The Way of Serving One's Husband

The first truly large-scale achievement of gender equality in human history occurred after 1949, accompanied by the slogan "Women hold up half the sky." Its significance has been overlooked by the Western world, which holds the power of global discourse, to the point that modern women in their own countries rarely feel grateful to the elderly who promoted this event.

In a country where women cannot even guarantee their right to a name, a country where women must take their husband's surname after marriage, it presents a subtle, ridiculous, and absurd feeling that both men and women talk about democracy and freedom. It seems that they are even deceiving themselves.

The Marriage Law promulgated in 1950 was a great and profound revolution in the marriage and family system that had existed for thousands of years, and it already contained the main spirit of the articles that had been revised many times since then.

The article wasn't long, Shangguan Dandan didn't read it quickly, but she finished reading it soon enough and then gently put down her phone.

Neither Su Nanxiu nor Qin Yanan disturbed her while she was examining the objects; they merely exchanged glances from time to time, their eyes revealing unfathomable emotions and meanings.

"Okay." Shangguan Dandan nodded, then looked at Su Nanxiu with a slight hint of doubt, "But what does this have to do with you, a Taiwanese?"

Qin Yanan covered her mouth and chuckled. She hadn't expected Shangguan Dandan to know that even without considering the current situation, and even if the two places were truly unified, the application of the law would still be a problem. This was clearly the Empress Dowager from two thousand years ago! Qin Yanan had no idea that Liu Chang'an had given Shangguan Dandan many evenings of political and historical lessons.

"We're talking about the same principle, not the application of the law." Su Nanxiu was somewhat puzzled. Just who was this Shangguan Dandan? Qin Yanan naturally knew her background and identity, but Qin Yanan had only just seen Shangguan Dandan and hadn't had a chance to communicate with her. Could it be that Liu Chang'an had informed her beforehand? That was certainly possible.

"You know you're talking about a principle, not the application of law." Shangguan Dandan raised an eyebrow slightly, her already clear voice becoming even sharper, but not hysterically; rather, it was full of authority, carrying the imposing air of a reprimand. "I'm asking you how you understand the way of serving your husband; I want a heartfelt and reasonable explanation, not legal statutes."

After speaking, Shangguan Dandan ignored Su Nanxiu, who seemed hesitant to speak and had an unpleasant expression. She then turned to look at Qin Yanan.

Qin Yanan knew that Shangguan Dandan had asked her to talk about "the way of serving one's husband".

In fact, Su Nanxiu had at least experienced the poison of feudal dregs, while Qin Yanan truly grew up under the Red Flag. Her views on marriage were different from Su Nanxiu's, and it was impossible for her to share the same views as Shangguan Dandan.

However, some things will always unconsciously influence those who are willing to accept them within the framework of tradition.

"I used to adore He Zhu's 'Half-Dead Paulownia - Passing Through Changmen Again, Everything Is Different.' Personally, among the four great elegies of Three Poems of Sorrow — Pan Yue's 'Lament for the Dead for the Deceased,' Yuan Zhen's 'Lament for the Deceased,' Su Shi's 'Jiang Cheng Zi - A Dream Written on the Night of the Twentieth Day of the First Month of the Year Yi Mao,' and He Zhu's 'Half-Dead Paulownia -Lament for the Dead Passing Through Changmen Again, Everything Is Different,' this one by He Zhu is my favorite."

Qin Yanan spoke in a gentle tone, reciting the Lament for the Dead, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned. She had her own understanding of the words, and her feelings naturally conveyed the mood of the poem, making her temperament like the lonely moon at night.

"Passing through Changmen again, everything is different; we came together, why do we not return? The paulownia tree is half dead after the clear frost; the white-headed mandarin ducks fly alone, separated from their mates. The grass on the plain, the Lament for the Dead just beginning to dry; the old nest and the new grave stand side by side. Lying alone in bed, I listen to the rain at the south window; who will mend my clothes by lamplight again at night... Lying alone in bed, I listen to the rain at the south window; who will mend my clothes by lamplight again at night..." Qin Yanan softly recited this well-known elegy, as if immersed in the scene. "Who will mend my clothes by lamplight again at night? That's probably the line; in fact, the entire 'Six Records of a Floating Life' is nothing more than the story of this one line."

"Qin Yanan, you really know how to please people." Su Nanxiu sneered, revealing her admiration. Ye Sijin was so popular with Ye Chenyu back then, treated like a treasure. Today, in front of Shangguan Dandan, her ability to read people's minds is still just as good.

"You misunderstand." Qin Yanan smiled faintly and shook her head. "I'm not saying that I agree women should be subservient to men, virtuous and gentle, and serve them at home. It's just that the way of serving a husband is ultimately the way of husband and wife. It's not about getting the other person and that's the end result. It's about the two of you becoming an indispensable part of each other, a habit in his life, a scene he can't forget... making him unable to imagine life without you, making him sigh with the thought of lying in an empty bed listening to the rain outside the south window, and who will mend clothes by lamplight at night... a sigh with the pain of love, not the relief that that wicked woman is finally gone."

