Serving

Juxiang wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "I'm done eating too. I'll go get someone now."

"Alright, I'll go back to the room."

Juxiang slowly walked to the kitchen and saw Madam Wang, Madam Liu, Madam Ma, and Tian Zhuangzhu sitting under the eaves at the kitchen door. Juxiang said, "Grandma, Auntie, go clean up the table! You can eat the leftovers." With that, she turned around and left without waiting for them to reply.

Madam Wang complained again, "You remember that I'm your grandmother and you dare to order me around. I think you're itching for a beating…"

Before she could utter even more unpleasant words, one could hear Madam Wang kneeling on the ground and kowtowing in Wunian and Juxiang's direction. "I was wrong. I realize my mistake. Give me another chance!"

Madam Wang's face was pale with fear. Madam Liu and Madam Ma now knew that even Juxiang could not be scolded.

It was only when there was blood on her forehead that Madam Wang slowly relaxed. She sat on the ground clutching her chest as she panted heavily. Madam Liu and Madam Ma quickly went to the dining hall to clean up the dishes.

Wunian sat on the bed and meditated. When she heard Juxiang enter, she opened her eyes and said,

"Get them to bring in water for you later on to wash up."

"Little Sister, is this a good thing to be doing? After all, they're elders."

"There's nothing good or bad about it. Compared to how they had abused us for more than ten years, this is nothing. I didn't take their lives, nor did I physically abuse them. I'm just getting them to do housework!"

"Little Sister, I understand! We'll do as you say."

Before dawn the next day, the souls of Madam Wang, Madam Liu, Madam Ma, and Young Madam Wang were devastated by Wunian's divine whip, causing the four women to wake up in fright.

Using a voice transmission technique, Wunian beckoned them to the main residence. Wunian sat in the high position in front of the hall and watched them filing in.

She said, "Let me tell you now. There is an addition of 10 pigs in the pigpen. Including the original three, there are now 13 pigs in the pigpen. You are to serve them three meals a day! When you wash the garments belonging to my elder sister and I, you are to scrub them with your hands. You are not to put them on rocks to beat them or pull at them. You are to serve fine rice and grains for our three meals every day. The vegetables have to be the freshest and most tender. The meat and vegetables have to be nutritionally balanced. The ground I walk on has to be spotless. I don't like people who talk too much, no matter who they are. Listen carefully. I won't repeat myself. If you don't do your chores or don't do them well, the consequences will get worse each time. The punishment will fall on everyone, no one can escape. Also, I like quietness. Do you understand?"

"Understood, understood," the four of them replied in unison.

"You may go, if you've understood. You may organize things among yourselves. I care only about the outcomes." Wunian spoke slowly and calmly as if she was a pushover.

The sky was still dark by the time the four of them walked out of the house.

Young Madam Wang said in a low voice, "I've never done any housework. I will have to rely on Aunty, Grandma and Mother for the performance of these tasks."

Madam Wang protested, "How can an old woman like me do anything? I have to rely on all of you!"

Seeing this scene, Madam Ma knew that everyone was trying to pass the buck! "If you all don't want to do it, I won't either. We can all suffer together."

Madam Liu chipped in, "Then let's all not do any of the chores!"

Not long after, the northeastern skies were turning bright. It was almost dawn, and the four of them had not dared to go to sleep, but neither were any of them willing to do the chores.

In the chicken shed, the rooster began to crow like a death warrant.

Eventually, unable to take the fear in her soul last night, Madam Wang became the first to cave.

At such a critical moment, Madam Wang did not indulge Young Madam Wang and walked out with the younger woman in tow. Madam Liu and Madam Ma each carried two baskets of vegetables to the field.

Juxiang woke up and saw that Wunian was still asleep. She quietly got dressed and got out of bed. The moment she opened the door, she saw Yuelan standing at the door, carrying a basin of warm water.

"What is this for?"

"Wunian said that we sisters have to serve you."

Juxiang didn't stand on ceremony with her and said calmly, "Alright, bring the water in!"