Chapter 478 The Argument Between the Two
The matter of Hefeng Academy had been on Wan Qiqi's mind.
Unlike her reaction to Tang Qiwen's incident, she didn't show it this time.
Even when the shop assistants and customers discussed the matter, she didn't react much, remaining lukewarm.
But she kept observing everyone's expressions and behavior when they discussed the matter.
Almost everyone felt that Tao Ran's approach was wrong.
It was a mistake for a woman to want to read and write, let alone to go to an academy to audit classes; that was utter nonsense.
Men could study to pass the imperial examinations and achieve fame and success.
Before marriage, a woman lives in her boudoir; after marriage, she lives in the inner quarters of her household. She is not involved in politics, official duties, or business.
If that's the case, what's the use of women learning to read and write?
Throughout history, women who were learned and famous almost never had a good reputation and were despised by the world.
Only those who manage the household well and help their husbands rise through the ranks are remembered and praised by the world...
Wan Qiqi couldn't help but find these remarks amusing.
How could those who can assist their husbands possibly do so if they lack profound knowledge and rely on a mind that knows nothing?
However, people never remember how well-educated the woman was; they only remember how she assisted the household and managed its affairs well.
Wan Qiqi sighed.
It turns out that in ancient times, there was not only male superiority and female inferiority, but also various ambiguities regarding women.
Layer upon layer of shackles weighed down, preventing the woman from turning her life around.
Anyone who tries to break free of their shackles will be branded with various crimes and gradually suppressed, while others will be warned not to follow suit, or they will suffer the same fate.
Women entering the school defiles the sacred place.
It's shameful for a woman to do business in public and make a spectacle of herself.
A woman who has contact with men is promiscuous and unfaithful.
A woman who does not accept the arranged marriage is considered unfilial.
If a family has no male heirs, it is considered that the woman is infertile and should be abandoned.
Before marriage, a woman obeys her husband; after marriage, she obeys her husband; after her husband's death, she obeys her son.
In short, this is what the ancients considered the Three Obediences and Four Virtues!
Only women who follow these rules are sensible and exemplary models for the world to emulate!
Even those around Wan Qiqi, those influenced by her, all shared the same opinion on this matter: "You're different!"
She was curious about what made her different.
Like countless other women, she simply wanted to live her own life and didn't want to be buried by the world.
The night wind blew through the long street, and Wan Qiqi stopped at the alley entrance where she had met the girl "Xiao Meng".
She stared at that spot for a long time until the dim sky completely darkened, and only the flickering lights could illuminate the path ahead.
Why aren't you going home?
A deep, resonant voice drifted through the air and reached Wan Qiqi's ears.
The dim candlelight illuminated the small patch of sky where she was.
Even though her field of vision was bright, her back remained completely dark.
Wan Qiqi withdrew her gaze, looked up at the person in front of her, and tried to force a smile, but couldn't manage to.
She didn't know what was wrong with her; she felt like she was sick, and her heart ached as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.
She used modern thinking to rebel against ancient feudalism, but it seemed to be of little use.
Apart from her, everyone else was still stuck in the mud.
In the future, her daughter's in-laws and husband will also use feudal ideas to restrain her, deny all of her understanding, and defeat her in feudalism.
Chen Yongnian didn't know what was wrong with Wan Qiqi, but he could sense a kind of helpless resignation about her, as if something was weighing on her, slowly draining her original vitality.
"Are you... alright?" He opened his arms, the lantern in his hand swaying, the candlelight flickering as if it might go out.
Wan Qiqi stared at him for a while, then threw herself into his arms.
She wrapped her arms around Chen Yongnian's waist, buried her head in his chest, and listened to the "thump-thump-thump" of his heartbeat, as if only in this way could she regain her senses.
Chen Yongnian wrapped one arm around Wan Qiqi, pressed his lips to the strands of hair beside her ear, and whispered, "It's alright, I'm here!"
Four simple words, yet they possessed extraordinary power, gradually pulling Wan Qiqi out of her depression and helping her rediscover herself.
After the lamp in Chen Yongnian's hand flickered, it remained lit steadily, illuminating the way home for the two of them.
On the way, Wan Qiqi told Chen Yongnian about Hefeng Academy and made a bold decision.
"I want to help those girls!"
When they arrived at Wan Ziyan's house, Wan Qiqi stopped, glanced at the tightly closed gate, and said, "It's not wrong for them to want to read and write. You know, only with knowledge can you earn people's respect."
She turned to look at Chen Yongnian and continued, "I know this is difficult, but An'an is literate, and I don't want her to ask me in the future why her brother can go to the academy but she can't."
“I know, but An’an already has this opportunity; she’s learning from Brother Tao’s sister,” Chen Yongnian replied earnestly.
"Have you ever taken An'an to school?" Wan Qiqi suddenly asked.
Chen Yongnian shook his head; he had only ever given gifts to Pingping.
“Pingping can enter the academy through the main gate, but An’an cannot!” Wan Qiqi recalled the scene of sending An’an off today, feeling a little sad. “Why is it that when it comes to learning, women can only do it in the shadows? Is reading and writing something shameful?”
“No.” Chen Yongnian tightened his grip on the lantern and said in a deep voice, “My wife, this is not an easy task. Not to mention how difficult it is, there has never been anything like it before in history…”
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