Chapter 9

Mbao ran to find her elder sister-in-law with her little short legs, and Keke watched the whole process without a word.

Zhou's elder sister-in-law was clearly startled and repeatedly asked Mbao about what Mr. Zhuang had said at the time. After confirming it, she thought for a moment, put the things on the stove, and said, "Let's go, I'll take you home first, and we'll come back to clean up later."

Mbao's memory was particularly good, and since it had just happened, she naturally recounted it clearly. However, Old Zhou still asked three times, then squatted by the threshold, took out some tobacco from his pocket, stuffed it into his pipe, and didn't say a word.

No one else spoke either. Qian said to Little Qian, "You go back to work. This is a big matter, and we need to wait for the eldest to come back before we can decide."

Little Qian responded and went back to the school to continue working.

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

Seeing the confusion on her round face, Qian knew she probably didn't understand the implications.

After some thought, Qian asked, "Mbao, do you want to study?"

Mbao replied, "I've been studying all along. I've already learned the 'Thousand Character Classic,' and Mr. Zhuang said he can teach me the 'Analects of Confucius.' I can even count to one hundred."

Qian patted her little head, "Do you like studying?"

Mbao nodded this time, happily saying, "Yes, studying is so much fun. When I'm in a good mood, reading the 'Thousand Character Classic' is like singing, and I feel even better. When I'm not happy, I read the 'Thousand Character Classic,' and I end up feeling better."

Qian's eyes became distant, lost in thought, and after a while, she said, "What a pity..."

Mbao climbed onto the bed, snuggled up to her mother, and looked up with her little head, asking, "Mother, what's a pity?"

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

Mbao pouted, "I don't want to be a boy. Boys are dirty and smelly, and they're not as pretty as girls."

Qian couldn't help but laugh, "That's true, our Mbao is so clean and fragrant..."

But boys can carry on the family name.

Qian thought she had a strong heart, but at this moment, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Mbao was heartbroken, quickly wiping her mother's tears, her own eyes turning red, and asked with a sob, "Mother, why are you crying? Do you not want me to study? Then, I'll go less often."

Qian couldn't help but laugh, wiping her tears and pinching her nose, "You're such a little rascal, just like your father, always saying nice things to please people."

Mbao opened her mouth wide, finding it hard to imagine her father was like that.

Qian was only sad for a moment, then hugged her and said, "Since you can study, you should. Studying has many benefits. Even though you're a girl, studying will make you more capable. You won't be deceived or harmed, and you can live a better life."

Qian, though illiterate and a village woman who had never left the county, had her own insights. She said softly, "Look at those men. The literate ones live better than the illiterate ones, and the ones who understand numbers are more astute. Girls are the same."

Mbao nodded vigorously, "Mr. Zhuang said studying can enlighten one. Bai Er, that fool, said he won't take the imperial exams and will just inherit his father's land and live off the rent. Mr. Zhuang scolded him. It shows that enlightened people are confident wherever they go, act well, and can..."

The rest was a bit difficult, and Mbao paused, but Keke reminded her, and she continued, "stand invincible, with an unyielding heart, an unyielding person."

Mbao didn't fully understand these words, but she felt Mr. Zhuang was so great at the time, her face turned red, and she wanted to run around the river at the village entrance three times and shout. So she remembered it.

She looked at her mother with bright eyes and said, "Mother, I want to study and be enlightened!"

Qian looked at her serious little face and almost agreed, but thinking of the family's current difficulties, she kept all her thoughts to herself and decided to listen to the head of the household.

Zhou Dalang and the others returned at dinner time, just as the sun was setting, but everyone was already very hungry, having only had porridge for breakfast.

After a quick hand wash, they sat at the table. Old Zhou didn't rush to talk about the matter, waiting until everyone had finished eating before sitting in the yard and calling the eldest, second, and third sons to speak.

Little Qian glanced outside, her brows slightly furrowed, and she clutched the cloth without a word. Feng, the second sister-in-law, also looked into the yard and couldn't help but whisper, "Father-in-law won't really let the little sister study, will he?"

He said, frowning, "I don't think so. How much would it cost? Elder sister-in-law, did Mother-in-law agree?"

Little Qian clutched the cloth. She wasn't very keen on letting her little sister study, but she had brought her home at noon.

When she first heard the news, she was happy. If her little sister could be Mr. Zhuang's disciple, she would have a bright future.

But when she returned to the school, she thought about the cost of studying.

Even if Mr. Zhuang didn't charge tuition, the apprenticeship gift and gifts for holidays couldn't be skipped. These were minor expenses, but buying books, pens, ink, and paper would cost a lot.

