The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

On the way back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Nanny Gong couldn’t help asking Song Ci if she truly meant to summon that woman surnamed Cui to see whether she could be appointed as Mountain Master of Song Ci’s Charity School.

”Why not?” Song Ci shot back, then said, ”As long as this Cui Shiniang is truly capable and willing to shoulder responsibility, there’s no reason she can’t take the post.”

Nan Shan tilted her head and asked, ”But aren’t the Mountain Masters of Academies and Charitable Schools all supposed to be men?”

Song Ci sighed. ”Exactly. Even you lot think the Mountain Master’s seat belongs to men. So just imagine—how many in this world would ever give women a chance?”

Nanny Gong and Nan Shan both flushed with embarrassment.

”You’re about to go against what the whole world considers proper,” one of them said. ”If a woman takes the Mountain Master’s post, those men who’ve stuffed themselves full of Saintly Books will probably tear her to shreds with their words.”

Song Ci let out a cold laugh. ”I’m well aware. But if Cui Shiniang has the ability, I’ll stand behind her. If she can’t withstand public opinion, then we’ll simply remove her and let someone more capable take the seat. The problem with this world is that some men think far too highly of themselves. They believe women should stay home, attend to husband and children, and never show their faces in public. They don’t understand that once you run into those spineless excuses for men, if the woman isn’t strong, the whole family is left to gnaw on chaff—if they can even get chaff to eat.”

Nanny Gong and Nan Shan glanced at each other. Well then, the old lady’s temper had been sparked again.

”Since Cui Changxiao dares to recommend her, it shows that this Cui Shiniang has some real skill. Let’s see how she does. If she truly proves competent, then we give her a chance. In truth, it’s a chance for many women in the future—let the world see with their own eyes who says women are inferior to men.”

Song Ci said, ”You should also know that this Charitable School takes in orphans, boys and girls both, and that the girls have more subjects to learn crafts and skills. It’s clearly a chance for them to change their fates. I have no intention of turning the school into a troop of iron-blooded women warriors, nor do I wish to make enemies of all the men under heaven. I only hope that women can have a bit more confidence and a bit more dignity in this era.”

”What I hope is that they gain the ability to support themselves, so that no matter what misfortune befalls them in the future—disaster, or a broken marriage—they can rely on their own hands and their own strength to live well. Not that, once their marriage fails, they can only swallow it in silence; not that, when disaster strikes, they’re forced to sell their sons and daughters or do unspeakable things, or even end up losing their lives outright.” Song Ci sighed. ”Of course, having a skill doesn’t guarantee a good life. In the end, it still comes down to having a strong and steadfast heart. A craft is merely the backbone behind that.”

Nan Shan stuck out her tongue and said, ”Grand Madam, you really are a good person.”

Song Ci stroked her cheek and said, ”You, Nan Shan, should understand better than anyone the benefits of having someone to train you. If we were to send you out on your own, you would still be able to make a living. But if, back then, you hadn’t been chosen to enter our household, where would you be now? Would you have had any better choices?”

Nan Shan started, remembering the hardships of her childhood, and said lightly, ”This servant doesn’t know. I might have been beaten to death by older beggars, or sold off to some brothel.”

She did feel a measure of gratitude.

”As you said, if Cui Shiniang can stand firm and carry this Charitable School forward, there will probably be another Zhang Shiniang or Wang Shiniang in the future.” Nanny Gong smiled. ”Let’s hope that Cui Shiniang doesn’t let you down.”

Song Ci nodded. ”I have a feeling she won’t. A woman who dares to love and hate, who dares to stand up to her parents—yes, it’s rather unfilial—but she insisted on choosing her own marriage. And when that marriage didn’t suit her, she would rather dissolve it than run back to her parents’ home for help. That alone shows her temper is fierce.”