Manbao nodded in agreement, "I hate them."
How dared they insult her mother? Throughout her life, nobody had ever dared to say such things about her mother.
Aunt Lai told her with a smile, "Back then, it didn't exist. Don't be fooled by how tough it was when your mother first got married, she wasn't one to suffer losses. She had a fiery temper, and in terms of quarrels and fights, there wasn't a daughter-in-law in the village more formidable than her."
Manbao propped her chin and listened to stories all afternoon until her legs were numb and the sunset was about to descend. Only when Junior Ms. Qian couldn't find any trace of the children in the courtyard did she realize they were still under the banyan tree listening to stories.
Junior Ms. Qian then stood at the door, hands on hips, and shouted in the direction of the banyan tree, "Wulang, Liulang, Manbao, time to eat—hurry and bring the kids back."
