Colorful years

His peers knew nothing about this; this history was not covered in textbooks, and none of his teachers had ever explored it in depth.

As his studies became increasingly demanding, Congcong had to temporarily suppress this doubt in his heart.

He devoted more of his energy to his studies, working hard to cope with his daily lessons and exams.

Even so, whenever he lay in bed late at night, his thoughts would involuntarily drift back to his grandmother's bound feet.

Along the way, Congcong experienced many other things, made new friends, and experienced different joys and setbacks.

He gradually realized that not all problems in life can be answered immediately; some things require time to mature before they can be understood.

He knew that although he had temporarily set aside this question, it remained hidden deep within his heart, waiting for the day when he had enough knowledge and experience to truly unravel the mystery.

This deep-seated question also became one of the driving forces behind his constant thirst for knowledge and exploration of history.

Even after Congcong grew up, entered the workforce, and began his career, the confusion he felt about his grandmother's bound feet never faded.

He knew that to truly unravel this mystery, his parents' simple answers from his childhood and his own assumptions were far from enough.

Fortunately, he worked in news and publicity, which gave him the opportunity and time to read and study relevant historical materials.

He borrowed heavy history books from the library, searching for clues about the barbaric practice of foot binding among the yellowed pages.

He learned that the practice of foot binding originated in the late Northern Song Dynasty, reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was gradually abolished during the Republic of China period.

Behind this outdated custom lies the heavy oppression and constraints placed on women by feudal society, and the extreme manifestation of the concept of male superiority and female inferiority.

In addition to reading books, Congcong also consulted many scholars' research papers online.

These papers offer profound analyses of the phenomenon of foot binding from various perspectives.

Some explored the intricate connections between foot binding and etiquette, aesthetic concepts, and socio-cultural aspects.

Some studies explain the profound suffering and harm that foot binding brought to women from the perspectives of women's physical and mental health.

Meanwhile, Congcong also participated in some history and culture lectures and seminars.

Through exchanges with experts and scholars, he gained a more comprehensive and profound understanding of the phenomenon of foot binding.

He realized that foot binding was not only a physical constraint on women, but also a mental imprisonment. It greatly limited women's range of activities and deprived them of their right to participate in social labor and social activities.

Through continuous research and exploration, Congcong finally gained a clear and profound understanding of his grandmother's bound feet.

He was filled with emotion, heartbroken by the suffering endured by his grandmother's generation, and sincerely gratified that women today are able to break free from such constraints and enjoy freedom and equal rights.

However, Congcong's exploration did not stop there.

He knew that the wheels of history were rolling forward, and although the practice of foot binding was a thing of the past, many similar feudal remnants still lurked in every corner of society.

He decided to use his own strength to help more people understand this history, cherish the freedom and equality of today, and work together to create a better future by writing articles and participating in public welfare activities.

After years of exploration and reflection, Congcong finally understood the heartbreaking social roots behind bound feet.

In feudal society, women had an extremely low status.

They were seen as appendages of men, lacking independent personalities and rights.

The phenomenon of foot binding is a cruel reflection of this lowly status.

Women were unable to control their own bodies and destinies and were forced to accept the physically and mentally devastating practice of foot binding.

Foot binding was distorted into an aesthetic standard, and was a product of the distortion of feudal ethics and values.

At that time, society generally believed that women with bound feet were a symbol of beauty, elegance, and nobility.

This distorted aesthetic concept has caused countless women to suffer immense pain.

In order to conform to this so-called "beauty", they suffered from foot binding from childhood and lost the ability to walk and work normally.

The formation of this aesthetic standard was by no means accidental.

In order to further control women, men in feudal society set such standards to reduce their scope of activities, making them dependent on the family and unable to participate in social affairs.

In this environment, women lose the opportunity for self-development and can only silently endure pain within the confines of the family.

Moreover, this phenomenon has spread widely in society, creating a strong public opinion pressure.

If a woman did not bind her feet, she would be regarded as an outcast and suffer discrimination and rejection from others.

This pressure forced more women to succumb to the barbaric practice of foot binding.

Congcong deeply realized that the suffering experienced by her grandmother's generation was not only physical, but also mental.

They lost their freedom and dignity under the shackles of feudal ethics.

Today, times have changed dramatically, and women's status has been significantly improved, with equal rights and opportunities.

Learning from history and cherishing the freedom and equality we enjoy today, where everyone can live in a just and equal social environment, has become one of the most beautiful aspects of the new society.