Chapter 4 - Bitter sweet memories.

Chang Bohai looked at the photos with moist eyes and said, "Liqin has been my only solace since the demise of my wife. Like black pearls adorning a beautiful white marble statue, has disaster after disaster strung around my family. As the patriarch of the Chang family, I have seen it all. The loss was awful, and the solitude of the cheerful survivor Liqin, soul-stirring. I need to thank Diu, for his upbringing."

Li Enlai immediately got up, and held the hand of Chang Bohai, as tears swelled up in the elder's eyes, and said, "We will always be there for you both. He is no different, from Bao to me. I promise you, that no matter what happens, that status will not change."

Li Diu smiled and said, "The twinkle in the eyes of Liqin, along with his billion-dollar smile, always reminds me of his father Chang Wei, and mother Chang Yan respectively. He has received the best of both of their genes and personality traits, and was one of the most loving and intelligent bachelors who is taken now."

Chang Bohai slumped into his chair and said, "They would have been proud parents now, with all his achievements. It is sad, that they did not survive, to cherish these glorious moments. Some things are not in our control, though."

Enlai stood up wrapped his arms around Bohai and said, "I still cherish the time, that I spent with Chang Wei building everything, that we glory in today. Diu is his paternal aunt. The Li household had always considered themselves, as having two grandchildren."

"I am fully aware of that, and to date, the reason why I have been strong is that you all have been there behind me, like a rock when required."

Li Diu interrupted the conversation, and said, "Uncle have a cup of tea. You need to take your medication on time, after breakfast." She handed over a cup to him and set his breakfast for him.

Li Bai immediately grabbed the opportunity, and changed the topic, and asked, "How is Bao? Did he call? He must be enjoying his annual trip to Zermatt."

That attempt was successful, and the ambiance becomes relaxed again.

Li Enlai however, was once again, reminded of that terrible day, that he had been trying to overcome all these years. His thoughts drifted away to that tragic day.

It was a year, that brought joy and despair to the Li and Chang families. Li Bao and Chang Liqin had just turned one. I and Chang Wei had spent a lot of our time, in the last three years, building the five-star hotel in Zhuhai.

The inauguration in September was a huge achievement for both, and to date, the families have been raking in good profits, year after year, from the investment. Moreover, it was the only investment, in which no other party was involved, as investors, had shrugged off its viability and feasibility in the early stages. Both of us had pooled in all our personal resources, to reach the Swan Lake hotel, to the state-of-art luxury hotel that it is today.

15th September 1985

I still dreaded the last conversation, that I had with the family, as they were leaving. Chang Liqin had not been keeping well: hence, he had been left in the care of his grandparents that day.

As they prepared to leave for the airport their driver walked in, and reported, "The car has a technical glitch, and is not starting. If we take the same vehicle, then we may encounter problems en-route, if it breaks down."

Overhearing the conversation Li Enlai said, "You can drive mine to the station."

He then called his driver, and said, "Come over quickly. You need to drop the Chang family at the station."

"Call me once you both reach home. Do not worry, Liqin will be fine." Enlai added after disconnecting the call of his driver.

"He is recovering already. Thanks for the good wishes. I'll call you once we reach home." Chang Wei smiled.

The driver walked in, immediately picked their luggage, and escorted them to the vehicle that was waiting at the entrance.

As they left Mr. Chen, one of the investors who had earlier rejected our proposal for their investment in the hotel greeted him, and said, "You guys have made the impossible, possible. It is one of the state-of-art luxury hotels of China today."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Ah—A missed opportunity is a missed one indeed."

Mr. Chen, now seemed to be interested in the hotel, and asked, "Are you still looking for investment in the hotel Mr. Li? The project seems viable."

Li Enlai smiled and pondered, "This communication may draw negative publicity."

"Can we withdraw to one of the conference rooms, as personal finances, are best not to be discussed in a public arena?"

"Absolutely right, Mr. Li." Mr. Chen responded as Li Enlai guided him to the first-floor conference room.

Standing near the window of the conference room, he could see the Chang family get into his limousine, as he was pondering over the correct phrases, to decline the uninvited investment.

As he turned around and was about to speak to the guest, he saw Chang Wei look out of the rear window backward, staring at the crowd of guests, that had gathered at the inauguration in the direction of his driver, having some serious communication with the mechanic.

He was about to speak when he received a call from Chang Wei, who said, "I think I saw someone in the front lobby."

"Whom?"

"I have a gut feeling about this. Something is weird about the discussions between the mechanic and my driver in the parking area—Forget it. I am too tired probably."

"I am in a meeting with Mr. Chen, and will call you back in some time," Enlai responded.

"I will call you once I reach the station." Chang Wei replied, and disconnected the call.

Li Enlai, then turned around and continued, "Mr. Chen, we appreciate your interest in the hotel, however, we are at present, not short of financing. We will get back when we build the next hotel of this chain."

They then exchanged pleasantries and discussed the possibilities of investments, in other avenues.

Li Enlai, then escorted Mr. Chen, back to the inauguration hall, and was speaking to each guest, as they were dispersing, as the curtains came down on the gala event of that day.

As he was busy thanking each guest, he received the dreaded call, that he has not forgotten to this day.

