A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 211 A Spontaneous Trip to Xinjiang

"Zhang Chen, there's something I want to tell you." Li Shiqing sat at her desk, casually twirling a pen in her fingers, her eyes fixed on the computer screen, speaking seemingly nonchalantly.

Zhang Chen was engrossed in processing a pile of documents when he heard his wife's words. Without looking up, he casually replied, "What is it, my dear wife?"

Li Shiqing put down her pen, turned her chair around, looked straight at Zhang Chen, and said seriously, "I want to travel to Xinjiang. I'll take leave tomorrow and leave. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen stopped abruptly, slowly raising his head with a look of surprise: "What? Xinjiang? Leaving tomorrow? Honey, what's gotten into you? Why do you suddenly want to go to Xinjiang for tourism, and in such a hurry?"

Li Shiqing stood up, walked to Zhang Chen's side, put her hands on her hips, and said excitedly, "Hey, don't you think our daily lives are too monotonous? Going to work, coming home, day after day. Last night I was scrolling through my phone and saw so many beautiful scenes and delicious food from Xinjiang—the grasslands, the lakes, the lamb skewers—it all captivated me. Besides, we haven't had a proper getaway in ages. Let's take a spontaneous trip this time, how cool would that be!"

Zhang Chen smiled helplessly, reached out and pulled Li Shiqing's hand, making her sit on his lap: "Wife, your idea is quite romantic, but we're so busy with work, can we just take leave whenever we want? You're the marketing manager, and I'm the sales manager. This company can't function without us."

Li Shiqing rolled her eyes at him and patted his shoulder: "Stop making excuses. Work is never-ending. We need to learn to give ourselves a break. Besides, our colleagues in the department can handle it if we take a few days off. Trust in their abilities."

Zhang Chen hesitated for a moment, still a little worried: "But..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shiqing interrupted him: "No buts, it's settled. If you don't agree, I'll go by myself. Don't regret not coming with me to enjoy the beautiful scenery and delicious food." As she spoke, Li Shiqing pouted, pretending to be angry.

Looking at his wife's adorable yet determined expression, Zhang Chen couldn't persuade her otherwise and had to give in: "Okay, okay, go ahead, I just can't do anything with you. But we need to tell our family first, so they don't worry."

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's agreement, Li Shiqing's face lit up with a smile, and she gave him a big kiss on the cheek: "Honey, you're so sweet! I knew you would agree. Let's call our families now."

So the two of them started calling their families. Li Shiqing dialed her mother Li Yuan's number first.

“Hello, Mom,” Li Shiqing said with a smile.

"Qingqing, what's wrong?" Li Yuan's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Mom, Zhang Chen and I are planning to take leave to go on a trip to Xinjiang. We're leaving tomorrow. We just wanted to let you know," Li Shiqing said excitedly.

"Xinjiang? That's so sudden!" Li Yuan was a little surprised. "Are you able to leave for work?"

Li Shiqing repeated what she had said to Zhang Chen to her mother, and finally added in a coquettish tone, "Mom, don't worry, we're all grown up now and can take care of ourselves. Just wait for us to bring you back some Xinjiang specialties."

Li Yuan was amused by her daughter: "Okay, okay, you two go ahead, just be careful. Have fun!"

After hanging up with her mother, Li Shiqing dialed her father Liu Xuan's number. Liu Xuan was initially a little worried when he heard that his daughter was going to Xinjiang for a trip, but after Li Shiqing's persistent pleading, he had no choice but to agree.

Then, Li Shiqing called her younger sister, Liu Yixin.

"Hey, sis, what's up?" Liu Yixin's voice was clear and lively.

"Xin Xin, your brother-in-law and I are going to Xinjiang for a trip. We're leaving tomorrow," Li Shiqing said.

