, this time, I didn't obediently allow myself to be beaten.

　　Instead, I wrestled with her.

　　I snatched the tongs and, imitating what I had seen on TV dramas, pressed it hard against her neck, saying fiercely, "I will no longer allow you to bully me.

　　I will grow bigger and bigger, while you will only grow older and older.

　　If you hit me once, I will hit you three times.

　　If you strip my clothes, I will tear your clothes too! When you are old and lying in bed unable to move, I will even feed you shit and urine!" ...The old lady was scared.

　　She cried out, "Ahh!" and spread news of my evil deeds to the whole village.

　　Those aunts and grannies, who always held themselves above others, lectured me, "She is your grandmother.

　　Being unfilial like this will lead to divine punishment." I remained expressionless, "If that's the case, why haven't I been struck by lightning and killed? Does that mean the heavens think I'm doing the right thing?" They were speechless.

　　That summer, the village had a big celebration.

　　Changchao, from Uncle Song's family, got accepted into a very good university.

　　She has a younger brother named Songmu, but Uncle Song was partial and refused to support her.

　　She had to work hard to be able to attend high school.

　　On the day the acceptance letter arrived, Uncle Song boasted throughout the village.

　　We children also went to see what was happening.

　　I touched the embossed envelope, the ancient and dignified architecture on it filled me with yearning.

　　I asked foolishly, "After going to college, will I be able to earn a lot of money?"

　　Zhaozhao sister gently touched my head and said, "Not necessarily, but if you go to college, you won't have to get married and have children early like many girls in the village."

　　She crouched down and looked into my eyes tenderly, saying, "Little swallow, you're only in fourth grade, you still have time to work hard."

　　She planted a seed of hope in my heart.

　　I no longer get distracted in class and listen attentively.

　　After school, I no longer play around and start studying diligently.

　　The old lady made fun of me, "You silly child, do you really think you can achieve something through education? After finishing junior high, go find a job quickly."

　　"It's proper to get married early and receive bride price.

　　It's a cheap deal for the in-laws to make a girl read so many books!"

　　I retorted, "I will read more and learn more characters.

　　When you die, I will personally write your name on your tombstone."

　　The old lady was almost driven to anger.

　　At that time, most children in the village studied based on their talent.

　　There weren't many like me who put in spontaneous effort.

　　Everyone just attended school without much thought and graduated in a daze.

　　There were sixty people in our primary school class.

　　I entered junior high with the top grades in my class.

　　By then, the population had already begun to flow to the big cities, and the junior high in the countryside was merged into the town.

　　Because it was far away, we had to live at the school.

　　Other children cried and complained, but I couldn't ask for more.

　　The old lady grumbled, saying we should just stop studying and go find jobs to earn money.