Xiao Yu understood the sentiment and joked with a smile, "Exactly, after having read books and learned manners, they know what to do, what should be done, and how to do it properly without drawing pointing fingers. The more they know, the more cautious they become. Yaya, do you want to study?" For original chapters go to novel{f}ire.net
Yaya hesitated, "Although I want to study, sister, I think living like that seems exhausting. Look at that sister, always holding herself so tensely, her smile is so forced. That’s not a smile that comes from the heart, not cheerful at all. If studying turns me into that, then I’d rather not. I still want to work and earn money. Considering her condition, she’d probably need someone to take care of her."
Xiao Yu burst into laughter, "Yaya, you’ve summed up quite accurately, haha,"
"I prefer a life like yours, sister—bold and unrestrained. You know so much and can read and write. Although you don’t quite fit the usual girl look and they criticize you for showing your face, being comfortable in one’s own skin is what matters, right? We aren’t planning to be princesses or marry the emperor. Why should we oppress ourselves to fit that mold? So stifling, isn’t it?"
Having been in her company for some time and being greatly influenced by her language, but Yaya was smart and made accurate analyses. She agreed to bring Yaya along because she felt too lonely on her own and needed help on the entrepreneurial path. Rather than relying on a stranger to be her Maid in the future, it made more sense to bring Yaya, who she knew thoroughly.
"Okay, Yaya, if you want to learn, I’ll find you a teacher later to teach you reading and writing, which is the very least we need to know as human beings. As for those rules and manners, we need to learn them too. Not just you, even I need them. Only by learning them can we avoid being mocked. But when there are no guests, we can still be as free as we wish. Just like that sister we saw, she might not be like that among her family, you see? It’s all for show."
Yaya suddenly realized, "So that’s it, huh? Sister, being a girl really isn’t as freeing as being a boy."
Xiao Yu gently patted her head, filled with emotions, "Ah, the wicked old society, dreadful feudal dregs, not only setting unreasonable expectations for women but also treating us less than human. Ah well, there’s no use in telling you more now; you won’t understand until you’ve left this town then you’ll see how terrifying the world outside can be."
Grandma too was understandably worried about her; once Grandma Liu passed away, who knew what might become of Yaya!
After returning home, they packed up a small cart of potatoes, but this time, when they went to borrow the handcart, the family that had lent it to them last time surprisingly declined.
They didn’t directly say they wouldn’t lend it, just mentioned that the small cart would be needed tomorrow and couldn’t be given out for use.
Xiao Yu clearly understood what that implied.
Before the year-end, they had bought six to seven hundred pounds of potatoes, and now there was about a month’s worth left to sell at home.
Since they were not willing to lend, Xiao Yu wasn’t in a rush. "No worries, every day when we go, we can carry a bit over. If that’s not enough, we’ll just buy some more in town. They’re not expensive and larger too. If really needed, let’s see tomorrow if we can buy a small donkey cart, that would make our back and forth much easier and save us the travel time."
They were about to start their operations for the new year. During the time leading up to the year-end, they managed to save up just over a pound of starch, not just from their side but including the water used to wash potato chips from the kitchen. It was indeed not easy!