Chapter 51: This Gift, Only I Can Give Her. Part 1

The autumn wind carried the lingering scent of fallen flowers, swirling with the dimming yellow light of the setting sun, catching a stray lock of hair by Yue Wenfeng’s temple.

She gently closed her raised hand, as if catching a petal in the wind. She carefully pressed it against her heart, then opened her hand and pressed it firmly against her chest, holding it tight. “The road an idealist must walk in this life is too long,” she whispered, “and too lonely. I’ve already prepared myself, and I’m sure your mother has prepared herself too. But she probably still hopes for your understanding. After all, you are her closest kin.”

“Counting her parents, you are one of only three people in this world connected to her by blood. Do you understand her?”

Yue Chengqi replied, “I understand her now.”

Yue Wenfeng breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I think my own child will understand as well.”

“I hope to have a daughter too, and I want her to take my surname. She doesn’t need to be too beautiful or too capable, but she needs to read many, many books and walk many, many paths. She needs to be independent—she must be independent. Of course, if she turns out as elegant and graceful as you, that would be even better. But if not, it doesn’t matter. After all, her mother isn’t that beautiful, and her father is just a plain-looking fellow. I won’t demand the impossible!”

You are very beautiful, Yue Chengqi thought. I love this face of yours—heroic and sharp. Time will leave its marks on your face, but those marks are part of your beauty. It will always be the most beautiful face to me, forever loved truly and sincerely by your child.

Yue Chengqi said aloud, “She will.”

Yue Wenfeng smiled. “I hope so. That way, she will one day understand her mother’s ideals. I believe she definitely can.”

“She can,” Yue Chengqi said. “She definitely will understand. Perhaps… she already does.” But it’s too late.

Yue Wenfeng let out a short laugh. “Already? Oh my, is my little one going to travel through time or something? No, no, I don’t plan on getting married until the new millennium. She can’t come that early.”

Yue Chengqi’s smile was bitter.

But she had come. She had seen the “truth.”

How absurd. They had been estranged for seven or eight years. From the moment Yue Chengqi began learning to be independent, she had started both hating and loving that woman who threw her entire soul into her work.

Her hate was from the perspective of a daughter. Her love was from the perspective of someone who shared those same dreams.

But being a “mother” was only one of her many identities.

On this golden autumn afternoon, Yue Chengqi suddenly understood and deeply resonated with that sentence—being a mother was just one of her many identities. She hoped that the small words carved on her tombstone at the end of her life would represent the career she fought for her whole life, not “The Mother of So-and-So.”

It was a strange thing to think, yet Yue Chengqi felt that this was exactly how she should be. Seeing her before she became a “mother” made her realize that she was always meant to be this way.

Forever fighting unswervingly for her own cause.

However, she could only say these things in her heart. They had come to know each other too late, yet also too early. Yue Wenfeng’s words were not heard by her “current” daughter, and the “daughter” who did hear them would likely never see her again.

Yue Chengqi could only repeat once more, “She will understand you.” She already understands you.

Yue Wenfeng smiled easily, stretching her back and letting out a yawn. “Whatever, it’s still a long way off! Let’s go in, the speeches are about to start.”

Yue Chengqi suddenly took a step forward. “Can I give you a hug?”

“Sure, come here.” As a straight woman, Yue Wenfeng had no taboos about such things.

Yue Chengqi hugged her gently. Rather than a hug, it was more like she was leaning into Yue Wenfeng’s embrace, nestling against her and softly circling her waist. She held her for a brief moment.

Just one moment.

She released the hug and stood straight. “Your daughter will love you very much and admire you greatly. But she will also hate you and resent you. Even so, please do not regret it. Do not look back. Keep walking forward with determination.”

“These are the words from the daughter of an idealist, given to you.”

Yue Wenfeng looked at her, biting her lip slightly, unsure of what to say.

Yue Chengqi smiled and said breezily, “I’m going to find Su Ye now. For the future of An City, and so we can earn more money—you have to do your best, Teacher Yue.”

“…”

That strange sensation surged up again. Yue Wenfeng pressed her hand to her chest. The heart beating inside felt a faint, stinging pain that couldn’t be relieved by rubbing the surface.

What is this?

But the girl had already walked back into the crowd with her hands in her pockets. Yue Wenfeng wanted to call out to her, but the sound wouldn’t come. Finally, she gave up.

I’ve probably stayed up too late recently. I need to take better care of myself.

***

Su Ye felt the weight on the handles of her wheelchair and reached back to grip them. “You’re back?”

Yue Chengqi gave a soft hum. “I’ll tell you about it when we get back.”

Su Ye pulled Yue Chengqi’s hand over, resting it against her own collarbone, patting it slowly and gently as if coaxing a child to sleep.

In the noisy venue filled with anger and resentment, this small bit of tenderness acted as a barrier, sealing off the world’s troubles.

Soon, an official sent from above stood in the center of the great plaza. Holding a microphone, he shouted at the top of his lungs about the dangers of counterfeit goods, expired goods, and the harm they did to the market. But the resentment in the air was so thick that few people were actually listening.

The atmosphere made Su Ye even more irritable. She furrowed her brows tightly, restraining herself from shouting out a curse.

The official’s tone shifted. “There are living examples right around us! Don’t underestimate this; these things can actually cost lives! Today, we are very grateful to a friend who is willing to cooperate with our presentation. Please, come up and tell everyone your story.”

