but my mother lived like that. followed every rule, obeyed father before marriage, her husband after, living by his word, remained faithful, yet she compromised all her life and still met a bad end.

i saw it with my own eyes. how can i believe that by following parents’ will and the matchmaker’s words i would find a perfect marriage?

the world acts like marriage is the only important thing for women. why can’t women have their own dreams and aspirations?

ms. cai made them come true; then why in this world can’t there be a second or a third -- countless others like ms. cai?

aunt truly lived a life of justice.

zhao, give your all in everything and act from the heart. my mother used to say the hardest thing is to choose.

when faced with a tough decision, count to ten. calm down, and listen to your heart. then you’ll know what to do.