Chapter 76

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Li Huairou had always known that, with Mei Xianglan’s excellence, she would be surrounded by many suitors. As for Qi Jun, she’d met him too.

Although Mei Xianglan had said that she wanted to think about it, Li Huairou knew that she was actually moved by seeing her like this.

Li Huairou sighed slightly. It wasn’t because Qi Jun was a bad person. In fact, Li Huairou had great experience—for Qi Jun, Li Huairou had to admit that he was excellent. Qi Jun was not only outstanding, but also broad-minded. He knew what had happened to Mei Xianglan before, and not only did he not feel dislike or contempt toward her, he also admired Mei Xianglan’s bravery and intelligence. He even respected Mei Xianglan very much.

If Mei Xianglan could be with Qi Jun, it’d be really good.

The only thing was that Qi Jun was a progressive youth, full of worries about the country and the people. The few times they’d met, she’d always hear Qi Jun’s impassioned criticism of the current situation.

Li Huairou admired people like Qi Jun very much, but she also knew that living with such people would be very hard.

“Sister, have you made up your mind? Qi Jun is a very good person, but… you’ll have a hard time later!” Li Huairou said softly.

“I’m not afraid of hard work! I want to accompany him, to struggle, to work hard, and to see what he calls the new society, new country, and new world with him!” Mei Xianglan said longingly.

Maybe Mei Xianglan didn’t notice, but when she talked about Qi Jun, her eyes lit up.

Li Huairou smiled. “Let’s go then! I support you!” Speaking of which, working hard for your ideals sounded very exciting—it should be very interesting!

Mei Xianglan smiled. She knew that Huairou would support her! In this world, only Huairou would support her without any bottom lines and without reservation! No matter what she did!

Two months later, Mei Xianglan and Qi Jun held a simple wedding.

Two months after the wedding, Qi Jun returned to China; he was going to work hard for his ideal. Mei Xianglan was supposed to follow along, but before she left, she found out that she was pregnant.

Now, neither Qi Jun nor Li Huairou would agree to her returning to China. Qi Jun entrusted Mei Xianglan and their son to Li Huairou. Like Mei Xianglan, he trusted Li Huairou very much.

Before leaving, Qi Jun knelt on one foot in front of Mei Xianglan, reverently kissing Mei Xianglan’s lower abdomen. “Wait for me!”

Mei Xianglan smiled softly.

Li Huairou lifted a camera and took a picture of this warm scene.

At the time, none of the three thought that this would be their farewell.

After Qi Jun returned to China, there was no news until half a year later. A friend of Qi Jun’s brought the news of Qi Jun’s death: “He died to cover us. Before he died, he asked me to bring this letter to you…” the friend said with a sad face.

Tremblingly, Mei Xianglan took the letter. There were only a few words in it. What was written was that, missing Mei Xianglan, he had given the child a name.

Li Huairou had been mentally prepared for such a result, but she hadn’t expected that this day would come so quickly!

Li Huairou looked at Mei Xianglan nervously. After all, she was already pregnant. She was too lazy to complain about any straight men with brains like steel.

[Internet slang used to describe a man who doesn’t understand a woman’s heart—men who like women, but whose thoughts are relatively rigid and traditional, and whose aesthetics are also very simple and stereotyped]

But Mei Xianglan was unexpectedly strong. After reading the letter, she stroked her stomach and said, “I want to rest, Huairou. Please help me entertain our guest.”

Then she supported her waist and slowly walked to her room.

The “straight man of steel” was still saying, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Our brothers have agreed. We’ll take care of you and the child. I…”

Mei Xianglan waved her hand and slowly walked in.

Li Huairou couldn’t do anything about this straight man of steel. If she hadn’t seen this man who was injured and had traveled thousands of miles to deliver letters, she would have driven him out.

“Mr. Zhao, you should go to rest first. I’ll take care of my sister,” Li Huairou said.

Steel Straight Man hesitated for a moment, took out a pen and paper from his body, wrote a number down, and handed it to Li Huairou. “I still have something to do, so I won’t stay much longer. If you need help, call this number. We’ll definitely help if we can!” In coming back this time, in addition to delivering letters, he had other things to do, so he couldn’t stay too long.

“Alright, I understand. I’m sorry to trouble you,” Li Huairou said after putting the note away.

After sending the steel straight man away, Li Huairou poured a cup of hot milk and sent it in.

Mei Xianglan was lying on her side on the bed. Although her eyes were closed, the tears on her face were clearly visible.

