Shen Qiqi was nestled in the Lu family's study, writing furiously. The pile of papers spread out in front of her was her carefully planned plan for allocating educational resources.

The sunlight shone through the window lattice onto the paper, reflecting her serious and focused expression.

The rustling of the pen on the paper was like a march full of hope.

Sometimes she bit the pen in deep thought, and sometimes she wrote a few words with a lively expression, as if she was drawing a grand blueprint for education.

"This batch of donated books must be put to good use. Chinese, math, and English books should all be included..." She muttered softly, completely immersed in her own world.

At this time, Mrs. Lu pushed the door open and saw the plan on the table. Her face immediately turned gloomy.

"What a mess! What's the point of a girl reading so many books? You'd better learn needlework early so that you can take care of your husband and children in the future!" The old lady sat down on the armchair with great imposingness, like a sculpture guarding the ethics of the old times.

Shen Qiqi put down the pen helplessly and rubbed her temples.

"Mom, what era is this? Men and women are equal, and girls can hold up half the sky! Knowledge changes destiny, so you can't hold on to old ideas anymore."

"Equality? Hold up half the sky? I think you are trying to turn the world upside down! Several generations of our Lu family have lived this way, and we have never seen anyone starve to death! Girls study so much, but in the end they still have to get married? It's a waste of money!" The old lady's voice rose eight octaves and echoed in the room.

"Mom, times have changed. If you don't study now, you will suffer a great loss in the future. Look at Cuihua from the next village. She was deceived into marriage because she had no education..." Shen Qiqi persuaded earnestly, trying to convince the old lady with facts.

"Stop scaring me with others! Cuihua is stupid just because of herself. What does that have to do with literacy? I think you want to squander all the money of our Lu family!" The old lady was unmoved and still insisted on her own opinion.

"Mom, this money was donated by an educational institution. It would be a waste if we don't use it! Besides, I didn't write this plan randomly. I combined the situation of our village and discussed it with the old principal and Teacher Zhao..." Shen Qiqi explained patiently.

"Principal? Teacher Zhao? What do they know? Men have the final say, while women just follow suit and make a fuss! I don't think this plan is feasible and needs to be changed!" The old lady made the final decision, leaving no room for doubt.

Shen Qiqi took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress the anger in her heart.

"Mom, if you think the plan isn't working, you can give us some suggestions and we can discuss it together..."

"What are we discussing? If I say no, it means no! What's the point of a girl reading so many books? It's a waste of resources!" The old lady emphasized her position again.

Shen Qiqi felt helpless, but couldn't give up easily. She bit her lip, "Mom..."

Shen Qiqi bit her lip and was about to speak when Lu Qing strode in.

He put his arm around Shen Qiqi's shoulders and looked at his mother firmly: "Mom, Qiqi is right, the times are different now, men and women are the same, they all have to study!"

When the old lady heard her son also helping Shen Qiqi, she immediately became furious: "You are such a traitor! You married a wife and forgot your mother! Whatever I say is for your own good!"

"Mom, I know you are doing this for our own good, but we really can't delay our studies. You see, the policies are good now, and education will definitely be given more and more attention in the future. We can't fall behind." Lu Qing persuaded patiently.

"Backward? I think you are dazzled by the colorful world outside! What's the use of studying? Can it be eaten as food? Can it be worn as clothes?" The old lady still insisted on her opinion.

"Mom, of course studying is useful! Knowledge is power! Look at Ergouzi from the next village. It is because he studied that he works as a worker in the city and gets a salary every month!" Lu Qing cited examples around him and tried to convince his mother.

"Ergou? He's just lucky! Besides, can studying be the same for boys and girls? Girls study so much, but don't they still have to get married in the end?" The old lady still insisted on her point of view.

Lu Qing wanted to say something else, but Shen Qiqi pulled his sleeve, signaling him to be patient.

She walked up to the old lady and gently held her hand: "Mom, you are right. Girls will eventually get married, but they should find a good family to marry into! Nowadays, good families like educated daughters-in-law. You don't want me to be looked down upon in the future, right?"

The old lady was a little shaken by Shen Qiqi's words. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, and her tone softened a little: "Then...then you can't read too many books, it's a waste of money!"

"Mom, don't worry, I know what I'm doing and I won't waste money. Besides, these books are all donated, it would be a waste if they are not used!" Shen Qiqi struck while the iron was hot and continued to persuade her.

The old lady hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded: "Well... okay, I'll do as you say. But you have to spend it sparingly!"

"Hey! Thank you, mother!" Shen Qiqi happily hugged the old lady and kissed her on the cheek.

Lu Qing looked at this scene and smiled with relief.

He rubbed Shen Qiqi's hair: "You are really good. You can handle my mother in just a few words."

"Of course, don't you see who I am?" Shen Qiqi raised her chin proudly, "But this is just the first step, there are more difficult things to come..."

She gave Lu Qing a meaningful look and said, "Tomorrow, let's go visit the old principal and Liu the blacksmith..."

The next morning, Shen Qiqi took Lu Qing to the old lady's room.

"Mom, Lu Qing and I are going to the neighboring Red Star Village. I heard that all the boys and girls there go to school and are very good at studying. I want to go and learn from them!" When the old lady heard this, she was surprised to find such a new thing?

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