Mr. Zhuang's school didn't charge high tuition because the main expenses were covered by the Bai landlord. Before Zhou Si's gambling losses, the Zhou family couldn't afford to send any of their grandchildren to school, partly because their financial situation was too thin to support a student.

They couldn't afford it before, and they certainly couldn't afford it now.

Moreover, they had Mother-in-law, who needed medicine every month, adding to the burden.

These thoughts erased Little Qian's initial joy, leaving only worry.

Of course, the other men in the Zhou family had considered these issues more thoroughly, especially Old Zhou, who was initially reluctant to let Mbao study but was swayed by the conversation between his wife and Mbao in the afternoon.

At dinner, he watched Mbao, her little hands holding a large bowl, almost burying her head in it, and she enjoyed the thin white porridge.

Looking at the three daughters-in-law who immediately started clearing the table, washing dishes, and cleaning up, Old Zhou's heart began to lean the other way.

Mbao was weak, fair, and chubby, and very cute. She was pampered by her father and brothers at home, but what about ten or fifteen years from now?

Would she also marry a farmer like her brothers and become a farmer's wife like her sisters-in-law?

Old Zhou took a few strong puffs of his pipe, coughed, and knocked it out, saying, "You all know the situation. What do you think?"

Zhou Erlang and Zhou Sanlang exchanged glances, lowered their heads, and said, "We'll follow Father and Eldest Brother."

Old Zhou glanced at them and looked at Zhou Dalang, "Eldest, what do you think?"

Zhou Dalang bit his lip and said, "Since Mr. Zhuang is willing to take her, we should support her. When she grows up, if she can marry into town, she won't have to work the fields like us."

"Right!" Old Zhou slapped his thigh, "That's exactly what I was thinking. How many girls can read and do math? Who among our children is as smart as Mbao? The family can't even count the eggs, but Mbao can count them all. Mbao is so pretty, and she'll only get prettier. She could even marry into the county."

Zhou Erlang hesitated, "That's true, but studying will cost a lot. She's a girl and can't take the imperial exams..."

His voice trailed off under his father's gaze, and he nudged Zhou Sanlang.

Zhou Sanlang said, "I'll follow Father and Eldest Brother."

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang: "..."

Old Zhou couldn't help but take another puff of his pipe, "Mr. Zhuang won't charge Mbao tuition. We'll just give him an apprenticeship gift."

Zhou Erlang said, "But we'll need to buy books, pens, ink, and paper. Mr. Zhuang can't provide everything. Father, these things are expensive."

No one in the family had studied, so they didn't know the exact costs, but books, pens, ink, and paper sounded expensive.

This was one of the main reasons Old Zhou was hesitant. He smoked in silence, not saying a word.

Zhou Dalang's veins bulged, and he bit his lip, "Father, Mbao is a good child. Mr. Zhuang knows our situation. I'll ask him which books she needs, and we'll buy one at a time. Mbao is still young and doesn't need paper and ink for writing yet. By the time she grows up, we should have saved some money."

Old Zhou, seeing his eldest son speak, sighed with relief and nodded, "Alright, let's do it. You and I will take Mbao to the apprenticeship ceremony the day after tomorrow, and we'll discuss it with Mr. Zhuang."

Zhou Erlang's mouth opened, but he didn't say anything, his mind filled with worry.

Old Four was sixteen and was supposed to get married soon. The original plan was to marry him before the New Year, so he could work the fields in the spring.

But his gambling had ruined the family's finances and his reputation, and he probably wouldn't get married for three years.

Old Four could wait a few years, but what about Old Five?

Old Five was fourteen and would need to get married in two years. The wedding expenses would be significant, especially since Mother-in-law needed medicine.

The family had six brothers. The three who were already married, the eldest was steady but not very smart, and the third was very honest.

Only the second was a bit more astute and, because he often went to the market to sell things, had more foresight than the eldest.

After the gambling incident, he had calculated that in three to four years, the family could save three to four thousand coins, enough to arrange a marriage for Old Five.

After Old Five, it would be Old Four and Old Six. Marrying off these three would leave the family in poverty for at least ten years, and then it would be time to arrange a marriage for the eldest.

He had planned for the family to work together, with parents and brothers supporting each other, which would earn money faster than working alone.

Although his brothers and nephews, and his own son, would get married one after another, he might never see any surplus money, but at least they wouldn't lack food and clothing.

But if Mbao's education was added to the plan, the family would have no surplus money at all.

Zhou Erlang scratched his head, finally deciding, "Well, the family is run by Father and Mother. They'll deal with the worries. I just need to listen and take care of my own family."