The village elders had their own calculations and knew that Mr. Zhuang wasn't in it for their money; he was simply taking pity on his students. They were well aware that the children still needed to eat at home, so they were more than happy to provide this bit of sustenance. Even the students from the same village brought rice over.
Later on, Mr. Zhuang's elderly wife fell gravely ill and passed away, and his grandchildren were taken to live in the city by his son and daughter-in-law, leaving him alone in the village to teach. With no one left to do the chores, Mr. Zhuang spent a hundred wen to hire Junior Ms. Qian as a cook.
When Landlord Bai found out, he told Junior Ms. Qian to return the money to Mr. Zhuang and paid her himself. He also took care of the rice and money that the students had brought, so Mr. Zhuang could focus on teaching with peace of mind.
At that time, Manbao was only eight months old and couldn't even walk yet. Junior Ms. Qian's primary job was to take care of Manbao and her own youngest son Sixth Brother, so she often carried both children in a basket to the school's kitchen. Occasionally, she would pinch a rice ball from the pot for them to eat, raising them both very well.
But now Sixth Brother was four years old and didn't like coming to the school. He preferred playing with his elder siblings, so now it was only Manbao who stayed by Junior Ms. Qian's side.
Even though it was just a bit of rice crust each day, Manbao was raised plump and fair, not at all like a child from a farmer's household, much less like one from the Zhou Family.
After Manbao and Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou finished sharing out the rice crust and cleaned the pots and pans, she happily hopped and skipped her way home.
Junior Ms. Qian wanted to carry her in the basket, but Manbao refused, running to the side and saying, "I can walk by myself, I can do it."
Junior Ms. Qian didn't force her, "Alright, walk by yourself, just don't fall."
"I'm already a big kid, I won't fall," Manbao shouted as she ran ahead, but when she saw a crowd of people gathered at her front door, she was thrilled and rushed towards them. Then she heard a harsh scream from inside and shuddered with fright.
Junior Ms. Qian sensed something was wrong before Manbao did and rushed forward, holding her tight.
The onlookers made way when they saw Junior Ms. Qian, "Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou is back, let her through, quickly now."
"Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou, your Fourth Uncle has lost at gambling, and the creditors have come knocking," one informed her. Meanwhile, others took perverse pleasure in the misfortune, "He owes no small amount. Old Zhou looks like he's about to beat his son to death. You'd better go and calm things down. Money can be earned back, but a life gone is really gone."
Junior Ms. Qian's heart trembled as she pushed through the crowd toward her house. She saw Fourth Uncle being held down by Two and Third while their father swung a flail at him.
In the courtyard stood about a dozen strangers, with one at the front who, interrupting Old Zhou's angry shouting, said, "Old Master Zhou, even if you beat your son to death today, you still have to repay my money. Otherwise, have we brothers come all this way over the mountains for nothing?"
Manbao broke free from Junior Ms. Qian's arms and ran to her father's side. She glanced at her no-good Fourth Uncle and then at the onlookers with furrowed brows and asked, "Dad, how much money did Fourth Uncle gamble away?"
The young leader looked at Manbao in surprise and exclaimed, "Huh, Old Master Zhou, your daughter is quite the looker. If the family has no money, you could use the child to settle the debt. She's a bit young, but we don't mind."
Old Zhou was furious and pushed his daughter behind him, raging, "If you want someone, take this beast away. Let him pay off his own debts."
Zhou SiLang wailed desperately, crying out, "Dad, Dad, save me, please, I won't dare do it again, I swear! If they take me, they'll kill me, they really will!"
After giving Old Zhou a look, the young leader snorted dismissively and stepped onto Zhou SiLang's hand, grinding it as he screamed in pain.
Seeing Old Zhou's complexion turn from livid to ashen, the leader smirked with satisfaction, "It's only fifteen taels of silver, right? Looking at your family's newly built house, it doesn't seem like you're short of cash. If that's not enough, you've got plenty of girls to sell. Just give me any two of them, but let me be clear upfront; girls aren't worth much these days. It has to include your youngest daughter to settle the debt, or else others are just worth three to five taels. Without four, the debt can't be cleared."
On hearing this, both Junior Ms. Qian and Ms. Feng hurriedly pulled their daughters behind them, as theirs were the only girls in the house.
Old Zhou was shivering with anger, and Zhou SiLang was filled with both shock and fear, nearly wetting himself. He could only cling to his father's clothes with his free hand, pleading, "Dad, please save me, please... I won't dare do it again, never again..."
Zhou Er, who was holding him down, couldn't help but raise his hand to hit him. The family had just started to live a better life when Zhou SiLang had ruined it all.
And Zhou Er had two daughters. If they really had to sell someone...
Thinking this, Zhou Er hit him even harder, shouting, "This is for not obeying, for not listening."
Zhou SiLang crouched, crying for mercy.
Manbao observed with tightly pursed lips, then looked at her three nieces and ran inside the house.
Her mother Ms. Qian was leaning against the bed clutching her chest, and Sixth Brother was anxiously supporting her.
Her mother had always been in poor health and must have been frightened by the commotion.
Manbao approached and asked, "Mom, how much money do we have?"
Ms. Qian opened her eyes, looked at her daughter, and couldn't help but wipe away tears, "Why are you asking this?"
"Is it enough to pay the debt?"
Ms. Qian wept, "Damn him to hell, I should have drowned your Fourth Uncle at birth. Even when we scrape everything together, we're still four or five taels short."
Manbao inquired, "Should they take Fourth Uncle away then?"
"They came all the way over the mountains. If we don't give them a penny, by the time they reach the village border, they could beat your Fourth Uncle to death. Can we actually bear to watch him die?"
Ms. Qian understood this reasoning, and Old Zhou surely did too. He was just unwilling to let go.
Manbao emphasized seriously, "We can't sell a niece."
Ms. Qian stroked her head, "Won't sell, even if we sell your Fourth Uncle, we won't sell them. That damned creature."