When Minglan was a little girl, she was much smarter than her sisters. She learned faster, saw things more clearly, and always had her own ideas. But in front of others, she always acted quiet and slow, as if she was not clever at all.

There were two main reasons for this. First, her mother told her again and again before she died: never stand out, never show off, because a girl without support will get hurt easily. Second, Minglan saw clearly that too much attention would bring jealousy and trouble. She had no mother to stand up for her, so she had to protect herself in this quiet way.

Hiding her ability was not because she was shy or weak. It was a young girl's wisdom to survive in a difficult environment. She chose to lie low and grow in silence, until she was strong enough to face all challenges.