The house of Quon Wing was a buzz with the news of Li Rong's pregnancy. Dee and Manchu were both treated to little gifts or special foods in celebration. As the household saw it, it was their coming that had brought on this lucky event. The children did not quite understand how their coming could have anything to do with Li Rong becoming pregnant, but they did not turn down the steamed custard tarts or sesame balls filled with beans the cooks would offer them on any occasion. Both children were now snacking on steamed buns filled with red bean and pork as they wandered through a wet market.

"Do you think Li Rong will have a boy or a girl?" Dee asked.

He shrugged and swallowed the mouthful of bun he was chewing. "Doesn't matter. But I think Quon Wing wants a boy."

Dee rolled her eyes. "Men always want sons."

"Women always want daughters!" Manchu shot back.

"That's not true."

"Then you want to have a son?" he asked, cramming the rest of his bun into his mouth.

"I didn't say that," Dee said. Ever since Li Rong had announced her pregnancy, Dee had been wondering if she would want children herself.

"See? You want a daughter."

"No. I don't think I would ever want any children." She had stopped and now was staring at a woman who was struggling to carry her groceries as well as make her child keep up with her.

"Why wouldn't you? That's one of the jobs a woman has! She must have her husband's children to carry on the bloodline!" Manchu demanded.

"Excuse me?! That's our 'job'? A woman doesn't need to give her husband babies if she doesn't want to, Manchu!" Dee said, infuriated that Manchu was starting to act like a typical male.

"But it is. A woman's job is to make certain her husband is comfortable, to keep his house clean, to put meals on the table. That is a woman's job."

Dee stopped in the middle of the market and crossed her arms, glaring at Manchu. "Are you that narrow minded about women? Who said a woman has to do all that? Why can't the man do that while the woman goes out and works?"

Manchu laughed. "That isn't how things are, Xiaohu! When we grow up, you will be having babies and keeping house for some man while he works. I will bring my children over to play with them and they will be friends just as we are."

Narrowing her eyes and pinning him with a dangerous look, Dee planted herself firmly in front of Manchu. Jabbing a finger into his skinny chest, she growled, "You will never be happy with a woman who does all that for you, Ping. Any woman who would have you with that attitude you've got about what a woman's 'job' is would have to be desperate for a husband. Very desperate!"

"You already cook and clean for Jiaoshu and now you do the women's chores here too. Just because Jiaoshu is letting you play warrior while you are young doesn't mean that you'll be allowed to do so when you are older. He is obviously training you for your role as a wife."

"I do the chores I do because I have respect for those who ask me and because I find satisfaction in knowing I can do more than just fight. At least I won't have to depend on anyone to take care of me later, unlike you!"

He shook his head at her in sympathy and patted her arm. "Poor Xiaohu. You are too proud to know how the world works for men and women."

Infuriated and at a loss for words, Dee gave Manchu a shove, sweeping his feet out from under him. In a blink the boy was on his back in the dust. When Manchu tried to get back up he found Dee's foot on his chest, shoving him back down.

"What's the matter with you, you crazy girl?!" he demanded. "Just because I'm the only one who will tell you the truth doesn't mean you have to go and attack me!"

"That isn't the truth and you know it as well as I do. Jiaoshu and Quon Wing don't treat the women they love as possessions or slaves. What you're describing is a slave, a thing to do your bidding. Women are not toys for men to play with. You keep thinking that and you will get hurt one day, very badly." Knocking him flat back onto the ground, Dee spun around and stormed back to the house.

{A woman like you needs to be controlled! I will sell you to the carnival!} Manchu shouted in Chinese after her, shaking his fist in the air. {I will find someone in this market to buy you and teach you your place!}
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