The old marriage law was a throwback to an era when all Chinese worked for the state or communes and needed permission to travel, get an education or marry.

• 在这样一个人人为国家和社会工作的时代，旧的婚姻政策成为时代前进的阻碍，它居然要求人们在旅行，受教育和成婚前先得到别人的允许。