Chapter 583: Untainted by the Mud
Qi Tongwei's guidance of Gao Xiaofeng has also made her gradually grow into a mainstay in charity. He took Gao Xiaofeng to participate in various cultural exchange activities, allowing her to come into contact with elites and wise men in different fields, broadening her horizons and thinking. Gao Xiaofeng has changed from a simple and ignorant woman who was involved in a complicated situation only because of love to a philanthropist who can stand on her own and has great love. In the process of promoting charity projects, they cooperated tacitly. Qi Tongwei relied on his social experience and Gao Xiaofeng's enthusiasm and vitality to overcome one difficulty after another. When faced with doubts about their relationship from the outside world, they took it lightly, because they knew that their friendship had long transcended worldly prejudices and misunderstandings.
Although Qi Tongwei has left the core stage of power in his twilight years, he has gradually accumulated a different kind of prestige among the people. People who once feared him for his official career now respect him for his charity and self-salvation. People in poor areas regard him as a messenger of hope. Whenever he appears in a newly built hospital or school, people flock to him with gratitude and admiration in their eyes. Children affectionately call him "Grandpa Qi", and the elderly hold his hand for a long time, unwilling to let go, telling about the changes in their lives and their gratitude to him. His name is praised in these places and has become a symbol of justice and redemption.
He originally planned to find a quiet place in this turbulent world and live in seclusion in the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. However, he found that he could no longer give up his connection with this land and these people. He realized that his fate had long been intertwined with the fate of many people, and his path to redemption should not only be personal liberation, but also a return and contribution to society. So he gave up the idea of retreating and decided to continue walking in this world, using the rest of his life to light up the light of hope for more people.
He began to actively participate in social welfare education activities, and went to various schools and communities to tell his life experiences. Standing on the podium, facing the young and energetic faces below, he frankly analyzed his past mistakes and confusions. He talked about how his mind was corrupted by power in the officialdom, and how he lost himself in the process of pursuing status. But he also emphasized his later awakening and transformation, telling young people to stick to their inner moral bottom line and not be swayed by external temptations. His speech shook the hearts of every audience, and many young people were deeply inspired and regarded him as a special mentor on the road of life.
During this process, Qi Tongwei also faced suppression and slander from some old forces. Those who once had conflicts of interest with him in the officialdom were unwilling to see him regain his reputation and prestige in this way. They secretly spread rumors, trying to discredit his charity and question his impure motives. But Qi Tongwei was not repelled by these malicious intentions. He managed charity projects in a more transparent and rigorous manner and took the initiative to accept supervision from all walks of life. He responded to those slanders with practical actions and made the truth known to the world.
As time goes by, Qi Tongwei's charitable influence continues to expand. He launched a project aimed at cultivating leadership among young people in poor areas, providing all-round educational support and practical opportunities for those children with potential. He personally participated in the selection and training process of the project, like a hardworking gardener, carefully nurturing these future stars of hope. He took the children to participate in social practice activities to let them understand the diversity and complexity of society, and cultivate their problem-solving ability and social responsibility.
In terms of family, he and Liang Lu pay attention to the growth and development of their children. Their children have learned lessons from their parents' experiences and strive to become honest, kind and responsible people. Qi Tongwei often sits with his children to share his life experience and teach them how to stick to themselves in this complex world and pursue truly valuable things. As for Gao Yuliang's son, he still spares no effort to support and guide him. He feels very gratified to see that this child is becoming more and more mature in academics and morality.
Qi Tongwei knows that although his life is drawing to an end, he still wants to paint the last wonderful strokes with all his heart. He has realized the true meaning of life in the ups and downs of fate, that is, no matter how big a mistake he has made, as long as he has the courage to face it and the determination to correct it, he can still leave a warm and lasting color in this world. He stands at the crossroads of life, looking back, it is a road full of thorns and regrets; looking forward to the future, he sees endless hope and possibilities.
A bright light suddenly flashed before Qi Tongwei's eyes, causing him to close his eyes subconsciously. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a familiar campus scene, with tall sycamore trees casting mottled shadows on both sides of the road, and the faces of the students coming and going were full of youthful vigor. He was a little dazed, and subconsciously raised his hand to touch his face. His skin was tight and smooth, without any traces of vicissitudes of time.
He saw Gao Yuliang not far away. He was a young man, full of vigor and vitality, with wisdom and calmness in his eyes. Qi Tongwei was filled with indescribable excitement and complex emotions. He walked up quickly and shouted with a trembling voice: "Teacher Gao." Gao Yuliang turned around and asked with a hint of doubt and inquiry: "My classmate, who are you?" Qi Tongwei realized that he had now become a young student in his 20s who had just entered the university.
Qi Tongwei took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and said, "Teacher Gao, I am Qi Tongwei. I just experienced an extremely long and absurd dream. In the dream, I spent a long life. Those experiences are like deep scars, imprinted in the depths of my soul. Thinking about it now, I still feel scared."
He slowly recounted his past in his dream, from his initial ambitions in school to his gradual loss in officialdom. He talked about how he struggled in the vortex of power in order to stand out, and how he went against his original intentions, clung to the powerful, and became involved with those dark forces in order to achieve the so-called "half a step ahead of heaven". His voice was filled with regret: "I saw myself going further and further on the road of pursuing power, hurting too many innocent people, including my relatives, friends, and the people who trusted me. I used my power for personal gain, watched those injustices happen in front of me, but turned a blind eye for the sake of my position. Every choice is like a double-edged sword, which cuts a path for me to be promoted while also breaking my conscience bit by bit."
