Chapter 24: It's Not Easy to Be a Man

On the way back, they sat in Qin Shangyu's carriage and talked about their experiences in the past few days. They almost never saw Wanwan again.

Jiang Yuyan thought of the man who saved her, and said to Qin Shangyu: "The man who saved me on the mountain was quite cunning, jumping off a thousand-foot high peak. Before he left, I heard him say that Shangyu, you paid a lot of money. I don't know how much it was, I will return it to you later."

Xiao Yuanyan also responded, "I really have to thank Brother Qin. Wanwan and I will deliver all the expenses to your house tomorrow."

Qin Shangyu's delicate eyebrows suddenly became a little sad. He was always reserved, but at this moment, he didn't know where he got the courage from, and said, "I'm just doing this for Miss Jiang, I'm willing, Brother Xiao, you don't need to be polite."

"Pah!" Xie Jingyu closed his fan and snorted. This was another powerful enemy! He hadn't even taken over yet! So he said, "You must pay it back. I'll pay it back for Wanwan."

Jiang Yuyan and Xiao Yuanyan looked at him and asked, "What do you want?"

"How can it have nothing to do with me? After you and Brother Xiao get married, I will return to Beijing to tell my father and mother...just about the two of us." Xie Jingyu came over with a smile and whispered in Jiang Yuyan's ear.

Jiang Yuyan blushed with embarrassment. This man was stealing her girlfriend right in front of her husband. She secretly glanced at Xiao Yuanyan, only to see that his expression did not change. He just hugged her arm a little harder and pulled her closer to his chest.

"Ahem." Jiang Yuyan tried to change the subject, "I wonder if I have offended that hero Chi accidentally? He seems to have some opinions about me."

“Not really.” Qin Shangyu explained, “When this strange thief Chi Tiannan was young, his family was poor. He had a brother who was married to someone else as a servant. The woman loved music and women, and often lingered in brothels. Several husbands in the family were unwilling to come forward to look for her, so they used his brother as a weapon and forced him to go find the woman and bring her back.

The woman was furious and ordered her men to strip him naked and beat him, and then threw him into the woodshed for several days in the cold winter without any water. When Chi Tiannan came to find his brother, he was already dying and there was no way to save him.

Chi Tiannan was furious and went to the woman to ask for an explanation. However, the woman took the opportunity to tease him. Chi Tiannan, who was only twelve years old at the time, fought back and smashed the woman's head with a vase.

Fortunately, the woman avoided people at this time in order to take advantage of him, otherwise Chi Tiannan would not have been able to escape. Later, he was wanted, and I accidentally saved him, and asked someone to send him to another place to learn skills, which led to this entanglement. But he has hated the woman since then. It's not directed at you. "

"What a miserable person!" Jiang Yuyan sighed.

Xiao Yuanyan touched her head gently. Most women in this world are unfaithful, so his Wanwan is precious.

Jiang Yuyan thought about it for a long time. Due to this era, society is too unfair to men. Even men cannot guarantee their basic human rights. From Chi Tiannan to the bandits in Tianlang Village, she saw their deep-seated pathos. She really wanted to do something for the men in this society. She had some ideas in her mind.

The few of them returned to the courtyard that Xiao Yuanyan had bought in Qingxi Town, which had been basically repaired. After what happened last time, Xiao Yuanyan would never dare to leave her in the mountains, not to mention that it was cold in the mountains and not suitable for living.

Jiang Yuyan had no time to appreciate it, and hurriedly asked Xiao Yuanyan to grind the ink. Qin Shangyu and Xie Jingyu were curious about Jiang Yuyan's behavior, so they asked their followers to make tea and sit aside.

Jiang Yuyan wrote on the paper. What she wrote was suggestions to improve the current situation of men. Nowadays, the court cannot open up channels for ordinary people to express their opinions, but she has Xie Jingyu, a great Buddha, who can reach the ears of the emperor through the Wu Wang Mansion. As a woman, she is just asking for the people's livelihood and has no ambitions. What does it matter whether what she says is right or wrong?

Jiang Yuyan felt at ease, and wrote one line after another. The characters of this era were similar to the traditional Chinese characters of ancient times. She had learned calligraphy, so she could write, but she didn't know how to express some ideas in the standard style of this era. So she just listed some outlines.

1. Add the crime of abandonment. Male babies and children must not be abandoned at will. Families with many children that meet the poverty standard can be appropriately exempted from taxes after verification by the court.

2. Increase the punishment for women who abuse and kill men without reason, and all betrothal gifts will be returned to those who divorce their husbands without serious fault.

3. Increase ideological and moral education for women. Each state will select the most virtuous lady every year, give her financial and honorary rewards, and hold parades in the streets.

Fourth, too many older men with nowhere to release their energy is indeed one of the factors of social instability. The court can find a group of obedient monks to hold regular lectures, advocating self-cultivation and reducing lustful thoughts, and brainwashing such statements as attaining enlightenment and becoming an immortal after death.

Fifth, encourage young people to join the army and give priority to retired soldiers in marriage. This will strengthen the country's military construction, stagger the age of marriage, and alleviate some of the pressure on marriage at the right age.

6. Open a bookstore and solicit articles advocating mutual respect and love between husband and wife, not advocating arbitrary beating and scolding, and men should also have self-respect, self-confidence, and self-love, etc. to promote social harmony and stability.

The three looked at each other in bewilderment at Jiang Yuyan's strange expression. They felt that the words were very familiar, but the meaning of the sentence was not very clear. Jiang Yuyan explained the meaning to the three people one by one. Then the three people added details, and Qin Shangyu transcribed it in standard form.

"Jing Yu, I thought of some immature ideas on the way." Jiang Yuyan said embarrassedly: "I wonder if the Wu Wang Mansion can help deliver this memorial?"

If your suggestions are occasionally useful, it would be a great blessing.

The three were all shocked and moved when they heard this. They didn't expect that the person who sought benefits for the men of Dayue Country was actually a woman! Moreover, these ideas were very practical and pertinent, taking into account the law, human feelings, and morality, just to improve the current situation of men and stabilize the national order.

Xie Jingyu laughed and praised: "How can it be immature? I think your suggestion is very good! When I return to Beijing, I will ask my father to submit a memorial!"

Jiang Yuyan was too smart, had great political ability, and had great kindness and justice in her heart. Several people looked at her with tenderness and admiration.

Except for the fourth item which was only suitable for reference by superiors, the rest of the items were later revised into a written document and became the "Five Opinions of Madam Jiang" sought after by men all over the world.

This is a later story.