In the late Qing Dynasty, China's social situation was changing, and the social structure and interpersonal relations were complex and changeable. During this period, the shackles of feudal etiquette and religion were intertwined with the impact of Western thought, which had a profound impact on the lives of ordinary people. At this time, the status of women is particularly low, they are under heavy pressure in the family and society, and gender inequality is particularly high. In this context, a special case occurred, which not only revealed the gender issue, but also reflected the moral and legal dilemmas of the society at that time.
On a spring day in 1905, in the southeast corner of the city of Beijing, an ordinary courtyard house was inhabited by a woman named Li Guilan and her husband Zhou Tai Fook. Chow Tai Fook is an ordinary small cloth shop owner, while Li Guilan is responsible for taking care of the housework and children at home.
One day, Chow Tai Fook went to Tianjin for business, leaving only Li Guilan and her young children at home. At this time, Chow Tai Fook's distant relative Zhang Mingde came to visit, claiming to be here to help watch the store and visit by the way. Li Guilan didn't take much precautions out of politeness, so she let Zhang Mingde stay overnight.
In the dead of night, Zhang Mingde's behavior began to become abnormal. He first stayed in Li Guilan's room on the pretext of checking the store's accounts, and then bluntly expressed his ill intentions towards Li Guilan. Li Guilan vehemently refused, but Zhang Mingde threatened to leak rumors that she was having an affair with an outside man (although this was completely fabricated).
"Guilan, if you don't comply, I will let the entire Beijing City know about your misconduct." Zhang Mingde threatened.
Li Guilan was terrified in her heart, she knew that once such rumors spread, not only herself, but also her children would be implicated. Under this pressure and fear, Li Guilan had no choice but to give in.
This continued for months until Chow Tai Fook returned home. Li Guilan felt deeply guilty and helpless, and finally told Chow Tai Fook about the matter. Chow Tai Fook was furious and decided to take the matter to court. The imperfection of traditional concepts and laws has made this lawsuit full of difficulties.
During the trial, Zhang Mingde's lawyer did everything in his power to discredit Li Guilan's reputation, and some even suggested that Li Guilan was entangled with Zhang Mingde out of personal feelings. In the face of such accusations, Li Guilan felt deep powerlessness and despair.
After a lengthy trial, the court finally convicted Zhang Mingde, but due to the extremely high knowledge and evidentiary requirements of such cases at that time, Zhang Mingde's punishment was far from commensurate with the crimes he committed. Despite this, this case has attracted widespread attention in the local society, and more people have begun to reflect on and discuss issues related to gender equality and women's rights.
Although this case is difficult to wash away Li Guilan's humiliation, it has stirred up a thousand waves like a stone, triggering deep thinking about the status and rights of women in society. In that era of feudal etiquette, Li Guilan's experience was not an isolated case, but a microcosm of countless women who endured silently. Through this incident, we see the conflict between traditional and modern values, as well as the inadequacy of social and legal protection mechanisms. History is not only a review of the past, it also guides us to think about the future. Let us remember that every step of the progress of legal and social consciousness is inseparable from the voices that have courageously stood up and the countless forces that have silently supported them. Today, the struggle for respect and equality continues, and each and every one of us is a participant in this change.