The surrounding crowd erupted into a clamor. Some cursed, others laughed.
Mo Guoqiang rubbed his nose and said to Grandpa Mo, "Uncle, didn't we already agree on this? We even signed a note. That house... it belongs to my Xiaoqiang now!"
Grandpa Mo said, "My wife and I keep our promises. We vacated the place and moved out early, just as we said we would. But what about you? Did you keep your word?"
Mo Guoqiang looked at Liu Fengying. She just pursed her lips and turned her head away.
Mo Guoqiang said, "Uncle, the girls are still young. If we send them to look after Grandma, I'm afraid they won't be much help!"
Grandpa Mo flared up. "My wife has always loved having daughters around, ever since she was young. Her health was just too poor for her to have any of her own! You two have three or four girls. I'm away at the reservoir at night, so I just wanted one of them to keep my wife company. We would love her and cherish her. When did I ever say we wanted her to be a servant? If you're not willing, then forget it! The agreement is off. We're moving back into that house!"
"No! You can't have the house back!" Liu Fengying adamantly refused. Mo Guoqiang squatted on the ground and fell silent.
Grandpa Mo said, "Since you won't return the house, our original agreement still stands. If you can't bear to part with your other daughters, then give us Xiao Man!"
The moment he said it, Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying both shot to their feet, shouting almost in unison, "No! Not Xiao Man!"
Listening from the sidelines, Secretary Mo and Captain Guan's tempers began to flare, and they couldn't help but apply pressure. "Isn't it just sending a child to keep the old folks company? It's not like she's going far—you all live in the same courtyard. She'd just be bringing them water and meals. It's a perfect way for you to fulfill your filial duties, isn't it? What's the matter with you two? You won't agree to this, and you won't agree to that. You think the whole world revolves around you? Have you thrown all reason out the window?"
Mo Guoqiang was at a loss for words, but Liu Fengying managed to choke out, "Xiao Man is my eldest. She's worth half an adult in terms of labor. If she leaves, who will do all the work at my house?"
The women in the crowd couldn't hold back any longer. "Oh, for heaven's sake! Listen to that! Is that something a mother should say?"
"No wonder they pulled Xiao Man out of school at such a young age. She has endless chores all day, and she even has to carry her younger siblings on her back, just like a servant girl from the old society... As for Liu Fengying, besides earning a few work points on the production team, she's usually quite idle!"
"If I hadn't watched the girl grow up, I'd never believe Xiao Man was her biological daughter. She's forced to work like a slave, and on top of that, she gets beaten black and blue!"
"That's right. She'd be better off being raised by the old couple!"
Grandpa Mo said, "Xiao Man herself said she's willing to live with us! I have to go up to the reservoir every day. With Xiao Man there to keep her Grandma company, I'd be much more at ease."
Secretary Mo nodded repeatedly. "It should have been this way from the start. Since you brothers aren't willing to be filial to your elders, then let the granddaughter do it! Where's Xiao Man? Xiao Man, speak up! Are you willing to go live with your Grandpa and Grandma?"
Like a schoolgirl answering a question in class, Mo Xiaoman raised her right hand high and replied loudly, "Reporting to the Secretary, Xiao Man is willing!"
The crowd roared with laughter, and Secretary Mo couldn't help but chuckle as well. "What a great kid! Second Brother, you chose well. This girl is straightforward, honest, hardworking, and capable. She'll be able to take good care of Second Sister-in-law!"
Grandpa Mo then turned to Mo Guoqiang and Liu Fengying. "You all heard her. Xiao Man has made her position clear! If you agree, I won't bring up the house again. And that two hundred-plus yuan that Guo Qiang borrowed from me... I won't ask you to pay it back either!"
The entire courtyard fell silent. Over two hundred yuan! In those days, that was a huge sum of money. In all of Gongdao Village, very few families could manage to save up that much.
Liu Fengying's eyes darted around as she tried to deny the debt. "Uncle, you should speak with a clear conscience! When did we ever borrow money from you? If you're really serious, then give *us* two hundred yuan right now, and you can take Xiao Man!"
"You... you scoundrel! You dare to deny your debt?" Grandpa Mo was so furious his beard was trembling.
Mo Xiaoman decided it was time for her to step in. She walked to her Grandpa's side, pulled Liu Fengying's notebook from her pocket, flipped to a certain page, and held it up for him. "Grandpa, look. Isn't the money you lent them recorded right here?"
And there, in Liu Fengying's own handwriting, was the clear record: *On a certain date, Guo Qiang took one hundred yuan from Uncle! On another certain date, Guo Qiang got one hundred thirty yuan from Uncle!*
Mo Xiaoman had been pulled from school after the second grade. 'I can't let anyone know I can read so many words,' she thought. So instead of reading it aloud, she just let Grandpa Mo look for himself.
Grandpa Mo took the notebook and glanced at it. How could he not understand what was happening? A wave of shock and delight washed over him. He stroked Xiao Man's head and said, "Good girl, this is it! And they even wrote it down themselves, in black and white! Here, Secretary, be our witness. Help me read this out loud!"