CHAPTER 619: CHAPTER 619: EXTREME MISFORTUNE TURNS INTO BLESSING

Lai Xiaomei said, "I just told the students that girls shouldn’t 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 now—poor family, up to her neck in debt, children to raise. She’s about my age, but she looks old enough to be my mother. I have to remind everyone again, don’t get married so early, be independent and strong new-age women!"

The girls nodded in agreement. With Jia Xiaoling as an example, Lai Xiaomei’s words were truly enlightening and absolutely correct.

Don’t 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 don’t know anything about my life. You just heard a few things from Liu Qiang and think you know me; you’re just talking nonsense!"

Lai Xiaomei chuckled, "Jia Xiaoling, although you’re a rural woman, I hope you speak a bit more civilized. Are you saying you don’t think your life is bad?"

Jia Xiaoling said, "No, my life is indeed bad. Our family is poor because our business failed and we’re in debt. My husband is always thinking about starting over, but there’s no money, and we’re 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 we’re 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. What’s there to envy? Everyone has their own life. You’re 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 wouldn’t. Why? Sure, you’re rich now, but who can guarantee you’ll always be smooth sailing, and never experience business failures? We’re struggling now, but who can say we won’t turn misfortune into fortune? Success and failure are temporary. Don’t mock others’ failures just because you have some achievements. Even I, a rural woman who failed the exams, understand this, but you, a top student, don’t?"

The crowd was silent.

Everyone was stunned by Jia Xiaoling’s speech.

Lai Xiaomei, however, was angered by Jia Xiaoling’s words and chuckled, "Your words are meaningless. It’s winners versus losers. You’re the loser now, and I’m the winner. So what if I want a husband and children? If I want them, there’s a long line of men wanting to marry me, and if I want kids, they won’t 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? You’re the loser; everything you say is wrong. I’m the winner, so my words have value, and you have no right to refute me with how poorly you’ve turned out!"

Jia Xiaoling’s face reddened, "But..."

Lai Xiaomei said, "What’s there to say? You’re a loser and shouldn’t 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 wouldn’t have had to marry a poor man. You could have many choices like me, and wouldn’t be suffering now!"

Jia Xiaoling had nothing to say.

I have to admit, maybe Lai Xiaomei was right, if she didn’t marry so early, if...

"Ha!"

Suddenly, a chuckle caught everyone’s 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 couldn’t just sit back.

Lai Xiaomei glanced at Lin Fan, "Lin Fan, what insights do you have?"

Lai Xiaoming said dismissively, "You’re a loser too, and like my sister said, you have no right to speak! Because losers’ words are just nonsense, meaningless!"

The crowd laughed.

Liu Qiang laughed, "Lin Fan, aren’t you embarrassed enough? If I were you, I’d leave with Jia Xiaoling as soon as possible!"

Lin Fan looked at Lai Xiaomei and said, "Maybe you’re 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 you’re agreeing with me."

But Lin Fan changed his tone, "However, life doesn’t have ’ifs’, and life can’t be replayed, unless it’s like a novel where people are reborn. Little Ling has come this far. Reflecting on the past won’t help her, and she can’t 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. What’s more, she’s suffering now, but can you be sure she’ll always be? As she said, fortunes may turn. When that day comes, when she has both a comfortable life and a happy family, won’t 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 she’ll soon turn her fortunes around."

Lai Xiaomei snorted, "I won’t argue with you, because you’re a loser too!"