Chapter 1892: The Journey

During the Spring Festival of that year, Li Mengqi reaped a great harvest; her temperament became far more mature and steady than before. At the same time, she had also found a man worthy of entrusting her whole life to — Shen Yi.

She had never imagined that her fate would be rewritten in such a way! Before her father died, he had once asked Shen Yi to help take good care of her. Now she had found her own happiness, and that happiness had come so simply.

Li Mengqi and Shen Yi went through many twists and turns together. They first held their wedding abroad, and then went to Paris for their engagement ceremony. The two never had children; Shen Yi also liked children very much, but for various reasons he did not have a child with Li Mengqi.

Later, trouble arose in Shen Yi's work and he was dispatched to Europe on a mission. He stayed in Europe for a very long time, and it was not until March 1984 that he returned to Huaxia.

At this time, Li Mengqi was over eight months pregnant.

She knew that even if Shen Yi gave her an ordinary, uneventful life, she would gladly accept it. Because by their side they had the support of parents, relatives, and friends, that was enough.

But what she had not expected was that her husband had actually suffered a plane crash during his mission, with not a single bone recovered. She was grief-stricken to the point of collapse.

After the grief, she began to raise the child alone, pouring all her heart and energy into the child.

What Li Mengqi had not expected was that, as the child gradually grew up, she discovered that the man had given the child a deep paternal love. It was a kind of care that transcended the bond between father and son, enviable to all.

The child slowly grew up, and Li Mengqi felt she should find a partner for herself while bringing the child along; otherwise she feared that later, when all her energy and time were spent on the child, she would neglect everyone else.

When she had just given birth to her daughter, her mother and younger brother had already suggested she remarry. In their eyes, the brother and sister were both boys — wait, both already married and settled — so they only hoped their elder sister would leave singlehood as soon as possible.

But Li Mengqi could not bear to abandon her own family, so she firmly refused. This disappointed her parents greatly. One day, they finally could no longer hold back and tried to persuade her.

"Mengqi, our family's conditions are fairly well-off; why must you hang yourself from a single tree? Your younger brother has already taken a wife and had children, and your parents are getting old too. It's time you considered your own lifelong matter. You can't stay alone till old age, can you!" Li Mengqi's second aunt urged with painstaking words.

"Right, our family environment is well-off; we can help you find an outstanding young man of matching social standing, and if you follow him you'll never have to worry about food and clothing!" Li Mengqi's third uncle sighed as he spoke.

"Mengqi, here's what I think — since you're not willing to marry for now, just send the child to our family to raise. You two young people keep struggling out there, and strive for the day you can make a comeback." Li Mengqi's grandmother spoke with earnest, weighty words.

"No, the child still needs her mother!" Li Mengqi shook her head and said.

"Oh dear, then you can't stay a widow till old age, can you? You're already twenty-four this year; by the rules you ought to consider your own lifelong matter! Don't wait until your child is twenty and you can't even lift a child!" Li Mengqi's grandmother said anxiously.

"Please don't bother yourselves with my affairs. I know you all mean well for me." Li Mengqi sighed as she spoke.

"Mengqi, our family doesn't go in for arranged marriages! If you once marry into the Jiaruhao Sect, that means you'll never shake off the shackles of family interests; for the rest of your life you'll have to bear the two words 'marriage alliance.' Can you really be content with that?" Li Mengqi's grandmother retorted.

"No matter what, I'm still young; I have my own ideals and pursuits. I will rely on my own two hands to create my own career and wealth, and use them to serve my country!" Li Mengqi said with iron resolve.

"Sigh, why must you be so stubborn?" Li Mengqi's second aunt let out a sigh and stood up, preparing to leave.

"Wait, let's talk." Li Mengqi suddenly calmed down; she wanted to have a proper talk with her relatives. After all, they were her only family.

"Fine, talk about what?" Li Mengqi's second aunt turned her head and asked in confusion.

"Let's talk about the child's future. I think the reason you've been urging me to marry is mainly for the child, isn't it?" Li Mengqi said.

"Yes. You're not young anymore; dragging it out any longer isn't appropriate. Besides, you don't have any job right now, and spending all day with the child is tiring too. While the child is still small, hurry up and settle the marriage." Li Mengqi's mother said in a solemn voice.

"I don't plan to marry." Li Mengqi said solemnly.

"What? You don't want to marry?" Li Mengqi's second uncle widened his eyes in astonishment.

"Mm." Li Mengqi gave a soft assent, her expression extremely solemn.

"How can you be like this? A woman has to marry sooner or later! Look at the girls in our village — which of them doesn't marry and have children? If you delay any longer, it may be even harder to find a suitable match in the future."

"I know you all mean well for me, but I have my own ideas. I want to start a business and realize my ideals. That way, I can not only have my own career, but also my own family." Li Mengqi said slowly.

"Start a business? Hmph, easy to say, hard to do! You're a young woman with no stable job — how will you live in the future?" Li Mengqi's third uncle retorted.

"Since I have chosen this path, I will take responsibility for my choice to the end. I'm not afraid of failure; I believe that as long as I work hard, I will ultimately succeed." Li Mengqi said firmly.

"But you still have a child to take care of. You can't always have the child running around with you, can you? If you had a stable family, the child could have a better environment to grow up in too." Li Mengqi's mother urged.

"I know, but I don't want to give up my dreams for the child's sake. I believe that as long as I succeed, I can not only give the child a better life, but also contribute to society." Li Mengqi said in a firm tone.

"Sigh, you..." Li Mengqi's grandmother sighed and said helplessly, "Since you've already decided, we can't say much more. However, we will always support you."

"Thank you for your understanding and support. I will work hard to realize my dreams." Li Mengqi said gratefully.

After this conversation, Li Mengqi began to focus even more on her career. Though the road was bumpy, she always firmly believed that as long as she worked hard, she would ultimately succeed. And her relatives gradually came to accept her decision and began to support her career. Li Mengqi's relatives began to actively help her take care of the child, so that she could focus more on her career. Her younger brother and sister-in-law also often came to visit her and the child, bringing her much joy and warmth.

As time went on, Li Mengqi's career gradually took shape. She founded her own company and began to run import-export trade; business gradually flourished. Though sometimes she met setbacks and difficulties, she always held fast to her beliefs, constantly striving and fighting.

In the process, Li Mengqi discovered that there was always a man quietly supporting her by her side — her friend Wang Ming. Wang Ming was a mature, steady, career-minded man; he had been helping Li Mengqi handle company affairs, and offered encouragement and support whenever she ran into difficulties.

Li Mengqi's feelings for Wang Ming gradually warmed; she found herself falling in love with this man. Wang Ming also had deep feelings for Li Mengqi, but he knew she had always poured all her energy and heart into her career and child, and he did not want his feelings to affect her career.

On a business trip, Li Mengqi and Wang Ming went to Europe together. During the journey, they took care of and supported each other, and came to understand one another more deeply. In each other's hearts, they both realized that the other was the person they had been searching for all along.

After returning to the country, Li Mengqi and Wang Ming got together. They ran the company together, took care of the child together, and enjoyed the beauty of life together. Though sometimes they still met difficulties and setbacks, they always supported each other as they moved forward.

Li Mengqi had finally realized her dream; she not only had her own career and family, but also a man who loved her deeply. She was grateful to her relatives and friends for their constant support and help, and cherished everything she now had even more.

"Mengqi, you've finally found the happiness that belongs to you." her mother said with relief.

"Yes, Mom. Thank you for your understanding and support; it was you who let me realize my dreams." Li Mengqi said gratefully.