Chapter 808: Sewing Scene
"This is your own mistake, and you have to bear the consequences!" Liang Qunfeng said coldly, "If you don't agree, I have plenty of ways to ruin your reputation and make sure you have no place in this world anymore!"
Qi Tongwei looked at Liang Qunfeng's cold eyes and knew that he was not threatening him. He felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He used to be a powerful official, but now he was forced into such a desperate situation. He thought of Gao Xiaoqin and the children. They were still waiting for him to protect them, but he couldn't even protect himself.
"If I agree, can you promise not to make things difficult for Gao Xiaoqin and the child?" Qi Tongwei's voice was pleading.
"That depends on your performance." Liang Qunfeng's tone did not soften at all, "As long as you completely sever your relationship with them, I can consider letting them go."
Qi Tongwei knew that this was Liang Qunfeng's ultimatum to him. He was caught in a dilemma: on one side was Gao Xiaoqin and the child, and his responsibility as a father and lover; on the other side was Liang Qunfeng's threat and his own precarious future.
In this long and painful silence, bits and pieces of the past kept emerging in Qi Tongwei's mind. He remembered the idealistic and passionate self in college. At that time, he was full of beautiful visions for the future and believed that he could realize his own value through hard work. He also remembered himself in the officialdom who did whatever it took to get promoted. Those days of flattery and intrigue, although they gave him temporary power and status, also made him lose the most precious things - his original intention and kindness.
Finally, Qi Tongwei slowly raised his head, and the light in his eyes completely went out: "I promise you." His voice was low and hollow, as if it was squeezed out from the depths of his soul.
Liang Qunfeng nodded with satisfaction: "I hope you can do what you say. In three days, I want to see your public apology statement. Within a week, you must resign from your position and leave here. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences." After that, he turned and strode away, leaving Qi Tongwei alone in the dim room, swallowed by endless darkness and despair.
Qi Tongwei looked at Liang Qunfeng's departing back, tears blurring his eyes again. He knew that from this moment on, he would completely lose everything he had, including his love, family and dignity. He picked up his phone and called Gao Xiaoqin. When the call was connected, his voice choked: "Xiaoqin, I'm sorry..."
On the other end of the phone, Gao Xiaoqin's voice was trembling and terrified: "Tongwei, what happened? What happened?"
Qi Tongwei took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, but his voice was still choked: "Xiaoqin, our affair has been exposed. Liang Lu and the others will not let us go. Liang Qunfeng asked me to apologize publicly within three days and resign from my position and leave here within a week, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."
Gao Xiaoqin was silent for a moment, and then she cried out in suppressed tears: "Tongwei, what should we do? What about the child?"
Qi Tongwei closed his eyes and tears fell again: "Xiaoqin, don't panic, I will find a way. No matter what, I will not let you get hurt." After hanging up the phone, Qi Tongwei curled up on the ground, his heart was dead silent.
At this time, Qi Tongwei's parents, who were far away in the countryside, also heard about their son's scandal. The news swept through this quiet little village like a gust of wind. Qi's father and mother widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief, as if they had heard a fairy tale.
"How is this possible? How could our son do such a thing?" Qi's mother's hands were shaking and her voice was filled with tears.
Father Qi's face turned pale and he slammed his fist on the table: "This rebellious son! He is going to bring shame to our Qi family!"
The old couple could never have imagined that their son, who had been sensible and obedient since childhood and had great ambitions to leave the mountains, would now fall into such a terrible situation. They decided to go to the city immediately to find their son and ask him about it.
Before dawn the next day, Qi's father and mother packed their simple bags and set out for the city. They staggered along the winding mountain road, which was rugged and muddy, and every step was extremely difficult. Qi's mother's cloth shoes were soon soaked with mud and water, and her steps became heavy.
"Dad, why is this road so difficult to walk on?" Qi's mother panted, her voice full of fatigue.
Father Qi frowned and held Mother Qi’s hand: “Hold on a little longer, and you can take a bus when you get to town.”
Finally, they arrived in the town and got on a sod cart to the county seat. The sod cart was bumpy and creaking, as if it would fall apart at any time. Qi's father and mother held the seat tightly, their faces pale.
Arriving at the county town, they took the train again. The train station was crowded with people, and the noisy sound made Qi's father and mother feel a little overwhelmed. They tightly grasped the tickets in their hands and squeezed onto the train with the crowd. The carriage was filled with various mixed smells. Qi's father and mother found a corner to sit down, looking at the scenery passing by quickly outside the window, their hearts full of worries.
After getting off the train, they took a bullock cart. The cart drove slowly on the dirt road, raising dust all the way. After a long journey, they finally arrived at the city where Qi Tongwei was.
When they stood at the door of Qi Tongwei's house, Qi's father raised his hand high, then dropped it heavily, and with a "bang", it hit Qi Tongwei's face.
"You shameless thing!" Qi's father's voice trembled with anger and pain, "Having an older wife is not enough, you also want to find a younger wife, and even give birth to a child! Look at what you have done? You have brought shame to our Qi family!"
Qi Tongwei lowered his head, not daring to look his parents in the eye. His voice was filled with guilt: "Dad, Mom, I know I was wrong."
Qi's mother looked at her son's haggard appearance and burst into tears: "Tongwei, how could you do this? We raised you with great difficulty, hoping that you would have a promising future and be a decent person. How could you do such a shameful thing?"
Father Qi was so angry that he was shaking all over, his chest heaving violently: "Tell me, what should we do now? You have ruined the reputation of our Qi family!"
Just as Qi Tongwei was about to explain, Qi's father suddenly covered his chest, his face turned pale, and his body slowly fell down.
"His father!" Qi's mother screamed in horror and hurriedly supported Qi's father.
Qi Tongwei was also panicked and hurriedly called the emergency number. In the hospital, Qi Tongwei stayed by his father's bed, his heart full of regret. He looked at his pale father on the bed, and remembered his father working hard in the fields to support his studies when he was a child; he remembered his mother mending his clothes under the dim light.