"Xia Lan, what is your relationship with the instructor?"
"Could it really be your husband?"
"You're lying, aren't you? Didn't your husband retire from the military?"
"Xia Lan, when did you marry Instructor Qin?"
"My God, I can't believe it even if you beat me to death, Instructor Qin is actually your husband..."
Are you lying to us?
The female students surrounded Xia Lan, staring at her. Their budding romance was crushed by Xia Lan's words.
Xia Lan looked at their excited yet incredulous expressions and slowly walked to her desk.
No one knew what she was going to do, and all eyes were fixed on her.
Xia Lan walked to her desk, opened it, and took out her wedding photo with Qin Yu.
Upon seeing the couple in the photo, a perfect match, everyone was now powerless to save their hearts and could only watch them shatter into pieces.
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Looking at Xia Lan's smile, and then at the man and woman in the photo, gazing deeply into each other's eyes, it was too late for them to be reconciled.
That aloof flower has already been plucked.
"So how did you two meet?"
A woman's voice suddenly asked.
Xia Lan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl with a scrutinizing and defiant look in her eyes.
"He is my savior."
Xia Lan spoke slowly, her eyes fixed on the disgruntled female classmate.
A slight smile played on her lips, and just as she was about to speak, she added...
"He took a liking to me, so he begged me to stay and be his wife. He treats me very well, doesn't let me cook, and does all the housework. Of course I can't let go of such a good man. How many men these days would cook for the one they love? Don't you think so?"
The girl couldn't say what she wanted to say because Xia Lan blocked her mouth.
"My goodness, he can actually cook? Xia Lan, you're so lucky!"
“My dad has never been to the kitchen…”
"I can't even imagine a man wanting to cook?"
The female students were all incredibly envious, except for that oddball, who said something.
"How can you let a man cook? Isn't that the wife's responsibility? It's so tiring for Instructor Qin!"
Xia Lan glanced at the female classmate and smiled.
"Why can't we let him cook? It's not like only women can cook; men can do it too. The only difference is whether they're willing to or not."
Xia Lan looked directly into her eyes.
"We are all educated people, how could we think that a woman's value in life only exists in the kitchen, housework, and childbirth?"
The female students listened to Xia Lan's words and fell into deep thought.
Most of them were taught from childhood that women who get married should prioritize their husbands and children, put their families first, and sacrifice their own interests for the greater good.
"Isn't that right...?"
Many of the female students looked bewildered. They felt deeply shocked, realizing for the first time that their value did not lie in getting married.
"Then what are you studying so hard for? Just so you can get more dowry money?"
Xia Lan looked at their reactions and asked seriously.
"My mom told me that it's okay to study, but all the money I earn in the future should go to the family, which is why she let me go out to study..."
“I ran away by myself. They wouldn’t let me go to school and wanted me to marry a man from the neighboring village.”
“I’m better off. My parents are willing to let me study. My mom says that studying will allow me to get a higher dowry than others.”
“My mom’s idea is much simpler. She just wants me to meet a male classmate from a well-off family, and preferably marry someone from the city.”
"..."
They talked about their families' attitudes toward their schooling, but most of them were concerned that their families would be able to marry well and help them in the future.
They are like tools, their only value is to find a rich man and ask for a large dowry.
After they finished speaking, they both fell silent.
They all felt it shouldn't be like this, but they couldn't escape this environment; it was their family.
"What's wrong with that? That's how our parents treated us!"
The female classmate didn't think much of it, feeling that it was just a very ordinary thing, and that her parents had all gone through the same thing.
The other female students paused and turned to look at that female student.
Xia Lan slowly got up.
"The path is in your own hands. It would be too sad to let others dictate your life."
Xia Lan shook her head. "You marry for the sake of marriage, have children for the sake of having children. Have you ever done anything for yourselves?"
Many people were stunned, wondering what they had done for themselves.
For myself...
"Alright, it's getting late, go to bed! We have training tomorrow!"
Xia Lan politely saw the guests off. The female students glanced at Xia Lan before leaving, and after returning to their dormitories, they were still thinking about that question.
From a young age, their lives were defined by their parents. As girls, they had to help with housework from the time they were old enough to understand. Their parents talked every day about what kind of man they would marry when they grew up.
After marrying into her husband's family, she should do this and that, and give birth to a son for her husband to carry on the family line.
Be filial to your parents, help out at home, and bring back any good things to show your respect to them.
These thoughts are like they're implanted in my mind; whenever I think about them, my parents' nagging and all the things they've said automatically play in my head.
It was as if they had no other purpose besides these things.
Xia Lan's words planted a seed in their hearts.
The fact that Xia Lan is Instructor Qin's wife instantly swept through the entire university in Beijing.
Even the instructors were quite surprised, let alone the students.
The next day during training, everyone couldn't help but glance at Qin Yu and Xia Lan.
The two of them don't seem to have any relationship.
When Qin Yu led Xia Lan's class skillfully towards the shade of the tree, everyone paused for a moment, then looked at Xia Lan and Qin Yu again, and finally understood.
They were able to enjoy treatment that others could not, all thanks to Xia Lan.
The female students, in particular, finally realized that Qin Yu wasn't taking care of all the female students at all!
It was clearly just to take care of Xia Lan.
I knew it! I kept glancing at them every now and then.
Now I know, he was looking at his wife.
Everyone was stunned, feeling as if they had been brutally attacked, especially when Qin Yu dragged the male students out into the sun to practice boxing again, it was even more obvious.
Looking at Xia Lan sitting under the budding tree, and then at myself exposed to the scorching sun.
The feelings I have... are hard to describe.
Xia Lan noticed their gazes, slowly patted her clothes, and then walked to Qin Yu's side.
Qin Yu glanced at Xia Lan, wondering what she was up to.
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