Chapter 51 Liberation
Tao Nanfeng wanted to learn cooking from Xiao Aiyun, but unfortunately he had no talent. He almost cut his finger while cutting vegetables, which scared Tao Shouxin so much that he shouted, "I don't want to learn, I don't want to learn. Just eat in the cafeteria like me in the future."
As a result, Tao Nanfeng's plan to learn cooking came to nothing.
Seeing that Tao Nanfeng was a little depressed, Xiao Aiyun comforted him, "You are going to do great things in the future, so why waste your time in the kitchen?"
Tao Nanfeng said gloomily, "But, everyone needs the daily necessities of life. Look at Principal Li Minli, such a capable woman, even after divorce, doesn't she still have to cook, clean the house and take care of the children?"
Xiao Aiyun blinked her eyes and said, "Then find a husband who is willing to do housework."
Tao Nanfeng laughed, "Forget it. I've never seen a man doing housework."
When her mother was still alive, she did the housework; after her mother passed away, her father hired a nanny; after remarrying, Feng Chun'e cooked, washed clothes and took care of the whole family.
After hearing what Tao Nanfeng said, Xiao Aiyun sighed, "Yes, it's the same in our family. My parents both work in a towel factory, but after work my dad would drink and chat with his co-workers, and my mom was exhausted from cooking, washing clothes and taking care of the children. They talk about women's liberation all day long, but I think it's all empty talk."
Tao Nanfeng nodded: "Yes, housework is actually very exhausting. Just cooking means buying vegetables, washing vegetables, picking vegetables, cooking vegetables, and finally cleaning the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. Oh, and also, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar need to be bought, the stove needs to be wiped, honeycomb coal needs to be made, and the coal stove needs to be cleaned from time to time..."
The further she spoke, the softer her voice became, and the more she frowned, it felt like she was exhausting herself just by talking.
Finally, Tao Nanfeng sighed: "Only when housework is socialized can women's liberation be truly realized."
Xiao Aiyun asked in confusion: "Socialization of housework?"
Tao Nanfeng nodded and said, "Yes, there are public canteens for eating, laundry rooms for washing clothes, cleaners for cleaning... If all housework can become social labor projects and be completed by dedicated people, then women can be liberated from housework and truly devote themselves to their careers."
Xiao Aiyun's eyes sparkled when she heard this, and she said excitedly, "If this is possible, that would be great."
Li Minli’s divorce last time had quite a big impact on the girls. Although it is said that women are liberated and men and women are equal in the new society, are they really equal in reality?
No.
Under the influence of two thousand years of farming culture, the basic model of husband and wife is that men work outside and women work inside. Women are responsible for pregnancy, raising children, doing housework, and maintaining the internal operation of the family, while men are responsible for supporting the family, farming, working, external communication, and protecting the family.
In today's new society, women can also go out to work and have a career. But men still view housework as something exclusive to women.
So what if a woman is so capable? You still have to have children and do housework.
If we want to truly achieve women's liberation, the socialization of housework is indeed an effective way.
Xiao Aiyun looked at Tao Nanfeng with admiration on her face: "Nanfeng, you are awesome. You can actually come up with such words."
Tao Nanfeng shook his head: "This is not something I came up with. This is what my mother said during a departmental discussion. It's a pity that she died early, otherwise..."
She suddenly felt choked up in her throat and couldn't continue.
My mother was the eldest daughter of a pampered country gentry family. She was well-educated at home and was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. She loved art and went to school with her father across the ocean. After returning to China, she taught at Jiangcheng Architectural University. She was gentle and quiet, and was deeply loved by students.
My mother had both the gentleness and virtuousness of an old-fashioned woman and the independence and calmness of a new-fashioned woman. What she said back then made countless higher education experts think deeply. Unfortunately, she saw the difficulties of Chinese women's liberation, but did not expect that she would die early. Even with the "life-saving" jade buckle, it could not save her life.
The jade button that Tao Nanfeng was wearing at the time was stained with her fingertips' blood, which activated its original spirituality. well! If I had known earlier... maybe my mother could have survived.
Tao Nanfeng fell into self-blame until her father gently stroked her head, which freed her from this sour emotion.
Tao Shouxin sighed, "If your mother lived to be 66, she was born into a landlord family. Just think about it... If your mother, a person of such elegance and grace, was pushed out to be judged by the public, how could she bear it? Alas! Isn't this a kind of protection for her?"
Tao Nanfeng's eyes darkened and he said nothing more.
Xiao Aiyun coughed, trying to break the gloomy atmosphere at home: "Come on, Nanfeng, let's go buy some groceries! The New Year is coming, and we have to prepare some New Year's goods."
