Poor Family, Married, Phoenix Man 2
Chen Tang didn't understand why the young stepmother asked this, but she still answered: "Girl training, female rules, six arts..."
Seeing Ling Wan's eyes becoming increasingly gentle, he continued as if encouraged, "And some classics and historical collections. The Master said that as a woman, you don't need to take the imperial examinations, but reading more poetry, classics, and history will greatly benefit you in clarifying your mind and understanding righteousness."
Ling Wan nodded after hearing this.
Since ancient times, aristocratic families have always been extremely strict in educating their daughters. As for the idea that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, that is the pedantic result of the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism in the late Song Dynasty.
Before the Song Dynasty, as the daughter of a prominent family, studying, housekeeping, needlework, and greeting and seeing off female family members were all compulsory courses; and some girls who were given special training in the family were brought up like boys.
"Then let me ask you again. You are from the Shen family, so you naturally know that the Shen family has been officials for generations and has a deep foundation."
"With such a family background, why did your father and uncles let your cousins and brothers study hard outside and then enter the government?"
Chen Tang was surprised, not knowing why Ling Wan asked this. However, he pondered for a moment and then said, "For the honor of the family."
As one of the four major families today, the Shen family has brought her too much glory.
Because her surname was Shen, even as a daughter of a concubine, she was considered a noble lady who could not be looked down upon in the eyes of ordinary people;
Because her last name was Shen, she had the opportunity to study with her sisters in the Shen and Lu family schools, which were the dream of many poor students.
Because her last name was Chen, she didn't have to worry about her livelihood or money. With the protection of her family, she had no worries about food and clothing.
All of this was earned by her ancestors, father, and uncles.
"Yes. The Shen family has been passed down through poetry and literature for hundreds of years, and is highly respected among scholars. These are all things that need to be cultivated by the men in the family from generation to generation, so the family's education of men is very strict."
"Because every family leader knows that if the next generation, and the next generation after that, are incompetent, then, like the Xie and Wei families, a century-old legacy can crumble overnight."
Ling Wan spoke indifferently. Turning her head, she noticed the premature gray hair on Chen Cong's temples. She paused for a moment before asking, "You just said that you studied and entered the government for the honor of your family. But that's not all."
"Among the scholars, the Lu family's reputation is on par with the Shen family's. This shows that a family's glory can be extended beyond just officialdom."
"If that's the case, why doesn't the Shen family hide away like the Lu family and become a wealthy and idle family?"
"In the court, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. There are countless conspiracies and intrigues. The slightest mistake could lead to the annihilation of the clan. So why is it that the Shen family is willing to take such risks and serve in the court for generations?"
Every question was questioned, and the pressure was on. By the end, the surprise and confusion in Tang Jie'er's eyes became more and more intense.
Chen Tang looked at her, feeling completely speechless and muttering under the pressure of her questioning. Yet, she felt a surge of heroic spirit rising in her chest, but she didn't know where this overwhelming feeling came from.
"I'll tell you." Ling Wan stood up, her eyes far away, and said proudly, "Why study, why enter the government."
"That's because only by studying and entering officialdom can one establish a heart for heaven and earth, and a destiny for the people! Carry on the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and bring peace to all things!"
"Aunt Qiu despised the Di family's son because he was poor, and she was worried that this marriage would burden you. As a mother, it's natural to think more about your own children. It's human nature."
Ling Wan glanced at Qiu, who was kneeling on the ground, and then said sternly, "But Tang Jie'er, no matter who you marry, if you judge a scholar solely by his wealth and family background, that would be extremely ignorant and shallow!"
"Guan Zhong was born in humble circumstances, and Fan Li rose from a merchant family. Yet, which of them was not praised by later generations as a wise and capable official? Which of them was born with high official positions, generous salaries, wealth and splendor?"
"Even your father started out as a ninth-rank proofreader and worked his way up to his current position!"
Ling Wan felt a little indignant. Even in ancient times, just like the term "Phoenix Man" was unacceptable in modern times, she could not agree that one must prioritize family background and money when getting married.
When you marry someone, aren't you marrying the person he is? Character is the most important thing.
As for the Phoenix Man, it is obvious that he has bad character, so why is he associated with studying when being labeled, and defined as Chen Shimei who married a beautiful and rich woman through studying but then abandoned her?
Reading and learning are two extremely solemn and sacred words. Their purity should not be sullied by other irrelevant bad things.
Looking back at the world's cultural history, among the four ancient civilizations, ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and ancient Babylon all had cultural gaps, but the Chinese nation's culture has a long history and has been passed down from generation to generation.
This is thanks to the thousands of princes and great scholars who were not afraid of life and death and were determined to be cautious and self-disciplined, allowing future generations to catch a glimpse of the fleeting moments in the long river of history.
Who said that I would rather be a centurion than a scholar?
The pen of a civil official is also very powerful.
It shouldn't be looked down upon like this.
These words caused Chen Cong to look sideways repeatedly, and Lian Tangjie was also extremely shocked. She stared at her blankly with tears in her eyes.
"Go back and think about what I said today." Ling Wan took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face.
"If you think what I said is wrong, then just treat it as a joke; if you think it has some truth, then remember to think carefully about it."
"Your father will help you with your marriage."
After saying that, he asked Hongyue and Luyun to ask the mother and daughter to leave.
He asked Qingque and Zhuchi to prepare hot water, and then he went to bed after taking a bath.
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