Chapter 115

 

At 4 PM Beijing time, the flight arrived at Shuangliu Airport.

This was Ming Xi’s first time in Chengdu.

Over the years, she had been to many places, but Chengdu was the one city she had never visited. After storing her luggage at the airport, she lined up to get a taxi. Once the car pulled onto the road, the driver rolled down his window for some air. The car sped along, and the damp, sticky street breeze rushed into the cabin.

It had just rained in Chengdu. As the tires rolled over the wet road, they splashed up fine sprays of water.

“Is this your first time in Chengdu?” the driver asked her in a thick Sichuan accent, his tone relaxed.

Sitting in the back seat, Ming Xi responded with a vague sound, something like “hmm.”

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, smiled warmly, and didn’t continue the conversation. He simply drove toward the address she had given.

A thin layer of mist had formed on the car window. Ming Xi looked out at the passing traffic—the scene both blurred and vivid at once. Occasionally, a streetlamp would glow, its light diffusing into soft halos.

The place wasn’t far from the airport, only about a ten-minute drive. This area was filled with cheap lodgings converted from local houses, convenient for travelers needing a short overnight stay.

The small convenience store called “Yimei” was located within this cluster of locally run guesthouses. The ground floor had been turned into a shop—a small convenience store—while the upper floors had extra rooms converted into guest accommodations.

Almost all the buildings here were like this. The only difference was what occupied the ground floor—some had convenience stores, some were small eateries, and others simply set up a few mahjong tables, turning into game rooms. Every table was full, with even more people standing around the edges watching.

This area was located in the outskirts, close to the airport but far from the city center. Compared to the chain hotels near the airport, both accommodation and food here were relatively cheap. Many places had signs hanging out front reading, “30 per night, 50 including three meals.”

Ming Xi had stored her luggage at the airport and carried only a tote bag with her. There were quite a few travelers wandering around this area, mostly young people.

Ming Xi herself looked young too, but her attire was more neat and formal, and her expression somewhat serious, making her somewhat out of place with her surroundings.

Several shop owners she passed had loud voices, warmly calling out to passing travelers to stay at their places. Some were especially quick to act—while a few young travelers were still hesitating, the owners had already stepped forward to help carry their luggage.

Having been a boss herself for several years, Ming Xi naturally carried an air that made her hard to take advantage of. Perhaps she also didn’t look like the kind of guest who would stay in such lodgings. Along the way, few owners tried to solicit her; most simply sized her up.

At the same time, Ming Xi carefully observed every shop she passed.

Busy and bustling—countless faces, countless lives.

Most of the places here were family-run, with small businesses typically managed by couples working together.

After walking for quite a while, Ming Xi finally arrived across from the “Yimei” convenience store. Directly opposite it was a small guesthouse, with a sign out front indicating that rooms were still available.

Without overthinking it, she stepped inside.

The owner, who had been passing time playing chess alone, suddenly looked up, his face lighting up as he asked with a broad smile, “Miss, looking for a room?”

The room was on the third floor. The conditions were average, but it was fairly clean.

The window faced directly across the street, offering a clear view of the building opposite.

Ming Xi stood by the window for quite a while. Finally, on the balcony of the building across, a figure appeared, taking down freshly dried sheets. Through the hanging white linens, the woman’s figure was faintly visible—one could only make out that she moved briskly, was slender, not very tall, about 1.6 meters.

Her hair was tied up, and though her facial features were indistinct, her face seemed delicate. Even while busy with chores, she gave off a sense of steadiness and quiet happiness.

With the window half open, Ming Xi simply stood there in silence. After a long while, when the woman finished collecting the sheets, Ming Xi finally saw her clearly.

Ming Xi lowered her head, concealing the emotions in her eyes. After some time, she straightened her posture and let out a long breath. A faint ache spread through her chest, as if something long suppressed had been forcefully squeezed out.

Ming Xi didn’t plan to stay overnight. After a short rest, she picked up her bag and went downstairs.

The first floor of the guesthouse was a tea shop.

“Not staying?” the owner asked, surprised and a little apologetic.

“I changed my flight at the last minute, so I won’t be staying. I’ll sit for a while—you don’t need to refund me,” Ming Xi explained politely.

The guesthouse owner was a kind and honest-looking middle-aged man who insisted on refunding her half the money.

Ming Xi had no choice but to accept it. With some time left, she sat down at a tea table by the window and ordered a pot of coarse tea. After a few sips, she turned her head, put on an easygoing smile, and said to the owner, “Boss, do you have a moment? I’d like to chat.”

