There is only one kind of love in the world, which is to persist in it even after recognizing the truth of life.
...
If Li Qiang had not been born in that courtyard, perhaps he would have been a chef.
In the bustling crowds, success is achieved by one of two kinds of people. The first kind, who happened to do something right. The second kind, who were born into fortunate circumstances. Li Qiang belonged to the latter...
For someone not particularly intelligent, consistently ranking at the top of his class was the effort Li Qiang poured into his youth. In that era, his father, Li Jialuo, was a prominent figure in the judicial system, someone who had grown up in the midst of war, with a five-pointed star on his person.
Li Jialuo had only one wish: to train Li Qiang to be his successor. To this end, Li Qiang grew up in an environment akin to a military camp. In such a family, Li Qiang didn't even have the capacity to rebel. Every time his father stood before him with his back ramrod straight, Li Qiang couldn't help but tremble as he glanced at his father's belt.
That was the nightmare of Li Qiang's childhood, and also the driving force behind his academic excellence.
As time passed, Li Qiang grew up and was enlisted in the army at a young age. For ordinary people, military service was arduous, but for Li Qiang, his first few years as a recruit were his only taste of freedom.
Finally, Li Qiang's leave ended. He wished to remain in the army, but a letter from his father frightened him into a willing discharge. He returned to his home in Beijing. By then, he was quite grown. His mother was eager to arrange a marriage for him, but his father was against it, arranging a junior position in the judicial system for Li Qiang to start with.
...
Work was the most boring thing for Li Qiang. He didn't have to try; others strived and broke their heads for positions, and he could choose. He also knew that whatever he wanted to do, his father would let him experience it. His ultimate fate was to retire from the procuratorate, like his father, and train the next successor of the Li family.
With nothing else to do, Li Qiang met a young lady from a youth literature club. It was during a promotional event. Under the scorching sun, a smiling young lady was busy selling magazines for her literature club.
It was a university-exclusive literature club, and their magazines featured the aspirations and dreams of the young generation of the new era. Back then, Beijing didn't have as many cars, and most people still commuted by bicycle.
These cyclists would occasionally glance at the magazines, but most wouldn't buy them.
Li Qiang, who was never afraid of being late, stopped. He took a magazine from the young lady's hand, flipped through it, and asked with a smile, "Is there anything written by you?"
"Yes, page 15. My pen name is Green Apple."
"I'll buy it."
"Thank you!"
...
At the office, while others were busy, Li Qiang had plenty of leisure time. He took out that roughly printed magazine and turned to page 15. The moment he read the first sentence, he felt a deep resonance in his heart.
'There is only one kind of love in the world, which is to persist in it even after recognizing the truth of life.'
Li Qiang pondered seriously: In this society that advocates freedom, if I cannot have professional freedom, can I at least have freedom in love? Thus, Li Qiang followed the address on the magazine and found the youth literature club. Amidst the bustling crowd, he saw the young lady.
"Green Apple."
Li Qiang called out familiarly, drawing everyone's attention. They all looked over, seeing Li Qiang in a Zhongshan suit, with thick eyebrows and a handsome face.
Some were laughing, some were frowning...
The people at the magazine office could understand the look in Li Qiang's eyes. Many liked to call that kind of look love at first sight.
...
That day, Green Apple was indeed embarrassed. But she was, after all, a university student, educated with the most progressive ideas. Soon, Green Apple and Li Qiang became familiar with each other.
At that time, Green Apple was particularly fond of Lu Xun's literature, and her thoughts were sharp. She asked Li Qiang, "Do you like me, or do you like my literature?"
"Marry me! Then both you and your literature will be mine."
Green Apple paused for a moment, then turned and ran!
...
It was a stormy day. Green Apple's submission was rejected. The literature club said her writing was impractical. Green Apple ran to the sports field, the heavy rain pouring down... Green Apple cried in the rain, wishing the downpour would wash away her sorrow.
She didn't believe that her writing about love was ethereal and disconnected from reality. She felt that everyone didn't understand love and was jealous of her talent.
Just then, in the torrential rain, she saw Li Qiang. Li Qiang held an umbrella and a sign. The sign was blurred by the rain, but the words could still be seen.
