"I can remember, I really can. Next time I will surely remember," Xun Hui hurriedly swore, "If I forget again... ah..." Before she could finish, she screamed in pain.
Yang Ruxin put away the dagger and took out a bottle. She sprinkled the medicinal powder inside onto the wound on Xun Hui’s hand: "This wound will scar. Whenever something happens, look at this scar and you’ll know what to do... My patience is limited; don’t exhaust it..."
Xun Hui’s eyes were originally filled with tears of sorrow—her daughter had actually stabbed her. But now, tears flowed from the searing pain. The wound itself wasn’t that painful, a mere bleeding scratch, something that happened often. However, after the powder was applied, the bleeding stopped, but the pain was excruciating.
"Mother, you’re the type who forgets the pain once the wound heals," Yang Ruxin was not a bit tender, "So now I’ve given you a scar to serve as a reminder. Look at it when you forget, otherwise, I really worry you might end up being sold and still help your buyer count the money."
"Fine..." Although Xun Hui was crying and sniffling, she nodded her head, but still managed to force a smile, "I’m just a widow now, who would sell me?"
"Don’t you know that wives are in demand in the big mountains?" Yang Ruxin slightly raised her eyebrows, "A widow like you who has borne children is quite valuable. I’ve heard that those with good looks can sell for up to ten pieces of silver, and even the less attractive ones can fetch eight. Shared among several brothers, they’ll want you for bearing children..." She assessed Xun Hui up and down, "You’re pretty, and have a good figure, I guess ten pieces of silver wouldn’t be a problem..."
Xun Hui took a step back: "Xinxin, you..." Her complexion turned somewhat pale, even her lips began to tremble.
"I’m not trying to scare you, do you think those people in the old house never thought of it?" Yang Ruxin sneered, "Last time you fainted, Feng Caie almost sold me to the brothel. Later, I heard them discussing that if you woke up, they would sell you and us sisters into the mountains... Do you think I’m desperately trying to sever ties with the Yang Family for no reason? Because I don’t want to be sold, do you understand?"
"Xinxin..." Tears fell once more from Xun Hui’s eyes.
"Don’t cry!" Yang Ruxin frowned and shouted sharply. She was extremely annoyed by the frequent tears; it’s true that women are made of water, but too much crying is just irritating.
Xun Hui hiccuped and really stopped crying.
"Do they ever consider family affection?"
"Xinxin, mother was wrong, truly wrong. I will definitely remember," Xun Hui said, wiping the powder from the back of her hand, "If I forget again in the future, I do not deserve to be your mother..."
"Here’s a task for you, can you do it?" Yang Ruxin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You say..." Xun Hui nodded with tears, "Even if it costs me my life, I will do it."
"You don’t need to risk your life," Yang Ruxin waved her hand dismissively. "Yang Ruyu won’t give up easily. She will still try every possible way to find you, to win your sympathy. What I ask of you is to feel sorry for her but never agree to anything she asks. Push it all onto me, got it?"
Xun Hui nodded vigorously.
"But you must remember every word she says and report back to me. And most importantly, never go anywhere alone with her, not even into the village. You must remember this, or if you really get sold, I won’t be able to find you... Then you can go to the mountains and be a sow, being mounted by several men in one night, bearing litter after litter of children, and not even know who the father is..."