Tao Shouxin took out 30 yuan and two kilograms of food coupons and gave them to his daughter: "Go, go, you two little girls can go out for a walk. There are still two days before the New Year, and now is the time for fun."
Xiao Aiyun was wearing a blue cotton-padded jacket, plain and simple; Tao Nanfeng was wearing a plaid coat bought for her by her father, exquisite and fashionable. Both girls had braids and looked youthful. When they walked out of the small red building hand in hand, they attracted curious glances from the neighbors.
"Nanfeng is back? Is this your classmate?"
"It's not even the New Year yet, and you're already wearing new clothes? Where are you going?"
The fragrance of wintersweets in the yard filled the air, the camphor trees on the campus were lush and green, and the neighbors asked questions enthusiastically. This was the home where he grew up, full of the smell of fireworks. Tao Nanfeng's mood gradually improved, and he greeted acquaintances with a smile.
"Hello, Grandma Jia, Hello, Uncle Wang, Hello, Aunt Miao!"
"This is my educated youth friend who went to the countryside with me. We came back together to celebrate the New Year."
After hearing Tao Nanfeng's response, the neighbors were impressed and whispered, "Feng Chun'e is really not a good person. You see, after Professor Tao's divorce, Tao Nanfeng has become much more alert and no longer as dull as before."
In such an atmosphere, Tao Nanfeng and Xiao Aiyun walked out of the campus together and came to the department store nearest to their home.
The first floor of the store sells grains, oils and non-staple foods. In the west corner, there are rows of diagonal wooden lattices with various vegetables neatly stacked on them, including Chinese cabbage, red cabbage moss, white radish, carrots, celery...
Xiao Aiyun was a man who was used to being the head of the household. He pulled Tao Nanfeng through the crowded crowd and pointed at the counter, saying, "This, this, and this, two kilograms each."
Tao Nanfeng has been on the farm for more than two years. She is no longer the delicate young lady who does not know the difference between grains. She follows the farmers and carries vegetables, with both her left and right hands occupied.
Xiao Aiyun was not satisfied after shopping at the vegetable market and went to the daily necessities department on the second floor.
More than an hour later, the two returned with a full load, communicating as they walked.
"After all, we are still in Jiangcheng. Department stores have so many things. Look how beautiful the towels from our Jiangcheng Towel Factory are! I bought eight this time. They are perfect for giving away when I return to the farm."
"I wonder if this wool scarf is nice. I'm going to give it to Xiangbei's mother. She made me a pair of cotton shoes, which are very comfortable to wear."
"This scarf is beautiful, it's made of pure wool, and it's so expensive. I haven't even met Xiangbei's mother, why would she make shoes for you? It can't be..."
Xiao Aiyun just wanted to ask, could it be that Xiangbei likes you? But then he thought that Xiang Bei was serious, dignified and steady, so he didn't dare to make such a joke again and just muttered to himself.
Tao Nanfeng didn't even think about it. In her eyes, Xiang Bei was a leader, a field manager, a combat hero, and someone she looked up to. She never thought of him as someone who liked her.
Besides, Xiangbei takes good care of all the educated youth from Jiangcheng. How could he only care about Tao Nanfeng?
The two had just walked into the side door of the campus when they were suddenly pushed away by someone. A ruffian's voice rang in their ears: "Where did you come from, country girl? How dare you block my way!"
Xiao Aiyun staggered and nearly fell down after being pushed. After finally stabilizing himself, he angrily cursed, "Are you being reasonable? It was obviously you who pushed him!"
The man in front of him had a crew cut, was in his twenties, wore a cotton coat, had a cigarette in his mouth, and looked at Xiao Aiyun with squinted eyes: "Wow, this country girl is pretty hot!"
There were two strong men following behind the man, and it was obvious that they were not good people. Tao Nanfeng felt alarmed.
Who are these three people? How dare they be so arrogant on campus?
The leading man saw Tao Nanfeng and his eyes widened, drooling: "My goodness, this girl is so beautiful. Um, do you have a girlfriend? Would you like to consider me?"
Tao Nanfeng pulled Xiao Aiyun and ignored the man, walking past him sideways.
The man stretched out his hand to block their way, and said with a smile on his face: "It must be tiring to carry so many things. Come, brother will help you carry them."
The two men behind him were also making noises with grins on their faces.
"Don't be shy, let the brothers help you."
"It's so cold, why don't you have a man to help you buy so many things? It's outrageous. Come on, let's be good people and help you carry them!"
It was winter vacation and there were not many people on campus. The camphor tree road facing the west gate was filled with the only sound of leaves rustling in the cold wind, and there was no one in sight.
With Tao Nanfeng following him, Xiao Aiyun was not panicked at all. He glared at them and said, "Tsk! Who needs your help? We can carry it ourselves."
