Chapter 348: It's Good You're Back
Li Tang returned home.
The moment he stepped onto his homeland, he felt an extraordinary sense of relief and stability.
The solid earth beneath his feet, the familiar language ringing in his ears, the uniquely comforting scent drifting in the air…
Only a few people had come to greet him at the airport, but their presence made him feel especially warm.
His parents stood there, eyes glistening with tears upon seeing their son's familiar figure.
Separated by thousands of miles, when they'd heard he was detained in Canada, they had felt anxiety, despair, and sorrow—but had been helpless to intervene. It had been the most difficult moment of their lives.
Thankfully, it was all behind them now. Outside, the clear blue sky seemed to reflect the fairness restored to the world.
"You nearly scared me to death!" Tang Chuqiu hugged her son tightly, then held his face gently, examining him closely. "Do you know how worried we were hearing you'd been arrested in Canada?"
Li Zaiqiang's anxiety had been no less intense than his wife's. He had wished he could bear all his son's pain himself. Now that he finally saw Li Tang safe and sound, all his previous anxiety melted away, replaced by a reserved silence.
He stood behind Tang Chuqiu quietly, his expression complicated, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief, pride, and unspoken love. A father in his fifties, looking at his only precious child, naturally felt his heart swell with emotion.
"I'm okay, it was just a misunderstanding, and everything's cleared up now," Li Tang said calmly.
The moment the police declared him innocent, he had immediately called his parents to assure them of his safety. But now, seeing his mother's weary eyes and noticing the increased grey strands on his father's head, Li Tang's heart filled with guilt.
During the time he'd been detained, he himself hadn't felt particularly worried, confident that it would soon pass. But far away at home, his parents had suffered much more deeply. These days, they probably hadn't eaten or slept properly, plagued constantly by anxiety.
Witnessing this, he felt he'd neglected his duties as a son, overly immersed in work, not sufficiently attentive to his parents' emotional needs.
Li Tang looked toward his father, whose weathered face, darkened by years under the sun, still showed resilience and strength. "I didn't suffer at all. It was just routine questioning, and once they found me innocent, they let me go."
"It's good you're back," Li Zaiqiang nodded slightly. "How long will you stay this time?"
"I won't leave until after Chinese New Year." Li Tang had originally promised Alice and Fred he'd visit Australia to inspect progress at the Kiche Iron Mine personally. However, after the arrest incident, he'd decided to remain home longer, spending more time with his parents, who had come all the way to Beijing.
Even if their days consisted only of ordinary meals and small domestic comforts, it would still be precious.
Time spent together was the best declaration of love; quiet companionship was the deepest form of care.
"Good." Li Zaiqiang didn't say much else, merely remarking quietly, "Your mother and I both took extended leave to stay in Beijing."
"Don't go abroad again, it's too dangerous out there!" Tang Chuqiu's voice shook slightly, clearly still traumatized by recent events and terrified someone might take her son away again.
"I won't travel anytime soon," Li Tang reassured his parents.
"It's good you're home." Li Zaiqiang gestured toward Li Xingchao and his family, standing nearby. "We owe a lot to Qiqi and her family; they took good care of us."
Li Xingchao, his wife, and daughter had also come. Watching Li Tang reunite with his family, they felt moved to tears themselves.
"Your safe return is the most important thing!" Li Xingchao said emotionally.
"The Canadian police were really reckless! Arresting people without investigating properly!" Zhou Muyun felt deeply aggrieved on Li Tang's behalf.
Their family had also been deeply worried, trying their utmost to pull strings and help him, although uncertain of how effective it had been. They knew clearly that the happiness of their beloved daughter, Li Xinqi, was wholly dependent on Li Tang.
If Li Xinqi and Li Tang failed to marry, her future happiness would be in serious jeopardy. Finding someone better than Li Tang seemed virtually impossible.
Li Xinqi's eyes were swollen from tears. Meeting Li Tang's eyes, tears immediately began streaming down her face again. During these uncertain days, she'd secretly decided that even if Li Tang were imprisoned for ten or twenty years, she would still wait for him.
Fortunately, the wait had not been long.
Li Tang stepped forward, gently wrapping her in his arms. The familiar scent, strong heartbeat, and comforting warmth reassured her deeply. Her tears flowed freely, pearls cascading down her cheeks.
