Chapter 580 Talking about Life
Liang Lu heard the noise and gently pushed open the door. Seeing Qi Tongwei in such grief, she was filled with surprise and confusion. She slowly walked to Qi Tongwei, squatted down, and asked softly, "Tongwei, what's wrong with you?" Qi Tongwei raised his tear-stained face, looked at Liang Lu, and said in a choked voice, "Liang Lu, do you know? For so many years, if it weren't for Teacher Gao, I wouldn't be where I am today. When I first entered the officialdom, I had no relatives. It was Teacher Gao who reached out to me. He taught me how to behave in the world, took me to meet people from all walks of life, and gave me the opportunity to show my abilities. I always thought that I could accompany him, take good care of him when he was old, and repay his kindness. But now, he has left just like that, and I didn't have time to do anything."
Liang Lu listened quietly. Although she knew that Gao Yuliang had an important influence on Qi Tongwei, she had never expected that this emotion was so deep. She tried to comfort Qi Tongwei: "Tongwei, I know you are very sad, but life and death are determined by fate. Teacher Gao's spirit in heaven would not want to see you so sad." Qi Tongwei shook his head and said with a wry smile: "You don't understand. You can't understand the friendship between me and Teacher Gao at all. In that official world full of competition and calculation, Teacher Gao is like a bright light, illuminating my way forward. His care for me is not only a support for my career, but also a spiritual sustenance. And now, this light is out, I feel as if I am in endless darkness and can't find the direction."
Qi Tongwei stood up, walked to the window, looked at the world outside the window wet by rain, and continued: "Once, in order to gain a foothold in officialdom, I had to participate in some power struggles and did many things against my conscience. I thought that as long as I could get power, I could protect the people around me and repay Teacher Gao's kindness. But I was wrong, very wrong. In the process, I not only lost my original intention, but also hurt many innocent people, including you and the children." He turned his head and looked at Liang Lu, his eyes full of regret.
Liang Lu felt a sharp pain in her heart, and she recalled the pain and helplessness she had experienced in this marriage over the years. "Qi Tongwei, what's the point of you saying this now? Over the years, our family has been torn apart because of your pursuit. You always put Gao Yuliang and official affairs first, and never really cared about me and the children?" Liang Lu's voice was filled with anger and grievance.
Qi Tongwei lowered his head, knowing that what Liang Lu said was true. "Liang Lu, I know I've let you down. I want to make amends now, and want to regain what we lost. But I find that everything has become so difficult. The pressure from public opinion is increasing. They only see my past mistakes, but not my inner struggle and change. I want to repair our family relationship, but the children have become indifferent and distant to me. I don't know how to narrow the distance between us."
Liang Lu sighed, looking at the man who was once familiar but now seemed a little strange, with mixed feelings in her heart. "Qi Tongwei, you have to know that repairing family relationships is not something that can be done overnight. You need to prove your change with actions, to win back the trust of the children and my forgiveness. But all this depends on whether you can really say goodbye to the past and start over."
Qi Tongwei nodded silently, knowing that Liang Lu was right. He decided to start by changing himself and trying to make up for the damage he had done to his family. He began to take the initiative to participate in family affairs, accompany the children to do homework, and accompany Liang Lu for walks and chats. However, the children's attitude towards him was still cold, Qi Dawei always avoided him and was unwilling to communicate with him; although Qi Xiaowei did not show obvious resistance, he did not show much closeness.
When facing public opinion, Qi Tongwei felt tremendous pressure. The media reported his past extensively, and all kinds of negative comments were overwhelming. When he walked on the street, he always felt that someone was pointing fingers at him from behind. His former friends and colleagues also distanced themselves from him, and he seemed to have become a person abandoned by society.
But Qi Tongwei did not give up. He continued to reflect and grow in the difficult situation. He used his own experience to write articles to share his lessons and insights in the officialdom, hoping to warn those who are still struggling in the vortex of power. He also actively participated in some public welfare activities, trying to change the society's view of him with his actions.
In this process, Qi Tongwei gradually realized that although fate brought him many setbacks and hardships, it also gave him a chance to re-examine himself and start over. He can no longer be bound by past mistakes and must face the future bravely. Although the road ahead is still full of hardships and challenges, he is willing to work hard for the happiness of his family and for his inner redemption. He believes that as long as he perseveres, he will be able to walk out of this darkness one day and usher in his own light.
As time went by, Qi Tongwei's efforts gradually began to bear fruit. Although the children had not yet completely opened their hearts to him, their attitudes towards him had softened somewhat. Qi Dawei began to be willing to participate in some outdoor activities with him, and Qi Xiaowei would also take the initiative to chat with him. Liang Lu gradually felt a little relieved when she saw the changes in Qi Tongwei.
In terms of public opinion, although there are still some negative voices, many people have begun to recognize his transformation. Some young people have learned lessons from his experience, and his articles have also attracted widespread attention and discussion. Qi Tongwei knows that he still has a long way to go, but he is no longer confused. He has found his direction, which is to spend the rest of his life to make up for his mistakes and pursue true happiness and peace.
However, just when Qi Tongwei thought everything was getting better, an unexpected news broke his peaceful life again. A person who had once intersected with him in the officialdom was suddenly investigated, and some past transactions between this person and Qi Tongwei were also implicated. This put Qi Tongwei in crisis again, and he faced the risk of being re-examined.
After hearing the news, Qi Tongwei was filled with anxiety and uneasiness. He was worried that his past would be brought up again, making all his previous efforts go to waste. He began to run around looking for evidence to prove that he had completely broken with the past and had not committed any illegal or irregular acts in the process. Liang Lu and the children were also worried about him, and the family was once again shrouded in a haze.
