Trapped in the secular world: A boy born in a mysterious women country

Being informed of the marriage during class

In a remote village, the ancient tradition of women being superior to men is followed. Women work outside and hold power, while men are regarded as appendages, responsible for housework and bearing offspring. I, a teenager living in this special village, named Urien, have always been eager to change my destiny through learning.

The morning sun shines in the simple classroom, and I am listening to the teacher's lecture attentively. The teacher is one of the few women in the village who has received a certain education. Her knowledge and insights are like a beacon in this closed village. Suddenly, the teacher stopped teaching, her eyes fell on me, and then slowly said: "Urien, come out for a moment, your parents have something to ask you." A trace of doubt surged in my heart, wondering what my parents wanted to talk to me about at this time.

I walked out of the classroom nervously and saw my parents standing at the door of the classroom. My mother looked serious, and my father bowed his head slightly, seeming a little uneasy. My mother said, "My child, our family is in financial difficulty. We have just agreed with Aunt Wu next door that you will be engaged to her next year." I widened my eyes in astonishment, and I couldn't believe my ears at all. "Mom, what does this mean? I don't want to be engaged yet. I want to go to school." My voice was full of anxiety and confusion.

My mother frowned and said, "Silly child, what's the point of a boy going to school? It's better to find a good family to marry while you are young." Hearing my mother's words, I understood in an instant. It turned out that in this world where women are superior, the value of men seems to be only in marriage and childbirth. My mother wanted to take advantage of my youth and get a good price, so she betrothed me to someone else early. And that person turned out to be an aunt who was 20 or 30 years older than me! My heart was filled with disappointment and sadness. In this village, the fate of men seems to be doomed from birth, and they cannot control their own future.

"I am very disappointed and sad, but I don't want to lose the good opportunity to go to school." I whispered, tears flashing in my eyes. I begged my parents, "Can you let me finish my studies?" My father looked at me, then at my mother, hesitated, and then said to my mother, "Isn't there still some time before the engagement? You can let the child finish his studies during this time, okay?" My mother was silent for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons. Finally, she thought about it and reluctantly agreed with my father.

Back in the classroom, I couldn't calm down for a long time. I knew that this hard-won learning opportunity might be taken away at any time. I studied harder and cherished every minute and every second. However, as the days passed, I found that everything around me became a little strange.

After returning to the classroom, I couldn't calm down for a long time. The engagement that weighed on my heart like a huge rock made me think a lot. I walked slowly to my seat, and every step seemed particularly heavy.

After sitting down, I tried to concentrate on the class, but my mother's serious face and the shocking engagement news kept appearing in my mind. I began to worry about my future. Do I really have to give up my studies at this age and enter a marriage that is not my will? I was unwilling. Studying is the only way for me to change my destiny. I don't want to give up so easily.

At this time, I noticed that my classmates seemed to be whispering. Although their voices were small, they were particularly clear in this quiet classroom. I couldn't help but wonder if they were talking about me? Maybe they already knew about my upcoming engagement. In this small village, news always spreads quickly. An inexplicable embarrassment and uneasiness surged in my heart, as if I had become the focus of everyone's attention, and this focus was accompanied by a hint of helplessness and sadness.

I secretly observed the classmates around me. Some girls gathered together, glancing at me from time to time, then quickly lowered their heads to continue talking, with a hint of curiosity and pity in their expressions. The boys' reactions were different. Some showed sympathy, as if they understood my predicament at the moment; others seemed a little indifferent, perhaps in their eyes, this was the most common thing, after all, in this village where women are superior to men, this is often the fate of men.

I thought of the time I had spent with my classmates. In class, we discussed problems together and racked our brains to solve a difficult problem; during breaks, we played and enjoyed a short happy time together. But now, all of this is shrouded by the shadow of engagement. I feel extremely lost and don't know how long I can study with my classmates.

Those whispering voices seemed to constantly remind me that my fate was about to change. I tried to ignore them and concentrate on listening, but those voices kept echoing in my ears like a spell. I began to doubt my choice. Maybe I should have followed my mother's instructions, married early, and lived a stable life. However, the voice deep in my heart told me that I couldn't give up my dream. What should I do?