Chapter 391 - 393: Profound Meaning_1
Li Qiao said hello to each one.
Zhong Qiongsui sized up Li Qiao after responding, "You are really pretty, and your skin is so fair. You look like you’re not even twenty, and I heard you’re married. I can’t believe your family agreed to it when you’re so young."
"In the countryside, people my age get married all the time. If you’re over twenty-five and unmarried, people talk," Li Qiao excused.
"Let them talk. A woman shouldn’t sacrifice her freedom and independence because of other people’s words," Zhong Qiongsui objected.
Li Qiao asked, puzzled, "What does freedom and independence have to do with whether you’re married or not?"
"After you get married, you have no freedom. Look at Zhuang Shu—she used to be the star talent of our translation department, and now she’s busy all day with having children and taking care of them, not even making friends," Zhong Qiongsui said with a mix of reproach and complaint.
Li Qiao’s gaze softly shifted to Zhuang Shu.
Zhuang Shu was a bit embarrassed, "Qiongsui, don’t bring that up."
Zhong Qiongsui said, "I’m speaking up for you. You were the most promising one in our translation department, and now you’ve had four kids in eight years."
Old Mr. Shangguan and Madam Shangguan began to look displeased.
As the latter was about to speak, Li Qiao couldn’t help interjecting, "When two people come together to marry and have children, it’s inevitable that one will have to make sacrifices, and that’s something you can’t escape. You seek freedom and independence, but you lose the joy that children bring, as well as the sense of security that a partner provides. There’s no such thing as having the best of both worlds; you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You have your choice of lifestyle, and she has hers. As good friends, you should encourage and support each other, not constantly remind her of her radiant past when she’s all tired from taking care of the children. If it were me, I would be depressed, and even looking at my partner would be distressing."