Chapter Ten: A Dispute in the Classroom

Liang Shanbo stood up and said, “I am Liang Shanbo. I believe this Ballad of Mulan was written by a man. While it captures Mulan’s loyalty and filial piety, it fails to express a woman’s independent spirit.”

Xie Daoyun smiled softly and replied, “Please, do elaborate.”

Liang Shanbo glanced back at Zhu Yingtai. “Yingtai, you speak.”

Zhu Yingtai nodded and rose. “Sir, the reason Mulan joined the army was not by her own choice. The scrolls of military conscription bear her father’s name; her father has no eldest son, and Mulan has no elder brother. Out of loyalty and filial duty, she had no choice but to disguise herself as a man and take her father’s place in the army. Her intelligence, bravery, and virtue command respect. Yet, regrettably, Mulan ultimately returned to the boudoir, ‘arranging her cloud-like hair by the window, adorning her face before the mirror.’ Why can a woman not carve out her own world? Why must men confine women indoors, denying them freedom and autonomy?”

Xie Daoyun was momentarily taken aback. Worried she had misspoken and might offend her, Zhu Yingtai asked anxiously, “Sir, did I say something wrong?”

“Not at all,” Xie Daoyun replied with a smile of approval. She then turned her gaze to our table. “Liu Yiqing, do you have a different perspective on this Ballad of Mulan?”

Since she called me by name, she must truly know me, though I did not recognize her.

I stood and bowed slightly to Xie Daoyun. “My knowledge is limited compared to Shanbo and Yingtai. I feel that Mulan, as a woman, was compelled to substitute for her father in the army out of necessity rather than desire. Yet in the end, she returned to the boudoir, ‘arranging her cloud-like hair at the window, adorning her face before the mirror.’ I believe this was the life Mulan truly yearned for. Twelve years of military strife is enough to weary anyone, and a woman should not bear such burdens.”

Zhu Yingtai rose, clearly displeased with my words. “Brother Yiqing, do you also believe that women should be confined indoors, deprived of freedom?”

“I simply think that Mulan’s return to the domestic sphere after twelve years on the battlefield shows that no matter how capable a woman is, her ultimate destiny is to support her husband and raise her children. If that is so, why struggle in vain?” I had studied the Ballad in modern times, and I only felt sympathy for Mulan—she should not have lived so wearied a life.

“Liu Yiqing, what do you mean? Do you think women are inferior to men?” Zhu Yingtai’s anger flared fiercely.

Liu Xiangdong applauded. “Well said, Brother Liu. Men have been esteemed above women since ancient times.” He glanced meaningfully at Xie Daoyun. “May I ask, Madam Xie, how do you, a woman, bear to sit in such a lofty position with men beneath you and show no shame?”

Xie Daoyun smiled gently. “Respect is earned through precedence and expertise. In this academy, those who possess profound insight and skill are honored, while the unlearned are regarded as lowly. That is why I sit here without shame.”

Her vast learning was evident, and I applauded her. But Zhu Yingtai scowled at me. “Did you hear that, Liu Yiqing? This is why men are relegated to inferior status.”

I shook my head. “Yingtai, both you and I are men. Besides, I never said ‘men are superior to women.’ All men are born of women. I only believe a woman’s life is largely devoted to men, and therefore men ought to cherish and share burdens with women, not leave them exposed and struggling alone.”

Xie Daoyun held up a scroll and raised her hands to halt us. “Each of you has offered valuable insight. This Ballad of Mulan is a North Wei folk song meant to promote loyalty and filial piety through the clever and brave Mulan—an enduring tradition of Central Plains culture. It is rare for men to hold such perspectives. In the future, your wives will surely make Mulan envious.”

“Heh…” Ma Wencai shook his head and sneered.

Xie Daoyun fixed him with a slight smile. “Do you have another view, student?”

I was curious to hear what he would say.

Ma Wencai rose. “No particular opinion, but I have heard that women must follow the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. I wonder, Madam, how do you abide by these?”

“I always follow Heaven’s principle, Earth’s way, and human sentiment—that is the so-called Three Obediences. Observing rites, upholding righteousness, serving with integrity, and knowing shame—these are the Four Virtues. Have you not heard of them?”

Ma Wencai shook his head with a sneer. “You surely know the Three Obediences mean: obey your father at home, your husband after marriage, and your son if widowed. And the Four Virtues are women’s virtue, speech, work, and appearance. Madam, which of these do you follow?”

Xie Daoyun seemed caught off guard by his bluntness and was momentarily speechless.

Liang Shanbo rose again, ready to defend her. “Brother Wencai, your words are mistaken.”

“Nature’s laws govern all, and people live within them. Cultivating heart and virtue is the ultimate rule. The Four Virtues—virtue, speech, work, and appearance—should be observed by men as well. To rigidly divide men and women is shallow thinking.” He continued, “Regarding the Three Obediences, it is well known Madam Xie lost her parents young. Now, she remains unmarried, so there is no husband to obey. As for obedience to son after husband’s death—an absurdity. Suppose you, Brother Wencai, were a woman widowed with an infant son. How would you obey then?”

“Ha! Shanbo, well said!” The surrounding students and I burst into applause.

“Preposterous! The sage’s way cannot tolerate such blasphemy!” Ma Wencai’s sharp gaze swept from Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai to me and Wang Lantian, chilling the audience into silence.

Turning coldly to Xie Daoyun, he said, “How can I, a gentleman, stoop to share a room with you petty persons and women?” His thin lips tightened as he turned to everyone. “Listen, if you are men, follow me.” Without another word, he strode out of the classroom without looking back.

I expected the students to follow him since, apart from Zhu Yingtai and me, all present were men. Yet, to my surprise, not even Brother Wencai himself could leave the room.

As Ma Wencai passed my desk, Wang Lantian suddenly stood and blocked him with a folding fan. “The master is above, the student below; how dare you show disrespect!”

I truly felt a chill for Brother Lantian—Ma Wencai’s skills were formidable.

“Wang Lantian, you sickly cat think you can block Master Ma? I’d say you want to die early. Ha ha ha…” Liu Xiangdong’s mocking voice rang out.

Ma Wencai swung his long arm to brush off Wang’s fan but was surprised to find Wang was not as weak as he appeared. Their arms locked in a stalemate.

“Brother Lantian,” Xie Daoyun came forward, shaking her head at him as if signaling something. The simple address “Brother Lantian” made all present realize they were old acquaintances.