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Chapter Sixteen

“Hah? An elder? What kind of elder snatches work from his juniors and forces them into a corner where they can’t survive?”

Bi Chunliu hadn’t originally intended to tie Third Uncle up with a rope, but just in case—why not prepare? Even if he looked weak, what if she couldn’t overpower him and he turned the tables instead?

Third Uncle leapt up, trying to dodge back.

Bi Chunliu curled her lips into a smile.
“Third Uncle, your niece isn’t hard to get along with, but even a rabbit will bite when cornered. If you won’t give me a way to live, then I have no choice.”

By now, Bi Xiahe had already slipped outside and latched the door from the outside, pulling Bi Qiuguo with her. Their eldest sister clearly knew what she was doing with Third Uncle—better not to interfere.

“Bi Chunliu, you dare?! I’m your Third Uncle! If you dare touch me, I’ll make sure you regret it! Your grandma won’t let you off either! Ow—”

Third Uncle’s threats broke off into a scream as Chunliu’s rope cracked down on him.

What a noisy bastard. Chunliu sneered inwardly. Had she spent all those years in the martial arts school for nothing? Why else would she still be spry and strong in her seventies, in her past life? She had wanted to deal with Third Uncle for a long time. When her parents were alive, he shamelessly begged them for benefits; after they died, he wanted to take their job? How thick-skinned can you get?!

Third Uncle never expected his usually dull niece to have such skill. After three or five lashes, he was already disoriented, cursing the warm weather—if he’d worn thicker clothes, the rope wouldn’t sting so badly. At heart he was always a coward, or else he would have left the village years ago with his second brother to seek work. Now he stumbled around, yelling for help.
“Eldest Niece, Eldest Niece, let’s talk! Stop hitting, stop! Third Uncle doesn’t want the job anymore, okay?”

Chunliu lashed him twice more.
“Don’t want it anymore? You’re not trying to trick me, are you?”

Third Uncle dared not imagine what his backside looked like now. The girl—where had she learned this? She even controlled the angle of the strikes. He thought his face would get hit, so he could go complain later, but except for the first lash across his back, every single stroke landed right on his rear. How could he explain that?
“No, no! How could Third Uncle deceive you?” he babbled. A wise man knows when to bow. Right now, this girl’s too fierce—I have to placate her. My life matters most.

Chunliu’s voice stayed calm:
“Third Uncle, your niece doesn’t like violence either. You know I’ve always been quiet since childhood. But even quiet people have their breaking point. Next time you want something, think twice. I’m barefoot now—I’m not afraid of those in shoes. Worst case, I’ll just give the job straight to Weiguo, then drag you to meet my parents in the afterlife. Either way, the job stays in Weiguo’s hands, and Grandma won’t object. Don’t you agree, Third Uncle?”

As she spoke, she casually brought the rope down and snapped the tall stool he’d been sitting on, splitting it down to the height of a low one. The broken piece of wood she flicked across the room, hitting the door with a sharp bang.

Third Uncle: !!!

Fear clenched his gut. He didn’t know how to describe her expressionless face, her ruthless strikes, her words that cut like knives. If he’d known modern sayings, he would have understood—she was showing “calm madness,” as if the next moment she might blow up the whole world.

He swallowed hard.
“Third Uncle understands now. Hah, it’s all your aunt’s fault—she kept going on about Guangyao being weak and needing money for medicine. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought about asking for the job. But now I see how you think, Eldest Niece. Since you don’t agree, I’ll just keep farming at home. You girls should visit Grandma often when you can. I’ll have your aunt give you more vegetables to take back—life in the city isn’t easy, everything costs money.”

If I’d known she had this kind of strength, I’d never have asked for the job…

“Good.” Chunliu brushed the sawdust off her pants and opened the door. With a creak, one of the panels fell off entirely.

Third Uncle: !!!

“Oh no, Third Uncle, what’s wrong with your door? Are you trying to frame me for breaking it?”

His face stiff, he forced a smile.
“The door’s old, probably rotted through.”

“Ah, I thought I broke it just now.”

Third Uncle secretly wiped his sweat and sighed in relief.

But Chunliu suddenly turned her head again.
“Third Uncle, what’s with your injuries? Look at you—you even fell off the stool while we were talking. Isn’t that stool way too tall for comfort?”

Third Uncle: “… Yes, yes, the stool was too tall. I lost my balance and fell. Eldest Niece, you sit here, I’ll go find your aunt and tell her to pick some vegetables for you to take back. You should head to the city soon—don’t miss your bus.”

Like a man being chased by dogs, he bolted out.

Bi Xiahe pulled Qiuguo along, asking worriedly:
“Big Sister, why did Third Uncle run off like that? What did you say to him?”

Chunliu pinched her cheek.
“Of course he said he doesn’t want our family’s job anymore.”

“Really?”

“Of course it’s true. Go see where your second brother wandered off to. It’s time we head home.”

Qiuguo shot her hand up.
“I’ll find Second Brother! I know where he went!” Finally, they were going home. She hadn’t even eaten enough at lunch.

She ran off. Xiahe asked quietly:
“Big Sister… how did Third Uncle agree? Did you really beat him? He’s a grown man—could you even beat him?”

“You don’t believe me?”

“…Not really…”

Chunliu casually picked up a low stool from the house—and snapped it clean in two with her bare hands.

Xiahe: !!