“Sure!” The owner seemed pleasantly surprised and walked over in a carefree manner. From the moment she walked in, this woman had seemed different from ordinary guests. Setting aside whether she was beautiful or not, just her calm and composed demeanor made it clear she was no ordinary person.

Ming Xi struck up a conversation mainly to ask about the owner of the small convenience store across the street. Once she opened the topic, the straightforward owner began telling her everything he knew—they had been neighbors for years and were quite familiar with each other’s situations.

“You mean Boss Xu? She’s incredibly hardworking and capable. Her husband has a bad leg and can’t do heavy work, so she manages everything inside and outside the house.

“She only has one daughter, a late-in-life child, I suppose.

“I didn’t know much before, but I heard their life used to be very hard. They’re not originally from around here. Things are better now, mainly because the child is promising. Their daughter studies exceptionally well—she’s been first in her entire school several times…”

Ming Xi slowly took a sip of tea. After a long pause, she swallowed and responded, “First in the whole school… that’s not easy.”

“Exactly, not easy at all! And the girl doesn’t even attend school nearby—she studies over in Wuhou. The schools around here aren’t that great, but Boss Xu dotes on her daughter. She spent quite a bit on transfer fees to send her to a better school there. And the girl really lives up to it—first place in every exam.”

“Really?” Ming Xi pursed her lips.

The owner nodded firmly, his tone as steady as ever. “People like us locals running small businesses—our lives are more or less the same. Our kids will probably follow the same path. But Boss Xu’s daughter? She’s definitely going places.”

Ming Xi gave a slight nod, but said nothing more.

“Miss, you and Boss Xu… know each other?” the owner stared at her and asked.

Ming Xi snapped back to her senses. After a moment’s thought, she made up a reason. “I’m in business. I’m looking to sponsor a few students. The school recommended this family, so I came to check on their situation.”

The owner immediately believed her: “Then you’re too late. Boss Xu’s daughter has already been sponsored—by a big company from Haigang.”

Haigang?

Yes, Haigang!

“I remember now! Shuangyang Electronics!” the shop owner slammed his hand on the table. “You know Shuangyang Electronic, right? My TV is that brand. It’s Shuangyang Electronic that’s sponsoring Boss Xu’s daughter.”

Shuangyang Electronic? Ming Xi felt a jolt in her heart. On second thought, it all made sense. Back then, Gu Shuangyang’s investigation into her had been so thorough—it was impossible she hadn’t uncovered that woman’s situation. The background report hadn’t included a specific address, only her hometown—not because it couldn’t be found, but because Gu Shuangyang had deliberately left some room.

As for the sponsorship, perhaps Liang Jiancheng also knew the truth behind it.

Ming Xi sat quietly, lifting her wrist to check the time. There were still two hours before her flight.

In two hours, she would fly to Hong Kong.

Coincidentally, her flight had a 24-hour layover in Hong Kong before flying to New York. Although the time was a bit tight, she could make it in time to be with Liang Jiancheng and witness his moment of glory.

Before leaving, Ming Xi hesitated for a few seconds, then decided to step into the small convenience store to buy something for the journey.

She walked up two steps, parted the plastic strip curtain, and as soon as she stepped inside, she was greeted by the aroma of food—it turned out the family was about to have dinner.

Behind the cashier’s counter were two tables. One square table served as a dining table, while on another, flatter table, a well-behaved-looking girl was bent over doing her homework. Then, from the inner room, a brisk, capable woman walked out—it was the same woman who had been collecting sheets on the balcony. Smiling, she walked up behind her daughter, bent down, and said gently, “Meimei, time to eat.”

Most of the shop owners here had loud voices, but when this woman spoke to her child, her voice was soft and tender. Even as an outsider, Ming Xi could feel the affection and pride in her tone.

In the self-service convenience store, Ming Xi stood by the innermost shelf, her calm gaze resting on the dazzling array of snacks and biscuits. For a moment, she didn’t know what to pick. She raised her hand, then lowered it again. In the end, she casually took two packs of biscuits and walked step by step to the cashier.

The woman glanced at them and quickly totaled the price. “Nine yuan.”

Ming Xi didn’t pay, nor did she leave. Her voice came out hoarse. “I… want to get something else.”

She said it, yet her feet wouldn’t move.

The glass of the counter was crystal clear, with neatly arranged cigarettes of various brands displayed underneath. In a place like this, the small store still carried a sense of orderly, careful management inside and out.

Meanwhile, the family was about to have dinner. The girl, who had just finished her homework, had a round little head and bright, shining eyes. She looked up, saw the beautiful customer standing still, and naturally broke into a radiant smile. “Big sister, what would you like to buy? Just tell me.”

