Chen Wangbei's parents were both farmers. Having grown up in a farming family, he had a deep understanding of their affairs.
Hua Manman asked him if farming families would let their girls go to school.
Without even thinking, Chen Wangbei gave a negative answer.
The reason was simple.
Someone was needed to do the work at home.
Farming households had endless chores. The adults typically had to wake at dawn and work nonstop until nightfall before they could sleep.
The children in the family had to learn to do housework from a young age to ease their parents' burden.
If all the children were sent to school, who would do the work at home?
It was a different story if it was a boy.
A boy who studied could take the imperial examinations. If he was lucky, he might even earn a title and bring honor to his ancestors.
But what could a girl do with an education?
'It's completely useless!'
Hua Manman wanted to say that studying could make one reasonable and enlightened.