"Wow, Xinjiang! Sis, you guys are so cool!" Liu Yixin exclaimed excitedly. "Xinjiang has so much delicious food, like roasted buns, tandoori meat, and hand-pulled rice. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. And there are so many tourist attractions, like Kanas Lake and the Ili Grassland, they're absolutely gorgeous. I talked a lot about Xinjiang with the actress Guli before, she's from Xinjiang, and she told me about so many fun places."

Hearing her sister's words, Li Shiqing also became excited: "Really? Then tell me quickly, what are some fun places we definitely have to go?"

So, Liu Yixin began to enthusiastically introduce everything to Li Shiqing, from tourist attractions to local delicacies, speaking with great expertise. Li Shiqing listened attentively, nodding and occasionally asking questions. Zhang Chen, watching his wife's earnest expression, smiled helplessly, thinking: These two sisters get this excited whenever travel is mentioned.

After hanging up with her sister, Li Shiqing called her brother, Liu Qicheng. Liu Qicheng was incredibly envious when he heard that his sister and brother-in-law were going to Xinjiang for a trip, and he kept pestering them to bring him gifts when they came back.

Finally, it was Zhang Chen's turn to call his parents. He dialed his mother's number and told her about his upcoming trip to Xinjiang. Although his mother was a little worried, she still reminded them to be careful and have fun.

After making all the calls, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen exchanged a smile.

"Okay, now that everyone in the family agrees, we can go on our trip without worry," Li Shiqing said happily.

"Yes, but we need to pack our bags quickly, we have to leave first thing tomorrow morning," Zhang Chen reminded him.

"Oh right, I'll go pack now." Li Shiqing said, and hurried towards the office, preparing to pack her things and go home to pack her luggage.

Zhang Chen watched his wife's retreating figure, shook his head helplessly, but his heart was also filled with anticipation. He knew that this trip to Xinjiang would definitely be an unforgettable experience.

Back home, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen immediately began packing their luggage. As Li Shiqing packed, she muttered to herself, "Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, pretty clothes... Oh dear, I don't even know which clothes to bring. The scenery in Xinjiang is so beautiful, I need to bring some pretty outfits for photos."

Watching his wife's flustered state, Zhang Chen laughed and said, "Honey, don't worry too much. Just bring a few simple and comfortable clothes. We can buy new ones in Xinjiang."

“That won’t do. The clothes I bring must match the beautiful scenery of Xinjiang,” Li Shiqing said without looking up.

Just as the two were busy packing their luggage, Li Shiqing's phone suddenly rang. She picked it up and saw that it was a call from a colleague at work.

"Hey, Li, I heard you're taking leave to go on a trip to Xinjiang?" a colleague asked on the phone.

“Yes, Zhang Chen and I are leaving tomorrow,” Li Shiqing said.

"You guys are really carefree, just leaving whenever you want. But don't worry, we'll handle the marketing department's work while you're gone," a colleague said with a smile.

"That's good, thank you for your hard work. I'll bring you something delicious when I get back," Li Shiqing said gratefully.

After hanging up the phone, Li Shiqing said to Zhang Chen, "See, I told you so. Our colleagues are all very reliable. Let's go on our trip without worry."

Zhang Chen nodded: "Okay, that's good. But we still need to hand over our work in advance so as not to cause trouble for our colleagues."

The two worked late into the night before finally finishing packing. Lying in bed, Li Shiqing was too excited to sleep. She kept telling Zhang Chen all sorts of things she imagined about Xinjiang, while Zhang Chen listened patiently, occasionally responding with a few words.

The next morning, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen dragged their suitcases and embarked on their journey to Xinjiang. At the airport, looking at the crowds of people coming and going, Li Shiqing excitedly said to Zhang Chen, "Honey, I feel like we're two explorers, about to discover a whole new world."

Zhang Chen smiled and pinched her nose: "Yes, our adventurer's journey officially begins now."

As the plane slowly took off, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen's journey to Xinjiang officially began. They didn't know what they would encounter on this vast land, but they were full of anticipation and ready to embrace all the unknown surprises and challenges.

