They were only trying to upset my mom, but for the sake of her pride, she actually let me go to school.
I was grateful and cherished it deeply, even though my mother's glare could nearly slice me open whenever the doors were closed.
She even let me continue my studies until middle school exams. I thought that was the end of my education, but then, to my surprise, they asked if I wanted to go to high school.
"Angela, do you want to go to high school?"
I nodded vigorously. Yes, how could I not want to?
"The village chief next door told me his son just got out of jail. If you marry him, we'll get a wedding gift of fifty thousand."
My heart sank immediately upon hearing this.
"If you get into high school, I can ask for one hundred thousand from him, but you'll have to come up with the tuition yourself."
It was all just a scheme to sell me off, but it at least gave me a glimmer of hope.
The money I earned from tirelessly working from dawn to dusk, climbing mountains, and crossing rivers was nowhere near enough for tuition, let alone living expenses.
I counted the few banknotes hidden under my pillow night after night, my heart racing with anxiety.
Because I was trying to save up for school, I did less work at home, and my mother grew colder towards me.
She thought it was better to marry me off early and keep the money firmly in her hands.
"A girl's education is just a waste of money. You're lucky we feed you well. Marrying you off and using the money to support Henry is your duty!"
With that money, her son, Henry, could have meat to eat, new clothes to wear, and a school to attend.
But Dad was different; he had a long-term vision. He thought it better to sell for a reasonable price once and earn enough to cover Henry's expenses for building a house and getting married.
"Angela, if you get into high school, I expect a hefty wedding gift, and then your brother won't have to worry," he said.
I felt like a commodity, subject to their evaluations and comments.
If I were a product, at least the owner would take good care of it, worried about depreciating its value.
But no. What weighed on me was endless chores and baseless scolding.
My mom was determined to keep me from going to school.
That day, after selling the fish I caught in the river at the village entrance, I returned home to find my mother sitting sternly in the living room.