Guidelines for the Education of Children Born Out of Wedlock 2
Chen Tang had been watching and listening from the side. When she heard her stepmother think her half-brother had been studying for too long and taught him that "as long as there is green mountains, there will be no shortage of firewood", she couldn't help but raise the corner of her mouth to smile slightly.
This young stepmother, perhaps because she had no children of her own, or perhaps because she was still young and ignorant, did not know that "children who were not born from her womb" should not be cared for so warmly.
Chen Tang suddenly thought of the servants' rumors about her stepmother's skill. She lowered her eyes and thought that it was possible that her love was just an act.
In order to maintain her position in the Shen family, she needed to gain a foothold in the Shen family. It was easier to win over her seventh brother than her fourth brother, who was the eldest son.
Moreover, the servants in the Shen Mansion all said that the Second Master doted on his new wife very much. He often talked and laughed with his new wife when they were together, and his usual coldness was hard to see.
To be so beloved by Duansu's father, the third daughter of the Xu family was no simple woman. Winning them over was naturally part of her strategy.
But... Chen Tang's mind turned, and she looked up at Ling Wan's beautiful profile. She thought that when this young lady married her father, she risked her life to protect her husband.
How could such a strong-willed and resolute person be as capable as she thought?
She was so lost in thought that Ling Wan called her several times before she finally heard her. When she came to her senses, she heard her stepmother laughing: "What does Tang Jie'er do on a daily basis?"
Her voice was clear and pleasant, and her tone was soft and cheerful. No wonder her father always smiled and laughed when he was with her.
"I like to read medical books." Chen Tang answered truthfully.
She couldn't yet call herself "daughter" in front of Ling Wan, who was only two years older than her, so her tone was a little awkward when she answered.
Ling Wan thought she was embarrassed about studying medicine.
Lu Yun had heard before that the noble ladies in the capital, including the servants of the Shen family, privately looked down on the fifth daughter of the Shen family, saying that she was a noble lady from a prominent family, but she was thinking about becoming a doctor all day long.
Chen Yuanyuan didn't think it was a big deal. If she were in modern times, she would be a female doctor who was determined to save lives.
But Mother Yu shook her head and whispered to her, "No wonder Fifth Miss's marriage hasn't been settled. What noble mistress would marry a daughter-in-law who works as a doctor?"
What's wrong with being a female doctor? Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. She has such a lofty ambition at such a young age. Shouldn't she offer incense to her ancestors? Chen Yuanyuan tactfully expressed her doubts.
After hearing this, Mother Yu was shocked and worried that if Ling Wan's words got out, she would have difficulty socializing with the nobles in the future.
He quickly closed the window and whispered, "Those who send their daughters to be doctors are poor families trying to make a living. If a woman becomes a doctor, she will be exposed to patients, and patients are not divided into male and female. Wouldn't the girl's innocence be ruined?"
Mother Yu spoke in a low and serious voice, sounding like she was giving earnest advice.
Ling Wan was astonished. Being a female doctor was considered low-class, and it was because of this strict separation of men and women. Is the strict separation of men and women more important than a doctor's kindness and one's own life?
When Chen Yuanyuan was about to popularize the idea that "human life is of paramount importance" to them, she suddenly remembered the rows of chastity arches she had seen in Zhaohua during her university trip.
She lowered her eyes silently. For women who grew up under the influence of feudalism such as "Book of Rites", "Biographies of Women" and "Instructions for Women", chastity and innocence are more important than life. Just like the men's "A gentleman will die for his friend", they have a sense of dignity in sacrificing themselves generously.
Even if it were herself, living in this era, wouldn't she be able to go against the tide of the times and dare to leave home and go out to be an independent and free woman?
So Chen Yuanyuan swallowed the truth that was about to come out of her mouth, and she felt depressed for half a day.
"It seems that our family may produce a female Hua Tuo in the future!" Xu Lingwan clapped her hands and laughed.
When it comes to the ways of survival in ancient times, Chen Yuanyuan naturally did not have the experience and savvy of Yu Mama, a woman who was born and raised there and had been immersed in the inner chambers for many years.
But as a modern woman, although she is caught in such a torrent and has no choice, she just wants to express her utmost respect for Tang Jie'er, the person going against the tide.
In every era, there are always people who are ahead of the tide, and there are always people who are the pioneers and the retrogrades.
"Do you really think so?" Chen Tang's eyes lit up unconsciously.