The more the flat-headed man looked at them, the more he found them interesting. He took a puff of his cigarette, blew out a smoke ring, and grinned nonchalantly: "You may not look good, but you are funny and brave, so you can be considered a character. How about this, you join us and become my little brother?"
The more Tao Nanfeng looked at this flat-headed man, the more he felt that there was something wrong with him.
There were more than a dozen cigarette butts at the feet of this man, and it was obvious that he had been guarding this door for a while. He was deliberately provocative and intended to tease me. Why?
Thinking of this, Tao Nanfeng asked calmly: "You guys are making trouble here, aren't you afraid of the people from the school security department?"
The flat-headed man laughed: "What security department? I'm not afraid even if the king of heaven comes."
The two guys behind him also laughed: "It's cold, and it's winter vacation, no one will come..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Tao Nanfeng suddenly moved.
Following the guidance of the white line in front of him, Tao Nanfeng slightly bent his knees, put the bag in his hand on the ground, stretched out his left hand, grabbed the left arm of the flat-headed man, and pulled it along, taking half a step with his right foot.
Right elbow forward!
The flat-headed man screamed in pain after being hit on the left chest. Before he could struggle, Tao Nanfeng was dragged down and thrown to the ground.
"Boss!" When the other two burly men saw the flat-headed man being knocked down by Tao Nanfeng, they rushed forward in a hurry. Just as they stretched out their fists, Tao Nanfeng raised his hand and quickly tapped their shoulders.
"Ah, ah——" After two wails, the burly man covered his shoulders and stepped back, looking at Tao Nanfeng in disbelief.
Tao Nanfeng controlled the strength of his foot, stepped on the flat-headed man's calf, and sneered, "It's cold, and it's winter vacation, no one will come. You've reminded me."
Since no one sees it, don’t be afraid, just go ahead and beat him up!
A sharp pain came from his shin bone, and the flat-headed man started crying and snotting. Oh shit! This woman is too strong and too skilled, she is definitely a martial artist, and we were careless.
"Mercy, mercy! Queen, please spare my life—"
Hearing the flat-headed man's plea for mercy, Xiao Aiyun burst out laughing: "You dare to fight with my Nanfeng? You are really courting death!" Tao Nanfeng is recognized as the Tao Three Hammers on the farm. Even a hard rock as tall as a person can be broken into pieces with just three hammers. How dare you, a little gangster, jump up and down? That's ridiculous.
Tao Nanfeng stepped on him again and continued to ask, "Who ordered this?"
Although it hurt, the flat-headed man was very tough: "No, no one ordered me to do that. I just thought you two girls were pretty and wanted to take advantage of you. I was wrong, I know I was wrong!"
Tao Nanfeng sneered: "You're so loyal? I wonder how long you can hold out!"
She exerted a little force on her feet.
"Ah——" How could the flat-headed man withstand her strength? Screaming.
The scream was so horrible that the two burly men felt their scalps tingle. They responded hurriedly, "It was Zheng Xuxing. It was Zheng Xuxing who came to our eldest brother and wanted him to help teach Tao Nanfeng a lesson."
I thought she was just a teenage girl and there was no need to worry too much. Who knew Tao Nanfeng was actually such a tough guy! Isn't this harming people?
Zheng Xuxing?
Tao Nanfeng raised his foot, grabbed the flat-headed man from the ground, and held his scapula with one hand: "Where is he?"
"He and his woman pointed out someone and then left, saying they were going back to the dormitory to wait for news."
Tao Nanfeng raised his chin towards the two frightened burly men and said, "Grab your things and let's go!"
A group of five people went to the 3rd floor of the east living area. It was a three-story building with a single corridor. It was a single dormitory built in the early days of the school. Tao You and Feng Chun'e lived there, each with a room.
The flat-headed man was pinched by her shoulders and half pulled and half dragged forward. Half of his body was soft and numb, and he couldn't break free at all. He could only yell a few words in his mouth: "Hey, let me go! Let me go!"
Under Tao Nanfeng's gaze, the two men followed obediently with their bags in their hands. Xiao Aiyun found the scene very funny and kept smiling to herself.
As we walked further in, we met more and more people.
Aunt Mao, the neighbor next door, went out to collect clothes. When she saw these people, her eyes widened: "Tao Nanfeng, what are you doing?"
Tao Nanfeng glanced at her and said, "Let's settle the accounts."
"Settle accounts? What accounts? Why are you hanging out with these scoundrels? I think you've really gone crazy as an educated youth. Old Tao... Professor Tao, your Nanfeng has gone to the singles' building——"
Aunt Mao had a strong gossipy spirit, so she raised her voice and started reporting the news to Tao Shouxin.
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