Chapter 440: Yao Yang Enters Harbin Institute of Technology

The glass curtain‑wall forest of Central, Hong Kong, behind me gradually blurred into a patch of cold, hard light.

Li Ping'an sat by the window, watching the scenery outside rush by—first the scattered villages and farms of the New Territories, then the winding Shenzhen River, and after that, new factories, construction sites dense with scaffolding, and a wide road with relatively few vehicles, all flooding his view.

This is Shenzhen, Pingshan.

Unlike Hong Kong's crowded streets steeped in a century of prosperity and colonial residue, the air here is filled with dust, welding sparks, engine oil, and a nearly raw, vigorous vitality.

The gray‑white complex of Wanshang Industrial Park, under the afternoon sun, looks especially orderly, like a freshly dropped chess piece still bearing a sharp edge, set into this boiling land.

The bus pulls into the station.

Li Ping'an lifted his simple luggage and stepped down from the platform, without notifying anyone to pick him up. He likes this unannounced arrival, which lets him see the most authentic state.

Beside the industrial park gate, the sign "Shenzhen Wanshang Industrial Park" glints with metallic sheen in the sunlight.

A young man in a brand‑new security uniform at the entrance stood upright; he froze when he saw Li Ping'an, then recognized him and quickly saluted, "President Li!"

Li Ping'an nodded and walked inside.

The park's roads were clean and straight, flanked by orderly factories, and the rhythmic hum of machine tools could be faintly heard inside.

A few buildings bearing "Research Institute" and "Experimental Center" signs were even quieter. In the distance, on a newly cleared lot, a pile‑driving machine emitted a deep thud—it was the planned automobile parts prototype workshop.

He first went to the Administrative Building.

The door to the Vice President's Office was ajar, and a young yet steady voice could be heard inside, apparently discussing customs clearance for a batch of imported CNC systems over the Telephone.

Li Ping'an paused at the doorway, seeing his son Li Yaozong seated behind a spacious desk, his shirt sleeves rolled to the forearm, brows slightly furrowed, speaking clearly into the microphone. Papers piled on the desk were orderly, and a nearby whiteboard was filled with schedules.

But after more than half a year, the once scholarly youth now bore a confident, self‑reliant demeanor and a faint, hard‑to‑notice pallor.

Li Ping'an did not disturb him and walked away quietly.

Turning a corner, he reached the area marked "Automobile Project Group." The atmosphere here was livelier; in the open‑plan office, several young people gathered around a large table covered with drawings, debating terms like "suspension," "gear ratio," and "hot forming."

A tall, broad‑shouldered, sun‑tanned figure stood with his back to the entrance, pressing an oil‑stained fingertip onto a spot on the drawing, his voice booming, "Here! Stress concentration! At this design, after a few ten‑thousand kilometers it'll definitely fail! Must change!"

It was He Xiao, Sha Zhu's eldest son; the same drive and inquisitive spirit that his father showed in the kitchen now poured entirely into the automobile chassis.

"Brother Xiao, changing it like that will raise the cost…" a bespectacled youngster said weakly.

"Cost is nothing!" He Xiao glared, "Safety and reliability come first! As President Li always says, 'If the foundation is shaky, the earth will tremble.' If this car is for us to drive later, would you dare use substandard parts?"

Li Ping'an's mouth twitched upward. Those words were his, but he hadn't expected He Xiao to quote them here.

He noticed a tiny photo on He Xiao's workstation partition—a beaming young woman against what looked like a park backdrop. The corners were slightly curled, clearly often thumbed over.

Finally, he paced to the doorway of the Legal Affairs Office.

It was much quieter here. The door was open, and Chen Anbang—Chen Jianghe's eldest son—was bent over the desk, writing rapidly, his profile serious.

He was slightly more delicate than Li Yaozong, but his gaze was focused and clear, thin‑framed glasses perched on his nose—exactly the image people have of a young lawyer.

On the desk, besides legal codes and case files, sat a small pot of lush green ivy.

Li Ping'an's eyes swept the surface, and beneath an open copy of the Foreign Economic Contract Law lay a corner of colored stationery, its delicate handwriting faintly visible.

His heart stirred slightly.

