CH 18

Chapter 18 – Flower baskets

The Zhou forbid Man Bao from going to the riverside. This was the first time she could play in the river. She happily soaked her hands in the river and had a great time.

When she turned around, she saw Er Ya engrossed in scrubbing the clothes. She took a piece of clothing and followed Er Ya’s example. First, scrubbed the clothing, then immersed it in water and gave it a quick wash, and finally, wrung it dry.

Er Ya looked at her speechlessly, and when Man Bao finished “washing”, she took that piece of clothing and washed it again. She completed the task quickly and led her little aunt home. She was ready to be punished once they get home.

Man Bao remained enthusiastic, “The river water is so cool, so fun. Er Ya, I’ll go with you to wash clothes in the future.”

“No,” Er Ya rejected her offer. “Little aunt, the piece of clothing you washed was still dirty. Moreover, once grandma knows, I’ll be punished. You should play with Er Tou at home.”

“No, I’m going to play in the water,” Man Bao said, “I’ve talked to second sister-in-law. I’ll teach you how to read in the future, and you’ll have to take me along to wash clothes.”

Er Ya hesitated, “My mother agreed?”

“Of course,” Man Bao said proudly, “I begged for a long time.”

Er Ya was not quite convinced. Once they got home, she led Man Bao to the kitchen to look for Feng.

Feng was making breakfast. When she saw Er Ya, she asked her to light the fire in the stove. She also asked Man Bao to leave the kitchen so that she wouldn’t be exposed to the smoke.

When Er Ya was about to light the fire, she asked, “Mother, little aunt said you agreed to let me study?”

Feng glanced at Man Bao who looked as proud as a peacock, and humoured the little girl, “Yes, yes, I’ll agree as long as you’re able to make money by being literate.”

When Er Ya heard the prerequisite, she felt dejected and sad.

When Man Bao saw Er Ya was about to cry, she dragged her out of the kitchen, and said to Feng, “Second sister-in-law, Er Ya hasn’t taken the clothes out to dry yet. We’ll do that right now.”

“Hey,” Feng barely had time to say anything else before Man Bao disappeared with Er Ya.

Feng had no choice but to light the fire herself.

Man Bao led Er Ya to the yard and whispered, “Are you stupid? We’ve already said we want to make money by being literate. If you’re illiterate, how would you make money?”

Once she was struck by Man Bao’s words, Er Ya held back her tears. She blinked and asked as she sobbed, “Really?”

“In any case, second sister-in-law has personally agreed.”

Er Ya thought for a while, and felt the suggestion was somewhat unreliable, “Then, if I still can’t make money after studying for a while, would my mother allow me to continue?”

Man Bao sternly said, “That must be because you haven’t studied enough and haven’t acquired the in-depth knowledge required, and so, you can’t make money. You need to continue with your studies to make money.”

Er Ya thoughtfully nodded, “Little aunt, I think you’re right.”

She was happy again and took the clothes out to dry.

Man Bao was short, so, she stood at the side and handed the clothes to Er Ya.

A sweaty Er Tou dashed into the house and saw Man Bao standing under the wooden laundry poles. He dashed up to her and asked, “Little aunt, where did you go just now? It was difficult to find you.”

“You’re so stupid. I was by the riverside.”

Er Tou exclaimed, “Ohh!” and then, he remembered something, jumped up and said, “Didn’t grandma forbid you from going to the riverside? Well, second sister, you… uhhh… uhmmmm… mmmmm…”

Er Ya covered his mouth, while Man Bao threatened him, “If you dare yell, I won’t give you any sweets in the future.”

Er Tou felt wronged, don’t tell me if you don’t want me to talk about it!

With teary eyes, he quickly said, “Little aunt, I’ve found your manuscripts. Go back and have a look.”

Man Bao, “Don’t worry, let’s go pick wildflowers. I’ve already figured out a way to make money.”

Er Tou and Er Ya felt Man Bao’s idea was very dubious, but they were helpless. Man Bao wanted to look for flowers.

Moreover, Mrs Zhou also said, “After the morning meal, go to wasteland together and take care of your little aunt.”

So, everyone rushed to the foot of the mountain. For two days in a row, Si Lang worked on the wasteland, and the piece of land at the foot of the mountain looked much better now.

The land was approximately one mu (0.165 acre). Most of the weeds had been eliminated, but the vines were difficult to remove as some of its roots were embedded in the soil.

Si Lang, working alone, may not even be able to uproot three trees in a day.

His hands were badly scratched. He was squatting and staring at the root of the tree which couldn’t be dug out.

Man Bao also crouched down to get a better look, “Very difficult to uproot?”

With red eyes, Si Lang looked at her, “So why did you make me clear the wasteland?”

Man Bao had the courage of her convictions, “Who asked you to gamble?”

Si Lang was speechless. He continued to lower his head and said sadly, “The hoe’s blade is blunt, and I can’t dig it out.”

“There must be a way.” Man Bao, who was reminded by Keke, snorted, dragged Si Lang aside, and ordered her fifth and sixth brothers to start digging.

Wu Lang held the hoe, “Why’re we digging so far away?”

Man Bao waved her hand angrily, “Listen to me!”

Wu Lang could only obey her. He moved the soil that had been dug up earlier to the side, and slowly dug a big hole in the direction of the root of the tree.

Then, Liu Lang energetically uprooted the tree in just one go.

Everyone was struck dumb.

Man Bao exclaimed proudly and told Si Lang to continue uprooting the trees, while she, her nephews and nieces went up the mountain to search for pretty flowers.

Meanwhile, she shared the details of her money-making scheme, “We’ll get second brother to weave some beautiful baskets. We’ll decorate the baskets with flowers just like yesterday, and then, sell the baskets.”

“Isn’t that selling baskets?” Er Tou said, “My father weaved the baskets and the money from selling the baskets must be given to him. He won’t give it to us.”

Man Bao replied, “We’re not selling big baskets but small baskets which second brother made for me.”

Da Ya said, “Those small baskets can’t hold things. Why would anyone want to buy them?”

“Didn’t all of you liked the small basket when you first saw it?”

The children were uncertain, “We like it, but the adults won’t buy it.”

Er Ya, “Children don’t have money.”

“Then, we’ll look for rich kids.”

Everyone thought that was impossible, “How could children have money?”

The Zhou kids didn’t have any money and assumed that all other children were just like them.

At the same time, Man Bao said, “That’s not true. I’ve money! There must be children like me. They could even be richer than me. We’ll look for them.”

Man Bao put forward her ultimate game plan, “We’ll put sweets in the baskets and sell them.”

When they heard that, everyone felt slightly more confident and went in search of the wildflowers.

Although it was autumn, wildflowers were blooming on the mountain. Everyone gathered an armful of flowers within a short span of time.

With Man Bao around, Da Tou and Da Ya became courageous. They went home joyfully with Man Bao and left their three uncles to slave over the wasteland.

Wu Lang and Liu Lang were envious of them and hated the fact that they were a couple of years older and couldn’t take advantage of Man Bao.

But when they turned their heads and saw fourth brother who was squatting and weeding, they felt much better.

Anyway, they could go to town tomorrow, but fourth brother would still need to work on the wasteland.

Man Bao ran home to look for Er Lang, but Da Lang and Er Lang were working in the fields.

Although the busy season for farming was over, they need to prepare the soil. They need to build up the nutrients in the soil for six months in preparation for the spring planting next year.

Since Er Lang was not home, Man Bao could only look for her father, “Father, weave a couple of small baskets for me, just like the one second brother made for me.”