Chapter 39

At thirty-six years old, Li Huixin was seen by others as a winner in life.

Although she was born into a poor family and at times couldn’t even afford her own tuition, she never complained about fate. If she didn’t have tuition money, she would earn it with her own hands. Starting in middle school, she took on part-time jobs—handing out flyers, working in bubble tea shops, washing dishes in restaurants. During vacations, she worked in factories, experiencing everything from shoe manufacturing to electronics assembly.

Gradually, she not only earned enough to cover her tuition and living expenses but also had extra money to buy books, a portable music player, and even a second-hand computer.

These things broadened her horizons and ignited her ambition. She realized that Country was so vast, that the world beyond her small mountain village was incredibly prosperous, and that women could become presidents and be respected figures…

A thought took root in her young heart: I must leave this village. So she studied with relentless dedication, to the point of forsaking food and sleep. Her classmates thought she was overdoing it, calling her foolish. “Why does a girl need such good grades? She’ll just get married and stay home raising kids anyway.”

She firmly refuted them, saying that women could also achieve great things. Outside their village, there were many outstanding women who had become politicians, entrepreneurs, doctors, and lawyers.

A woman’s value should not be defined solely by whether she is a good wife and mother.

She refused to let a man control her fate. She wanted to be the master of her own destiny and build a successful career.

Her classmates couldn’t understand her way of thinking, considering her rebellious. But she sighed, knowing that swallows in a courtyard could never comprehend the ambitions of a great swan.

In her high school entrance exam, she got into the second-best high school in the province. Her parents were overjoyed, shedding tears as they swore that even if they had to sell everything, they would ensure she got an education.

Grateful for their support, she worked even harder in high school, consistently ranking among the top three in her grade and securing scholarship money. When it came time for the college entrance exam, she lived up to expectations and was admitted to Imperial Capital University.

The night she received her acceptance letter, her father got drunk, saying it was the happiest moment of his life.

Back then, her older brother Li Dongqiang was still a caring big brother. Knowing that she would be going far away to study in the capital, he even offered her his wedding savings, saying that he would rather delay his marriage if it meant she could live comfortably in the capital.

She was deeply moved and cried all night, but she refused to take his money. At 25 years old, her brother couldn’t afford to delay marriage any longer—otherwise, their parents would worry themselves sick.

Li Huixin majored in fashion design at university. She was incredibly talented, and her professors admired her. Eventually, a senior professor personally took her in as his last apprentice.

Under her mentor’s careful guidance, Li Huixin improved rapidly. During her four years at university, she participated in several prestigious design competitions and achieved excellent rankings, earning her recognition as a rising star in the field.

After graduation, she started her own design studio. The road to entrepreneurship wasn’t always smooth, and she went through difficult times. But the support from her family gave her strength to persevere.

It was during this period that she met her husband, Liu Yuanqin, a jade carving artist and a second-generation heir of a wealthy family. Their encounter was straight out of a dramatic novel.

In a Western restaurant, Liu Yuanqin was being confessed to by a girl. He told her that he already had a girlfriend, but the girl didn’t believe him. Just then, Li Huixin happened to walk past, and Liu Yuanqin grabbed her hand, claiming she was his girlfriend to get rid of the persistent girl. The girl ran away crying.

That was how they first met.

Despite being a calm and composed person, Liu Yuanqin was surprisingly talkative around Li Huixin. When he laughed, a small dimple would appear on his right cheek, making him look like a youthful, energetic boy.

They had many shared interests and often met up. Liu Yuanqin even took her to his workshop, showing her the jade carving process. When she saw the breathtakingly beautiful jade emerging from rough, gray stones, she was amazed.

These mesmerizing jades inspired her. She designed a fashion show themed around jade, which became a huge success and earned her the title of a genius designer.

Later, Liu Yuanqin confessed his feelings to her, and she accepted. That was when she learned about his wealthy background.

Initially, she thought that his parents would never approve of someone from a poor background like hers. She even prepared herself to break up with him if his parents opposed their relationship—because compared to Liu Yuanqin, she loved her career and self-respect more.

But to her surprise, Liu Yuanqin’s parents were very welcoming. They liked her a lot and even urged them to get married. After two proposals, she finally agreed to marry him.

