Chapter 17 Extraordinary Knowledge
Feng and Manbao said, "A man can study and become an accountant or a teacher. If he studies well, he might even take the civil service exam. But what's the point of studying for a woman? When she gets old enough, she'll have to get married and either work in the fields or take care of the house. What's the point of studying?"
Manbao was speechless, but she always felt that what her second sister-in-law said was wrong.
After thinking about it, she finally found a rebuttal, "The teacher said that reading can enlighten people."
Feng said: "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, aren't we all illiterate? 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," Feng said perfunctorily, "I promise. Now, I'm going to light the fire. There's a lot of smoke in the kitchen, so please 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 found that his aunt was missing. He immediately dropped the manuscript and went to look for his aunt. He was responsible for taking care of his aunt, 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 running 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. "Auntie, why are you here? Grandma won't let you come to the river."
Manbao said, "I'll come find you."
"I still have some clothes to wash, so please go back first."
The same woman said, "Manbao, please help your niece. You are not young anymore, and your family is in trouble again. You can't enjoy the same comfort 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 too. Did you learn this from your fourth uncle? If you're so tough, don't borrow money from my family."
Manbao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on. He quickly went to comfort her, "Daughter-in-law Sanzhu, 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, still in a baby voice, was imitating adults' speech. 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 shrieked, "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 there's no way your family will get any 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, go home quickly. I'll take you out to play after I finish washing 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'm your aunt, you have to listen to me."
Everyone came to Erya's aid when they saw her trying to stop Manbao. Who didn't know she was the Zhou family's treasure? Furthermore, she had been in poor health since childhood. If she were to get into trouble, the Zhou family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would surely tear them apart.
Sanzhu's wife disagreed. Everyone went through childhood. When she was this old, she could even cook. It was just washing clothes. What was so strange about that?
She rolled her eyes and took a step back, letting Manbao 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've seen that you really know how to make money. I've never heard of anyone charging money for washing clothes."
"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? As an elder, I should be paid for working for you." Manbao had been with her father since she was a child, so she understood this principle very well. She still wanted to wash clothes for Sanzhu's wife and said, "Sanzhu's wife, don't worry. I don't want much from you, just a penny, just a token of my appreciation."
Someone who disliked 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 out and left.
Manbao was still waving from behind, "Niece-in-law, next time if you don't want to do the laundry, tell me and I'll do it for you. It's really cheap."
Erya couldn't help but laugh and followed suit, "Third sister-in-law, I can help you wash it too, 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, however, did not feel the pressure. In her opinion, she would definitely make a lot of money when she went to the county town tomorrow, and naturally she could pay off her debts. Moreover, "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 up his cheeks and said, "I'm not stupid. My niece'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 them 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 will not argue with them.
(End of this chapter)
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