'There is only one kind of love in the world, which is to persist in it even after recognizing the truth of life.'
Seeing these words, Green Apple ran towards Li Qiang without hesitation, hugged him tightly, pressed herself against him, and kissed him passionately, biting his lips. Their love was born in the rain, but it was as fervent as fire.
Such a love was envied by senior and junior female students, but their good days didn't last more than a few months. Green Apple discovered she was pregnant and found Li Qiang.
Li Qiang feigned silence upon hearing the news. Green Apple was furious and turned to leave, but Li Qiang grabbed her. She struggled, but Li Qiang's strength was greater.
"Let go of me."
"I will never let go in this lifetime."
"You..."
Li Qiang smiled. "I was afraid you wouldn't agree, but fate has been quite kind to me."
With that, Li Qiang knelt on one knee, took out a wedding ring as if in a foreign art film only seen in universities at the time.
"Marry me."
Green Apple was stunned. She had never imagined she would be proposed to. How romantic!
For the next few days, this news spread throughout several universities in Beijing. Many young girls cast envious glances at Green Apple as they passed her.
...
"I don't agree!"
His father's words were like a thunderclap. For many years, Li Qiang had not dared to argue with his father, but at that moment, his rebellious spirit finally emerged: "Why can't I marry her?"
"Because she is pregnant."
"What if she's pregnant? It's not someone else's."
Li Jialuo's expression was stern: "As a prosecutor, you may not have brilliant achievements, but you absolutely cannot have anything that people can talk about. Premarital pregnancy will lead people to say you have moral issues. Becoming a father within months of marriage will undoubtedly be a lifelong disgrace written on your resume."
Li Qiang's mother also chimed in to persuade him, "Qiangzi, your father isn't refusing, is he? As long as you make your girlfriend have an abortion, it'll be fine."
"Mom, what are you saying? That's my child."
Li Jialuo, who always held dominance at home, roared upon hearing Li Qiang's words: "If you dare to marry such a woman, don't come back to this house."
"If I don't come back, I won't. I'm leaving now. I've been thoroughly disappointed with this family for a long time. You don't understand love. You don't even treat me as your own flesh and blood. In your eyes, that prosecutor's position is above all else."
For the sake of love, Li Qiang finally erupted and left his family without hesitation.
...
Li Jialuo did not rush to call Li Qiang back, but instead, he used tactics.
The attitude of his workplace towards Li Qiang underwent a 180-degree shift. Before, they didn't let him do any work; now, all the dirty and tiresome tasks were assigned to him. While others drank tea and chatted, he had endless work, and any slight mistake would earn him a scolding from his superiors.
Though he suffered greatly at work, he was cheerful at night.
For work, Li Qiang rented a place and created a love nest with Green Apple.
...
At that time, people's thinking was progressing rapidly, and policies were changing day by day. Going into business became the choice for more people. Li Qiang also considered this. He wrote his resignation letter, preparing to start a business.
Just on this day, Li Qiang's mother appeared before him, smiling and saying, "Qiangzi, your father has agreed to your marriage."
"Why?"
"Why else? He only has you as his son. Could he really disown you?"
Li Qiang's mother had lied. Seeing the growing rift between father and son, Li Jialuo refused to compromise, and Li Qiang had completely shed the meekness of his youth. Though his rebellion came late, it was more fierce.
Upon hearing that Li Qiang intended to resign, Li Jialuo also panicked. It was then that Li Qiang's mother approached Green Apple, appealing to reason and emotion. Green Apple also knew that sometimes Li Qiang was indeed too tired at his workplace. He had never been so tired, and all this hardship was because of the child. Moreover, Green Apple felt that Li Qiang's mother was right.
If she aborted this child and got married, they could have as many children as they wanted in the future, and they would be protected by Li Jialuo's authority.
Green Apple was persuaded. She was ready to have an abortion, but due to Li Qiang's persistence, the child in Green Apple's womb was already quite developed. The hospital dared not perform an abortion on Green Apple, so Green Apple went to an obstetrics and gynecology hospital established in a rural area.