Arrogant Student Slapped An Old Woman Unaware Who She Was Until This Happened…-hongtran

His eyes widened.
“You can take it today.”
She felt like a queen.
As she placed her hand on the car door, the air around her suddenly grew cold. The lamb bleated loudly. A strong wind blew through the place. People screamed and ran.
Out of the wind came a tall, glowing figure with burning eyes.
It was a genie.
“You thief!” the genie roared.
Fiona screamed and fell to the ground.
“I did nothing!”
“You stole what does not belong to you,” the genie thundered. “That lamb was given to the kind girl, not to you.”
Before Fiona could speak, the genie raised his hand and flogged her with a whip of fire.
Pain shot through her body.
She screamed and rolled on the ground.
“Return the lamb to its rightful owner,” the genie said, “or I will flog you every day until you die.”
The genie vanished as suddenly as he appeared.
Fiona lay on the ground shaking. People gathered around her, whispering in fear. She struggled to her feet and ran.
She locked herself in her hotel room and cried.
“My back, my body,” she sobbed.
Her fine clothes no longer made her happy. Her jewelry felt heavy. She looked at the lamb.
“You have destroyed me,” she said weakly.
The lamb stared back silently.
She knew what she had to do.
She packed her bag and left the city that same day.
The road back to the village felt longer than the journey to the city. Each step reminded her of the genie’s words.
You stole what does not belong to you.
Her body ached where she had been flogged.
When she reached the village at night, the houses were quiet. Crickets sang in the dark. She walked slowly to her mother’s compound.
Inside, Jenny sat on her mat, staring at the floor.
Fiona stood at the door.
Jenny looked up and gasped.
“Fiona!”
Fiona fell to her knees and pushed the lamb forward.
“Forgive me,” she cried. “The lamb is yours. I was punished.”
Jenny stared at the lamb and then at Fiona’s tear-stained face.
“Why did you do it?” Jenny asked softly.
“I wanted what you had,” Fiona said. “I thought magic would make me great.”
Jenny stood and picked up the lamb.
“I never used it for myself,” she said. “I only used it to help.”
Fiona bowed her head.

“I was wrong.”
Jenny’s heart was heavy. But she remembered the old woman’s face and the words her mother once spoke.
Kindness will find its way back to you.
“I forgive you,” she said.
Fiona cried harder.
From that night, nothing was the same.
The village would soon see the prince, and jealousy would rise again in Fiona’s heart.
The morning sun had barely touched the tops of the palm trees when Jenny lifted her clay pot and walked toward the river. Since Fiona had returned the lamb, Jenny had gone back to her quiet life of service and kindness. She still woke before dawn, still fetched water, still cooked and swept, but her heart felt lighter. The lamb walked behind her, its small hooves making soft sounds on the dusty path.
The river lay beyond a stretch of tall grasses and wildflowers. Jenny loved the place. It was the only spot in the village where she felt free. The water sang softly as it flowed, and birds called from the trees above.
She knelt and dipped her pot into the clear water.
She did not notice the sound of horses until it was too late.
The ground trembled slightly beneath her feet. She turned and saw a group of men approaching from the forest path. They wore fine clothes and carried spears and swords. In their midst rode a young man on a white horse. His robe was embroidered with gold thread, and his sandals were polished.