```
With the child out of earshot, Big Uncle Lu spoke bluntly, "Da Gen's wife, I know what you're thinking. You want to give Zao Hua to Youliang in exchange for a job, and at the same time get a hefty dowry."
Zao Hua's mother's face burned with embarrassment. She had indeed done so, but like a tree needs its bark, a person needs their dignity; she did not want to be accused of selling her daughter. As she cried, she said, "Uncle Tie Jun, with Da Gen gone, how can I, a lone woman, keep this home standing? Zao Hua is the eldest, and she needs to help me keep it together."
