Lai Xiaomei said, "I just told the students that girls shouldnât be in such a hurry to get married, burying their best youthful years in marriage. And here we have a living example. Everyone can see how miserable she is nowâpoor family, up to her neck in debt, children to raise. Sheâs about my age, but she looks old enough to be my mother. I have to remind everyone again, donât get married so early, be independent and strong new-age women!"
The girls nodded in agreement. With Jia Xiaoling as an example, Lai Xiaomeiâs words were truly enlightening and absolutely correct.
Donât get married so early, marriage is a graveyard. Family, kids, debts, they turn a youthful woman into a worn-out housewife.
Lai Xiaomei continued to instill her beliefs: "Every girl should become a new-age woman. Only with more and more new-age women can we truly stand up, and people like Jia Xiaoling will decrease, achieving true female empowerment. I believe Jia Xiaoling must regret marrying and having children so early."
The students nodded, every word from Lai Xiaomei seemed right.
"Lai Xiaomei, stop talking nonsense!"
Jia Xiaoling suddenly shouted, interrupting Lai Xiaomei.
Lai Xiaomei frowned, "Jia Xiaoling, what did you say?"
Jia Xiaoling said, "You donât know anything about my life. You just heard a few things from Liu Qiang and think you know me; youâre just talking nonsense!"
Lai Xiaomei chuckled, "Jia Xiaoling, although youâre a rural woman, I hope you speak a bit more civilized. Are you saying you donât think your life is bad?"
Jia Xiaoling said, "No, my life is indeed bad. Our family is poor because our business failed and weâre in debt. My husband is always thinking about starting over, but thereâs no money, and weâre helpless. But so what? We have two adorable children, and my husband cherishes me. He works in the day and helps me pick vegetables when he gets home; we have a great relationship. Life is hard, but weâre happy because we have a complete family and love! People like you, Lai Xiaomei, have no right to judge me!"
"At first, I heard you started a company and were very successful, and I was envious, but Lin Fan enlightened me. Whatâs there to envy? Everyone has their own life. Youâre young, pretty, and rich, but you have no husband, no kids. If we were to swap lives, if I had to trade my husband and kids for your life, I wouldnât. Why? Sure, youâre rich now, but who can guarantee youâll always be smooth sailing, and never experience business failures? Weâre struggling now, but who can say we wonât turn misfortune into fortune? Success and failure are temporary. Donât mock othersâ failures just because you have some achievements. Even I, a rural woman who failed the exams, understand this, but you, a top student, donât?"
The crowd was silent.
Everyone was stunned by Jia Xiaolingâs speech.
Lai Xiaomei, however, was angered by Jia Xiaolingâs words and chuckled, "Your words are meaningless. Itâs winners versus losers. Youâre the loser now, and Iâm the winner. So what if I want a husband and children? If I want them, thereâs a long line of men wanting to marry me, and if I want kids, they wonât suffer from the start; your kids will. If you lost your husband and kids, would anyone want you?"
Jia Xiaoling was at a loss for words: "..."
Lai Xiaomei said, "Got nothing to say? Youâre the loser; everything you say is wrong. Iâm the winner, so my words have value, and you have no right to refute me with how poorly youâve turned out!"
Jia Xiaolingâs face reddened, "But..."
Lai Xiaomei said, "Whatâs there to say? Youâre a loser and shouldnât be lecturing others. Look in the mirror and reflect on your life. If you had listened to me from the start, and not rushed into marriage and kids, you could have had an exciting life, become excellent first, and wouldnât have had to marry a poor man. You could have many choices like me, and wouldnât be suffering now!"
Jia Xiaoling had nothing to say.
I have to admit, maybe Lai Xiaomei was right, if she didnât marry so early, if...
"Ha!"
Suddenly, a chuckle caught everyoneâs attention.
The one who laughed was Lin Fan, who had been silent all along.
Previously, Lin Fan was used as a negative example, ridiculed by everyone, criticized by Meng Xiaoming and Principal Zhao, yet Lin Fan said nothing, quietly watching them show off.
But now, Lin Fan suddenly spoke up.
For no reason other than Jia Xiaoling stood up for him, scolding everyone, Lin Fan couldnât just sit back.
Lai Xiaomei glanced at Lin Fan, "Lin Fan, what insights do you have?"
Lai Xiaoming said dismissively, "Youâre a loser too, and like my sister said, you have no right to speak! Because losersâ words are just nonsense, meaningless!"
The crowd laughed.
Liu Qiang laughed, "Lin Fan, arenât you embarrassed enough? If I were you, Iâd leave with Jia Xiaoling as soon as possible!"
Lin Fan looked at Lai Xiaomei and said, "Maybe youâre right. If Little Ling had chosen a different path, not married so young, not had children so early, her life might be different."
Lai Xiaomei responded, "Seems youâre agreeing with me."
But Lin Fan changed his tone, "However, life doesnât have âifsâ, and life canât be replayed, unless itâs like a novel where people are reborn. Little Ling has come this far. Reflecting on the past wonât help her, and she canât go back and rewrite her life. Besides, Little Ling said it herself, though her life is tough, her family is happy together. She cherishes her family. Like drinking water, only they know the temperature. As outsiders, we have no right to judge her. Whatâs more, sheâs suffering now, but can you be sure sheâll always be? As she said, fortunes may turn. When that day comes, when she has both a comfortable life and a happy family, wonât you call her a winner too? And asking her to reflect on the past now makes you look ridiculous then."
Lai Xiaomei chuckled, "Lin Fan, do you really think she can turn her misfortune around? I see no hope for her family, a lifetime of hardship awaits!"
Lin Fan smiled, "Who says? I say sheâll soon turn her fortunes around."
Lai Xiaomei snorted, "I wonât argue with you, because youâre a loser too!"