"I'm home," Li Tang whispered comfortingly.
"Mm," Li Xinqi murmured softly in response.
Nearby, senior members of the company—including He Runqi, Dai Yingchi, and Lin Xiaoshu—also waited at the airport but stood respectfully aside, unwilling to disturb the touching reunion.
Eventually, Li Tang himself approached them, smiling warmly. "It's getting late, have you all eaten dinner yet? Pick a good restaurant, have a great meal; the company will cover it."
"You're not coming with us?" He Runqi asked naively.
Dai Yingchi immediately understood Li Tang's intention—naturally, Li Tang wanted to stay with his family tonight.
"You go spend time with your family. We'll be fine," Dai Yingchi waved him off. "We brought several company vehicles; if your family needs transportation, we'll leave them for you."
"No need, we have a car already," Li Tang laughed, shooing them away. "Go eat—I know you've been waiting here a long time."
"All right, call me if you need anything," Dai Yingchi replied warmly, leading the group toward the parking lot.
Afterward, Li Tang and his family, along with Li Xinqi's family, headed out together.
Li Zaiqiang and Tang Chuqiu weren't familiar with Beijing's dining options, so they followed Li Xingchao's recommendation, dining at a local restaurant.
It was the second official meeting of both families.
At their first meeting, Li Tang had brought his parents to Li Xinqi's home to introduce them, at a time when his parents didn't even know about Li Xinqi's existence. Time had passed swiftly, and now, after getting to know Li Xinqi better, Li Tang's parents were increasingly fond of her.
In their view, no matter how successful a man was professionally, without a good family, he remained a failure.
During dinner, the atmosphere was joyous and harmonious.
Halfway through the meal, Tang Chuqiu suddenly asked, "Li Tang, when do you plan to marry Qiqi?"
It was a question Li Xingchao and Zhou Muyun had long wanted to ask but hadn't dared. Everyone stopped eating and turned their attention to the young couple.
Li Tang hadn't considered marriage yet. He looked at Li Xinqi, who was also gazing back at him.
After an awkward silence, Li Xingchao quickly tried to ease the tension. "Nowadays, young people like their freedom, and marrying late isn't uncommon."
"You two youngsters can discuss it privately first," Zhou Muyun added gently.
But Tang Chuqiu insisted firmly, "We shouldn't spoil them in this matter! Li Tang isn't getting younger. Wandering around outside all the time isn't proper. Settling down will make him steadier and more responsible."
Li Zaiqiang gave Li Tang a meaningful look but didn't speak.
Li Tang didn't reject the idea outright; he simply hadn't made plans yet. "Give us some time to think about it properly."
"If you both agree, we can pick a good date, gather relatives and friends, and celebrate!" Tang Chuqiu's understanding of marriage was simple, shaped by the uncomplicated traditions of their generation.
"In the end, the key is mutual support and living happily," she concluded.
"I know," Li Tang nodded repeatedly.
After dinner, each family headed home separately.
Li Tang initially planned to stay with his parents, ignoring work temporarily. But when Li Xingchao called him later that evening, his understanding parents encouraged him to attend.
At Shenxia Group headquarters, Li Xingchao eagerly asked about work: "Is the Maruhe coal mine discovery really as huge as reported?"
"A massive find—3 billion tons, with total reserves potentially reaching 7 billion tons, half of it premium coking coal," Li Tang replied calmly, confident of his facts from previous knowledge.
"Seven billion tons!" Li Xingchao repeated in awe, finally sighing deeply. "It's unprecedented. Even in China, known for its coal reserves, there's never been anything this huge—especially not with such high-quality coking coal."
Li Tang quietly agreed, knowing this discovery would become crucially important in the near future. At the moment, most domestic enterprises remained indifferent about investing abroad. But soon enough, tightening policies and dwindling resources would force them to reconsider.
After a long silence, Li Xingchao patted Li Tang's shoulder affectionately. "You truly are our national treasure. Even the top leadership was concerned about your arrest."
Li Tang nodded thoughtfully. He knew many had helped him quietly during his crisis. Unable to thank each personally, he silently vowed never to forget their kindness.
"Whatever the future holds, I hope our projects will benefit everyone," Li Tang concluded sincerely.
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