The three youngsters were all performing well at work. Yet it seemed… each harbored some personal thoughts beyond the job?

That evening, Li Ping'an invited the three young men to a modest guesthouse restaurant within the industrial park for a meal.

The dishes, specially stir‑fried by the canteen chef, weren't refined but were generous and full of wok flavor.

Li Yaozong, He Xiao, and Chen Anbang were initially a bit restrained; after all, Li Ping'an had built his prestige over years, being both the elder who'd watched them grow up and the unequivocal leader in their careers.

After a few mouthfuls of hot rice, the atmosphere relaxed a bit.

"Yaozong, is the overall operation of the park running smoothly?" Li Ping'an asked casually.

"The basic framework is up, Dad."

Li Yaozong set down his chopsticks and reported, "Capacity utilization has reached seventy percent; the main delay was fine‑tuning the automated production lines we bought from Japan. Next month, the engineer team from Komatsu Precision Machinery will arrive, and our own CNC machine‑tool development can speed up."

"Hmm. Balance work and rest; I see blood vessels in your eyes," Li Ping'an said.

Li Yaozong smiled faintly and said nothing more.

"He Xiao, what's the biggest hurdle in the automobile project?"

"Uncle Li!" He Xiao perked up, "Matching the chassis with the powertrain! Our self‑designed gearbox and the purchased engine just don't get along, lacking smoothness. Also, the steel strength meets standards, but the lightweighting isn't good enough…"

He spoke at length, his eyes brightening when he discussed technical issues. Li Ping'an listened patiently, nodding occasionally.

"An Bang, how's it there? The legal affairs are complex, involving many foreign contracts; is the pressure high?"

Chen Anbang pushed his glasses up, his voice steady, "There is pressure, but it's manageable. The main concerns are intellectual property and labor contracts, which require extra care. Lately I've been reviewing terms for collaborations with several German tech firms."

"Good." Li Ping'an nodded, then suddenly shifted tone, speaking as casually as a chat, "Work is important, but personal matters matter too. You're not young anymore; here… have you met any suitable girls?"

"Pfft—!"

He Xiao, who was sipping soup, nearly choked, his face instantly flushing red.

Li Yaozong's chopsticks, mid‑air with a piece of vegetable, froze.

Chen Anbang subconsciously adjusted his glasses, the area behind his ears turning slightly pink.

A brief, subtle silence fell over the table.

Li Ping'an calmly picked up a chopstick of greens, as if he had just asked, "How's the weather today?"

"Dad…"

Li Yaozong spoke first, his tone a mix of helplessness and embarrassment, "I… met someone. She's the administrative supervisor of the Hong Kong‑invested electronics factory next door, a native of Guangdong, named A Zhen. I've worked with her a few times… she's capable and sensible."

His words were modest, but the glint in his eyes didn't escape Li Ping'an's gaze.

"Good news," Li Ping'an smiled, "When will you bring her to me?"

"Not… not at that stage yet." Li Yaozong was unusually embarrassed.

"Uncle Li! I… I also have one!" He Xiao couldn't hold back, scratching the back of his head, his dark face still flushed, "She's from the city's Workers' Cultural Palace Art Troupe—she dances! Her name is Xiao Ling! And… she's really pretty!" He described it bluntly and passionately, from how they met at a social gathering to later watching two movies together, spilling the beans like beans from a bamboo tube, and finally added, "Photos! I have photos!" as he reached for his pocket.

Chen Anbang cleared his throat lightly and said softly, "I… I am a teaching assistant in the Shenzhen University Law Department; we met through an academic symposium… her name is Wen Jing."

His words were the most concise, but his fingers unconsciously twirled a corner of the tablecloth, betraying his inner turbulence.

Li Ping'an looked at the three youths before him; usually they either tested their mettle in the business sea or tackled challenges in technology, but now they all showed the youthful naivety and frankness that comes with love at this age.

He felt a bit emotional, also a bit amused. Does this count as the "Peng City Matchmaker" being especially busy, tying three strings at once?

"All are fine."

He nodded, his tone softened, "Treat each other seriously, with sincerity. Our family doesn't care about lineage; the key is character, heart, and whether you can support each other and progress together. You handle it yourselves."

