Chapter 113 Question
Qian frowned, "You are only twenty-six, still young. Why don't you marry and stay at home for the rest of your life?"
There were only the three of them in the room, mother and daughter. Qian had nothing to say, so she whispered, "Now that your father and I are still alive, it's fine for you to stay home. But when we're gone and your brothers divide the family home, who will you go with?"
Manbao said anxiously: "Follow me, follow me."
"Shut up," Qian tapped her forehead and said, "You're getting married too. Are you going to bring your sister along with you? I've never heard of such a thing."
Manbao pouted.
Zhou Xi did not come up with this idea on impulse. She had thought about it a long time ago. When she was driven out of the Liu family in the early morning, she was thinking about this matter all the way to her parents' home.
What if her parents think she is shameful and don’t want her?
What should I do after entering the house?
Zhou Xi said with tears in her eyes, "Mom, I didn't think it was my fault that I couldn't have children before. Maybe it was Liu Dalang's problem, but now he and Widow Wu are pregnant, which means there's nothing wrong with him. If I marry again, I can only find a widower who can take care of children. But mom, what's the point of that?"
"I've been working like a slave my whole life, raising other people's children and having people poke my back. When I'm old, the children I raised may not still be filial to me. If he were my own child, I'd be right no matter how I beat or scold him. But he's not my biological son. Even if I bring trouble to the clan, there's no one to stand up for me." Zhou Xi said angrily, "Since I have to work like a slave, I might as well stay at home and serve my parents. If you... brothers don't want me to live at home, then I'll just build a shed at the foot of the mountain and endure it."
Upon hearing this, Qian couldn't help but burst into tears.
Manbao stood there stunned, unable to understand.
But seeing her mother crying so hard that her face turned pale and she was holding her chest and couldn't breathe, she quickly patted her chest and said, "Mom, Mom..."
She didn't know what to say, because the topic her mother and elder sister were talking about was beyond her understanding, and her little head couldn't keep up with their thoughts. However, she had many questions, but seeing her mother and elder sister crying in their arms, she didn't dare to ask, so she could only frown and comfort one and that.
Seeing her little girl's wrinkled face, Qian tried hard to suppress her sadness. She leaned on the pillow to catch her breath. Her body felt much better than before. Otherwise, she would have fainted from all the anger and sadness in the past.
But her expression was not pretty at this moment. She knew that this kind of topic should not be listened to by her little daughter for too long. After all, children are just developing their sense of right and wrong. If she is made so angry at this moment, she might become a left-wing person in the future.
After thinking about it, she finally regained her senses and said to Manbao, "You don't need to worry about the family matters. Go to the school to see if the teacher is home and ask if he is leaving tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. The family will give him two pieces of bacon to take away."
Mr. Zhuang would go back to spend the New Year with his son every year, but because he would be away for quite a while, he would tidy up the study before leaving, especially the books inside, so that they could be dried in the sun. He would take away what should be taken away and leave what should be left behind.
Manbao didn't suspect anything and walked away looking back every few steps. As soon as he went out, he ran towards the school, intending to go there early and come back early.
Koko was afraid that she would fall, so she said, "Don't run away. If you go back, your mother will have to find an excuse to send you out."
Manbao still couldn't talk to Koko while running, so he slowed down and asked him as he walked, "Why?"
"Obviously, when have you ever seen your mother let you go to school alone? She always has to let your nephews and nieces go with you. Obviously, she doesn't want you to listen to her and your eldest sister talking at home, so she sent you away."
Manbao hung his head and went to Mr. Zhuang in frustration.
Mr. Zhuang did not go out today. He was leaning on a chair in the yard, reading a book and drying it in the sun.
Yes, he was drying books. Books filled the areas all around him. When he looked up, he saw the little disciple coming in with his head down. His depressed look made him laugh.
Mr. Zhuang beckoned her over and asked with a smile, "What happened? Did you quarrel with Bai Shan again?"
Manbao pouted and muttered, "Who quarreled with him? I'm an adult..."
Manbao had a lot of questions in her mind that she didn't understand, so she told the story of her elder sister coming back this morning. She was articulate and although some of her logic was reversed, she still made it clear. In particular, she had a good memory and naturally would not forget what she had just heard, so she repeated what the adults said, including what her mother and elder sister had just said.
Then she asked Mr. Zhuang in great confusion, "Sir, why does my eldest sister have to be with someone to survive? Can't she survive on her own? Why did she say she wanted to live in a shed at the foot of the mountain? Can't she live in the house at home?"
Mr. Zhuang looked at his young disciple, pondered for a moment, and then said carefully, "It's not easy for women in this world to survive. She has no land and no skills, so it's naturally difficult for her to support herself."
Mr. Zhuang couldn't bring himself to talk about worldly matters or gossip; it would be too much for a child, so he could only talk about survival. "You need something to rely on for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation," he said. "She's married. Her husband's family has land and people who can work. Even if life is a little harder, at least they can survive. That's why your mother suggested she remarry."
Manbao suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
She became excited and said, "This isn't difficult. My eldest sister doesn't have any land, so I can just ask my father to give her some. I can also ask my eldest brother and the others to open up more land for her, so she can plant as much as she wants."
Mr. Zhuang choked and looked at his excited young disciple. After a while, he said, "Land and property are usually inherited by sons. Of course, there are also some for women. That must be the dowry..."
As he spoke, Mr. Zhuang also felt that he was contradicting himself. He couldn't just tell his little apprentice directly that her father might be partial and unwilling to share the property with your eldest sister, right?
Mr. Zhuang coughed lightly and said, "If your eldest sister wants to have land in her name, she must establish a female household."
Having said that, he went on to answer his apprentice's other question, "Since she's a daughter, it's impossible to divide the house in your family with her. Besides, your family doesn't have many houses now, so I'm afraid it's not enough for your brothers to share, right?"
Manbao didn't grasp the point. She asked curiously, "Why can't female households get a house, but male households can? Sir, is this stipulated in the law?"
This is really not the case. Mr. Zhuang looked at the young disciple silently, and the young disciple also looked at him silently.
After a while, Mr. Zhuang couldn't help but sigh, "It would be better if you were a little older."
When she is a little older, it won't be so difficult for him to say it. Although it will still shock the little disciple, she will definitely know more by then, understand the world, and be more accepting of these things.
Even if he said that her parents were biased, he could say it with confidence, because there is no parent in this world who is not biased.
Especially when there is a boy on one side and a girl on the other.
(End of this chapter)
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