At this point, her older brother had already been married for five years but had yet to have children. When their family came to the capital for her wedding, she suggested that her brother and sister-in-law get checked at a hospital, offering to cover the costs herself.

The test results revealed that her brother had low sperm count, making it difficult for them to conceive.

Her parents were devastated, their hair turning white overnight. No matter how much she comforted them, it was no use. She told them not to lose hope, that her brother should undergo treatment. The doctor hadn’t said he was completely infertile, so they needed to stay optimistic. And if it really didn’t work out, she promised that her own children would care for her brother and sister-in-law in their old age.

After much persuasion, her parents and her brother’s family finally came to terms with the situation. But perhaps her brother and his wife were simply fated to be childless—despite years of treatment, her sister-in-law never got pregnant.

By the time her twin son and daughter turned five, her parents passed away. Her brother began drinking heavily, and when he got drunk, he would curse at his wife for being a “useless hen that couldn’t lay eggs.” Sometimes, he even hit her.

No one told Li Huixin about this—she only found out when her sister-in-law was beaten so badly that she had to be hospitalized.

She was furious to learn that her brother had turned into an abusive husband. She even considered beating him up and sending him to prison.

But her sister-in-law refused, saying, “If you send my husband to jail, what will happen to me?”

She admitted that she was selfish in this regard. She listened to her sister-in-law and did not send her brother to prison. However, to ensure her brother would no longer hit his wife, she had her husband give him a harsh lesson, warning him that if he dared to raise his hand again, he would be thrown into prison. Her brother grudgingly agreed.

To make it up to her sister-in-law, she secretly gave her money and frequently called to check if her brother had been violent again. Her sister-in-law always reassured her, saying no, thanking her for keeping her brother in check, and that she was doing well.

When she and her husband returned to their hometown for the New Year, they found that her brother and sister-in-law were indeed living well, which put her at ease. She had her own children to care for and a design studio to manage, so all she could do was send them food, necessities, and money regularly.

Last year, she became pregnant again, but the pregnancy was difficult—she vomited everything she ate and had no energy to focus on anything else. It wasn’t until her son, Dundun, was almost a month old that she received a call from her brother: her sister-in-law had run away with another man!

She immediately tried calling her sister-in-law, only to find that her phone was disconnected. Her brother lamented that the villagers looked down on him because of his wife’s affair, and he no longer wanted to stay in the village. She discussed with her husband and decided to invite her brother to the capital to clear his mind. If he wanted to settle there, she would buy him a house.

After arriving in the capital, her brother stayed at their home. She encouraged him to go out, explore the city, and even offered to arrange a tour for him. He did travel for a bit but later complained that people mocked his accent and that his clothes looked cheap. She quickly had new clothes delivered for him, realizing she had been too distracted by her pregnancy to consider these things earlier.

Since her brother was still young, she thought of finding him a job so he could support himself. However, when he learned it was a security job, he rejected it disdainfully. She explained that the job was merely supervising a warehouse, paying 8,000 yuan a month—enough for him since he had no mortgage or car payments.

To her surprise, her brother said, “You and your husband are both big bosses. Why can’t you just make me a manager?”

She responded, “Brother, if you had the skills, I would definitely arrange a leadership position for you. But you have no experience. If I suddenly place you in a managerial role, the other employees will be upset.”

Her brother became furious, accusing her of being an ungrateful sister. “Is this how you repay me? I gave you all my wedding money for your college education, and you can’t even do this one thing for me?”

Of course, she remembered his past kindness. He was her only remaining family. So, she compromised, saying, “Why don’t you first follow Yuan-ge and learn how to manage a company? If you prove capable, I will let you be a manager.”

She had already planned that even if he wasn’t competent, she would make him a company shareholder and give him dividends—just not any actual responsibilities. She wouldn’t risk the company she had built from scratch.

However, after just a few days of training, her brother became impatient. He complained that the work was tiring and difficult. He also disliked the house she had bought for him, complaining that it wasn’t a villa.

Nothing seemed to satisfy him. She became frustrated, and they had a brief argument. Unexpectedly, in his rage, her brother kidnapped Dundun. They hadn’t been on guard against him at all.