Li Huairou didn’t speak. She sat down beside the bed. “Sister, I’m here!”

Mei Xianglan grabbed her hand and clenched it tightly. Although her eyes were tightly closed, her tears surged more and more.

Li Huairou half-squatted in front of the bed, half-hugging Mei Xianglan. “I’m here! I’m here!”

Li Huairou was worried, and she insisted on sending Mei Xianglan to the hospital. That night, Mei Xianglan’s labor started. After a night of tossing around, at dawn, Mei Xianglan gave birth to a daughter.

The nurse placed the swaddled child beside Mei Xianglan. Mei Xianglan’s hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her face, but she looked at the child with loving eyes. This child gave her new hope.

“Qi Jun named the child Ximing, hoping that the dawn would come soon,” Mei Xianglan said softly, kissing the child’s cheek.

[Ximing (希明). Xi (希) means to hope, to admire. Ming (明) means bright, clear, wise]

“Qi Ximing. Ximing. It’s a good name!” Li Huairou said with a smile. “Sister, you really are amazing!”

Mei Xianglan looked at Li Huairou and smiled because she knew that Li Huairou was standing behind her! No matter what she became, Huairou would stand behind her and support her. Huairou was her strength!

After the Steel Straight Man learned that Mei Xianglan had given birth, he came to the hospital. When he saw the swaddled baby and learned her name, his eyes grew red.

However, Mei Xianglan asked where Qi Jun was buried. “When Ximing grows up, we’ll have to take her to pay respect to her father, after all,” Mei Xianglan said softly.

The Steel Straight Man nodded and told Mei Xianglan the exact location.

Mei Xianglan listened to it, committed it to her heart, and said, “Although I don’t know what you guys do, I know that you are doing great things for the benefit of the country and the people. I am a woman without any special skills except for a little money. I can’t help you. If you need anything, just speak up.”

The man looked at Mei Xianglan in surprise.

Mei Xianglan nodded firmly, and Li Huairou stood by with a calm face, seemingly unsurprised by Mei Xianglan’s words.

The man lowered his head and thought for a moment. “We need drugs, firearms…”

The two finally chatted for a long time.

The next day, strangers came to visit Mei Xianglan.

At this time, Li Huairou took the child and went outside, leaving the space for them.

A week later, Mei Xianglan was discharged from the hospital and went home, with someone coming to visit her every few days. When that happened, Li Huairou would hide in another room with the child in her arms.

That night, Mei Xianglan asked Li Huairou, “Huairou, do you disagree with my doing this?”

Li Huairou shook her head. “No, sister. No matter what you do, I will support you, but Ximing is still young. I hope she can grow up carefree and happy, without getting involved in this.”

Mei Xianglan smiled. “But I think Qi Jun’s daughter must be just like him.”

“Let’s talk about it when the time comes! But now, I just want her to grow up happily!” Li Huairou said with a smile.

Mei Xianglan nodded. Regarding the upbringing of the child, the two sisters had reached an agreement. Since then, Mei Xianglan was busy making money, running around, and finding a way to ship back what was needed in the country.

Li Huairou, on the other hand, had a hometown style. She took care of the child and lived a leisurely life.

When Ximing was four years old, Mei Xianglan and Li Huairou had a discussion and decided to take Ximing back to China to pay respect to her father and elders.

This was the first meeting between Mei Xianglan and Qi Jun since they parted.

In front of Qi Jun’s tomb, Mei Xianglan cried uncontrollably.

Qi Ximing grabbed Li Huairou’s hand and huddled beside Li Huairou in fear. Compared to her mother, who was busy all day, she still preferred to be with her aunt.

Besides, she had never seen her mother so sad before, so she was a little scared.

Li Huairou bent over and hugged Qi Ximing.

The two stood silently beside her. After Mei Xianglan cried enough, her emotions calmed down, and Li Huairou put Qi Ximing down. “Ximing, be good. Go say hello to your father and tell him who you are and how you’re doing.”

Qi Ximing nodded. She slowly walked to the tombstone and said crisply, “Dad, I’m Ximing. I’m four years old this year. I’m fine, how about you? How are you doing?”

Hearing her words, Mei Xianglan started to cry.

Qi Ximing was at a loss for a moment, she cast Li Huairou a blank, scared look. “Auntie!”

Li Huairou came over, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to Mei Xianglan. “Sister, you’re scaring Ximing.”

Mei Xianglan took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. “Ximing, don’t be afraid. Mom is fine, she just misses your dad so much.”

