The biggest problem, perhaps, was the physical examination organized by the prison for Ma Xudong, right?
But now, this is no longer important.
He didn't have cancer, nor would he die, which was an imnse comfort to his son Xiang Huainan and his daughter Xiang Qingqing.
Xiang Huainan, who had almost exclusively received Western education from a young age, still managed to understand and respect his biological father. Reuniting with Ma Xudong and receiving such news naturally filled the biological son with relief and exhilaration, and he even shared a large glass of red wine with his father, even though he seldom drank and was attentive to diet and health.
No need to ntion Xiang Qingqing, who, during her ti with Liu Zhizhong, had gradually co to understand her father's difficulties and found peace with it. The girl, having faced life and death, was also thankful for Ma Xudong's nurturing grace.
Regardless, Ma Xudong only remarried to Lu Yuqing very late, focusing his attention on her before that, although he was seldom ho to watch over her much. Typically, Ma Xudong had mistresses outside but never brought them ho, which was, in a sense, a form of protection for his daughter.
Ma Xudong not having cancer naturally made Xiang Qingqing feel happy and relieved.
Since his imprisonnt, Ma Xudong had beco thinner, his blood pressure had lowered, his blood sugar normalized, and his health indices had improved, restoring his overall health.
His trip to the UK was like a rebirth. Originally, he had resigned himself to living each day waiting for death.
Now, with his spirits revived, he felt more alive and more open-minded.
Of course, he planned to wait for his daughter's full recovery before returning to China together.
Xiang Wenhua was quite pleased with this turn of events and directly asked Ma Xudong, upon returning to China, what did he plan to do? If he wanted to pursue an official career, his brother could arrange a place for him in Ningnan Province at the sa director level, with the potential for a promotion to vice provincial level not being a big issue.
Or if he wanted to go into business, that was also no problem; his brother could arrange that perfectly as well.
Their relationship, genuinely instigated by the mix-up of children, or perhaps Professor Li Xuerui's intentional switching, ant that their bond was extraordinary.
After all, over the years, Xiang Wenhua's biological daughter had received exceptional care and gained a good brother in Liu Zhizhong.
Xiang Wenhua was grateful to Ma Xudong and cherished such a connection. After all, at 46, Ma Xudong was still at the pri of his life, a ti for creation.
Having matured through so much, whatever he did would not be too bad. In college, he had also been outstanding, and he had started his political career as a selected candidate.
However, Ma Xudong was thankful but ntioned he was temporarily not in a hurry to consider these opportunities. Now that he had gained his freedom, he needed to reflect on life, and he would decide once Qingqing had completely recovered.
Xiang Wenhua understood and agreed that this was a solid plan.
Of course, in Xiang Wenhua's arrangent, Ma Xudong's return to China would not be with his previous identity but with his current one abroad—the real alias and passport of Niu Guozheng.
Xiang Wenhua was very adept and swift at handling such affairs.
Even Niu Guozheng's educational background was thoroughly arranged, sticking to his college major in political economy.
This kind of Iron Fist authority indeed had real and powerful influence!
Think about it, even a student majoring in Yangqin could switch to a master's degree in Nuclear Engineering—how strong and influential must Academic Daji's background be? When compared to the Xiang family's level, her background wasn't even in the sa league!
Eventually, shortly after Xiang Qingqing's successful surgery, Ma Xudong finally determined a new goal in life.
He sought out Xiang Wenhua, expressed his formal gratitude to this younger brother, and made a life-altering decision that shocked Xiang Wenhua.
Ma Xudong declared that he wouldn't return to China because everything would be arranged for him there, lacking vitality and creativity.
Thus, he decided to stay in the UK. Firstly, he could occasionally et with his son Xiang Huainan, finding solace in their conversations; secondly, the UK had excellent educational resources and environnt, prompting him to pursue postgraduate studies there.
Xiang Wenhua was taken aback but also very supportive. Standing at a different level, with Li Xuerui living abroad for years caring for their child, Xiang Wenhua had maintained a close connection with her and had a deep understanding of the world, just like Mr. Xiang.
Xiang Wenhua inquired which postgraduate field Ma Xudong wanted to study.
Ma Xudong said he would study International Political Relations; his undergraduate thesis was related to this, and he was deeply interested in the field. He planned to spend half a year preparing for IELTS, then apply for a master's degree in International Political Relations at King's College. If successful, he intended to pursue a Ph.D. and spend the remainder of his life like Xiang Huainan, in academia, which seed like a good life.
This kind of planning was truly beyond ordinary understanding and thinking.
But Ma Xudong had Xiang Wenhua's strong support, and Xiang Huainan was especially welcoming of his father's decision. Xiang Huainan even said his scholarship was sufficient to support his father's life there, without needing any further financial aid from Xiang Wenhua.
See, isn't that nice?
After much experience and broadening one's horizons, one's perspective often changes, sotis becoming more positive and ascending to higher levels.
Just like Ma Xudong, who had completely freed himself from all shackles in China and chose his own path for the second half of his life, leading to... his remarkable achievents, becoming a citizen of another country, a leading expert professor in his field, and a core mber of the foreign political-economic advisory group. But of course, this is a story for later.
As for Ma Xudong in China, with the help of Xiang Wenhua, he passed away from terminal liver cancer after four months. A corruption convict, his life ended simply without even a notice from within the organization—just a death certificate from the prison and a cremation certificate from the funeral ho sufficed.
He lived, and then he died!
He died, yet he still lived, embracing an entirely different world.
And in China, many like him either ended up in prison; others reunited with family after release, seeking a comfortable life, no longer pondering about life; so even chose to end their own lives, granting happiness to family, no need for further endeavor...
Just two days after Ma Xudong made the wisest decision of his life, Liu Zhizhong drove a Big Lao RV, heading north and then turning Southwest direction, returning to Hu Yang Province.
Everyone has their own life and should not be swayed by others. Yet, Comrade Liu Zhizhong, involved in officialdom, still could not fully control his destiny.
Because he had dreams and had seen the allure of Iron Fist authority.
He was still young, able to strive, able to create.
As for the future, it was sowhat uncertain; leave it to fate?
Ma Xudong discussed his decision with Liu Zhizhong.
Liu Zhizhong admired the decision and fully supported it, agreeing that this was probably the best plan.
Ma Xudong even earnestly told him, "Zhizhong, I still consider you the strongest secretary in the world. In life, in officialdom, do your best and then let the heavens decide!"
Do your best and let the heavens decide...
Aye, there's wisdom in that...
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