"What’s the use of a girl reading so many books? Look around our village and tell me how many girls there are who study." Bai Xue Mei gave him examples, "Old Liu’s Erni, the Women’s Director’s daughter Sun Hongxia... Haven’t they all stopped schooling? Right, and the Party Secretary’s eldest daughter, she didn’t go to school either and heard she went to the city to work. She’s working at the meat processing factory, room and board included, earning thirty yuan a month. Isn’t she about to get married? Her fiancé is a city worker; that’s quite prestigious! Is An Hao any less capable than them? If An Hao does well in the garment factory, maybe she could even become a leader. Doing well as a woman is not as good as marrying well."
Bai Xue Mei’s words wavered An Shuchao’s heart; he clutched his forehead and thought for a long time, "Give me another two days to think about it, will you?"
"What else is there to think about?" Bai Xue Mei couldn’t wait for An Shuchao to agree right away.
If An Hao stopped going to school and could earn money, the family’s burden would be so much lighter.
"I need to think about how to broach the subject with An Hao," An Shuchao said helplessly.
He was thoroughly convinced by Bai Xue Mei; if An Hao could earn money and marry well, what’s the point of going to university!
After all, isn’t the purpose of attending university to earn more money in the future?
As long as An Hao is happy, An Hao’s mother will also be at ease.
She’s just worried about An Hao being unhappy, isn’t she!
"Old An, you’re so good! I knew you wouldn’t let Yanjiao down," Bai Xue Mei’s mood went from cloudy to sunny, and she felt much better.
The next morning, after breakfast, Bai Xue Mei picked up a hoe to head to the fields, instructing An Shuchao to talk to An Hao about this matter before she left.
As she was about to leave, Bai Yanjiao followed her, "Mom, why are you going to the fields?"
"Would you go if I didn’t?" Bai Xue Mei retorted.
"I won’t go." Bai Yanjiao couldn’t be bothered with fieldwork; what’s the enjoyment in working the fields compared to running around and having fun every day?
"All you know is to play, play, play! You’re not getting any younger. I’ll find you a decent marriage prospect soon enough and marry you off," Bai Xue Mei said offhandedly.
"I don’t want to get married. I want to marry Brother Zhihua!" His handsome appearance and scholarly demeanor set him apart from the rest; she had been yearning for him for two whole years now, firmly believing he was the only one she wanted to marry.
"You’re always running over to the Shen Family, but I haven’t seen you capture his heart yet." Bai Xue Mei poked Bai Yanjiao in the forehead, "How come you haven’t inherited any of your mother’s cleverness and virtues?"
"Mom, how can you say things that are so unpleasant to hear?"
"If you don’t like hearing it, then hurry back inside. When you have nothing to do, take more care of Old An, make him take a liking to you," Bai Xue Mei advised her a few times before carrying the spade off to the fields.
When Bai Yanjiao went back to the house, she reached the north wall and heard low voices coming from inside.
She faintly heard the words "not go to school," and out of curiosity, she crouched by the corner to eavesdrop.
"An Hao... Dad wants to discuss something with you, okay?" An Shuchao hesitantly brought up the topic with his daughter.
"Dad, go ahead," An Hao was sitting on the kang bed, busy sorting through the clothes she had washed the day before.
"I’ve racked up quite a bit of debt with this illness of mine. Moreover, I can no longer earn money, and with the household expenses growing, we’re struggling to get by. There goes your mom, off to work the fields, and I’m thinking it’s not enough... maybe... maybe you should stop going to school... The garment factory work isn’t bad, you get food, and it pays fifteen a month..."