That single “big sister” made Ming Xi lower her head instinctively. At that moment, she wanted to stand there at the counter a little longer, not because she was reluctant to leave, but because she was genuinely curious—curious about how this woman doted on her daughter, curious about the taste of her cooking, curious about the way the mother and daughter got along…

“I want to buy cigarettes, let me look around first,” Ming Xi said. Buying cigarettes became her only excuse to stay a little longer. Beneath the glass counter, brands like Kuanzhai, Yufurong, Liqun, and Zhonghua were neatly lined up.

Ming Xi’s gaze passed over the price tags again and again, yet her vision slowly blurred. At that moment, the girl began eating. She picked up a piece of braised ribs, took a bite, and said with full satisfaction, “These ribs are so delicious today! They’d be even better with some chili.”

“You’ve already got pimples and still want spicy food—” the woman reached out, gently placing her hand on her daughter’s forehead, brushing aside her bangs and carefully examining the small red pimples there. Then she looked up and gave Ming Xi a polite, courteous smile—no different from any other shop owner.

And yet, there was something different. A faint, familiar sense—like something half-remembered.

That kind of natural familiarity was something only Ming Xi could feel.

Ming Xi blinked slightly, pointed to a pack of cigarettes under the glass, and said calmly, “Give me a pack of these.”

The woman took out the cigarettes for her, paused briefly, and handed them over.

“How much?”

“Twenty-seven.”

Ming Xi took out her wallet, pulled out a hundred-yuan bill, and handed it over. Throughout the entire process, her eyes never met the woman’s.

After buying the cigarettes, Ming Xi walked out of the store. Standing at the entrance, she lit a cigarette for the first time in her life. The harsh smoke rushed into her nose, stinging her eyes until tears were forced out.

She had long grown used to being strong. The warmth of familial love was something she had never truly known and remained unfamiliar with. At most, two tears fell—no more.

After finishing the cigarette, Ming Xi strode forward without looking back.

It was good. Truly good. This arrangement of fate, this twist of kinship, had left her with no regrets. It was enough for her to know that this woman treated her current child well.

She had seen genuine maternal love exist in this world, in someone related to her by blood. That alone gave her a sense of partial completeness.

As for the other half—she no longer needed that kind of love.

From beginning to end, this meeting without any true intersection did not make her feel awkward, nor did it leave her heart aching.

This kind of fate was also good…

As Ming Xi prepared to fly to Hong Kong at the airport, Liang Jiancheng called.

He had finished a crucial business meeting and had arranged a celebration at a top hotel in Hong Kong the following evening. However, Liang Jiancheng decided not to attend the celebration and planned to fly directly to Chengdu to find her instead.

Holding her phone, Ming Xi watched planes take off into the sky one after another. The energy that had been drained by emotional turmoil was slowly returning. Leaning back against a lounge chair as she answered his call, her voice relaxed and gentle, she said, “Liang Jiancheng, you don’t need to come. Today is very important for you—I’ll come to you.”

Liang Jiancheng smiled upon hearing this. After a brief pause, his tone carried a hint of concern. “Miss Ming, are you really alright today?”

“I’m very well. Mrs. Liang is in excellent condition right now,” Ming Xi replied with a smile, deliberately correcting how he addressed her.

His laughter grew deeper and warmer. “Alright. I’ll be waiting for Mrs. Liang to fly over.”

…

Ming Xi stayed in Hong Kong for 24 hours. During those 24 hours, she witnessed the senior executives of Xinghai ring the bell for the company’s listing, and she also attended the celebration banquet by Liang Jiancheng’s side, in the role of Mrs. Liang.

Afterwards, she departed for New York.

What had originally been planned as a one-month trip was cut short to just one week. This was the first time it wasn’t because negotiations had gone smoothly and the business goals had been completed ahead of schedule. On the contrary, the talks had gone extremely poorly, and staying longer would have been pointless.

Of course, that was only part of the reason for her early return. The other half was that on May 12, a devastating magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Wenchuan, China.

On that day, Ming Xi and Xinyu were having a simple meal at a restaurant in Times Square when she received a call from Liang Jiancheng. In an unusually heavy tone, he told her, “Ming Xi, do you remember Wenchuan? There’s been an earthquake there. It’s very serious.”

Liang Jiancheng had seen all kinds of storms—he rarely described anything as “serious.”

The next day, Ming Xi returned to Haigang.

If business was still difficult despite great effort, it was not a personal problem, but rather a problem with the overall market environment.

Since February this year, issues like a sharp drop in orders, cancellations of major contracts, and inventory backlogs had come one after another…

In times of hardship, support came from all sides—and among friends, people look out for each other. Dezi introduced her to a business owner, saying that if she was willing, the three containers of goods that had been canceled by her American client could be resold at cost price, allowing her to recover at least part of the losses.

