"No matter how well you do on the exam, it's all the same. When you reach a certain age, you'll still get married and have children."

"Once you have a child, your life revolves around your family; cooking well and taking care of the child are the most important things."

Liu Juan wasn't just talking about her own daughter; she was also deliberately saying it to her argumentative daughter-in-law.

"How can it be useless? I think your thinking is wrong, Mom." Ye Xiaoxiao sat down next to her mother-in-law with a ball of yarn in her hand.

"Haven't you read the newspaper? These days, women can drive tractors, be movie stars, teachers, doctors. There are plenty of capable women out there."

Liu Juan waved her hand: "Those are city people. How many girls in our rural area can amount to anything? Besides, I've been through the same thing."

"So, do you think you're doing well? You can't even remember numbers; you have to rely on your father to count money for you."

Ye Xiaoxiao's words hit her mother-in-law where it hurt.

"What...what do you mean by that?" Liu Juan had never been to school, and it was already a miracle if she could remember what a ten-yuan coin looked like or what a one-yuan coin looked like after all these years.

"That's exactly what I mean. If you could read and write, and do basic accounting, would Dad still need to manage the family finances? This is a consequence of being uneducated."

Ye Xiaoxiao pressed her advantage and continued:

"Look at Dr. Li at the county clinic, she came from our village, and now she earns fifty or sixty yuan a month. And look at Director Zhao at the supply and marketing cooperative, she's a woman too, but her wallet is bulging."

"That's because they were lucky..." Liu Juan tried to argue.

"What good luck? That's all thanks to studying and passing exams. Take Wang Ailing, for example, from our village. She graduated from high school and got a job as an accountant in the township. She earns over forty yuan a month; it's a secure job."

Ye Xiaoxiao deliberately lowered her voice as she said this:

"Do you remember last year when her father wanted to arrange a marriage for her, they just kicked the matchmaker out, saying they wouldn't consider anyone without a diploma. What do you call that? That's called a capable woman choosing her man!"

"This..." Liu Juan was speechless.

Xiao Yanni's eyes lit up as she listened: "Sister-in-law, is what you're saying true? I can be a doctor in the future? I can be a village cadre, and even a director?"

"Of course!" Ye Xiaoxiao patted her sister-in-law's head.

"As long as you study hard, get into high school, and then university, you can do anything. Let me tell you, the country is now advocating gender equality, and girls can hold up half the sky too."

"Really, sister-in-law? Then I must get into university!" Xiao Yanni said excitedly.

"Mom, our Yanni is so smart at such a young age. If we nurture her well, she'll become a college graduate in the future. If Yanni is capable and finds a good job, she'll still be able to take care of you. It'll be a source of pride for us, the Li family, to have a college graduate." Ye Xiaoxiao hugged her sister-in-law tightly.

"Look at Yan Hong, just because she didn't get much schooling, she's still the same after getting married. Do you want Yan Ni to be like her? She'll come back and rub salt in your wounds after she gets married."

These words struck a chord with Liu Juan. Just thinking about Li Yanhong gave her a headache.

"No, that's not it... I just said it offhand. I didn't say she couldn't go to school. It would be better if our son did well," Liu Juan muttered.

"Fine, I think you're just sexist. Look, they're even advocating for family planning now."

It's uncertain how many children each family will have in the future. If they can only have one, and it's a daughter, then they'll definitely want her to be successful.

There will be plenty of only children in later generations. Which girl isn't more precious than a boy?

At this point, Ye Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of what happened after her sister-in-law got married.

This sister-in-law has it tough; she married a man who's an abuser, but he's incredibly handsome.

But he was lazy and loved to beat his wife. Every time his sister-in-law was beaten, she would run home wanting a divorce.

They were all persuaded by their in-laws, who said, "You already have a child, what's the big deal?"

And then that bastard came running over, kneeling and begging. In the end, I went back with him and we continued living together.

"I think our Yanni should definitely go to university in the future, and preferably marry a cultured, capable, and good-natured man. She shouldn't marry into a family that's incompetent and favors sons over daughters." This statement had a double meaning.

Liu Juan felt like the speaker was talking about her, but since it was being addressed to her daughter, she could only nod repeatedly.

That makes sense.

He was still somewhat unhappy, but he couldn't argue with his daughter-in-law.

Seeing that her mother-in-law was somewhat interested, Ye Xiaoxiao quickly added more pressure:

"I guarantee you, as long as Yanni is willing to study, she will be able to go to university."

Then the whole village will see for themselves how a girl can't amount to something!

The whole village will have to show movies to our family then. Dad, you'll be so proud of yourself!

Xiao Yanni hugged Ye Xiaoxiao excitedly: "Sister-in-law, is what you said true? They'll be showing movies in the village?"

"Of course. Look at how good your grades are now, if you keep working hard, getting into university won't be a problem."

Ye Xiaoxiao stroked her sister-in-law's hair and said:

"If you really become a doctor, I'll be the first person you'll see, even with this big belly."

"Then I will definitely study hard!" Xiao Yanni said excitedly.

Li Jianguo listened from the side and nodded repeatedly:

"Xiaoxiao is right. Things are different now than before; girls need to be capable too."

Li Jianguo was overjoyed by his daughter-in-law's words and looked at the two test papers in his hand again and again.

That was almost 200 points. This is the first time I've seen so many kids in the family like this.

Seeing that the child's father was so supportive, Liu Juan immediately chimed in:

"Yanni, from now on, you should study hard under your sister-in-law. Do well in your exams and let the whole village see."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!