With her aunt’s encouraging eyes, Qi Ximing walked to Mei Xianglan and put her arms around Mei Xianglan’s head. “Don’t be afraid, mom. Ximing is here!”

Mei Xianglan’s tears grew even more turbulent. It would be great if Qi Jun were still there.

On the second day, Mei Xianglan and her party first went back to their hometown to visit Li Deshan’s grave.

After that, they went to Qingxi again.

Unexpectedly, they met Su Zhe.

In fact, when Su Zhe passed by, he recognized Mei Xianglan. “Xianglan!” Su Zhe blurted out.

Neither Mei Xianglan nor Li Huairou recognized that the bald, potbellied, middle-aged man in front of them was Su Zhe.

Mei Xianglan couldn’t believe her eyes, and Li Huairou was unable to say anything. The two girls glanced at each other. It’d only been a few years. How had Su Zhe become like this? Li Huairou was especially surprised—had Su Zhe eaten pig feed? Sure enough, Wang Shengnan had spared no effort in raising and abolishing Su Zhe!

There was no doubt that Su Zhe had been handsome when he was young; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to attract so many women. But now…

Mei Xianglan couldn’t help but say, “You, how did you become like this?”

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Su Zhe’s face. “It’s hard to say. You’re still the same as before and haven’t changed.” Had time forgotten Mei Xianglan? Why was she still so young? No, she seemed prettier than he remembered.

“Is this your daughter?” Su Zhe’s eyes fell on Qi Ximing. There was no need to guess. Just from the appearance, he knew that this was Mei Xianglan’s child, who inexplicably overlapped with a face in his memory.

“Yes.” Mei Xianglan had no intention of saying anything to him.

“That’s good, good,” Su Zhe muttered to himself.

“We still have something to do, and we’ll leave first. Goodbye.” Mei Xianglan nodded slightly, then took her daughter’s hand and left.

Su Zhe kept his eyes on Mei Xianglan until their figures slowly disappeared from sight.

“Do you know who she is? She’s a famous, patriotic entrepreneur, and this time she returned to her hometown to worship her ancestors.” Wang Shengnan had come over at some point. “Do you regret it? Haha, it’s too late to regret it! Who told you those who have eyes but don’t know gold and jade—they mistake pearls for fish’s eyes!”

Facing Wang Shengnan’s cynicism, Su Zhe did not refute her, but he turned around and wanted to run.

In the end, he was caught by those people brought by Wang Shengnan. “Take him back! If he dares to run again, break his leg!”

Then Su Zhe was tied up and brought back. The onlookers around him pointed at him and made irresponsible remarks.

After several years of trials, Su Zhe was no longer the high-spirited man he used to be. Su Zhe had been locked up in the old house for the past few years. Because of the depression in his heart, he got caught up in gambling. If he lost in gambling, he’d sell the household belongings. Mr. Su and Madam Su were so angry. Tang Wenjing couldn’t bear it anymore. She’d left the Su house.

Only Wang Shengnan, for Su Baorui’s sake, did not leave. However, her patience with Su Zhe was almost at its limit. Baorui was getting older, and losing a father was better than having a gambler father. If Su Zhe was dishonest, don’t blame her for being cruel.

Back at the Su house, Su Baorui had just come back from school. Looking at Su Zhe, who was tied up, he showed disgust. “Mom, did he run out again?”

“Well!” Wang Shengnan patted Su Baorui on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mom has already arranged almost everything. In a few days, we’ll leave Qingxi and go to Peiping.”

Su Baorui breathed a sigh of relief. This was great. When he went to Peiping, no one would know that he was Su Zhe’s son. It was so embarrassing!

“What about him? Will he come with us?”

“How is that possible!” Wang Shengnan said, “It’s just you, me, your uncle, Uncle Wang, and Aunt Zhang. This is the Su family’s old house, and there are old residents of the Su family. Leave it to him.”

“That’s good.” Su Baorui breathed a sigh of relief. “Mom, can I change my surname? I don’t want people to know that I’m his son,” Su Baorui said.

“That won’t work. I promised your grandfather. But you forget that your uncle’s surname is also Su. When you arrive in Peiping, no one will know that you’re his son!” Wang Shengnan said with a smile.

Su Baorui also smiled. “My mom’s so thoughtful.”

Su Baorui helped Wang Shengnan in, and from beginning to end, his eyes never fell on Su Zhe. As if, in his world, there had never been such a person!

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This translation is presented by Nocturne Translations.

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