Chapter 7 Storybook

The morning meal was ready, and a flock of children ran outside to take their seats in their designated spots.

Sitting at Old Zhou's lower seat was Zhou Dalang, while Junior Ms. Qian would ordinarily be sitting opposite him. However, since Manbao was favored, the seat next to Ms. Qian had always been occupied by her.

Junior Ms. Qian settled the youngest on a stool and then stood up to distribute the porridge to everyone.

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang glanced at the watery porridge, their lips pouting. In the past, breakfast consisted of rice since they had to work during the day, and it was only in the evening that they would have thick porridge.

But with their parents present, they dared not voice their discontent.

The three older brothers all had solemn faces as they handed their bowls to Junior Ms. Qian, and Zhou Silang looked as though he wished he could bury his head in his chest.

Junior Ms. Qian gave Fourth Uncle a glance, took his bowl, and despite the spoon floating to the top, she filled it with porridge.

If what everyone else got could still be called porridge, then the contents of Zhou Silang's bowl could only be described as rice soup.

Zhou Silang nearly cried out, lifting his head to glance at his sister-in-law. When he met her cold gaze, he looked down, not daring to speak.

Manbao looked around and, remembering she would have crispy rice at school for lunch, poured half of her porridge into her father and mother's bowls.

Old Zhou and Ms. Qian were so touched they didn't bother to scold Junior Ms. Qian, repeatedly praising Manbao, "Our daughter really is thoughtful, knowing how to show us respect."

Everyone ate their porridge in silence, wanting to show respect, but fearing they'd go hungry.

Ms. Qian pushed the porridge back, her eyes crinkling with a smile, "Manbao, you eat; your mother doesn't have to work, and I'm not hungry."

Manbao protested, guarding her bowl, "I don't want to eat anymore. My stomach is small; I'm already full."

Failing to persuade her, Ms. Qian then divided the porridge among her three sons, reminding them, "You're going out to work; eat a little more. If you get hungry on the way, find something to eat first. Once we've paid back the village chief, our family's situation will ease."

The three sons responded in unison.

Old Zhou glanced at his wife and said, "Alright, this is what Manbao gave you, don't give it all to them."

Turning to Two, he said, "Tomorrow, you'll go to the market, take a bag of grain to sell for some money. The money for the village chief isn't urgent. We can pay it back by New Year's; you brothers should be able to earn something by then. But your mother needs medicine, we can't have no money at home."

Zhou Erlang responded softly in acknowledgment.

Seizing the opportunity, Ms. Qian said, "Tomorrow, take Manbao and the others with you. Your Second brother's family too, just keep an eye on the children."

Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang immediately said, "Mother, what about us? We can look after Manbao and Datou Daya too."

Ms. Qian didn't really want Zhou Wu and Zhou Liu to go and frowned upon hearing this, "How is your Fourth brother's barren land coming along?"

Zhou Wulang had a bad feeling and cursed that he was too far from Manbao to give her a kick, he could only look at her from a distance.

Fortunately, Manbao seemed to share a tacit understanding with him, lifting her head to look at her brother and then at their mother before finally saying, "Mother, let Fifth Brother and Sixth come with us. Otherwise, I can't manage Datou and the others."

Datou immediately looked up, "Little aunt, I'm even older than you; you don't need to take care of me."

Now someone close enough, Zhou Wulang kicked him hard under the table; that stupid kid, always messing things up.

Datou cried out with an "ow," jumping up and shouting, "Mother, Fifth Uncle kicked me!"

Ms. Qian glared at Zhou Wulang before lightly smacking her simple son, twisting him around and chiding, "Hurry up and eat your porridge, you're the only one talking too much. Can't you see your little aunt hasn't said a word?"

Datou hung his head feeling pitiful.

Old Zhou saw everything, and just as he finished his porridge, put down his bowl and said, "Let them go, they're all still children. Datou and Daya are naughty, Second's family might not be able to watch them. Let Fifth and Sixth go with them. Just don't lose any of the children. Fourth, you continue clearing the land."

Old Zhou shot a threatening look at the dejected Zhou Silang who was engrossed in eating and set a deadline, "I'm giving you one month; if you can't clear one mu of land by then, you don't even deserve the porridge."

Zhou Silang's heart was filled with bitterness.

As if to twist the knife, Manbao sat down beside him after the meal and asked, "Fourth Brother, do you know why you've ended up like this?"

She answered her question, "It's because you gamble!"

Zhou Silang: ...

Manbao sighed like an adult, patting his shoulder and saying, "Gamblers are all bad people; even I understand such a simple truth. How come you don't get it?"

"Manbao, we're going to school," Junior Ms. Qian packed the vegetables into the basket, intending to carry Manbao on her back in a basket. But Manbao shook her hand with pride, holding her neck high, "Big Sister-in-Law, I've grown up. I don't need to be carried anymore."