"Later, needless to say, as women became more economically independent, they were no longer dependent on men. They no longer needed to dress conservatively and remain chaste for their future 'husbands'."

An Zhengzheng knew the details like the back of her hand and patiently explained things to Yingzi.

"After World War II, tank tops, low-cut tops, floral prints, shorts... they could wear whatever they wanted. Their bodies did not belong to any man. They dared to buy a lipstick with their own money and walk confidently down the street."

"At that time, this freedom of dress demonstrated women's independence and confidence; they broke free from constraints."

This is like a certain period in Chinese history.

When Western culture entered the country, women initially had no choice but to wear men's clothing in addition to Qing dynasty attire. Later, the cheongsam gradually developed. This allowed them to avoid wearing the baggy, figure-concealing skirts and trousers of the Qing dynasty, which was very convenient, and they could also freely expose their arms and show off their curves.

Keep in mind that this was just a few years after the days when people would cut off their own lives after being teased a few times or commit suicide after being rescued for touching a man's hand.

Compared to the previous restrictions, are these women considered to be serving in the U.S. military?

It is evident that women's progress is a gradual process that has been advancing with the times.

However, even now, many people are still unable to readily let go of their struggles with beauty.

But were the things An Zhengzheng did back then truly unforgivable?

Is it even... a crime?

Is she really serving her mandatory military service in the United States?

The shadow felt powerless; she didn't even have a chance to explain herself. Because of what she wrote, the girl in her story who fought for women's rights for a century had been labeled a conscript serving in the U.S. military.

But An Zhengzheng was simply following the established path of feminist development, and she did her best to protect the girls of the Hehuan Sect.

Those who have persevered to this point should not draw such a conclusion. And those who defined An Zhengzheng as serving in the U.S. military probably wouldn't have read this far either.

Oh dear, there's no solution.

Even the shadow herself didn't understand who she was explaining all this to.

"Tell me about the two subsequent developments in feminism."

"Okay." An Zhengzheng asked, "Are you alright?"

"I think you're feeling really bad."

"It's alright. Please continue."

The next two feminist movements can be summarized simply.

Radical feminism argues for equal pay for equal work, forbidding women from wearing skirts and makeup, and demanding that women adopt a masculine image as much as possible. A woman wearing makeup, long hair, or lipstick is seen as working for men's benefit, an act of self-sacrifice. Women should be like men, without makeup, long hair (or even a buzz cut), etc.

Even more radical groups may attack and ridicule women who wear makeup, creating another form of oppression.

An Zhengzheng opposed this, just as she did with Zhou Yu'er.

She didn't agree with Zhou Yu'er's choice, but she still felt sorry for Zhou Yu'er. She couldn't even bring herself to kick her when she was down, given that they had a grudge against each other.

Similarly, she did not agree with women wearing makeup every day and linking their lives to beauty, but she could not ignore or attack them either; she pitied the poor girls of the Hehuan Sect.

Just like An Qinghuan insisted on planting the Gu poison back then...

An Zhengzheng's ideas are closer to the third wave of feminism.

She believes that women have a range of rights, including the right to wear makeup, and also the right to not wear makeup... Of course, she practices what she preaches.

What needs to be changed is the entire social system and the oppression of patriarchal society, not women.

Society should not force women to be beautiful (the patriarchal society's mandatory requirement for female employees to wear makeup and dress up, the emphasis on girls' appearance from childhood, etc.), nor should it force women to be ugly (such as attacking and mocking girls who wear makeup and have long hair as serving as beauties, creating double oppression, etc.).

Instead, we should provide a fair environment so that women have equal opportunities and are not discriminated against.

Then let them realize whether beauty is what they truly want to pursue.

...

This exchange lasted a long time.

That was the clash between An Zhengzheng and Shadow.

"An Zhengzheng!"

As they finished, Shadow suddenly spoke up hesitantly.

Her voice trembled slightly, and even through the white mist, An Zhengzheng could sense her unease.

"Whether you hate me or not, we're still the author, yet I've made things so difficult for you. In just 300,000 words, I only feel that you've suffered the most."

"Other authors' heroines have mothers who love them and fathers who care for them, men to rely on, and even more powerful advantages."

An Zhengzheng suddenly smiled.

"But if you really write that... then am I still me? I'll be a different person."

"Besides... do you really think you can put pen to paper? Can you really keep writing?"

She knew perfectly well: "You already told me about the inner demons and illusions in the 'childbirth' novel back then. The popular genre for female readers won't be my kind of story."

“Stories like mine don’t have a large market, you know that. But you still wrote them, didn’t you?”

"Because you have seen the power of women."

The shadow stared blankly, saying nothing.

An Zhengzheng's test is about to begin.

She seized the last opportunity and asked the blurry figure, "Are you still sad?"

"They hastily defined you. My name is disliked, and my very being became someone who advocates for American service. You created me, are you aggrieved?"

The shadow shook its head: "I'm not wronged anymore."

"I felt it when I created you."

"They are so powerless. Some of them have seen too many novel heroines whose names are arbitrarily chosen and novel heroines whose names are carefully chosen. Some of them are consciously aware of the oppression of beauty that women suffer."

They are clear-headed, they are angry, but the more they understand feminism, the more powerless and panicked they feel.

"Women's anger has nowhere to go because patriarchal society has existed for thousands of years, uniting the whole world; it is a stubborn wall."

"But it is precisely because of this that they exist vividly."

An Zhengzheng felt the seal on her body loosening, knowing that the conversation was about to end.

“Author, every girl you write about has flaws as well as strengths.”

“I am ambitious and resilient, but I am also arrogant and protective of my own, and I make wrong choices, leading the Hundred Women Pavilion astray.”

"She is gentle and kind, but she used to be too cowardly and dependent, and even a bit love-struck."

"Qinghuan is down-to-earth and capable, but she has a bad temper and used to be domineering and unruly."

"Song Juan and Su Ying seized the opportunity in time. They are of good character, self-reliant and strong. However, they come from poor families and are prone to feeling inferior and confused."

“Yu’er is extremely persistent in what she wants, and her temperament is no less than mine. She has experienced many changes, but her goal of having a home remains firm. However, she is too hungry, overly stubborn, and often goes too far.”

“I accept women of all kinds from the bottom of my heart, including my mother and grandmother. I suppose it’s because of you.”

"No matter what you encounter, please believe in yourself and accept yourself."

"Because you are also a woman."

Whether you are an author, a reader, or a dream-eating beast.