The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

There was a big event in the capital recently. Zhuang Sasa's younger brother made great contributions in the northwest and defeated the Huns.

The emperor was so happy that he rewarded Zhuang Sasa with countless treasures and promoted the official position of Zhuang Sasa's younger brother. As the Zhuang family gained power, Zhuang Sasa's status in the capital also rose.

When Madam Yang and Madam Sang were compiling the Manyuehua Newspaper, they also roughly included the current situation.

The Manyuehua Newspaper was founded less than three months ago, but it has become the most popular publication in the capital. Whether it is the wives of officials or ordinary women from business families, anyone who can read will go to the Xia Family Bookstore to buy a copy. Even the illiterate farmers with decent financial conditions will pool their money together to buy a copy of the Manyuehua Newspaper.

It's not because of anything else. Embroidery is very popular nowadays, and there are many young ladies among farmers who can embroider some ordinary purses and sell them in embroidery workshops.

It’s just that it’s very difficult for ordinary farmers to obtain beautiful patterns. The patterns of wealthy families with a deep background or embroidery workshops that specialize in doing business with wealthy families will not be easily leaked.

However, every issue of the Manyuehua Newspaper has a special column dedicated to flower patterns, which attracts farmers.

Since they had bought the newspaper, they would of course find someone who could read the other contents to read. As a result, the Manyuehua Newspaper became famous among the farmers.

……

Zhuang Sasa has been living a very comfortable life recently. Thanks to the support of her mother's family, she has received unprecedented courtesy in Zhengjiazhuang.

Zhuang Sasa's younger brother Zhuang Mingming returned to the capital recently. The emperor personally granted a marriage between Zhuang Mingming and the most favored Princess Tong'an. Now, the Zhuang family and the Zheng family are even more powerful.

Princess Tong'an is the most favored daughter of the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince is the most beloved brother of the current emperor.

This time, there was another round of discussion in the capital, and the banker was really going to take power.

After Zhuang Mingming and Princess Tong'an got married, Princess Tong'an took charge of the Zhuang family's finances.

When Xia Mianwan received the invitation from the Zhuang Mansion, she was at Xia's Bookstore discussing the details of the women's academy with Madam Yang, Madam Sang, and Nanny Yuan.

When Chai'er came to deliver the letter, everyone was there.

"Why did Princess Tong'an send the invitation to you?" Mrs. Yang asked curiously.

Xia Mianwan thought for a moment and said, "I heard that Princess Tong'an is unruly and willful. If she is really satisfied with her husband, she might want to find a place for her sister. In the past, Zhuang Sasa had a bad reputation because of her marriage.

In the past, it was not a big deal, as the dealers were just peasants and the gangs were always not mainstream.

But... it's different now. The Zhuang family is now considered a royal family, so naturally they can't help but consider Zhuang Sasa's dignity."

"So... it's the Hongmen Banquet?" asked Madam Sang.

Nanny Yuan wrote a few words and nodded in approval, "It must be the Hongmen Banquet."

"What should we do? None of the three of us has received the invitation. My family's situation is fine in Yanzhou, but if it were in the capital, I think Princess Tong'an would look down on us. Now that Master Pei is not in the capital, Mian Wan will not suffer any loss, right?" Madam Yang said worriedly.

Xia Mianwan sighed, "If enemies come, we will fight them. If floods come, we will block them with earth. The Hongmen Banquet is definitely the Hongmen Banquet. The worst that can happen is that I will be insulted a few times. I don't think it should be too much."

Madam Yang stood up and patted Xia Mianwan. "I have met the Dowager Concubine several times. I have cured her stubborn illness. She gave me a sign and told me to find her if I have any problems. She has lived in Shuiyue Temple in the suburbs of Beijing for many years. Do you want me to ask the Dowager Concubine to protect you?"

"The Concubine Dowager will also be present?" Nanny Yuan asked in surprise.

Madam Yang was not sure either. "I am not sure either. However, the Concubine Dowager has always doted on Princess Tongan. This is Princess Tongan's first banquet, so I think she will definitely find someone who can dominate the event. I can't think of anyone more respected than the Concubine Dowager."

"If you don't attend, it will not be good to beg for it," said Nanny Yuan.

Xia Mianwan laughed, "I am grateful to my sisters for giving me advice, but if the Concubine Dowager is really present, the scene will definitely not be very ugly. They won't disregard their own dignity just to humiliate me, right? Besides, the Concubine Dowager also represents the face of the royal family. No matter what, my husband is still in Yubei, suppressing bandits, providing disaster relief, and post-disaster reconstruction. They can't still use my husband to humiliate me. If the Concubine Dowager is really here, even if Princess Tong'an and Princess Nine are stupid, they won't let me suffer. Don't worry!"

Nanny Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Mian Wan does have a point. We should not worry about it and cause confusion."

Madam Sang thought for a moment and said, "You've said so much, but you didn't say what will happen if the Concubine doesn't go."

"There's nothing we can do about it. We can't control anything. Don't think about it." Xia Mianwan didn't care much.

"By the way, I'll ask Yan Niang to find out something. No matter what the news is, you'll be prepared." Madam Sang said.

Xia Mianwan thought it made sense and agreed.

After finishing the small talk, they continued to discuss the affairs of the girls' academy.

"I didn't expect that the Manyuehua Newspaper would have the greatest influence on the women's college. Since the Manyuehua Newspaper published the news of the opening of a women's college, quite a few girls from farming families have signed up. I didn't expect the newspaper to have such a great influence." Mrs. Sang sighed. She thought that the Manyue Tower's storytelling and dance promotion would have the greatest impact, but she didn't expect that the Manyuehua Newspaper would become the main force.

Xia Mianwan smiled and checked the registration list. "I said it before. If we want to fundamentally change people's prejudices, we still need to change their mindsets. People nowadays have very little information intake. If we want to change, we can only do it little by little. Another thing is that our workshop has created many jobs for women. When women have money, they naturally have demands for spiritual things. This is the key to the success of the Women's College."

"How many students have signed up now?" asked Nanny Yuan.

Mrs. Yang was very happy when she said this, "You will never guess it, guess!"

Seeing the joy in Madam Yang's eyes and eyebrows, Xia Mianwan knew that there would be a lot of people signing up this time, "I guess, there must be more than 60 people!"

Madam Yang was surprised and said, "Mianwan, you are so accurate. You got it right every time. How did you know?"

"Do I need to guess? With such a smile on your face, we don't even need to guess, we know that the enrollment is very good!" Xia Mianwan said with a smile.

"Mischievous!" Mrs. Yang gave Xia Mianwan a sidelong glance.

Madam Sang said, "Anyway, you don't have to worry about recruiting students. I originally thought that we would not be able to recruit enough students in the first term."

"After you have completed your studies, you will have the opportunity to become the head of each district. Everyone would want to try this opportunity!" said Nanny Yuan.

Xia Mianwan nodded, "Indeed, so our opening ceremony must be well organized and grand. Whether the women's college can continue to operate and whether the lives of women in the world can be improved all depend on the reputation of our first batch of students."

Mrs. Yang was immediately startled when she heard this. She really shouldn't get carried away, as this was just the beginning.

Just when they were talking excitedly, there was a commotion in the lobby of the bookstore downstairs. They looked at each other and stood up.