Qi Tongwei's eyes revealed pain: "I also failed miserably in my family. My marriage became a transaction. There was no love between my wife and I, only endless entanglements and conflicts. But I was still chasing those empty glories outside, ignoring the growth of my children, and letting them grow up in an unhealthy family environment. Until the end, I stood at the end of my life, looking back, full of thorns and regrets. The mistakes I had made were like mountains that weighed me down and made me breathless."
Gao Yuliang listened quietly, his expression gradually becoming solemn. Qi Tongwei continued, "But at the end of that dream, I also realized something. I understood that no matter how serious the mistakes were, as long as I had the courage to face them and the determination to correct them, I would have the opportunity to rewrite my life. It was like seeing a ray of light in the darkness, although it was weak, but it gave me hope. Now, I am standing here again, back to the starting point where everything has not yet begun. I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. I want to cherish this chance to start over and be a truly responsible, honest and kind person."
Qi Tongwei raised his head and looked at the sky of the campus. The sunlight at this time shone on his young face, as if foreshadowing a new beginning. He knew that this time, he would rely on the memories and insights of his previous life to take a completely different path on this road of life full of hope and possibility. He wanted to reshape his prestige, not by the deterrence of power, but by his own character, talent and sincere help to others. He would study hard on campus, make real friends, and influence the people around him with a positive attitude. In the days to come, he would stick to his original intention when facing various temptations, and no longer be dazzled by vanity and power. He believed that as long as he moved forward step by step, he would be able to paint a gorgeous and regretless chapter in the picture of life.
Qi Tongwei looked at Gao Yuliang with a firm look in his eyes: "Teacher Gao, I will seize this opportunity." Gao Yuliang nodded slightly. Although he could not quite understand the deep meaning behind Qi Tongwei's words, he could feel an unprecedented determination and strength from his eyes. Qi Tongwei silently swore in his heart that in this life, he would make his name a symbol of justice and hope, rather than an object of scorn. He will start a new journey with this sense of mission of rebirth. In this process, he will constantly examine himself and continue to grow, so that the past that he could not bear to look back on will truly become a thing of the past, drifting in the long river of history, leaving only a brand new and respectable Qi Tongwei.
Qi Tongwei unexpectedly met Liang Lu on the path of the campus. Liang Lu was standing under a tree, the breeze gently blowing her hair. She looked young and energetic. As a 29-year-old teacher, she exuded a unique intellectual beauty. Qi Tongwei's heart suddenly tugged, and countless complex emotions surged in his heart, but he still tried to squeeze out a smile and walked up to say hello: "Hello, Teacher Liang."
When Liang Lu saw Qi Tongwei, there was a hint of surprise and curiosity in her eyes. The boy in front of her, though young, was resolute, and his deep eyes seemed to contain endless stories. "Who are you?" she asked softly. Qi Tongwei lowered his head slightly, raised it after a moment, and looked at her calmly: "I am Qi Tongwei, a freshman who just enrolled."
Liang Lu was slightly startled, as if she caught something different from his eyes, a kind of deepness and emotion that transcended age. "Qi Tongwei? It's a good name." She smiled and replied. Qi Tongwei felt mixed emotions. He didn't know where to start talking about the past entanglements and resentments when facing such a young and innocent Liang Lu.
"Teacher Liang, you look very friendly." Qi Tongwei tried to make his tone sound natural. Liang Lu laughed softly, her laughter was crisp and pleasant: "Really? Maybe it's because I like to communicate with students. By the way, why did you choose this school?" Qi Tongwei thought for a while and said slowly: "I want to find a new beginning here and redefine my life." Liang Lu nodded thoughtfully. She felt that this young student had a unique temperament.
However, Qi Tongwei knew that Liang Lu already had a lover, Yang Fadada. He sighed silently in his heart. Those past events had not happened in this time and space, but he could not let it go. "Teacher Liang, I heard that you have a lover?" Qi Tongwei couldn't help asking. Liang Lu's face flushed with a little shyness and sweetness: "Well, his name is Yang Fadada, and we have a good relationship." Qi Tongwei suppressed his inner waves and squeezed out a smile: "That's good, I wish you all the best."
During the conversation, Qi Tongwei seemed to see all kinds of tragedies that might happen in the future. He wanted to stop them, but he knew that the trajectory of fate could not be easily changed. He could only protect those who might be hurt in a new identity in this time of rebirth, and at the same time strive to pursue the true justice and kindness in his heart. His encounter with Liang Lu was like a joke of fate. The unforgettable grievances and hatreds have now turned into seemingly ordinary exchanges between teachers and students. Only Qi Tongwei himself can deeply understand the secrets and pain hidden in his heart.
In the days that followed, Qi Tongwei often saw Liang Lu and Yang Fadada together on campus. They would stroll in the garden or share lunch in the cafeteria. Every time he saw such a scene, Qi Tongwei would feel a pang of pain in his heart, but he also became more determined to change his destiny.
Liang Lu and Yang Fadada strolled in the campus garden, and the tranquility and harmony of the past were often broken. Yang Fadada talked about the recent interesting things with great interest, but Liang Lu was a little absent-minded, and her eyes would always drift to the students passing by, as if she was looking for the familiar yet unfamiliar figure - Qi Tongwei.