Chapter 1223 - 928: Ye Qing

Chapter 1223: Chapter 928: Ye Qing

"Did the Master not come today?" Some staff looked at the clock in the factory office, excitedly.

"Maybe she’s sick. She’s always by herself, with only Ai Rui the assistant by her side. Ai Rui’s been busy with family matters lately, so she’s completely alone now. Who knows." This factory of hers is independent, practically like a queen, always wearing a cold face, never losing her temper but always feared by everyone here.

"Let’s not talk about it. Let’s focus on our work. If we get caught by her discussing her in the office, we might end up having nothing to eat."

"True. Let’s get to work."

Today, Ye Qing was indeed sick. She had been sick before, but she’d never paid much attention; a little medicine and she’d soldier through it.

But today was more severe, and when she went to the hospital for a checkup, she unexpectedly got diagnosed with a terminal illness.

When Ye Qing heard the news, she gave a self-deprecating smile. Her health had been up and down over the years, known only to herself. This illness was inflicted by Li Kaiying’s design years ago. She had regretted it afterward, regretting her petty mind. She had been bullied, but it hadn’t caused her any significant harm—why did she have to hold a grudge? She had schemed against someone till death and now this was her karma, deservedly. If it weren’t for that incident, perhaps her health would be good, and she could live another few decades, but now... her life was about to end.

Though she sighed, she didn’t feel much care. Early death, late death, it didn’t matter now. She had no regrets, whatever the time of death.

Nevertheless, before she died, she had to set everything in order.

When Ye Qing first came here, she didn’t rush into business; learning from past lessons, she went to work in a shoe factory, working there for two years to understand their operations and materials. After understanding the sales situation,

she bought a small old factory to start her old trade again. Initially, business wasn’t great, but Ye Qing was never one to admit defeat. With determination, her business gradually grew, facing not few challenges and hurdles, encountering both vile and noble people along the way.

Eventually, to where she stands now, running a highly profitable large factory. All these she would leave to her son.

Over the years, she would sneak back to the country to see, knowing her mom had passed away. She was saddened for a long time upon hearing this news, yet she found solace in having one less worry in this world.

Looking back at her son, over the years her Hua Hua grew up, being extraordinarily outstanding, she was proud. Without her by his side, her son lived well, and when she knew he was in college, taking over the factory she once had, her heart felt both moved and guilty.

Hua Hua sought revenge on Mei Langchi for her, yet got entangled with Mei Langchi’s daughter.

These matters she only observed, never intervened, believing every person has their own fate, and her son would find happiness on his own.

Since opening her factory, Ye Qing never took a day off, known behind her back by office staff as the demon king, or Mistress Master. She always worked with a stern face, with a no-nonsense approach, never giving room for dissent. If one felt tired or sought excuses, they could leave.

But her offered salary was enticing, keeping most employees both loving and hating her, unable to leave.

As for her being single, she simply never sought out another man all these years.

Initially, many thought she simply wasn’t looking. But later, even with numerous wealthy suitors, she declined them all. From the outside, these were seen as excellent options.

Yet Ye Qing remained unmoved. No—it should be said Ye Sheng—phonetically resembling "new life," signifying a new beginning for everything.

Ye Qing didn’t go to the factory that day, surprising all employees—this was the first time the factory head took a day off.

Still, when the factory called, Ye Qing only said she was busy with some matters, offering no other explanation.

Ye Qing’s absence from the factory extended beyond just one day, and she scarcely visited in the following two months.

Arriving in this country, she hadn’t really explored, and with limited time now, she went on a self-driving tour around the area with her savings for two months. During this period, Ye Qing set up many fixed assets for Hua Hua, purchasing houses, lands, estates, orchards, and floriculture. Knowing her daughter-in-law likes flowers, this was also a gift for her.

Upon returning after two months, Ye Qing instructed her assistant to contact a lawyer and then write her will.

She feared another repeat of the previous scenario, where after her death, her belongings would be taken advantage of by ill-intentioned people since she had no family in this place. So, in these few last days, she personally called her son.

When Li Qinghua received this call, he was Surprised to recognize the familiar voice he had always remembered. He vaguely knew his mom was still in this world.

Upon hearing that long-lost name Hua Hua, Li Qinghua couldn’t control his tears.

"Mom?" After a pause, Li Qinghua tentatively called.

On the other end, Ye Qing silently smiled, her eyes too reddened, "Come, Mom wants to see you one last time."

Li Qinghua upon hearing this, cried out heart-wrenchingly, "Mom...what’s wrong?"

"Life and death are natural, no need to be sorrowful; Mom just wants to see you once before death. Then I’ll have no regrets in life. Hua Hua, can you come?"

"Yes, I’ll come. I’ll come. Mom, wait for me."

"Remember to bring your wife and children; Mom wants to meet them. I’m waiting for you here."

Ye Qing gave Li Qinghua her assistant’s phone number and the address. By now, mobile phones were common, and Li Qinghua had one too.

After hanging up, Li Qinghua hastily packed essentials, leaving with Mei Ziqi and the child.

Finally, they met Ye Qing one last time. This marked Mei Ziqi’s first meeting with the mother-in-law entwined in issues with her father.

Upon arrival, Mei Ziqi felt apprehensive, fearing any disapproval from this mother-in-law, yet found none. Ye Qing only bid them to live well.

In Ye Qing’s final days, she, along with the lawyer and assistant, clearly handed over her estate matters to Li Qinghua.

Ye Qing departed peacefully and contently, but Li Qinghua grieved for a long time.

Eventually, after staying for two months, Li Qinghua made a decision to settle here.

Mei Ziqi agreed, for wherever Li Qinghua was, that’s where she wished to be. As for family elsewhere, her brother was well capable now, so she no longer needed to constantly worry.

With the horticulture business thriving under Mom’s care, and Dad renovated and rebuilt the countryside estate, they lived a blissful rustic life now, fulfilling Mom’s long-held wishes.

Even with Li Qinghua here, they wouldn’t stay forever away.

The mother-in-law’s estate was wonderful, suiting Mei Ziqi’s idyllic abode choice, with a vast front yard, and more land behind once landscaped with scenic trees by Ye Qing, now transformed by Mei Ziqi into a diverse flower garden. The backyards even led to a main road, and for the convenience of their child, Li Qinghua set up a storefront replacing the greenhouse area, attracting many visitors and flower enthusiasts, permitting Mei Ziqi to indulge her passion without idleness.

Apart from this, Li Qinghua considered changing his surname. The surname he so disliked. After more than twenty years, he could finally rid himself of it.

Li Chen, his new name, neither bearing Li, Mei, nor Ye; a rare surname, symbolizing distancing from past entanglements, embarking on a new life with his wife and child, even changing his son’s surname accordingly.

Post settling here, step by step they gradually shifted their efforts from the port back here. Through years of constant commute, after five years, they could finally settle peacefully.

.....

In Ye Qing’s lifetime, much of it was tragic, later years peaceful. Reflecting back, her life in aspects was stubborn, mistaken, but she ultimately turned back after hitting rock bottom, bloodied.

Yet it was that persistent nature that led to her success in business. In marriage, she failed, but career-wise, she thrived.

The only thing she never regretted in life was having Hua Hua.

(Epilogue end)