Chapter 855: Scumbag Brother and Scumbag Dad, Stay Away (Part 1)

Chapter 855: Chapter 855: Scumbag Brother and Scumbag Dad, Stay Away (Part 1)

"In a man’s eyes, are we women merely commodities? To be bought and sold at their whim, regardless of whether the woman is a servant, a wife, or even his own sister?"

By the well sat a beautiful woman. She hadn’t used soul power to adorn herself, appearing just as she did in death.

Her face was deathly pale with a thick layer of powder, lips painted bright red. Her clothes were colorful and thin, not like those worn by ordinary women at home. The gold hairpin on her head swayed with her slight movements, catching the eye.

Qiann Yan did not answer the woman’s question; it seemed unnecessary at that moment, as the woman already had the answer in her heart.

Looking through history, indeed, as the woman said, in times dominated by men, the status of women was very low. Parents could sell them, brothers could sell them, husbands could sell them.

In truth, children were the same way. To put it bluntly, the weakest became goods to be traded.

This is the tragedy of the times; only with the passage of time will such things gradually change.

Even in her favorite, so-called peaceful modern world, such situations inevitably occur. Even if these actions are not permitted by the world, people still pursue them solely for profit.

Where there is demand, there is profit, and people will violate laws and consciences to achieve it.

Can it be eradicated? No.

She thinks she is strong, a competent ruler, yet she doesn’t dare to guarantee she can prevent these things.

"My elder brother is a scholar. Since I can remember, Father has said by my ear that my brother will be very accomplished in the future. Whatever injustice befalls the family, my brother must not be wronged. Since I was able to work, I had to follow my parents in labor," the woman extended her hands—hands entirely mismatched with her clothes and delicate face. Her fingers were very fair, yet quite rough, with visible scars, "at home, my brother didn’t have to do any work. He only needed to study, and naturally, he ate the best. Every day, he could eat an egg, whereas my mother and I only got to eat well on birthdays and New Year’s."

"Later came my sister-in-law, who, like my mother and me, saw everything good go to my brother."

"Father was the head of the family, occasionally enjoying good food."

"I felt the disparity within the family, yet nobody seemed to find it wrong. Naturally, I didn’t dare oppose anything."

"That year, I was thirteen, and my brother ran back in a panic, saying something had happened."

"I foolishly went up to ask him what was wrong, worrying about him. Through his stammering explanation, I learned he had taken the family’s silver coin to indulge in feast and drink, befriending a group of dubious friends, and was later convinced to visit a gambling den. That day, he lost a considerable sum and became heavily indebted. The gambling den owner gave him time to gather money; if he couldn’t collect enough within ten days, they would chop off his fingers."

"He owed the gambling den two hundred taels. Two hundred taels! How many embroidered handkerchiefs and pouches must I make to earn that back? Even by laboring day and night, it might take ten years to accumulate." The woman wiped her tears, "But he lost it effortlessly, most of the family’s silver coin going to him; how could we muster it?"

"In Father’s eyes, he was a scholar destined for greatness. If my brother’s fingers were cut off, he could never pursue a title."