He paused, making a small joke: "But if we have to host three weddings at the same time, the red packets I have to give as the elder will be threefold—quite a pressure."

The atmosphere instantly relaxed; the three young men laughed, and the lingering formality vanished completely.

Once the family topic opened, it wouldn't stop.

Li Yaozong recalled something and said, "Dad, Nuanqing and An Ning, are they graduating this summer?"

"Yes." Li Ping'an smiled, "Both girls got internships at Xiehe Hospital. The admission letters arrived a few days ago; your mother is overjoyed, saying the Li family is finally producing doctors and can work with her." His tone was full of satisfaction.

"Xiehe! That's impressive!" He Xiao raised his thumb. Chen Anbang also showed an admiring smile.

"And Yao Yang," Li Yaozong mentioned his younger brother, "the gaokao results should be out soon, right?"

"Just these days," Li Ping'an replied. Little son Li Yaoyang is a bit rebellious but smart; it's just unknown how he'll perform under pressure.

As they spoke, the internal Telephone at the restaurant corner rang. The waiter answered, listened a couple of sentences, then hurried to Li Ping'an: "Mr. Li, it's a long‑distance call from home in Beijing!"

Li Ping'an stood up to answer: "Hello, Xueqing?"

On the other end, his wife Lin Xueqing's voice was gentle yet excited: "Ping'an! Yaoyang's admission letter arrived!"

"Oh? Which school?"

"Harbin Institute of Technology! Ha—er—bin—Engineering—University!"

Lin Xueqing paused between each syllable, her joy spilling through the microphone, "First choice! Mechanical Engineering major!"

Li Ping'an held the Telephone, feeling a surge of warmth from his heart. Harbin Institute of Technology, the cradle of the Republic's engineers! Good kid, really impressive!

"Good! Good! Good!" He said three "good"s in a row, "Tell him, dad is proud of him!"

"And also," Lin Xueqing's voice grew even merrier, "Nuanqing and An Ning have already reported to Xiehe, called back saying they're tired but especially fulfilled. Their teachers are strict but also caring."

"The children are all on the right track," Li Ping'an sighed.

After a brief silence, Lin Xueqing's voice softened: "Ping'an, when will you return to Beijing? The kids are grown, have flown away… the house feels empty all of a sudden."

Li Ping'an's thoughts fluttered; a long‑nurtured idea rose in his mind.

A few days later, after wrapping up affairs in Shenzhen, Li Ping'an flew back to Beijing.

In the Houhai Siheyuan, autumn deepened. Persimmon trees bore a mix of green and yellow fruit, and pomegranates grinned wide.

Lin Xueqing, apron tied, was busy in the kitchen, saying she would make his favorite braised noodles.

The scent of cooking filled the air, diluting the slight chill left by the children's departure.

After the meal, the couple sat under the grape trellis in the courtyard drinking tea.

"Xueqing," Li Ping'an said carefully, "there's something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it?" Lin Xueqing poured him more tea.

"You see, Nuanqing and An Ning have settled at Xiehe, Yaoyang is heading to Harbin. Yaozong and the others are in Shenzhen, just starting their careers, and can't come back anytime soon."

Li Ping'an slowly said, "You've spent half your life in Beijing, circling home and the hospital, always busy, never really rested, never really gone out to see anything."

Lin Xueqing listened quietly, her fingers tracing the warm tea cup.

"Now we aren't short of money, the children are all doing well, we don't have to watch over them constantly."

Li Ping'an looked at her, his gaze gentle, "I'm thinking… would you consider retiring early from Xiehe?"

Lin Xueqing was slightly startled.

"Early retirement?"

"Yes." Li Ping'an nodded, "Handle the paperwork, and we can be completely relaxed. Afterwards, time belongs to us. You often say you want to visit Su Hang, see Guilin's scenery, and taste authentic Guangdong morning tea. I'll go with you. We'll take it slow, see everything we never had time or chance for before, and make up for it."

He paused, his voice even softer: "Beijing winters are dry and cold, not great for your lungs. The South's climate is humid and warm, suitable for recuperation. We could live permanently in Shenzhen or Hong Kong, which is also closer to Yaozong and the others. Occasionally, if we miss old neighbors and friends, we can return to Beijing for a while. What do you think?"

