"We don't use much firewood on such hot days; Laidi can gather enough by herself," Zhang Guihua arranged it as soon as she opened her mouth.
Zhao Xiaojuan's heart ached even more.
Her little girl was only five years old and looked as thin and frail as a three or four-year-old due to poor nutrition. How could she carry so much dry firewood!
As she opened her mouth to plead again, Zhang Guihua swept over her with a glare, "Giving birth to so many worthless children, yet not a single one with a handle to carry on our Old Jiang Family!"
With a single sentence, Zhao Xiaojuan's face instantly turned pale with shame and unease, as if she had been stripped naked in public; the courage born of motherly love vanished abruptly.
Having borne four daughters and not a single son was her fault, a failure to Changhai and the Old Jiang Family.
A look of frustration showed on her husband Jiang Changhe's honest face, feeling quite aggrieved inside,
He, too, wanted a son to carry on the family line!
In a remote rural place like Stone Bridge Village, any man without a son was subject to gossip, and having no sons spelled the end of his lineage!
What use were daughters? They would eventually marry into other families anyway.
And Jiang Mianmian was once again grateful that her parents did not hold such feudal thoughts of favoring boys over girls; otherwise, she really would want to die all over again.
Obviously, the inability to conceive a son was the man's issue, yet women were blamed—what a screwed-up society!
Fortunately, Zhang Guihua didn't intend to continue the inquisition and turned around, slapping the table, "In any case, it's settled !"
"I'm not going," Jiang Mianmian wouldn't agree. She secretly gestured to her dad, seeking rescue with a wink.
But Jiang Changhai had a vacant look, as if his mind had wandered far away.
As for her mother, knowing that her in-laws didn't like her as a daughter-in-law, she always pushed her husband forward to attract the flak.
Seeing that her eldest son didn't defend his child for once, Zhang Guihua immediately spoke in a hard, assertive tone, "You have to go, whether you like it or not. No work means no food to eat; our Old Jiang Family doesn't support idlers!"
Laosan's Wife maliciously reveled in her heart yet feigned concern outwardly, "San Ya, listen to your auntie's advice. Boys like hardworking and capable wives; the more competent you are, the better son-in-law you'll attract to our house!"
Of course, her words were false; in this day and age, which man would want to be a live-in son-in-law apart from the lazy and useless riffraff!
Jiang Mianmian wouldn't believe her even if a ghost told her. Seeing that her own father was unreliable, she quickly came up with a plan and said, "Then Big Brother and Second Brother should go as well. Big Brother is already eleven."
Her grandmother adored her two grandsons the most and certainly wouldn't want them to endure hardship.
Indeed, Zhang Guihua instantly glared and said, "No! Zhiwen and Zhiwu need to go to school, but you don't attend school."
Even though both grandsons weren't cut out for academia, it was always good for boys to have a bit more ink in their bellies.
"Then Mianmian will go to school too," Jiang Changhai suddenly came back to earth and smoothly added.
His daughter was also of the age to attend school.
"What did you say?!" Zhang Guihua couldn't believe her ears.
Everyone else's gaze turned to him in unison, their expressions shocked as if he had announced some earth-shattering news.
Even Jiang Mianmian was surprised; her dad had never mentioned letting her go to school before.
Jiang Changhai simply repeated, "I said, let Mianmian go to school too."
His tone was so nonchalant, as if going to school was as ordinary as eating and drinking.
"Have you lost your mind?! Spending money to send a girl to school!!" Zhang Guihua's voice instantly escalated, piercingly loud.