That morning, after making breakfast, she returned to the bedroom to find Dundun missing—and her brother was gone too. They frantically called him. He only said he was taking Dundun for a walk, but when he didn’t return for a long time, they called again and realized he had blocked them. Sensing something was wrong, they immediately reported it to the police.

After filing the report, she and her husband drove around searching for her brother in places he often visited, but they couldn’t find him or Dundun anywhere.

She had no idea what her brother intended to do. Her mind was in chaos. She didn’t want to assume the worst, but dark thoughts kept creeping in…

Just when she was about to lose hope, she and her husband finally received a call from the police—Dundun had been found! However, he had a fever and had been taken to the Third Hospital by a kind passerby. She barely had time to wipe her tears before rushing to the hospital with her husband.

Seeing her young son lying weakly in the hospital bed with a flushed face and an IV drip, she felt as if a knife was slicing through her heart.

But she was afraid her crying would wake him, so she covered her mouth to muffle her sobs. Her red, swollen eyes were fixed on her son, completely ignoring the three people sitting by the bedside.

Could these be the baby’s parents?

The three of them exchanged glances. Shen Lihuan and the young mother stood up, and when You Changqing was about to follow, Shen Lihuan held him down. “Hello, may I ask who you are?”

Liu Yuanqin entered the hospital room and first looked at the child in the bed. Only after confirming that Dundun was truly there, alive and well, did he wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes. Hearing Shen Lihuan’s question, he quickly snapped out of his daze.

“Hello, thank you for saving Dundun. I am his father, Liu Yuanqin, and this is my wife, Li Huixin.”

Liu Yuanqin looked well-dressed, but his hair was disheveled, and his clothes were wrinkled—clearly, he hadn’t taken care of himself.

He seemed to be in his early thirties, with a tall, slender frame and a lean face, but his expression was full of exhaustion.

Gratefully, he stepped forward and shook hands with Shen Lihuan and the others, gripping their hands so tightly that the young mother, Shi Manfang, winced in pain.

“Thank you so much! If not for you, my heartless brother-in-law would have run away with Dundun. Green Country is so vast—if he was determined to hide from us, how would we ever have found Dundun again?”

As he spoke, Liu Yuanqin’s eyes reddened again. He turned his head slightly, trying to hide his vulnerability.

“Mr. Liu, don’t be too upset. Dundun is back with you now, which proves that he has a strong bond with you. No matter how much effort others put in, they won’t be able to take him away from you.”

Shiman Fang was deeply moved to see a grown man expressing his emotions so sincerely, and she comforted him.

“Exactly, that’s how it is. Dundun is our child—mine and Brother Yuan’s. No one can take him away from us!”

Li Huixin bent down to kiss and hug her son. Only then did the panic and despair in her heart gradually fade, dispelled by the warmth of her child’s body. Remembering that she hadn’t properly thanked their benefactors, she quickly straightened up. Hearing Shiman Fang’s words, she firmly echoed them.

It was both an affirmation of Shiman Fang’s statement and a reassurance to herself. Yes, this had to be the truth—Dundun was her son, and he would grow up safe and healthy under her and Brother Yuan’s care.

She walked over to Shen Lihuan and her companions and bowed deeply. “Thank you for saving Dundun. We’ve been looking for him all morning. We never expected my brother to be so heartless as to take him away.”

Just because she and Brother Yuan refused to meet his unreasonable demands, her brother had tried to take her child. Did he still remember that she was his biological sister? That Dundun was his own nephew?

“As long as the child is found, that’s what matters. But since the baby is still sleeping, should we step outside to talk? We don’t want to disturb him,” Shen Lihuan said in a lowered voice, glancing at Dundun on the hospital bed.

“You’re right. Let’s go outside so we don’t wake him.”

Li Huixin wiped away her tears, kissed her son’s cheek again, and then left the hospital room. However, her attention remained fixed inside—she was ready to rush back in the moment her son woke up.

Shen Lihuan and her companions explained the entire incident, with Shiman Fang’s daughter eagerly adding details. Her adorable manner made Shiman Fang smile and gently pat her little head.

“Ridiculous! We never agreed to any adoption, and he never even brought it up with us. Why would he say such a thing?”