Expectedly, yet still surprising, a somewhat short woman with ear-length hair stood in the center of the venue, looking uneasy.

It was Wang Mingming.

Su Ye looked up and met Yue Chengqi’s eyes. Both saw the disbelief in the other’s gaze.

Wang Mingming was indeed a direct victim of the situation, but Auntie Zhu’s family had already moved away. Su Ye was even planning to take over their shop to display her appliance samples so her current shop would be more spacious. Under these circumstances, Wang Mingming coming here to complain or discuss the matter seemed pointless.

No one in the market chases an answer from someone who has already fled.

Yue Chengqi whispered, “Wait and see.”

This was Wang Mingming’s first time on a stage. She tapped the microphone, rubbed her hands together, and finally spoke. “I… I’m quite familiar with everyone here, right?” Her voice was trembling.

She took a deep breath and said slowly, “I came here today to confess.”

The crowd went silent. It had already quieted down when she stepped up, but once she spoke, even the sound of a passing breeze could be heard clearly.

“First, I want to apologize to the two owners of Everguest. Boss Su, Boss Yue, I’m sorry! I am so, so sorry that you were dragged into this unclear mess! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“But this whole thing… it can’t be blamed entirely on Auntie Zhu’s family. It’s true they had fakes and expired goods, but… my shop had them too.”

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Su Ye’s eyes widened instantly.

Wang Mingming gave a bitter smile and continued. “I know, if I say I brought them in by accident, it sounds like an excuse. But it’s the truth. Just that one box of milk candy… I was busy at the time and didn’t check the expiration date or the manufacturer before taking it. Then I gave one to my daughter, Xiaoyue.”

“Just one ordinary piece of candy. She spent two days in the hospital and lost three pounds before the problem was solved. That was just one piece of candy, bosses! You all have fake water heaters, fake kettles… what if something happens with those? Is two days enough? Is three pounds enough?” The woman’s voice choked up. “So, I volunteered to come and tell everyone about this. I hope everyone can learn from my lesson. Don’t let this kind of tragedy happen in our An City again! Money can be lost, but our reputation cannot. Lives are not a joke. Everyone must remember—”

Everyone was still. The scene was so quiet that the sound of a late-autumn grasshopper jumping could be heard.

“Always operate with integrity. Operate with your heart. At the very least, maintain a basic moral conscience. Don’t lose your own character in the process!”

Those were the words Yue Chengqi had told her while supporting her shoulder.

She said much more, and at the end, she apologized once again to Su Ye and Yue Chengqi, drawing everyone’s gaze to the two of them.

Yue Chengqi’s expression was unreadable, shrouded in shadow. Su Ye’s face was equally grim, showing no emotion. The crowd eventually retracted their gazes, disappointed.

After that, it was announced that a Merchant Committee would be formed. After a simple vote, Lin Wanjia and a few others with the best reputations were naturally pushed forward as members to handle communication between the merchants and the authorities.

The rest were just trivial matters.

When the industrial crusher began its work, the merchants began to leave one by one.

Only Su Ye remained, arms crossed, sitting in place with a dark expression. Not far away, Wang Mingming wanted to come over but didn’t dare.

Zhang Mingfang, who had come to watch the excitement, supported Lin Wanjia as they walked over. She patted Su Ye’s head. “Aren’t you leaving?”

It was like someone had flipped a switch. Before Yue Chengqi could even react, the girl wheeled her chair forward with a burst of speed. When Yue Chengqi caught up, Su Ye suddenly threw out her arm, blocking everyone behind her, leaving herself alone to glare at the still-trembling Wang Mingming with gritted teeth.

Wang Mingming lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was prepared for you to blame me when I spoke up. Go ahead and curse me!”

Su Ye let out a cold laugh. “I really want to curse you. I even want to hit you. But I won’t. Not because I’ve become a coward, but because doing so is useless.”

Lin Wanjia breathed a sigh of relief. She’s grown up. It was moving; the child had truly grown up.

“But you, Wang Mingming, listen well. If you want to follow in my footsteps, fine. I’ll allow it. I can even introduce you to resources. But you must swear to me—a poisonous oath, a life-and-death oath—that you will abide by what you just said for the rest of your life. You will never violate it.”

Wang Mingming did so.

“Secondly, go learn professional knowledge. Learn about society today. Think about social issues. Find the people you truly should help, the things you should do, and the trends you should lead. Help people, help the weak, help those in disadvantaged positions. Can you do that?”

Wang Mingming made another solemn promise.

Su Ye’s expression softened slightly. Her final requirement wasn’t as fierce; she spoke more gently. “Lastly, you have to watch me. If one day I stray from the path while you haven’t, come and punch me awake. Conversely, I will go and punch you awake too. Do you hear me?”

Wang Mingming was stunned.

Su Ye gave her a disgruntled look. “What are you staring for? Did you hear me?”

“I… I heard you.”

“Then go.” The rabbit-like girl pridefully pulled back her arm and huffed. “Since you’ve come to your senses, I won’t hold a grudge against you. Let’s go, time to go home.”

The others finally gathered around.

There were very few cars on the road then. They could walk in a single row, their backs to the dim yellow sunset. Their shadows were stretched long, merging together and then slowly drifting apart.