The evening breeze brushed the grape leaves, rustling.

Lin Xueqing remained silent for a long time, just watching the familiar plants and trees in the courtyard. This place holds most of her memories, the children's laughter and cries, countless mornings and nights waiting for her husband to return and sending him off.

Early retirement, leaving a hospital where she'd worked for decades, leaving Beijing where she'd lived most of her life?

Inside, a hollow emptiness rose, as if she had to let go of part of herself.

Yet on the other side, the leisurely time her husband painted—a shared carefree journey, warm southern winters, being closer to the children—felt like a light watercolor spreading gently on her heart lake, with an unfamiliar allure.

She's not a hedonist, but this whole life has been too tense.

In her youth she followed her husband anxiously, in middle age she worried and labored for her children, and at the hospital she was meticulous, never daring a moment of slack.

"I…" she began, voice soft, "If I retire, can I really adapt? Will I… get bored?"

Li Ping'an smiled, grasped her hand, "How could you be bored? The South also has hospitals; you could volunteer, or simply help at our own industrial park medical office, no pressure, just interest. When we feel like moving, we travel. When we're tired, we sunbathe in our courtyard, read books. We could even find a teacher to learn painting, or the guqin you've always wanted to learn."

The picture he painted became increasingly specific and vivid.

Lin Xueqing's heart gradually steadied. Indeed, life doesn't have only one mode.

The first half was devoted to family and career; the second half might truly be a different way of living, for herself and for the one who shares her life.

"Then… the hospital?" she still felt some professional reluctance.

"With your experience and contributions, an honorable retirement is no problem. If you miss old colleagues, you can always go back to visit."

Li Ping'an said, "The phoenix of Xiehe, wherever it flies, carries Xiehe's spirit. Change the place, it can still shine, just in a different way."

"Smooth talker." Lin Xueqing scolded him with a glance, but the fine lines at the corners of her eyes and brows blossomed into genuine relaxed laughter, "Then… I'll think about it. I also need to talk to Nuanqing and Yaoyang."

"The children will definitely support it," Li Ping'an affirmed.

A few days later, a family gathering.

Li Nuanqing and Li An Ning returned from the hospital on leave, dressed casually, still carrying the scent of disinfectant and a capable aura.

Li Yaoyang held the Harbin Institute of Technology admission letter, excitedly mimicking the icy city. Li Yaozong, He Xiao, and Chen Anbang also called from Shenzhen, gathering around the speaker.

When Lin Xueqing somewhat embarrassedly mentioned the idea of early retirement and going south to recuperate, there was a brief silence on the line, then a burst of enthusiastic agreement.

"Mom! It should have happened earlier!" Li Nuanqing was the first to jump up, "You've worked hard all your life; it's time to enjoy some happiness!"

"Exactly! Auntie, the south is warm and good for the body!" Li Anning also echoed.

"Mom, come to Shenzhen! I'll take care of the house here for you!" Li Yaozong hurriedly said over the phone.

"Auntie! Shenzhen is great! When you arrive, I'll take you to eat something delicious!" He Xiao's booming voice came through.

"Aunt Lin, if there's anything that needs to be handled legally, I'll take care of it," Chen Anbang said calmly, adding.

Even Li Yaoyang shouted, "Mom, you go south first to scout a path for me; I'll go over there when I'm on vacation!"

Listening to the children's overlapping, sincere support and plans, Lin Xueqing's lingering hesitation finally vanished, her heart filled completely with warmth.

Li Ping'an watched the scene, lifted his teacup, and took a slow sip.

Family is just like that. One generation watches the next grow and take off, then steps back half a step at the right time, changes roles, and seeks new scenery of its own.

Li Ping'an's business empire is expanding, and his family, too, is naturally unfolding within the currents of the times, blossoming and bearing fruit.

In Peng City, the Yue Lao pulled the strings; Harbin Institute of Technology welcomed new seekers; the phoenix of Xiehe prepared to fly south, building a warm new nest.

These ordinary yet precious family affairs, intertwined with the great era outside the window undergoing rapid transformation, formed the softest and most solid foundation on Li Ping'an's life board.

The night breeze was cool, carrying a faint scent of osmanthus.

It was another season of harvest.