After consoling the Female Student, the Teacher turned to Gu Sang: "Did you need something, Gu?"
"Teacher, you previously suggested that I change majors and said the film major would be good. Can I take a leave of absence now?"
"I just received an invitation for a TV drama and need to go for troop training exercises. As for how long the leave will be, it depends on the schedule."
The faculty member's eyes flashed with surprise.
Wasn't it said that it was very difficult to land a TV drama role?
It had only been a few days, and this student had already been cast in a drama? And it required training exercises, clearly a major investment production!
"You can, just fill out this leave of absence application."
Before Gu Sang could start writing, suddenly a plainly dressed rural couple rushed in.
Their rough hands and feet showed they often did farm work.
The man was probably around fifty, his face betraying the hardships life had dealt him.
As soon as he entered, he impatiently scolded the Girl who had been crying: "Why are you so slow! It's been half a day, and you still haven't finished the withdrawal paperwork."
"Are you done yet? We'll miss the train if you're any later."
Those words made Gu Sang put down her pen.
She frowned, looking towards the rural couple and the Girl.
The ancients watching the livestream also stopped their musings about the modern world and stared at the screen.
The Girl sat on the sofa, constantly wringing her school uniform in her hands. Her reddened eyes showed her resistance and struggle against withdrawing.
"Mom, Dad......" she said timidly, mustering her courage. "I... I want to study. I don't want to drop out and get married so young."
"I absolutely won't marry someone from out of town. I'll be good, and after I start working and earning money, I'll help my brothers save up for down payments."
"Dad, I don't want to marry that man..."
However!
The words the Girl had resolved to say from her heart did not move the Man. Rage spread across his face, and he took a stride towards her, raising his calloused hand to slap her!
Slap!
The room fell silent when that slap landed.
The concubines watching the livestream felt their hearts sink as they saw the Girl's swollen cheek and her dimmed spirit...
"Worthless thing! What's with all this studying?" the Rural Man scolded as he dragged the Girl up from the sofa by her wrist. "A woman doesn't need to study so much. In the end, you'll just get married anyway and be a bargain for the groom's family."
"Don't think just because you went to some rinky-dink university that you can fly. I'm your dad, and I still have authority over you!"
"In the countryside, girls your age already have two kids. I've already negotiated the bride price, and today you have to come back with me! I don't want you getting too wild from all this studying and then refusing to marry out of town when the time comes."
"......"
For many poor rural families, parents are afraid of losing control over their children and marry their daughters off at a young age.
They believe:
Girls will end up married anyway, so they should find a good man - that's the real victory.
After all, many university graduates only make a few thousand a month, not as good as just marrying a man young, having kids, since the end result is the same!
While Gu Sang and the Teacher's expressions changed slightly, the commoners and officials watching the livestream agreed wholeheartedly.
"Finally, a slip-up! The truth comes out."
"Your Majesty, aren't these the proper rules in their world?"
"That old farmer's right. What use is a woman studying so much except going against traditions?"
"That's right, women just need to learn womanly virtues at most."
"Exactly! Don't all women just end up serving their husbands? They should focus more on the Three Obediences and Four Virtues!"
"This is the harm of supporting women's education - look at that girl daring to defy her father! Our nation's long-standing filial piety is lost!"
The scene seemed to give the smug officials an opening to criticize.
They began denouncing the Girl's disobedience and mocking things like gender equality, saying in the end the rules were the same as ancient times!
Look!
This is the real reaction!
Everything Gu Sang had portrayed before was an illusion!
Compared to the officials and commoners' agreement, the ladies of Xuyang Palace were dejected and worried, as if the light that had finally shone into their lives was suddenly taken away.
In that moment, the concubines and palace maids seemed to realize their own fates.
Could they... never overcome patriarchy?
"So even two thousand years in the future, educated women will still be discriminated against and oppressed?"
"Heh, all parents in the world are the same. Even parents two thousand years later are just as narrow-minded, thinking women are inferior to men."
"If the goal of studying is still just to serve a husband after marriage, then maybe education... really can't change anything."
The concubines bitterly pursed their lips and lowered their eyes.
Meanwhile, the Girl was dragged out of the office by her father.
Using all her strength to break free, she looked around frantically, unsure what to do as tears streamed down her face.
The Teacher had only heard the Girl say she wanted to drop out, and he had patiently advised her not to give up, to talk to her parents about any difficulties. But he never expected...
The difficulty came from her parents themselves!
The Teacher immediately blocked the father's path and said sternly, "Sir, please calm down!"
"In today's society, a girl's ultimate choice is not just to get married. They have countless options, and education will only benefit them."
"The fact that your daughter was admitted to our school proves she's an excellent student."
But the Rural Man wouldn't listen and shouted, "I'm not hearing any of that nonsense!"
"Hurry up and withdraw her, or I'll file a complaint against you!"
"All that sweet talk about countless choices! I see you teachers just want to collect more tuition without considering the plight of the poor. We're poor, we can't afford education."
The Teacher took a deep breath, "Actually, the government has many policies to support university students, you could—"
But before he could finish, the man rudely cut him off with unyielding stubbornness that made Gu Sang want to smack him upside the head: "Support my ass, I've already received the bride price, she has to go with me today!"
"You dare say teachers don't get married and have kids too?"
"Instead of spouting all that philosophical crap, show me something real! What use is all that studying? She'd be better off getting married young while she can and demanding a higher bride price."
The Teacher was speechless in the face of the man's brashness, his whole body shaking with anger.
He glanced at the Girl.
Unfortunately, the Girl did nothing but cry and shout about what she should do and not to force her, without any actual effect!
As a teacher, he couldn't make any decisions.
Instead, it was Gu Sang who was fed up listening to the Girl's useless sobbing, her brow twitching continuously.
She had completely lost her patience.
Gu Sang's face hardened as she snapped at the Girl, "Why are you crying? I've been listening to you cry for half an hour here!"
"Is it any use?"
"Do you think crying and pleading 'don't force me' will make your parents go soft on you?"
"Tears are the most useless thing. You need to be tough to protect yourself!"
"It's because of spineless people like you who don't take real action that you get thrown into the abyss by your own family! If I were you, I'd either call the police or grab a kitchen knife. Anyone tries to force me to drop out, I'd cut them down."
"Getting married or going to jail, either way it's ruining my whole life. I might as well take a few down with me!"
