Chapter 17: Extraordinary Knowledge
Feng and Manbao said, "A man can study to be an accountant or a teacher. If he studies well, he may even be able to take the civil service exam. But what's the point of studying for a woman? When she gets old, she will have to get married and either work in the fields or take care of the housework. What's the point of studying or not?"
Manbao was speechless, but she always felt that what her second sister-in-law said was wrong.
After thinking for a while, she finally found a rebuttal, "The teacher said that reading can help you understand the truth."
Feng: "As for the truth, you will understand it after you explain it to me. Don't worry, little aunt, I will tell Erya. Look at us, we are all illiterate, so who doesn't understand the truth? Girls learn the truth from their mothers."
Manbao couldn't argue with her, so he slumped his shoulders and said, "So if Erya can earn money by learning to read, will you agree to let her learn to read?"
Feng: "She can't be an accountant, a teacher, or an examiner, so how can she make money by learning to read?"
"I don't care. Sister-in-law, you have to promise me first that if she can make money by learning to read, you have to promise her to study and learn to read with me."
"Okay, okay, okay," Feng said perfunctorily, "I promise you. Okay, I'm going to light a fire. There's a lot of smoke in the kitchen. You should get out now."
Manbao didn't care whether she was sincere or not, he just thought she agreed, so Manbao ran to find Erya.
Ertou came out with the manuscript and discovered that his aunt was missing. He immediately dropped the manuscript and went to look for her. He was responsible for taking care of her, so how could he lose her?
Manbao ran to the river to find Erya.
A group of people were washing clothes by the river . When Manbao came over, everyone greeted her. A woman said loudly, "Hey, Manbao is here to wash clothes. You Zhou family has so many daughters, why do you still need a younger sister-in-law?"
Erya also saw Manbao and quickly stopped her from getting too close to the river, "Aunt, why are you here? Grandma won't let you come to the river."
Manbao said: "I'll come to find you."
"I still have some clothes to wash. You can go back first, little aunt."
The same woman said, "Manbao, please help your niece. You are not young anymore. Your family is in trouble again. You can't enjoy the same life as before."
Manbao felt that what she said made sense, and nodded repeatedly, saying, "My niece-in-law is right. I will help Erya."
It just so happened that she also wanted to try washing clothes. She had never washed clothes in her life. Manbao looked at the river, her eyes lit up, and she had long forgotten the purpose of her coming here.
How could Erya dare to let Manbao wash clothes? She couldn't help but glare at the woman, "Third sister-in-law, I have many children. Who washes clothes and who doesn't wash clothes is none of your business."
"Oh, Erya has become tough now. Did you learn this from your fourth uncle? If you are so tough, don't borrow money from my family."
Manbao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what had happened, and hurried to comfort her, "Sanzhu's wife, is your family short of money? Don't worry, when my family makes money, we will definitely pay it back to your family first."
Thinking that she would go to the county town to earn money tomorrow, she patted her chest confidently and said, "I will go to the county town to earn money tomorrow, and I will pay you back when I come back."
The child, who was only a few years old and still had a baby voice, chose to imitate the way adults talk. The first sentence made people laugh, but when it came to the second sentence, no one could laugh anymore. Someone couldn't help but ask Erya, "Erya, your family is not really going to sell your aunt, is it?"
Erya said in a sharp voice: "What nonsense are you talking about? Why would our family sell our little aunt?"
Manbao also said seriously: "We don't sell children."
"How are you going to make money in the meantime?" Sanzhu's wife couldn't help but ask, "The busy farming season is over, there's no work in the fields, and it's not your turn to get work in the county, right?"
Manbao said proudly: "We plan to sell flowers. Just wait and see. We will definitely make money."
Sanzhu's wife asked, "What kind of flowers?"
Manbao opened his mouth and finally said, "All kinds of flowers."
Erya held Manbao and said, "Auntie, please go home quickly. I'll take you out to play after I finish washing the clothes."
Manbao shook his head, looking at the clear river water with bright eyes, "No, Erya, I am an adult now, let me help you wash your clothes."
"How can that be possible?"
"Why not?" Manbao said seriously, "I am your aunt, you have to listen to me."
When everyone saw this, they all helped Erya to stop Manbao. Who didn't know that she was the treasure of the Zhou family? Moreover, she had been in poor health since she was a child. If she really got into trouble, the Zhou family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would tear them apart.
Sanzhu's wife disagreed. Everyone came here when they were a child . When she was this old, she could even cook. So what was so strange about just washing clothes?
She rolled her eyes and made way for Manbao, letting him squat beside her. She took her own clothes and gave them to her, "Come here, Manbao, I'll teach you how to wash them."
Manbao was not stupid, and she could still tell the difference between her own clothes and other people's clothes, so she asked Sanzhu's wife happily, "Niece-in-law, do I get paid for washing your clothes? You don't have to pay me, just use it as a debt."
Upon hearing this, Sanzhu's wife immediately took the clothes back and said in a sharp voice: "I have seen that you are really good at making money. I have never heard of charging for washing clothes for others."
"If you were my aunt, my elder, of course I wouldn't want it. That's my way of showing filial piety to you, but aren't you my nephew's wife? Then as an elder, I must ask for money to work for you." Manbao has been with her father since she was a child, so she knows this very well. She still wants to wash clothes for Sanzhu's wife, so she said, "Sanzhu's wife, don't worry, I don't want much from you, just one penny, just a token of my appreciation."
Someone who didn't like Sanzhu's wife also laughed and said, "Yes, yes, Sanzhu's wife, Manbao is your aunt. If you ask your aunt to wash your clothes, you should at least give her some money as a token of respect."
Some older people also said: "Although Manbao is young, she is of a higher generation. Sanzhu's wife, please don't bully your elders."
Sanzhu's wife was so angry that she simply rinsed the clothes, wrung them and left.
Manbao was still waving from behind, "Niece-in-law, next time if you don't want to do the laundry, just tell me and I'll do it for you. It's really cheap."
Erya couldn't help laughing and shouted from behind, "Third sister-in-law, I can also help you wash it, it's cheaper!"
"Okay, okay, stop teasing her, Erya, your family still owes money to the village chief's family." Someone advised.
Erya felt a little disappointed when she thought of this.
Manbao didn't feel the pressure. In her opinion, she would definitely make a lot of money in the county tomorrow, and she could pay off her debts. Besides, "The village chief is different from his daughter-in-law. He is generous, and his nephew's wife still has a lot to learn from him."
When everyone heard Manbao's words, they couldn't help but laugh, "This child speaks like an adult. Do you know what generosity is?"
Manbao puffed his cheeks and said, "I'm not stupid. My nephew's wife doesn't like me, but it doesn't matter. I'm the elder and I won't argue with her."
Children are the most sensitive. They can clearly feel who likes her and who doesn't.
But it doesn’t matter, after all, Sanzhu is her nephew and Sanzhu’s wife is her nephew’s wife. As an elder, she won’t argue with them.