Qi Tongwei found some of his former allies, hoping that they would testify for him. However, most of them rejected him for fear of being implicated. He felt extremely desperate, as if he had returned to the dark moment when fate had played a trick on him. But he did not give up, and he decided to face this crisis alone.
He re-examined his past experiences and sorted out all the materials that could prove his innocence. He took the initiative to contact the investigation department, cooperated with their investigation, and truthfully explained all his actions and thoughts. In this process, he always remained calm and firm. He knew that this was another test in his destiny and he had to pass it.
After a long and difficult investigation, the final result proved that Qi Tongwei was not involved in any new illegal and irregular incidents. He breathed a sigh of relief. This crisis made him cherish his hard-earned peaceful life even more. He deeply realized that the impermanence of fate may come again at any time, but as long as he sticks to his inner beliefs and has the courage to face difficulties, he will be able to stand firm in the wind and rain.
Since then, Qi Tongwei has been more determined to walk on the path of self-salvation and family restoration. He is no longer disturbed by external factors and focuses on his goals. His relationship with Liang Lu has also gradually warmed up, and they have begun to regain their former love and trust.
Qi Tongwei escaped from the terrifying investigation, as if he was reborn, and he cherished the peaceful days that he had lost and regained even more. Every day, he and Liang Lu supported each other, and the relationship between the couple gradually warmed up in the daily trivialities. In the early morning, he would accompany Liang Lu for a walk in the park, breathing the fresh air and enjoying the warmth of the sun on his body. In the evening, the family sat together for dinner, and laughter echoed in the house. Qi Tongwei looked at Liang Lu's gentle smile and the innocent appearance of Qi Dawei and Qi Xiaowei, and his heart was full of happiness and satisfaction, as if the haze of the past had long dissipated.
However, the gears of fate always seem to turn unexpectedly. One day, Qi Tongwei was chatting with his family in the living room when he suddenly felt a strong sense of dizziness. He felt a black screen in front of his eyes and his body fell forward uncontrollably. Liang Lu screamed in horror and rushed forward to support him. Qi Dawei and Qi Xiaowei were also frightened by this sudden change and didn't know what to do. At the moment of losing consciousness, Qi Tongwei seemed to fall into an endless dark abyss, and then, strange pictures flashed in his mind like slides.
He found himself in a familiar campus, with lush trees and spacious and bright classrooms, everything was like a dream. He saw himself wearing a neat shirt, holding a lesson plan in his hand, smiling and greeting the students passing by. He walked into the classroom and stood on the podium. Below the podium were faces full of vitality and curiosity. Qi Tongwei began to teach. His voice was loud and confident, explaining the knowledge that he had once memorized. The students listened attentively, raised their hands from time to time to ask questions, and the classroom atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
On the path of the campus, he met Gao Yuliang by chance. Gao Yuliang was still elegant, with wisdom and kindness in his eyes. "Qi Tongwei, how is your teaching work recently?" Gao Yuliang asked with a smile. Qi Tongwei replied respectfully: "Teacher, everything is going well. I am trying to impart knowledge to my students." The two chatted as they walked, and the topics ranged from teaching methods to academic research, as if they had returned to the teacher-student days many years ago. Qi Tongwei was full of emotion. This pure teacher-student communication made him feel extremely kind and warm.
Liang Lu is also on campus. She is an administrator in the school and is responsible for handling various daily affairs. Qi Tongwei can often see her busy figure on campus. Occasionally, they will have lunch together on a bench on campus during lunch break and share each other's interesting life stories. Liang Lu will look at him gently, with eyes full of love and care, just like when they were newly married.
Qi Tongwei was immersed in this seemingly beautiful dream. He spent day after day on campus. He organized students to participate in academic competitions. When he saw the students working hard and achieving excellent results, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He discussed teaching reforms with his colleagues and worked together to improve the quality of teaching. In this dream, he seemed to have found another possibility in life, a life away from official disputes and returning to a peaceful and pure life.
However, during a campus event, Qi Tongwei suddenly felt that everything around him began to blur. The students' laughter gradually faded away, and the figures of Gao Yuliang and Liang Lu were looming. He felt a strong sense of uneasiness in his heart, and he tried desperately to grasp this fading dream. But no matter how hard he tried, the scene in front of him was quickly collapsing.
Suddenly, Qi Tongwei opened his eyes abruptly, and what came into view was the white ceiling of the hospital and Liang Lu's anxious face. "Tongwei, you finally woke up, you scared us!" Liang Lu said excitedly, with tears in her eyes. Qi Tongwei looked around, a little dazed for a moment, he couldn't believe that everything just now was just a dream.
"What happened to me?" Qi Tongwei asked weakly. Liang Lu told him that he suddenly fainted and was rushed to the hospital. After the doctor examined him, he said it was caused by overwork and excessive mental stress. Qi Tongwei lay quietly on the hospital bed, recalling the absurd yet real dream. He recalled the communication with Gao Yuliang in the dream and the warm time with Liang Lu, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
After being discharged from the hospital, Qi Tongwei's life returned to normal, but the dream always lingered in his mind. He began to re-examine his life and think about the relationship between dreams and reality. He realized that whether it was the peaceful campus life in the dream or the family and self-salvation path in reality, they were different aspects of his deep desire. The dream may be his nostalgia for the past, an imagination of a path he had never chosen, while reality is the present that he must face and work hard to change.