“Don’t say that I’m kind-hearted. I don’t think I’m as kind as you think. I may not even extend a helping hand if a few of you faint from hunger at my door.
“Don’t think I’m obliged to be good to you and feed you. I’m not your parent. Why should I provide for you?
“If anyone dares to cause trouble for me again in the future, don’t blame me for being rude. If I can hang you from a tree today, I can do the same again.
“In fact, I won’t just hang you for a while. I’ll hang you from a tree for the rest of your lives. Don’t doubt me. I can do whatever I want.”
She did not want them to find her too gracious lest they thought they were blessed.
Upon hearing her words, everyone present did not doubt An Jiuyue was telling the truth. If anyone dared to offend her again, she would not mind hanging them up and preventing them from coming down ever again.
The group of men felt a chill run down their spines, and their hair stood on end.
They had always assumed An Jiuyue, a woman living with many children, would only be bullied. However, they had forgotten how she had survived alone with her children on the mountain.
“I don’t care about the clan genealogy book, but these people can forget about escaping from me. Don’t they like to run up the mountain? I’ll let them run as much as they want.
“Chief, Junior Officer, I’m preparing to build a straw shed near my treehouse and stock up on more firewood. I was just thinking that I’ll have to spend many days doing everything alone since there is no one to help me.
“But they came rushing over to help! I’ll have them stay and help me. What do you think?”
The Chief and the Junior Officer exchanged glances.
Although An Jiuyue’s words sounded unpleasant, that group of men provoked her. If the Chief and the Junior Officer agreed to it, the others had no right to object.
Besides, they did not want the villagers to think An Jiuyue was a pushover. Otherwise, they would come up the mountain and bully her.
Look at them! How could they have the cheek to ask An Jiuyue to plead on their behalf when their family members had come to steal her food?
Would An Jiuyue spare them countless times just because she saved them once?
The Chief and the Junior Officer were already embarrassed they did not speak up about this. Yet, these people had the cheek to plead for mercy. Would they continue acting if no one spoiled them anymore?
“Let’s do that,” the Junior Officer agreed. With that, it was decided.
“The issue regarding the clan genealogy book is the Chief’s decision. I can’t interfere with that. However, all of you have to help Jiuyue chop all the firewood! You will chop as much firewood as she wants!”
“That’s not a good idea, right?” The families objected to it.
Their children were hung up, and their hands were injured. How could they chop firewood? They were making things difficult for them.
They looked at the Chief, hoping he would uphold justice for them.
However, would the Chief still indulge them? They were too spoiled. If he continued to give in to them, they would become too self-centered!