“I’ll think about it.”

A week later, the three million US dollars worth of outdoor goods, originally meant to be shipped to the US by container ferry, was neither shipped as planned nor sold at cost to mitigate losses. Instead, it was all sent to the earthquake-stricken area.

“Money spent can always be earned again.” Sitting in her office signing documents, Miss Ming silently repeated this to herself. If cash flow became tight later, she still had one of the three plots of land she had purchased back then—mortgaging it to the bank would provide considerable liquidity.

This was a time when the whole nation stood united, donating money and supplies. As someone who had benefited from the opportunities of this era, and with Mingzhou Foreign Trade receiving government support, even facing current operational pressures, she absolutely could not shrink back at a time like this.

On May 18th, CCTV held a large-scale disaster relief gala, featuring performances by numerous stars.

This month, Ming Xi was certainly not the only boss to lend a helping hand. Xinghai Technology, Shuangyang Group, and the factories of Dezi and Han Junjun all contributed their share.

Caini and her parents also donated 60,000 yuan in their personal names.

Looking back to 2000, she, Dezi, Junjun, and Caini were all penniless; only Dezi and Han Junjun’s careers were just beginning to take off. That night, after a gathering, they had faced the river breeze along Minghuai River in Haigang and sang “Tomorrow Will Be Better” together. In 2008’s disaster relief gala, that same song—carrying the hopes and blessings of the entire nation—was performed by numerous stars.

Before the donation efforts began, Haigang Foreign Trade Association organized a fundraising event.

Because Mingzhou had contributed the largest amount in both supplies and funds, Ming Xi was invited to give a speech on stage—

“Since China joined the WTO, I believe everyone here has experienced five brilliant years. In these five years, Mingzhou has grown from nothing into something, from small to large. Through Mingzhou’s development, I have witnessed China’s rising strength, and I have also seen the limitless possibilities the world holds. I firmly believe that difficulties will eventually pass. There is no nation more united than ours, and no country that can develop as rapidly as China. In the past, in market competition and in the pursuit of personal interests, we may have been rivals. But today, in the face of national disaster, industry hardship, and market challenges, we can stand side by side as comrades… That concludes my speech. Thank you!”

In the audience, Kevin from Xinghai Foreign Trade recorded Ming Xi’s speech and sent it to Liang Jiancheng.

In the Xinghai Technology office, Liang Jiancheng stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the recording again and again. His smile softened, and as sunlight poured in through the glass, it seemed to melt away the pressure and gloom of recent days.

Gazing at the shimmering glass and the towering skyscrapers of Haigang City,

Liang Jiancheng felt a surge of pride and love. He couldn’t help recalling what Ming Xi had said to him at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong: “Liang Jiancheng, I think I finally understand what you said back in Seoul. Now that I have some wealth to rely on, I could live a happy life—but I find I can’t be content with just being a happy person.”

Yes—because one cannot settle for personal happiness alone, one cannot remain detached. One can only shoulder responsibility and keep moving forward.

Fortunately, he and Miss Ming were able to move forward on the same path, in the same rhythm.

The pain of the Wenchuan earthquake gradually subsided. On September 15, Lehman Brothers—the fourth-largest investment bank in the United States—filed for bankruptcy.

Who could have predicted that the subprime mortgage crisis, which seemed to have passed its worst in April, would trigger an even greater disaster five months later?

Just as a butterfly flapping its wings over the Amazon can stir up a storm in the Pacific, the collapse of this top investment bank turned a once-in-a-century U.S. financial crisis into a global one.

Soon after, the massive economic crisis spread from developed countries to developing ones, and from the financial sector into the real economy.

In October, the G20 Leaders’ Summit was held in Washington, D.C.;

In November, the Chinese government swiftly introduced ten major measures to expand domestic demand. Even though Mingzhou’s finances were already stretched to the limit, in the second half of 2008, the company mortgaged a piece of land it had acquired in 2005 to fund the operation and promotion of its high-end outdoor apparel brand, Bright.

During the National Day Golden Week, Bright opened its first domestic store at Longmao Department Store.

In the second week of the same month, Ming Xi attended a local private enterprise symposium as a young entrepreneur from Haigang. The official meeting dragged on endlessly. For the first time, the ever-energetic Miss Ming leaned back in her chair and secretly dozed off.

Miss Ming had been attentively listening with her pen in hand for quite a while —but the moment she accidentally nodded off, she was caught by her own husband.

Liang Jiancheng, sitting in the front row, turned around. His gaze paused slightly, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face…

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