Chapter 306: Giving A Brick

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Su Wen's actions served as the impetus for other women to step up to the plate.

Happy that her actions had instilled courage in her fellow women, Su Wen helped them chase away the few stragglers clinging to the seats around her.

However, it was easier said than done. Many of the men around her refused to be chased away. They could not accept the presence of women in what was traditionally a male-dominated field. The sudden intrusion of women into a male-dominated sphere of influence sent waves in their hearts, with most unwilling to give in. The rest did not want to give up the front-row seats they had obtained.

If they relinquished their seats, they would have no choice but to stand in the back with all the other women.

Thus began their back-and-forth, with neither side willing to give in, eventually devolving into a heated argument.

Why should we give up our seats? A man asked indignantly.

A woman with a particularly fierce personality put her hands on her hips and rebutted, Hah! How shameless! Are you so enamored by Little Wen's looks that you can bear the thought of not sitting beside her? What would your wife say, you pervert!

The faces of several men turned black, though whether it was from embarrassment or anger was anyone's guess. Fists clenched, and hands were raised. However, before the situation could escalate, they stopped, sensing a pair of cold eyes trained on them, almost as if a predator were stalking its prey.

That feeling seemed to emanate from somewhere along the courtyard wall. The men with raised fists felt a shiver run down their spines, and they quickly urged their compatriots to leave.

Let's go!

Several pairs of eyes turned in a particular direction, meeting Zhou Hengyang's icy gaze. Dejectedly, they made their way to the back.

The women who had successfully defended their usurped seats cheered happily. One by one, they settled in the now vacant seats around Su Wen. Fortunately, we have you, Su Wen. Had it not been for you taking the lead, we would have had to beg our grandparents for help like before instead of representing ourselves.

They had had enough.

Why couldn't they represent themselves? Were they any less than men just because they were women?

Why couldn't women attend the conference openly? The country had recognized their status as individuals with equal rights as men. If they wanted to remarry, they could. But the opposite was also true. They could live a good, long life even if they did not want to get married.

Yes! Su Wen's eyes sparkled as she nodded along. She was very happy for them. We have as much right as any man here to sit and represent ourselves,

Su Wen said.

That's right, Little Wen is right.

We should take charge of our lives as Little Wen has. I regret not doing so in the past. If I had had more courage, I would have stood up for myself.

Why should she be afraid of gossip or what other people thought of her? A widowed woman worked just as hard as any other man or woman, married or not. They supported their families from the shadows, looking after the children of their deceased husbands all by their lonesome.

They did not need to feel guilty for attending an important meeting that would affect their livelihoods.

Many people were paying attention to Su Wen and the spectacle that occurred. The men began to whisper among themselves, their voices filling with barely concealed contempt. The consensus among those men present was that women ought to remain as homemakers and care for the children.

To sit in place of where a man should sit was simply shameless. The men saw Su Wen's behavior as an affront to womanly principles and secretly criticized her for being shameless in their heart of hearts.

The women standing at the back, forming a line against the courtyard wall, also discussed what had transpired in hushed tones. Some muttered with acid in their words, while others commented on Su Wen's actions sarcastically. A greater number, however, were filled with envy.

Those in the third category all hoped to be like Su Wen and become representatives of their respective families.

He Yulan was one of them. Ah! If I had known, I would have gone up instead of letting Xiangdong represent us. She had moved out of the house with Xu Xiangdong, and the latter listened to her.

She could not care less if anyone disagreed with her. She would introduce them to the brick if they did, taking a leaf out of Su Wen's book..