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墨書 Inktalez
I am Zhang Xiangqiao, ten years old.
Yu Chunmiao repeated her name, asking, "Which Zhang?"
Zhang Xiangqiao shook her head.
Beside her, Qi Chong chimed in, "Long bow Zhang, fragrant scent Xiang, what a coincidence."
Yu Chunmiao dipped her brush in ink and wrote it down.
A few girls gathered around to watch; it was the first time they had seen a girl who could write.
"Next."
"I am Lin Zhao Di, fifteen."
Yu Chunmiao didn’t ask her anything further and continued writing on the roster.
"Why don’t you ask me which Lin?"
Yu Chunmiao smiled and said, "It must be Shuang Mu Lin; it can’t be Lin Yu Lin." She added, "As for Lin Zhao Di, it must be that your mother hopes you’ll bring home a younger brother. Have you managed to do that yet?"
Lin Zhao Di covered her mouth and said, "I did bring one home. But he got shy and ran away."
Yu Chunmiao thought to herself, why would a girl be shy? No wonder Qi Chong wanted her to register the girls; if they faced him, these girls probably wouldn’t dare to say a word.
However, she was quickly proven wrong when a tall and somewhat plump girl stepped forward with a silly grin. "I am Zheng Chunyan, nineteen."
Yu Chunmiao wrote seriously while asking earnestly, "How did you learn to write? Can you teach me? My mother says I’m not pretty enough to get married. I want to learn to write so I can marry well in the future."
Yu Chunmiao looked her over; she wasn’t exactly beautiful but not ugly either. She stood over 1.7 meters tall with a sturdy frame.
"Who says you’re not good-looking? I think you’re quite nice. It’s a pity I’m a girl; otherwise, I would definitely marry you." She added, "Girls learn to read and write for themselves, not just to get married."
In her life, Zheng Chunyan had never been complimented like this before; she instantly smiled wide enough to show all her teeth. "You’re my friend for sure!"
Zhang Guihua was last in line and visibly anxious when she approached Yu Chunmiao.
Yu Chunmiao didn’t say much; she asked the necessary questions and wrote accordingly, proceeding step by step.
Zhang Guihua mustered up her courage and said softly, "Thank you for that rabbit," before walking away.
Over at Qi Chong’s side, there were more people. After finishing the registrations, he glanced around; aside from He Guangping and Gao Changfa's families, no one from Qi Changsheng's family had come either. He didn’t mind; this was voluntary after all.
Qi Chong addressed the women: "Do you know about Apple Snails? Go collect some; don’t take ones that are too small or too big. Come back here by the afternoon"
"What are we picking this up for? It's not even edible," questioned Zheng Chunyan.
Yu Chunmiao explained, "It is edible. If you pick it up, I'll teach you how to prepare it and then take you to sell it."
She could read, and if she said it was edible, then it must be.
But so many people in town who could read hadn’t said it was edible!
Picking up Apple Snails isn’t difficult, but what if they turn out to be inedible? Then we shouldn’t bother picking them at all.
So should we pick fewer?
"Don’t say that so loudly," warned Yu Chunmiao. "Just don’t pick too little."
The women each went home to fetch their tools.
For the men, it was simpler. Qi Chong slung his bow over his shoulder, grabbed his Hunting Knife, and led the group out in a grand procession.
"Duo Duo, come with me."
Qian Duo Duo followed closely behind Qi Chong. It didn’t know what was happening, but it recognized Qi Chong with his bow—time to go play a game!
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