Chapter 9 Agreement

Manbao, with her little short legs, ran to find her eldest sister-in-law, with Keke watching the whole time, not uttering a word.

Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou was clearly startled and asked Manbao repeatedly about what Mr. Zhuang had said. Once she confirmed it and thought for a moment, she placed her things on the stove and said, "Let's go, your sister-in-law will take you home first, and we'll clean up later."

Manbao had an especially good memory, and since the incident had just occurred, she naturally described it with clarity, but Old Zhou still asked three times. Then he squatted on the threshold, took out some raw tobacco from his pocket, stuffed it into his pipe, and didn't speak.

No one else spoke either, Ms.Qian said to Junior Ms.Qian, "You go back to your work first. This matter isn't trivial; we need to wait for Eldest and the others to return before making a decision."

Junior Ms.Qian answered affirmatively and continued with her work at the school.

Ms.Qian glanced at Old Zhou, took Manbao's little hand, and led her into the house, looking down at her.

Seeing the blankness on her round face, she knew that Manbao probably did not understand the implications.

After thinking for a while, Ms.Qian asked, "Manbao, do you want to study?"

Manbao replied, "I've been studying all along. I've already learned the Thousand Character Classic, and Mr. Zhuang said he could teach me The Analects. I can also count to a hundred."

Ms.Qian stroked her little head, "Do you like studying?"

This time, Manbao nodded, happily saying, "I like it! Studying is fun. When I'm in a good mood, reciting the Thousand Character Classic is like singing a song; it makes me even happier. When I'm not in a good mood, I also read the Thousand Character Classic, and as I read, I become cheerful."

Ms.Qian's gaze turned vague, as if lost in thought, and after a long while, she said, "It's such a pity..."

Manbao climbed onto the bed, sat snuggled against her mother, looked up with her little head, and asked, "Mom, what's a pity?"

"It's a pity you're not a boy."

Manbao pouted and said, "I don't want to be a boy. Boys are dirty and stinky and not as pretty as girls."

Ms.Qian couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, our Manbao is clean and sweet-smelling..."

But boys can carry on the family line.

Ms.Qian considered herself to have a tough heart, yet she couldn't help the tears that fell freely at this moment.

Seeing this, Manbao felt extremely distressed. She quickly wiped away her mother's tears, while her own eyes turned red. With a crying voice, she asked, "Mom, why are you crying? Don't you like me going to school? Then, then I'll go less."

Ms.Qian couldn't help but laugh out loud. While wiping away her tears, she pinched Manbao's nose and said, "What a little slicker you are; just like your dad, always saying sweet words to please others."

Manbao opened her mouth wide, unable to imagine her father was that kind of dad.

Ms.Qian was sad for only a moment before holding Manbao tightly and saying, "Since you can study, then do so. There are many benefits to studying. Although you are a girl, if you are educated, you'll be more skilled than others. In the future, you won't be deceived or harmed, and you can live a better life."

Though Ms.Qian was illiterate herself and merely a village woman who had never left the county, she had her perspective. She said softly, "Look at those men, those who can read live better lives than those who cannot, and those who understand matters are sharper than those who do not. It's the same for girls."

Manbao nodded vigorously, "The teacher says studying enables one to understand principles. Bai Er, that fool, he said he won't take the imperial examinations and will just inherit his father's property to collect rent for a living. Teacher scolded him. He said a person who understands principles will not feel guilty wherever they go; they'll act rightly and can..."

The words that followed were a bit difficult. Manbao paused, but with Keke's reminder, she continued, "can stand on invincible ground, with an invincible heart and spirit."

Although Manbao didn't quite grasp the meaning of those words, she remembered because, at that moment, Mr. Zhuang seemed so tall and formidable, it made her cheeks flush with excitement, as if she wished she could run around the river at the entrance of the village three times, shouting at the top of her lungs. So she committed it to memory.

Her eyes gleaming, she looked at her mother and said, "Mom, I want to study and understand principles!"

Ms.Qian looked at her serious little face, nearly ready to fulfill her wish, but remembering the family's current predicament, she pressed all her words to the bottom of her heart. It would be better to wait for the head of the household's opinion.

Zhou Dalang and the others returned at the time for the evening meal when the sun was just preparing to set, but everyone was already famished since the morning meal had only been porridge.

Everyone washed their hands in a simple manner and sat down at the dining table. Old Zhou didn't rush to discuss the important matters; he waited until everyone had finished eating. Only then did he sit in the courtyard and call Eldest, Two, and Third over to talk.