Chapter 181 It's Bamboo, It's Not Bamboo
A middle-aged man in a green gown and with a solemn face walked out of the bamboo forest. He looked at the people in front of him with displeasure, as if he was very dissatisfied with their remarks just now.
"Who are you?" Murong Jing asked.
The man sneered, "I am the patriarch of the Lu family and the owner of this Qingzhu Academy. Just based on what you little girls just said, I can kick you out right now."
Zhu Lan patted Murong Jing on the shoulder to calm her down, then stepped forward to reason:
"Senior Lu, may I ask what's wrong with what I just said? Do you also think that it is immoral for girls to enter school?"
Lu Qingfeng threw his sleeves with disdain, without even looking at her.
"Women should weave and sew at home, take care of their husbands and raise their children. This has been the case since ancient times. How can they set foot in schools, let alone become officials or rulers?"
He originally wanted to say that the court was confused, but finally he held it back.
Zhu Lan said seriously, "Only when women have both talent and virtue can they be a blessing to their families and countries. As for being an official, in ancient times, there was Ban Zhao who compiled history and Cai Wenji who passed on books, both of which were the glory of women.
Students think that the way to study is to look at the depth of one’s talent and learning, regardless of gender.
The classes in the classroom happened to be over at this time, and the students came out in groups of three or four. Hearing the argument, they came forward to watch, and the masked female students were among them.
Lu Qingfeng was a little annoyed. He was highly respected in the entire Qingxi Town and was also the head of a clan, but no one had ever dared to speak to him like this.
But if I use my status to pressure others, it would seem that I am in the wrong. Well, I will just lower my status and argue with them!
"The examples you cited from ancient times are only of a few people. 'Men are superior to women' is a natural law. If women have too much knowledge, it may be a curse rather than a blessing.
Moreover, there is an old saying that "beautiful women bring disaster". Even if women do not enter the court, they can still cause disaster. If they hold power one day, won't the world be in chaos?"
As soon as the words fell, some of the students watching nodded silently, some were in deep thought, and everyone's eyes were immediately focused on Zhu Lan, waiting for her response.
Zhu Lan knew that she couldn't retreat at this moment. She thought for a moment, raised her voice a few degrees, and suddenly asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
She pointed to the side and said, "Excuse me, Senior, what is this?"
Lu Qingfeng was obviously caught off guard by this change of topic. He was stunned for a moment before saying, "It's bamboo."
Zhu Lan asked the others again, but they all nodded, "It's bamboo."
"Okay." Zhu Lan nodded, then pointed to another bamboo with a unique shape, thickness and pattern and asked, "What about this one?"
Lu Qingfeng didn't know what she was talking about, and said impatiently: "This is Xiangfei bamboo, which originally didn't exist in Tongzhou. I specially asked someone to transplant a few of them."
Zhu Lan smiled slightly, "Senior said this is 'Xiang Fei Bamboo', then why did you say 'bamboo' instead of 'Nan Bamboo' when I pointed to 'Nan Bamboo' earlier? Could it be that Nan Bamboo is bamboo, but Xiang Fei Bamboo is not bamboo?"
"This--" Lu Qingfeng was completely confused and totally stunned by Zhu Lan's words.
They are all bamboos, so what is the difference between calling it bamboo or Xiangfei bamboo?
Zhu Lan continued, "The bamboo in Tongzhou is mainly nan bamboo, and most of what you see on a daily basis are nan bamboo, so when you mention bamboo, you are mostly referring to nan bamboo, and you won't deliberately distinguish them.
Xiangfei bamboo is rare and unique, so when it is mentioned, the species of bamboo is emphasized.”
Zhu Lan looked at Lu Qingfeng and continued, "The same logic applies. Throughout history, both men and women have caused disasters, but why is there only the term 'beautiful women are the root of disasters'? It's because there are only a few women who can attract the attention of the world, so people emphasize that they are women.
The reason why they are in the minority is, who deprived them of the qualifications to succeed?
And how many of these women were accused of crimes by men in power? "
"You...you are sophistry!" Lu Qingfeng raised his eyebrows, and there was even a hint of anger and panic in his eyes.
"Senior Lu, please allow me to ask another question." Zhu Lan took a step forward, his aura no less than that of Lu Qingfeng, the head of the clan.
"Senior, do you firmly believe that women are inferior to men and are not as gifted as men in learning?"
"Of course!"
Lu Qingfeng tried to calm down his agitated mood and regained some confidence.
"Women are weak by nature and are not suitable for studying difficult knowledge. Since ancient times, men and women have been different and have their own duties. This is the law of nature!
Men should pursue knowledge and govern the country with masculine energy. Women should be gentle and submissive, supporting their husbands and raising children. This is their duty.
Murong Jing curled the corner of her mouth in disdain.
Zhu Lan laughed softly upon hearing this, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing:
"Since the seniors firmly believe that girls are not suitable for studying, even if they are allowed to study and learn, they will not be able to learn anything, let alone become successful. So why restrict their qualifications to enter the school?"
"Or..." Zhu Lan's smile suddenly disappeared, and his eyes became somewhat sharp.
"Are you afraid that women, once educated, will stand higher and go further than the men before them!?"
"What nonsense!" Lu Qingfeng's face was filled with anger, his lips trembling. He wanted to continue refutation, but he couldn't find any suitable words.
The students who were watching from the surrounding area looked at Zhu Lan. The notions they had held in their minds were suddenly overturned. There was shock and surprise in their eyes.
Especially those female students wearing masks. Originally, women studying in Qingxi Town would be criticized. They insisted on studying under tremendous pressure. Many people gave up halfway, and even the remaining ones often fell into self-doubt.
Now, after listening to Zhu Lan's words, the confusion that had lingered in my heart for so long finally disappeared, and I finally saw the light!
Zhu Qingyan opened his mouth slightly. He had not expected Zhu Lan to be so eloquent and to explain the truth so thoroughly.
Even Murong Jing, who had always been unyielding, looked at Zhu Lan with a sense of mutual respect.
She said it so well!
What a bullshit “women are inferior to men”. If this were put in the Northern Frontier Camp, which man would dare to say this?
Zhu Lan calmly looked at Lu Qingfeng who was about to faint from anger, and thought for a moment before saying:
"How about this, if you still insist that I am making a sophistry, how about a bet?"
"What are you betting on?" Lu Qingfeng said through gritted teeth.
“Since Qingzhu Academy is the clan school of the Lu family, why not invite the most learned person in the clan? I dare to debate with him in front of the whole town tomorrow.
If the student wins, please open up the way for girls to study in the town, allow girls in the town to study in the academy, and give them the same treatment as boys, and do not look down on them anymore."
Zhu Lan's eyes sparkled, and every word he spoke was clearly heard by everyone.
"What if you lose?" Lu Qingfeng didn't expect that a little girl would be so arrogant.
"If I lose, I will kowtow to you in front of the whole town and apologize. From now on, I will no longer call myself a scholar."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
