Ms. Feng said to Manbao, "A man can become a bookkeeper or a school teacher if he studies, and if he's really good, he might even be eligible to take the civil service exam. But what use is reading for a woman? Once of age, they're to marry off, either to work the fields or to manage household chores. Whether they can read or not, what does it matter?"
Manbao was left speechless, yet in her heart, she always felt that what Second Sister-in-law said was not right.
After some thought, she finally found an argument to counter, "The teacher said, 'Reading enlightens the mind.'"
Ms. Feng retorted, "Principles, well, a little chat and you understand. Don't worry, little niece, I will explain it to Erya. Look at us, don't we all manage without knowing how to read? Which of us doesn't understand principles? Girls all learn principles from their mums."
