The woman continued her reprimand: "If you want to take over your Grandpa’s position as Village Chief one day, you’ll need a pair of beautiful little feet! Otherwise, do you want to let your Grandpa down, to be unremarkable for life?"

The boy cried out: "I don’t want to, but it hurts so much, I can’t bear it, Mother, please, don’t bind them, just for one day, let me have a day’s respite, won’t you?"

"It’s not that Mother doesn’t feel sorry for you, if you stop for one day, it will hurt more when binding later, and it will affect the size of your feet, preventing them from fitting the dainty bound-foot standard." The woman sighed and said, "You see, your father and uncles have come through this way; you must show resilience."

The woman roughly finished speaking, then began her task again, causing the boy to cry out heartbreakingly once more.

Such cries weren’t the tantrums of a child, but rather a true scream of pain reaching its peak, rendering everyone in the yard silent.

It was truly chilling!

At this moment, a deliberately lowered voice came from next door, "Keep it down, the distinguished guests are resting in the arms, don’t disturb their peace."

"But Asheng is in too much pain, he can’t hold back." The woman said, her voice also choked with tears.

"Then, just gag his mouth, wasn’t I the same back then?" Shengsi said somewhat angrily, "Asheng, you’re born as the male of our Shengsi Family, how can you be so unpromising, can’t even endure this bit of hardship?"

Asheng tightly bit his lip, trying his best not to let out scream, yet the absence of screaming turned into suppressed and painful moaning, which still was torture to Bai Ruozhu, whose hearing was exceptionally good.

She hadn’t seen that little boy but truly couldn’t bear it, so she got up and said, "I’ll go have a look."

Jiang Yichun followed her, but whispered, "You’d better not see it, I’m afraid you’d be upset upon seeing it."

They couldn’t prevent anything, even forcibly intervening mightn’t save that child.

The two quietly leapt over to the yard next door, gazing at the scene inside through an open window.

The little boy was about seven or eight years old, roughly Xiaosi’s age, only his face was ashen at this moment, forehead bursting with sweat beads, and his lower lip was bitten until it was covered in blood.

The woman, with tears, stuffed a cloth into his mouth, "Bite down, don’t hurt yourself."

Bai Ruozhu shook her head while watching, wanting to speak but ultimately holding back.

What right did she have to order people not to bind their feet? Even if she forced them to obey using strength, then what after she leaves?

Many local customs are hard to change overnight.

She returned to the room somewhat sullenly, Jiang Yichun, saddened, took her hand, "Or, let us buy that child, save one if we can."

"Even if the child leaves his family, he may not be happy, it’s only I who feel better, the child mightn’t necessarily be happy." Bai Ruozhu said dejectedly.

Seeing her somewhat downcast, Jiang Yichun felt bad too and started pondering.

"Let’s do this, tomorrow we’ll ask the Astrologer to talk about the prosperity of Kyoto, and also talk about some islanders who went to Kyoto and became high-ranking officials, but they must know officials can’t have bound feet." He suddenly said.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes lit up, people naturally aspire upwards, just based on Shengsi family’s words for the future village chief position as they wouldn’t bring shame to the family, but the village chief would be the limit, what if there is a better way out?

"Let’s do it now, anyway, it’s still early." She darted out like the wind, directly seeking Zhitian to convey her intent.

"I’ll give it a try, but this custom has been carried on for a hundred years, it may not change overnight." Zhitian said worriedly.

"Maybe we can’t help that child named Asheng, but we can help the future ones, it won’t be in vain that we passed by here." Bai Ruozhu said.

Then she briefed Zhitian on various things to say.

Zhitian took a pot of wine and went directly next door to find Shengsi from the village, smiling as he said, "Village chief, thank you for your hospitality, this pot of wine is a gift for you to savor."

"You’re too kind, sir." Shengsi was exceptionally pleased, for there’s no wine production on their island; a precious thing like wine he hadn’t savored for many years.

"I’m not sir, merely an attendant of the esteemed ones below, you needn’t stand on ceremony with me Village chief, how about we share a few glasses?" Zhitian appeared very affable.

"Very well, very well." Shengsi hurriedly had his family fetch wine cups and instructed his daughter-in-law to prepare a couple of snacks to accompany the wine.

He saw Zhitian’s attire, feeling very envious, thinking even the attendants of officials appear so dignified, truly people from Kyoto are different.

After a few cups, Zhitian’s words began to multiply.

"Old brother, your island is so close to Fusang, why not develop in Fusang a bit? There’s a high-ranking official from the western Jade Island now in Kyoto, his mansion is nearly as grand as our lord’s. Moreover, he’s assisted several younger members from the island to study in Kyoto, they could become officials in the future. I heard he’s donated quite a lot of silver coin back home, their houses are even more splendid than those in Kyoto, it’s truly remarkable."

Shengsi listened with a face full of envy, "Ours is a small island, everyone has little knowledge, how could we dare to disgrace ourselves in Fusang?"

"Old brother, you’re too modest, now the elderly may not manage, but children could go study, take part in the Imperial Examination in the future, naturally becoming officials. Not to boast, the high-ranking official from Jade Island truly brings honor to the family."

"Can our children’s studies compare with those in Kyoto? There’s such a difference." Shengsi hastily waved his hand.

"Studying isn’t hard, mainly it depends on enduring hardship, whether they’re willing to spend time learning. Many pampered sons in Kyoto refuse to endure hardship, ultimately relying on family care, how can they compare to a child who’s both resilient and motivated? The Emperor only selects the talented, disregarding backgrounds."

Zhitian casually glanced at his feet, saying, "If you can endure the hardship of foot binding, what’s the hardship of studying? Although foot binding isn’t in practice in Kyoto, especially among military officials, feet too small to stand stably make it impossible to become officials."

"Foot binding represents noble status, it’s our local tradition." Shengsi upon hearing became anxious, indeed, it’s hard to change years of beliefs.

Zhitian kept a composed face, continuing as Bai Ruozhu had instructed: "Speaking of which, our Emperor intends to establish diplomatic relations at sea, perhaps appointing a civil officer from your island. Did you notice those adults speaking Zhongyuan Language today? They are envoys for establishing relations between Fusang and Zhongyuan’s Danliang Country."

Thinking of Bai Ruozhu and the others’ attire and aura, Shengsi felt very envious, his eyes brightened.

"This’s a good thing, brother, you must help this old brother, introduce me to them." Shengsi hurriedly poured a cup for Zhitian.

Zhitian sighed, "Old brother, it’s not that I won’t help you, but with bound feet you can’t be an official, rather choose a younger nephew or cousin, as long as they don’t have small feet."