 …at the age of fourteen I was in charge of the work of dustpan and broom in the Cao family. Now, more than forty some years have passed; during these years, trembling with fear, I was constantly afraid that I may be dismissed or humiliated. Such an incident, if it happened, would have brought disgrace upon my parents and burdened members of my husband’s family, as well as my natal family. […] It grieves me to see you, my daughters, who have just reached the age of marriage, to not have been gradually taught more nor have you learned proper rituals of being a married woman. […] For this reason, I have composed the seven chapters of the Nüjie. (Preface to Nüjie, Pang-White [trans.] 2018: 41)