Besides her father, she was the first person in the Shen family who did not object to her studying medicine, so she added tentatively, "Then in the future, can I also become a female doctor?"
"Of course." Ling Wan nodded sincerely, ignoring Mother Yu's heavy cough.
"But, they all said how could a noble lady like her study medicine, saying that it would lower her status and even bring shame to the Shen family." For the first time, Chen Tang met Ling Wan's gaze directly and asked softly.
She looked rather anxious, but her eyes were full of determination.
"Why did you lose face for the Shen family?"
Chen Tang laughed at herself when she heard this, as if she had thought of something, and said dejectedly, "If I become a female doctor, I will inevitably come into contact with all kinds of people. There is no such thing as a reputation for a girl."
Such frank words made Ling Wan stunned, and then she smiled with relief.
I couldn't help but look at this stepdaughter with a different eye, as she did something she knew was impossible.
She looked at Shen Huaian beside her and felt that there were some things that she had to let Shen Huaian, the male of the second house, know. So she answered them one by one in a gentle manner: "People say that doctors have a kind heart."
"What is benevolence? Benevolence is virtue, and it means treating everyone equally."
"Could it be that a doctor wouldn't save a woman because she's a woman? Conversely, could a female doctor abandon a man because he's sick? Therefore, practicing medicine to save the world is benevolence, and treating everyone equally is also benevolence. How can there be any talk of men and women being treated with contempt?"
"As for face. For a man, the family's reputation is to achieve great things and bring honor to the family."
"But what is glory? A true man stands between heaven and earth, unbending for fame, wealth, and power, daring to contend with demons and monsters, acting with integrity and having a clear conscience—that is glory. The same is true for women."
The etiquette and laws are strict, and Ling Wan is not unaware of it.
She looked at the blue sky that was cut off from the high walls outside. Although there were heroines in ancient times like Mulan who joined the army in place of her father and Pingyang who suppressed the rebellion for his father, most women in all dynasties could not make a name for themselves in the outside world like men.
Well, if Shen Tang really falls for a young man from a wealthy family in the future and his mother disagrees, then I'll have to trouble her father to work hard so that when the mistresses weigh the pros and cons, the weight of Shen's father's family background will give them an overwhelming victory.
Mother Yu was horrified as she listened.
The third young lady was raised by the old master and the old lady since she was a child. Because of the second master Xu and the second lady who passed away early, the two elders loved and doted on the only legitimate daughter of the second house.
Especially Old Master Shen, who raised the Third Young Miss almost like a boy, which made the Third Young Miss follow the Second Master of the mansion in some of her behavior.
Before she got married, the old lady specially called her over and told her, "Wan Jie'er may appear gentle and elegant, but she is actually very opinionated and has quite unconventional views on some things."
"When we go to Jinling, even though my elder sister from the Shen family loves and respects me in the Shen Mansion, I am still worried. You must take good care of Sister Wan in the future. If she says anything shocking or does anything shocking, then keep the servants quiet!"
At that time, Mother Yu was still thinking that it was true that Wen Ya had her own ideas, but this "shockingly different" temperament could not be done by the third young lady.
But now that the Third Miss had entered the Shen Mansion, she couldn't help but admire the old lady's sharp vision. She could only secretly plan in her heart that the lady's words today must not be spread by any ignorant maidservant.
When Shen Huaian walked out of Yan Xiju, his mind still emerged with the helpless but determined expression of his stepmother after she said, "A real man in the world is glorious if he has no regrets in his heart, and the same goes for women."
He had seen that same look on another woman's face some time ago.
Shen Huaian looked at Shen Tang, who was walking ahead with her maid, and his steps stopped.
He pursed his lips, as if he had made up his mind, and quickly walked to Chen Tang's side. His face was tense, and he said, "Fifth sister, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. You did the right thing last time. As for what those women in the Duke's Mansion said, don't take it to heart."
At the end of the conversation, he spoke more and more quietly, lowering his head slightly and not daring to look directly at Chen Tang.
He felt that he really couldn't speak, and this action clearly opened up the scars in his fifth sister's heart.
Just as he was feeling regretful, he heard his aloof and unapproachable Fifth Sister speak softly for the first time: "Yes. Thank you, Seventh Brother."
The voice was choked with sobs.
He couldn't help but look up and saw that his usually cold and aloof fifth sister was now in tears.
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