In no time, only the Chen family and the family of the tanned girl remained by the roadside.
Chen Sanshu, holding the money bag, hesitated a moment. He passed by the tanned girl nearest to him, giving the money bag to the astonished old man.
Old Chen, seeing the road now mostly empty, feared the bullies might return to harass this family. So, he invited them to accompany him home.
The old man was so thrilled he thanked them over and over. As they chatted during their journey, he discovered their villages weren't far apart.
"You're blessed, brother, having five sons. What's there to worry about?" Old Liu admired, looking at the five boys.
Old Chen beamed with pride. "It's good to have useful sons. Those who only eat, drink, gamble, and laze around are better off not being born."
Old Liu glanced at each of the boys. "Your sons seem good."
When it came to his children, Old Chen became even more enthusiastic. "I, Chen Baolai, might not have any other talents, but I am good at raising kids. Five sons, each capable and obedient, not a single one with bad habits."
He then took Chen Xiaosang from Wu Shu's arms, showing her to Old Liu. "My daughter is even smarter than my five sons."
Old Liu glanced at Chen Xiaosang, shaking his head. "No matter how good a daughter is, she's still a girl."
Though Chen Xiaosang had only been here for two years, she knew this era valued offspring above all.
A family in their village, without a son, was robbed by relatives after the husband died. In the end, her brothers from her maternal home had to take her and her two daughters back home.
This was the harsh reality of the times.
"I can do the work men do," protested Chun Lan, Old Liu's daughter.
Old Liu shook his head. "Even if you're tough, you're still a girl. If you were a boy, those bullies wouldn't have dared to stop us."
Liu Chunlan, already upset from the previous bullying, became even more frustrated with her father's words.
"But there are many things women can do that men can't," Chen Xiaosang countered.
Old Liu looked at the petite Chen Xiaosang, shaking his head. "You're still young, you don't understand."
"I understand a lot," Chen Xiaosang said, puffing up her cheeks.
She wasn't a child anymore; she understood many things.
Old Liu sighed. "My wife and I had four sons, but none of them survived. I must be unlucky..."
He had only one daughter left.
No matter how strong his daughter was, she was not given the respect she deserved.
Liu Chunlan bit her lips until they turned white. Her heart was filled with unwillingness.
Her mother sighed deeply, shrinking into herself.
Chen Xiaosang raised her head." I love being a girl. My brothers are always smelly, but I'm the only one who smells nice. My parents love me the most, right Dad?"
Old Chen patted her head., "You're our only girl. How could we not cherish you?"
Chen Sishu chimed in, "In our home, sons are grass, while our daughter is the precious gem."
"I'm smarter and prettier than Fourth Brother, so Mom and Dad must favor me." Chen Xiaosang rebutted confidently.
Chen Sishu wasn't convinced, "Mother always says I'm the smartest kid in the house."
"That must be before I was born," Chen Xiaosang retorted.
Chen Sishu paused, considering this. It seemed she was right.
Chen Dashu gave him a side glance, "You think you're smarter than me?"
"That's what Mother said," Chen Sishu defended.
Ershu folded his arms, mocking, "Mother was merely humoring you, you big fool."
Chen Xiaosang, having her point validated, gleefully chimed in, "See, everyone agrees that Fourth Brother is foolish."
Chen Sishu protested, "You're all ganging up on me!"
Chen Xiaosang shook her head, "Fourth Brother, it's important to be reasonable. You can't throw a tantrum just because you can't outwit us."
"Even six-year-old Xiaosang gets it, but you don't. This clearly shows you aren't smart," Ershu added another taunt.
Chen Sishu felt like he could only squat down and draw circles in the dirt.
Liu Chunlan watched the Chen siblings bickering with a hint of envy, her gaze lingering on the cheerful face of Chen Xiaosang.
If all her four brothers were alive, wouldn't she be the cherished one at home?
Their playful banter lifted Old Liu's spirits.
"Have all of your sons married?" he asked.
Old Man Chen shook his head, "Only the eldest and second ones are married. Our home's been struggling these past few years, and it's delayed my third son's wedding."
Old Liu examined the third son, appreciating his tall and honest demeanor. "He's a fine young man."
Feeling awkward under the scrutiny, the third son, Chen Sanshu, sidestepped.
"You've got your mother's good looks," Old Chen complimented. Thoughts of his third son, Sanshu's impending marriage, were weighing heavily on him.
Feeling her father's discomfort, Chen Xiaosang looped her arms around his neck, asking, "And who do I take after?"
"Your father," Old Chen replied casually.
Chen Xiaosang eyed Old Chen skeptically, "Was Father this handsome when he was young?"
Old Chen was taken aback, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead.
Chen Ershu enveloped Xiaosang in his arms, pointing to his face as he said, "I'm the living proof of how Father looked in his youth. Do you think Father was handsome?"
Chen Xiaosang studied Chen Ershu closely, then looked back at Old Chen. She found striking similarities in their facial structures.
"But why don't I resemble you at all?" she questioned.
"I look most like Father," Chen Ershu replied, calm as ever. "But you, you're blessed. You've taken the most attractive features from both Father and Mother. In our family, you're the fairest."
The more Chen Xiaosang heard, the broader her smile grew. She started discussing with Chen Ershu about how she resembled each of her parents.
Old Chen, wiping the sweat from his neck, let out a sigh of relief, grateful for his second son's quick thinking.
Chen Sishu couldn't help but admire his second brother, who could effortlessly converse with Xiaosang about their parental resemblance.
Xiaosang was still not as savvy as her second brother...
Reaching the village's entrance, the two families parted ways, with the Chen family making a grand entry into the village.
On their way, the villagers greeted them, curious about their recent return.
Seeing the cart full of flour, one villager couldn't resist asking, "Your family seems to be doing well, buying white flour now?"
Chen Dashu didn't want anyone to know that his sister earned the money. She was just a little girl, and her success could draw unnecessary attention.
"We've been out for a while," he responded while walking, "It's only fair to bring some gifts back home."
"All hard-earned money," Old Chen added.
The villagers, seeing the dirty state of Chen's sons, offered comforting words, reminding them that paying the summer tax was all that mattered.
Their gazes frequently fell on the white flour, reflecting a mixture of envy and jealousy.
Just after paying the summer tax, and the Chen family could afford white flour. Their sons were indeed hardworking, capable of shouldering heavy burdens.
Old Chen felt a sense of relief after paying the summer tax. He walked with a lightness in his step, a sign of his ease.
Upon reaching home, Chen Dashu and his brothers each fetched water to bathe in their respective rooms.
Chen Xiaosang was led by Old Chen into their house to settle the accounts.
They had sold the Tianma for 1,500 coins, of which 600 was to be given to Shen Dalang, and the cost of yesterday's meat was 30 coins, amounting to a total of 930 coins.
After deducting the cost of the white flour, they were left with a net of 820 coins.
820 copper coins!
The numbers sent waves of joy through Old Chen. Hugging Chen Xiaosang, he planted a big kiss on her, "My dear daughter, you truly are a money tree!"