Senior Sister, Shut Up!

When the debate topic was confirmed on Monday, Jiang Miao felt like he had received a red flag as soon as he saw it.

Fortunately, reality wasn’t as exaggerated as online.

At least the girls in his team seemed pretty normal.

Their position this time was affirmative, meaning they were in favor of accepting the bride price.

After confirming the topic and their position, the girls in the group engaged in intense discussions over the next few days.

Jiang Miao merely chimed in with a few cheers from the sidelines and basically didn’t express his own opinion.

At night, when they arrived at Room 215, Su Huaizhou led everyone in brainstorming and organizing their debate strategy. Jiang Miao fully embraced his talent for slacking off and coasted along happily.

Jia Tongxue said, “I believe marriage is a transaction. Both sets of parents will contribute financially to help the new family get through the early stages. Whether it’s a bride price or a dowry, it should be considered part of this financial support.”

Yi Luren said, “The topic specially refers to independent women, which is in itself a kind of moral kidnapping. Subconsciously, it implies that ordinary women can accept a bride price, but independent women shouldn’t. This inherently limits the choices of independent women.”

Pei Jue said, “The bride price gift can be regarded as a childbirth fund in advance. During marriage and pregnancy, women have little to no work value for at least a year, and they may even be dismissed by their company. This bride price serves as a form of early financial security.”

Ding Ning, sitting at the side with a notebook full of arguments, nodded vigorously in agreement.

Jiang Miao clapped at the right moment, fully performing his role. Well said. Go team!

The more you say, the easier it will be for me.

He gave his female teammates moral support as he watched Su Huaizhou jot down their arguments at the podium to help them sort out their thoughts.

Then Su Huaizhou put down the chalk, turned around, clapped her hands, and looked at Jiang Miao with a smile. “Then, what do you think, Jiang Miao?”

“… What everyone said was really good. There’s nothing much to add.” A slacker should act like a slacker.

“Hmm, there’s actually no need for too many arguments. Under normal circumstances, three strong points is enough. The key is the logical chain of arguments and sufficient evidence to support them.” Su Huaizhou nodded.

“But we can also think about it from the opposition side.” Su Huaizhou smiled slyly and continued to ask Jiang Miao, “Then, take a look at these arguments. Jiang Miao, if you were on the opposition side, how would you refute them?”

Jiang Miao: “…”

Feeling the gazes of the three female teammates on him, he felt his scalp tingle. Can I admit defeat on the spot?

“The four of them are going on stage this time, so it’s inevitable that their position might cloud their judgment,” Su Huaizhou said reasonably. “It just so happens that you can take the role of the opposition side and offer some rebuttals to help them think through the counterarguments.”

Being forced into a corner by Senior Sister, he had no choice but to step up.

With a helpless expression, Jiang Miao looked at the affirmative arguments on the blackboard and forced himself to think about it.

“First, if the parents of both sides really contribute funds—one side giving the bride price and the other giving the dowry—and the amounts are equal, it’s actually quite fair, but that’s only an ideal scenario.

“As long as the opposition side searches for the data of bride prices and dowries and points out the disparity in contributions, that’s enough to refute the first argument, right?”

“Yes, that works,” Su Huaizhou replied with a smile and picked up the chalk to write down his point. “Everyone can also collect data in this area and discuss it later. Jiang Miao, please continue.”

Jiang Miao: “…”

Can’t you let me go? He shot a look over. Hurry up, stop squeezing me like a tube of toothpaste.

Su Huaizhou threw him a look of her own.

With a sigh, Jiang Miao looked at the second argument and continued, “As for the second point, it talks about limiting choice. But our position is accepting the bride price. It’s also a choice, and in a way, it too limits the choice of independent women.

“In addition, if we think not accepting the bride price is moral kidnapping for independent women, isn’t it moral kidnapping to expect that men should give a bride price?

“As for the third point, mentioning that the bride price serves as a maternity security fund is essentially assuming that women will inevitably become pregnant and have children after marriage. Isn’t that also a kind of moral kidnapping?

“It’s equivalent to women directly trading away their choice of reproduction even before getting married. Isn’t that, in a way, objectifying women?”

As soon as Jiang Miao finished speaking, he noticed the slightly uncomfortable expressions of the three girls in front of him and immediately realized his mistake. Crap. I went too far…

“Very good.” Su Huaizhou smiled at Jiang Miao and recorded his points one by one. “You can all think about how to counter Jiang Miao’s points when you go back.

“Okay, let’s stop here for today. I don’t want to take up too much of your rest time.”

…

After seeing off the four girls, Senior Sister naturally got Jiang Miao to stay behind.

“I regret agreeing to let you slack off.” Su Huaizhou placed her hands on her hips and looked at the points written on the blackboard. She sighed. “If you were willing to go on stage, you might really be able to win the championship.”

“No way, you’re overestimating me.” Jiang Miao shook his head repeatedly and said honestly, “I was just being a contrarian earlier.”

“Being able to spot flaws on the spot with any preparation is already very impressive for a beginner.” Su Huaizhou rolled her eyes at him. “Have you debated before?”

“No, I’m just a natural contrarian.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make you participate.” Su Huaizhou knew she couldn’t force him. She picked up the blackboard wiper and wiped the blackboard clean.

Jiang Miao stepped forward to help. After cleaning up, they headed back to the dormitories.

“So, was what you just said your true thoughts? Do you believe that women shouldn’t accept a bride price?” Su Huaizhou loosened her hairband, letting her long hair fall freely. She shook her head slightly and tied her hair back into a ponytail.

It was the first time Jiang Miao saw Senior Sister with her hair down. Under the moonlight and light of the light posts, she looked like a fairy draped in silver frost.

By the time he turned to his senses, she had already tied her hair back into a high ponytail and returned to her usual refreshing and capable look.

“What’s wrong? Lost in thought?” Su Huaizhou turned her head and smiled when he didn’t respond.

“… Senior Sister, you should have more awareness of your own charm.”

“Didn’t someone say he’s not interested in dating?”

“But I still appreciate beauty,” Jiang Miao said helplessly. “I’m not an idiot.”

“So? You haven’t answered me.”

“The bride price?” Jiang Miao shrugged indifferently. “I don’t really get it. We should analyze matters on a case-by-case basis. Why do debate topics always put everyone in the same basket for discussion and try to come up with a universal answer?”

“That’s what makes debates interesting.” Su Huaizhou raised her finger and smiled. “Only by pushing arguments and flaws to the extremes can we realize the value of moderation and reason.”

“So, what about you? Would you accept a bride price?”

“Me?” Su Huaizhou took a few steps forward to stand in front of Jiang Miao and turned around to look at him. She narrowed her eyes and smiled. “If it’s Peach Jam, as long as you write well, I can consider not accepting it.”

Jiang Miao: “…”

He took out his phone, turned on the recording function, and said solemnly, “Senior Sister, please repeat that. It might come in handy in the future.”

Su Huaizhou slapped his hand away and rolled her eyes at him. “Get lost.”