An officer from the road patrol department had called up, and reported, "I am sorry to inform, that there was a road accident, that led to the demise of both Chang Wei, and his wife, and the driver accompanying them."

It was a tragic accident leaving no scope for survival. As Li Enlai reached the hospital, that day, what he received were charred bodies, as the accident had resulted in the limousine catching fire.

Chang Liqin, who was then just one and a half, had lost both his parents, to that tragic accident. Li Diu, who had been busy nursing her son, Bao, now had the additional responsibility, of taking care of Liqin as well.

It was only when Liqin was in high school, that he returned, to live with his grandfather in the Chang Mansion, post the sudden demise of his grandmother.

This accident added fuel to the grief of the three households, and the security systems were puffed up after that.

Li Enlai thought, "I have always been cautious post the tragedy, which caused the death of my unborn child, and nearly cost the life of Li Diu, twenty-nine years ago. All these twenty-nine years, post that incident, we have been living a recluse life, sharing joys only amongst ourselves.

Our celebrations were always a family affair with the inclusion of only close family and trusted friends. No strangers were permitted into the family circle."

His thoughts flowed, "It has taken years, for us to come out of the fear of the unknown events, lurking outside the purview of our knowledge.

We have neither compromised, nor have been complacent, regarding the security of the family. Technological advances have only added teeth to my already powerful security systems and workforce. I only hope to see them happy and secured.

I hope, that the dedicated unit working around the clock, ensures their safety, without disturbing their routine life."

As he was browsing through the memory, of the chain of the events, his thoughts, were interrupted when Li Diu asked, "Is there something disturbing you?"

He avoided eye contact with her, and said, "I was just reminded of some bitter-sweet memories."

Li Enlai looked away, not wanting to have eye contact with her, and pondered, "She is the one person, who can see through me, easily. I do not want her as well, to get enveloped in the dreadful memories of the past."

He drifted his memories, from that of the bitter past to that of the wedding, and started looking deeply at the photos one by one, not wanting, to be caught by her prying eyes.

"Some whitewashed tombs, are better when they are left untouched, not revealing the skeletons that lay underneath." he pondered assertively.

As Li Enlai flipped through the album, the picture-perfect smiles on the faces of all made him content and well pleased.

He looked down and pondered, "I now, don't regret losing the opportunity, to have Huang Jia as my daughter-in-law. After all, Liqin, is like my second son, and is also brought up under my care and supervision, and is as equivalent to my son, Bao."

The conversation was interrupted by the horn of vehicles entering, marking the arrival of the Huang family.

Huang Fan and Huang Sying walked hand in hand, onto the garden where everyone was enjoying breakfast.

Huang Fan greeted, "Good morning uncle and aunt."

Looking around the garden Huang Sying said, "I just love the landscape work, of your garden. The arched entrance, surrounded by climbing roses, in hues of pink, red, purple, and white, changes the complete frame of mind of a person. The layered circles, flourishing with lavenders, tulips, freesia, alliums, tuberoses, ranunculus's, gladioluses, muscaries, and lilies, surrounding the perfectly mowed lawns, with beds of colored flowers on all sides. It just looks awesome."

"That department belongs to Diu. She is the one who oversees the maintenance of the garden."

"I have been a homemaker all my life, hence, I developed the hobby of gardening. If I had been working like you Sying, I would have probably, not found time as well."

Li Enlai bent forward toward her and asked, "Do you regret, not working in the office?"

"No, not at all. Every responsibility has its own joys and accomplishments."

"That's true. We could still have a garden like this arranged in our place for the future generation, to enjoy. Am I right Sying?"

As they settled Sying said, "Yes, of course. Thinking of them, our home has become void, since the time Jia and Liqin left."

"That's what happens when a daughter leaves."

Huang Fan picked up the cup of coffee and asked, "Did the wedding album arrive?"

Li Enlai replied, "Yes, it did?" and handed over the album.

As the Huang couple flipped through the album, Chang Bohai got up, and said, "I request your absence, as I need a rest. Meet you guys at lunch."

Li Enlai helped him to his room, and came back, as the others were cherishing memories of each picture in that album.

"You know each picture has a story to tell."

"Yes, and it weaves so many memories, that last a life long."

"They look very lovely and inseparable together."

Huang Fan shook his head and said, "Though the Huang and Li family, had initially planned the union of their children, Chang Liqin's love had conquered all, to ensure, that he does not lose his childhood sweetheart."

Li Enlai walked in, hearing the statement, and said, "Well, that's a closed chapter now, and should not be discussed anymore. We built a citadel in the air, without the acknowledgment of the King and the Queen, who were supposed to reside in there."

Li Enlai sat down on the chair next to Diu and said, "My past experiences have taught me, that our business endeavors should not be the benchmark, to start a long-lasting marital relationship."

That remark created a ripple, which was, however, diverted by Huang Fan with another remark, "The board of directors, was inquiring about the status of the co-operation."

"We'll discuss that in the next week when the kids return."

Li Diu looked at a picture of Bao, Liqin, and Jia, and said, "They look so much like one big family together."

"Chang Liqin has always been a part of our family and is, in fact, the laughter of this household. He always manages to keep everyone smiling. I have no regrets over my second son marrying your daughter, and you should not have any either." Enlai concluded.