Upon hearing that Li Dongqiang had claimed they had agreed to let him adopt Dundun, Li Huixin was furious. Dundun was her son. She could allow him to care for her brother in his old age, but she would never hand him over for adoption. She couldn’t make such a decision for a child who had yet to develop his own sense of self.

“Huixin, don’t get so worked up. Li Dongqiang has already been arrested. After we bring Dundun home, we can go to the police station and get a clear explanation. Right now, Dundun is the priority,” Liu Yuanqin said, pulling his trembling wife into his arms to calm her down.

Li Huixin took a few deep breaths, steadied herself, and said firmly, “You’re right. Dundun is the most important thing now. But if Li Dongqiang really intended to harm Dundun, then I don’t care if my ancestors blame me for turning against my own family—I will send him to prison!”

Liu Yuanqin understood her pain. If anyone suffered the most from this betrayal, it was her. No matter what decision she made, he would stand by her as her unwavering support.

Seeing Li Huixin’s anguish, Shiman Fang sighed. This was ultimately their family matter, and as an outsider, she knew it wasn’t her place to interfere.

Now that Dundun’s parents had arrived and everything had been explained, there was nothing more for her and Changqing to do. Regardless of Li Dongqiang’s intentions, he no longer had the chance to carry them out—that was the most important thing.

Shen Lihuan said, “Mr. and Mrs. Liu, now that you’re here, we can rest assured. It’s getting late, so my friends and I should head home.”

She was mainly concerned about Changqing standing for too long.

“Yes, I should take my daughter home too, or my husband will start worrying,” Shiman Fang said, holding her daughter’s hand.

“You three kind people, please give us your contact information. You saved our son, and we will never forget this kindness,” Liu Yuanqin insisted.

“No need to thank us; you’re being too polite. There’s a saying: ‘When injustice is seen, one must step forward.’ We were simply doing our part. If we turn a blind eye to human trafficking today, then when we face the same situation in the future, others might turn a blind eye to us,” Shiman Fang quickly declined. Shen Lihuan and You Changqing shared the same sentiment.

In the end, Li Huixin and Liu Yuanqin had no choice but to force their business cards into Shen Lihuan’s hands, insisting that if they ever needed help, they should reach out. Reluctantly, Shen Lihuan and her friends accepted them.

Li Huixin stood beside Liu Yuanqin, her eyes red as she watched the three benefactors leave. “Brother Yuan, there really are more good people in this world than bad ones. Our son was lucky to meet such kind souls.”

“Yes, he was.”

…

Shen Lihuan carried You Changqing into the taxi. “What a shame. I can’t take you out for lunch now.”

“It’s no big deal. What we did just now was far more meaningful than having a meal together,” You Changqing said with a smile.

Shen Lihuan tucked a stray strand of hair behind Changqing’s ear. “You’re right. My little fairy Changqing is so kind and beautiful, and she even stands up for me.”

You Changqing pursed her lips in a soft smile. “How could I not? That Li Dongqiang dared to insult you. If my knee wasn’t injured, I would’ve kicked him a few times myself.”

Her eyes sparkled like diamonds as she spoke, and Shen Lihuan suddenly remembered how she had knelt on the ground to save the baby. A pang of emotion hit her chest.

At first, she was drawn to Changqing’s beauty, but now, she was devoted to her character.

She realized—she liked Changqing even more.

…

When their daughter said she wouldn’t be home for lunch because she was going out to eat with her future daughter-in-law, Gu Qinglan had been thrilled. Seeing the two girls get along so well made her, as a mother, incredibly happy.

But she hadn’t expected them to come home just after noon—especially with Changqing being carried in Shen Lihuan’s arms!

She immediately went up to them. “What happened to Changqing? Is she injured, or is she feeling unwell?”

Ah! Being carried by Shen Lihuan in front of Gu Qinglan made You Changqing feel incredibly embarrassed. She quickly answered, “Aunt Gu, it’s just a bruise on my knee. Lihuan was just worried and didn’t want me to walk. I’m fine, really.”

“How did you bruise your knee? Did you fall? Have you applied any medicine?” Gu Qinglan asked, concerned, as she watched her daughter gently set Changqing down on the sofa.

“I already put medicine on it.” You Changqing placed her hands on her lap and sat upright like a well-behaved student answering a teacher’s question.