As she spoke, Qin Yanan glanced at Su Nanxiu, her expression slightly contemptuous, "To be the woman most suitable for living with in his eyes is my understanding of the way of serving a husband."

Shangguan Dandan's eyes revealed approval, and she nodded with a sense of sympathy... Of course, this was the attitude that a true mistress of the harem must show, as her status was still above that of the Empress and she could rival the Emperor... She had no deep understanding of the ways of husbands, nor did she have so many feelings about it. This poem, "Half-Dead Paulownia Tree - Revisiting Changmen, Everything Is Different," did have a unique charm.

Qin Yanan smiled silently and added some hot water to Shangguan Dandan's cup.

"To curry favor with her, you haven't even had any relationship with Liu Chang'an yet, and you're already cursing yourself to die. Qin Yanan, you're really ruthless." Su Nanxiu took two steps back, feeling ashamed, and looked at Shangguan Dandan with a cold smile, "I know you have an extraordinary background, but can you give me an answer? Who exactly are you, and what gives you the right to interfere in our affairs?"

"I've said it before, I am his mother." Shangguan Dandan revealed a gentle smile as she thought of her son.

"You look like his mother?" No matter how elegant and noble Shangguan Dandan was when she was quiet, or how obviously domineering she was when she spoke, her girlish naivety would still show from time to time, and Su Nanxiu couldn't possibly not see it.

"It's hard to believe you're over a hundred years old," Qin Yanan said with a smile.

"If I were an old woman, Ye Sijin, you would be too." Su Nanxiu sneered at Qin Yanan had absolutely no self-awareness.

"I am Qin Yanan, and I am twenty-five years old." Qin Yanan suppressed her feelings, not wanting to lose face, even though she was eager to find Liu Chang'an and ask him directly.

"I am Su Nanxiu, and I am fourteen years old," Su Nanxiu said without changing her expression.

Shangguan Dandan glanced at Su Nanxiu, then at Qin Yanan, opened her mouth, and her gaze fell on the crack in the living room door.

"Hello... Have you... have you had dinner yet...? I'll make you... make you a midnight snack..." Zhou Shuling was discovered, and she cautiously pushed open the door and walked in. She felt that the air conditioning in the living room was too strong, so she couldn't help but hug her arms.

"What did you hear?" Su Nanxiu frowned and held out her palm.

"I don't understand what you're saying..." Zhou Shuling was startled. This little girl in front of her looked like a fierce ghost, and she ran to Qin Yanan as if afraid of being killed to silence her. "Miss Qin, I really did understand what you said: 'I am Qin Yanan, twenty-five years old...'"

Apart from that sentence, everything else he said before sounded like a fantasy.

"It's nothing." Qin Yanan patted Zhou Shuling on the back, then looked around. "Hey, where's Zhou Dongdong?"

"Doing homework at home."

"When did she go back?" Qin Yanan turned around and glanced at Shangguan Dandan Shangguan Dandan, who shook her head, having not noticed at all.

"How would I know?" Su Nanxiu said impatiently when she noticed Qin Yanan looking at her again. Why would she pay attention to a silly, stupid child?

"We were just talking about the way of a husband, how a wife should treat her husband. What do you think?" Shangguan Dandan asked Zhou Shuling.

"That's just... whatever he wants to eat, I'll make it for him. How else can I treat him? I can't exactly worship him like a Buddha, haha..." Zhou Shuling didn't have that many thoughts. She hadn't understood a thing when she overheard them talking. But Miss Qin was really amazing. Her recitation of poetry was so expressive. If only Zhou Dongdong could memorize such long poems.

After Zhou Shuling finished speaking, she looked at Shangguan Dandan. She felt a chill down her spine and just wanted to leave as soon as possible. The atmosphere in the room was like two armies that had not yet started fighting, and hundreds or thousands of people could die at any moment. Yet she was oblivious to her own fate and wanted to sneak through the middle of the two armies.

"Go back now. You can arrange to talk to him face-to-face next time. I need to rest." Shangguan Dandan said with some satisfaction. She had been helping him discipline these jealous women, and she was sure he would understand her good intentions. He would be grateful and return to her embrace to feel her selfless maternal love. He would realize that while women in this world only know how to fight and be jealous, only his mother could understand what troubled him the most. And only in his mother's embrace were there no scheming or petty nonsense.

Gentle.

Kindly.

Peaceful.

Peace of mind.

This is Shangguan Dandan's magnanimity. Shangguan Dandan can't help but look forward to the scene where she is standing on the bed, he is standing by the bed and leaning in his arms, and she is gently stroking his head with a tender expression, a scene of motherly love and filial piety.

-

-

Wishing everyone a prosperous, happy, healthy, and fulfilling Year of the Pig!

Xia Hua wishes everyone a Happy New Year in advance, and also wants to ask for a red envelope for Zhou Dongdong. You can click on the character, click the heart icon, or send a gift, since Zhou Dongdong is always striving for the top spot on the character popularity chart every week!

Finally, I'm asking for monthly votes.