assistance.
"In recent years, I'm unsure about the neighbor's business ventures, but his conditions have improved. He built a big house, got several cars, and now lives beyond what most villagers can afford. This money is truly insignificant for him!" the Sterquil exclaimed.
Lilly questioned angrily, "Does he owe you anything?" The Sterquil nodded. "He doesn't owe me, but the river belongs to the village. Shouldn't he use his wealth to help? If he can, he should contribute and take responsibility. | would do my part if my family had the money!" Lilly was left speechless once again after hearing his explanation. She countered, "You created the waste. It's only fair for you to own up. Why pretend you're making a sacrifice?" The Sterquil didn't entirely agree. This house isn't for me. It's built for my mother, for the whole family. I'm not doing anything wrong.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLilly suppressed her disgust. This behavior is repulsive, much like eating poop.
"Go on," she said.
The Sterquil gave her a puzzled look. She isn't the Ruler of Hell, but her attitude resembles that of the Ruler of Hell more than the actual Ruler of Hell.
He continued, "No one is willing to help me, and | can't handle it. What can | do?" After a rain followed by hot weather, the waste pile behind his house started to emit an even more unpleasant odor. Unable to tolerate it any longer, he thought deep down, They should step aside if no one helps me address this issue.
So, the Sterquil declared, 'Please accept my sincerest apologies. I'm genuinely sorry, but | can't handle it. The waste pile is getting smellier, and | have no choice but to shovel it into the river and let it wash away. It's not what | want, but I'm helpless..." The villagers deemed him shameless. The village chief and a few villagers visited him several times to discuss the matter.
Despite unanimously disagreeing with his decision to dump waste into the river, no one stepped up to assist the Sterquil.
Only the village bully approached him privately and assured him of support for his decision.
He set a final deadline for the villagers, but they doubted him. They believed he was attempting to manipulate them, expecting his neighbors to step in and take responsibility.
As days passed, it continued until the designated day, yet no one assisted him in handling the issue. Frustrated, he donned several layers of masks, grabbed a shovel, and shoveled the waste into the river.
The villagers were shocked by his actions! The Sterquil shouted, "They never thought I'd do it!" Despite being scolded, he remained unfazed and asserted that he pledged to shovel a little each day as the waste pile was enormous.
As the criticism heightened, he argued that the waste consisted of construction materials and wouldn't cause pollution.
Someone countered, warning that the construction waste could obstruct the river, drying it up and leaving the villagers without water.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"That's not my concern," the Sterquil retorted. "Anyway, | won't be living in this village anymore." He made it clear that he wouldn't leave any descendants here.
After a few days of shoveling waste, he felt a sense of relief. Unconcerned about the consequences, he believed he had fulfilled his part. The village descended into chaos, and his neighbor condemned him in various ways.
The Sterquil smirked. "It's not easy for me; my neighbor is also struggling. He's being criticized for being unwilling to contribute such a small amount. Haha... His reputation in the village has been greatly damaged.” "There is unrest at his home, and even his wife is unsure about the situation. She begs him to pay the money, stressing its insignificance, especially considering the vital importance of the village river." The Sterquil relished a sense of satisfaction.
"Let's see if he'll persist in pretending. His usual facade of kindness has finally been exposed, and now even his wife is beginning to harbor doubts." Lilly clenched her teeth in frustration and accused, "You despicable person! The river is a resource for all the villagers. Don't you care if it dries up? What about the shame your descendants might face after you're gone?" The Sterquil shook his head dismissively. "I don't have any descendants; even if | did, they could deal with it." Why should | care if the river dries up in the future? In a decade or so, my offspring may still be expressing remorse. As time goes by and the older generation has passed on, their descendants might conveniently deny any wrongdoing, pointing fingers at the neighbors and asserting that our family was not at fault.
What's there to be afraid of? Lilly's tone turned icy as she questioned, "So, how did you die?" The Sterquil's once-smug expression froze, replaced by a sense of anger, and he couldn't shake the feeling that fate had dealt him an unfair hand.
"| toiled under the scorching sun, enduring the hardship... Who would have anticipated a sudden downpour after a month of clear skies?" The rain persisted, unleashing a year's precipitation in just one or two days.
As a consequence, a flash flood ensued. It surged down, carrying all the waste into his house—not just the waste he had shoveled into the river but also the refuse behind the house that he hadn't managed to clear, all inundating his home.