From the very day Fengyi fell from the divine realm, a great light of near-death agony radiated from her entire body. As all her divine powers were forcibly wrenched away, her body became too frail to live normally in the human world. Today, she is confined to her bed, able only to manage small household tasks with great difficulty.
The entire burden of our poor little home fell upon my (Chenxi's) shoulders. Today, too, I went to work at a grand mansion in the city. I was cleaning the floor of that harsh household's kitchen with the help of a rag. My hands were burnt and red from the harsh soapy water.
"Are your hands lifeless? Can't you work faster, girl?"
With the rough voice of the head maid, a kick landed on my back. Though I felt like screaming in pain, I clenched my teeth and endured it. The tears streaming from my eyes fell into the bucket of soap suds and dissolved, washing away my pain along with them. "You must endure this for Mother," my own mind commanded me in a stern tone.
'Mother... I am fine. Don't worry, Mother... I will bear any pain for your sake,' I whispered to myself.
While scrubbing the kitchen floor, my legs had gone numb up to my knees. Just as I struggled to stand up and take the bucket of clean water outside, the head maid, with an arrogant smirk, kicked my feet. I fell to the floor along with the bucket of muddy water.
"Look at the destruction you've caused! You've soiled the clean floor!" She grabbed me tightly by my hair and dragged me across the floor. My dress was torn, and my body was covered in dirty water. But I didn't say a single word. I knew that if I spoke, I would lose even the pittance of money I was due to receive today.
That night, I headed home amidst a heavy rain. The raindrops falling on the wounds on my body stung as if salt were being poured on them. I reached into my pocket. The amount I had earned from working all day was very small; it wasn't enough to buy medicine for Mother, let alone something to eat for tomorrow.
I leaned against a lamppost by the road and closed my eyes for a moment. I felt as if something inside my chest was breaking into pieces. Not a single star was visible through the black clouds in the sky.
I washed the mud and tears off my face with the rainwater. Then, straightening my weary body and forcing a smile onto my face, I opened the door to our house. I saw Mother leaning precariously near the kitchen hearth.
"Daughter... it's very late today, isn't it?" Mother asked fearfully.
I ran and hugged Mother. I tried to make sure she wouldn't feel the cold clinging to my body. "No, Mother... there was just a bit more work today. Look, I brought the bread you like so much."
As I showed her the small food parcel in my hand, Mother stroked my head with tears of sorrow. "My precious daughter... you suffer so much because of me."
"No, Mother... I am very happy. I have such good friends at the workplace; because of them, it's not much of an effort for me." But the truth was, because I was the youngest person working there, they even handed their tasks over to me to free themselves.
That night, after Mother had fallen asleep, I sat on the kitchen floor and stared at my trembling fingers. I felt that this darkness would never end. Without even realizing it, I fell asleep right there, and so that day ended, making way for another painful tomorrow.