Chapter 366 News Announcement
Wen Wan pretended not to understand and asked in a low voice:
"But even if the imperial court is willing to open schools for girls, it will only give women another opportunity to study. The most a woman can do with her husband and children is to read and write. What great things can she accomplish?"
Mrs. Lin said meaningfully, "You don't understand this."
Wen Wan bowed and said, "Please give me some advice, Madam Lin."
Mrs. Lin stared at Wen Wan for a long time, then smiled mysteriously and said:
"You'll find out soon enough."
She obviously didn't mean to tell it now. Wen Wan hesitated for a moment and didn't ask any further questions.
Unlike the students in the school, these women read in a voice that is more beautiful than opera.
Mrs. Lin brought Wen Wan into the room, and everyone put down their books.
The women looked over in confusion.
Madam Lin said in a clear voice, "This is Madam Wen. All your expenses in the Imperial Capital will be solely borne by Madam Wen from now on."
When everyone heard this, they immediately stood up, bowed to Wen Wan, and thanked her.
Wen Wan felt a little embarrassed. She quickly returned the greetings to everyone and said:
"Sisters, please don't be so polite. I'm just a merchant woman, not as good as you scholars. If you sisters ever hold power in the future, I hope you will take care of the Wen family."
The women looked at each other, and then someone whispered, "We will never forget Madam Wen's kindness."
Seeing that most of the formalities had been said, Mrs. Lin told everyone to continue reading.
She took Wen Wan out of the pavilion, talking as they walked.
"These women all come from poor backgrounds. We helped them when they were in the most difficult times. They will definitely repay us in the future."
Wen Wan didn't comment, only saying, "I hope so."
When the two returned to the yard, Agui, who had gone to help move the boxes, also came back.
Mrs. Lin originally wanted to invite Wen Wan and a few others to have lunch, but Wen Wan had to refuse for a long time before she was able to get away.
*
On the way back, Wen Wan asked A Gui: "Did you find anything?"
Before leaving, Wen Wan told Agui to investigate if he had the chance.
As Agui drove the carriage, he said, "This looks like an ordinary school. The dozen or so rooms are all residences for students."
He took out a book from his pocket and said, "If there is anything special about this school, it is this book."
Wen Wan took it and took a look, and found that it was actually a book on how to be an official.
Quite interesting.
Wen Wan chuckled.
Ah Gui was puzzled: "What's the point of this women's school learning the ways of being an official? Are these women really dreaming of becoming officials in the imperial court? That's just wishful thinking."
Wen Wan remained noncommittal: "Why do you say that? Why can't women be officials?"
Ah Gui instinctively replied, "How can a woman be an official? That's a reversal of yin and yang, and against moral principles."
Wen Wan asked calmly, "What if it was me who wanted to be an official in the imperial court? Do you think it would be okay?"
Ah Gui seemed to be stumped by the question. He thought about it carefully and said with a smile:
"If it's Miss Wen, then of course you can. You are smarter than those ministers in the court!"
Wen Wan asked again: "Then, if I can do it, why can't they?"
Ah Gui was stunned for a moment and said, "How can they compare with you?"
Wen Wan asked: "Why can't they compare with me? We are both women. If I can do it, they can do it too."
"Actually, I'm not much smarter than them. I just studied a few more years than them."
"You say I'm smarter than the ministers, but I'm not."
"They say it takes ten years of hard study to achieve academic success. If I say I've studied for over twenty years and only know a little more than they do, do you still think I'm smarter than them?"
What's more, in modern society, the level of science and technology is far more advanced than here. She just took advantage of the information gap.
Therefore, she never dared to be blindly arrogant.
Agui was a smart man. After Wenwan’s guidance, he lowered his eyes and thought for a moment.
"You're right. I underestimated women. But the imperial court doesn't have an imperial examination for women. Even if they study well, they have no chance of passing the examination and gaining fame."
He raised his gentle brows and knitted them tightly.
She sneered, "The imperial examination for women might be held soon."
Agui instinctively retorted: "That's impossible."
Wen Wan said nothing more and sighed deeply.
Nothing is impossible in this world.
*
Two days later, the court announced a big news.
The imperial court allowed the establishment of girls' schools.
When this news came out, the whole world was shocked, especially the old scholars headed by the Hanlin Academy.
Because she was dissatisfied with the establishment of a girls' school, she actually went on a hunger strike in front of the imperial study.
They wrote a letter stating that if the court opened a girls' school, they would starve to death in front of the imperial study.
The students in the imperial capital were also outraged, and voices of discussion about the matter could be heard in teahouses and taverns.
Reputable scholars were already making contacts and discussing writing a petition to be submitted to the court.
But no matter how much trouble there was in the city, no matter how much the ministers opposed, the emperor seemed to be determined and had no intention of compromising.
In the past two days, news has been coming in and out constantly, and Agui has been running himself crazy.
Now, the latest news has been delivered to Wen Wan.
Wen Wan had just woken up from a nap and was still a little sleepy. She yawned and took the washcloth that Banyue handed to her.
Ah Gui stood behind her and said, "You don't know, but today at the government gate, those scholars who wrote the book for ten thousand people were beaten black and blue."
"Oh?" Wen Wan put down the handkerchief and looked back at him, "Who hit you?"
Ah Gui said with a playful smile: "That makes sense.
"It started with a scholar's mother, who caught her son with a cane and started beating him up.
"His mother angrily cursed her son, calling him a beast that had crawled out of her belly. What's wrong with a woman reading a few books and writing a few words? What does it have to do with him? His mother is a woman! Without a woman, how could such a beast like him have come into being?
"Later, no one knew where it came from, but more and more women, including the wives and sisters of those scholars, started fighting with those scholars like crazy.
"The scene at that time was a complete mess. It was only when the yamen runners came out that the situation was brought under control."
After hearing Agui's words, Wen Wan was silent for a long time.
After that, his brows became more and more furrowed, and his face began to turn pale.
Seeing that her expression was not right, Agui asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Wen Wan pursed her lips and said, "Where is your general? Hurry, go and find her. Something might happen in the Imperial Capital!"
Her heavy tone startled Agui.
Agui has always known her abilities, and when she said that, Agui immediately put away his joking attitude.
"The general left the city early this morning, saying he was going to check on the camp outside the city. I don't know if he's back yet. I'll go look for him right away."
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