380

"It was the Heaven Master who said it," Ms. Qian, who had been paying attention to this conversation while spreading manure nearby, put down her winnowing basket and affirmed with certainty, "When Manbao was just one year old, I had a dream where the Heaven Master told me that our Manbao is the smartest person within a hundred miles. But we only talk about this within our own home; we dare not spread it outside."

The villagers sitting and resting on the neighboring plot of land burst into laughter upon hearing this, joking, "Auntie Qian, Manbao didn't listen to you, though. I remember hearing her mention this a few years back, ha ha ha, and she even said it was a friend who told her. Turns out it was Auntie who said it!"

Ms. Qian replied calmly, "She didn't say anything wrong. She said she wanted to be friends with everyone, but the child must have been afraid of getting a beating from me if I heard it, that's why she said that."