As soon as the plane landed at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen felt the unique atmosphere of Xinjiang. The dry air, the azure sky, and the warm sunshine were all completely different from the cities they lived in.

"Wow, Xinjiang, here we come!" Li Shiqing excitedly opened her arms and shouted.

Seeing his wife's happy expression, Zhang Chen couldn't help but smile. The two took a taxi from the airport to their booked hotel. Along the way, Li Shiqing kept looking at the scenery outside the window, constantly exclaiming in amazement.

“Honey, look, those buildings are so unique!” Li Shiqing said, pointing to a Uyghur-style building outside the window.

"Yes, Xinjiang's architectural style blends various cultural elements, which is very charming," Zhang Chen said.

After arriving at the hotel and checking in, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen rested briefly before eagerly heading out to experience the city's charm. They visited the International Grand Bazaar, a bustling place filled with a dazzling array of specialty goods and numerous Uyghur food stalls.

"Wow, there's so much delicious food here!" Li Shiqing was immediately attracted by the food. She pulled Zhang Chen to a baked bun stall and bought two baked buns.

"Mmm, this baked bun is so delicious! The crust is crispy, and the meat filling inside is tender and juicy." Li Shiqing praised it as she ate.

Zhang Chen also took a bite and nodded, saying, "It's really good. Xinjiang's cuisine lives up to its reputation."

The two strolled around the Grand Bazaar for a while, buying some unique souvenirs, and then visited a nearby museum to learn about Xinjiang's history and culture. Inside the museum, Li Shiqing looked at the ancient artifacts and exclaimed, "Xinjiang has such a long history! These artifacts are witnesses to history."

"Yes, Xinjiang is a place where many ethnic groups live together and diverse cultures blend together, with a rich historical and cultural heritage," Zhang Chen said.

After leaving the museum, it was getting dark. Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen found a Uyghur restaurant, intending to try authentic Xinjiang cuisine. They ordered dishes such as braised chicken with potatoes, hand-pulled rice, and roasted lamb skewers.

"Wow, the portions of these dishes are huge!" Li Shiqing exclaimed in surprise as she looked at the large plate of chicken that had been served.

"That's how Xinjiang cuisine is—generous portions and delicious," Zhang Chen said with a smile. "Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Li Shiqing picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of chicken and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up immediately: "It's so delicious! This braised chicken is spicy and flavorful. The chicken is tender and the potatoes are soft and glutinous."

The two chatted and ate, enjoying the delicious Xinjiang cuisine. After their meal, they strolled through the streets of Urumqi, admiring the city's night view.

"Honey, I think this trip was the right decision. Xinjiang is a place you never want to leave once you've been there," Li Shiqing said happily, leaning on Zhang Chen's shoulder.

"Yes, we'll come again if we have the chance," Zhang Chen said.

Back at the hotel, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen washed up and lay in bed. Although they were physically tired, they felt exceptionally relaxed. They were looking forward to tomorrow's journey, wondering what surprises awaited them.

Over the next few days, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen visited famous scenic spots such as Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and the Ili Grassland. At Kanas Lake, they were awestruck by the dreamlike lake and the surrounding scenery; in Hemu Village, they experienced the life of the Tuva people and enjoyed the beautiful sunrise and starry sky; on the Ili Grassland, they rode horses across the grassland and felt the vastness and freedom of nature.

At each stop, Li Shiqing would take countless photos, wanting to capture these beautiful moments and share them with her family and friends later. Zhang Chen quietly carried her things, and seeing his wife's happy expression, he felt incredibly blessed.

On their last day in Xinjiang, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen visited a local handicraft shop. They planned to buy some handicrafts to take back as gifts for their family and friends.

“Honey, look how pretty this hand-embroidered handkerchief is! I want to buy one for Mom.” Li Shiqing said to Zhang Chen, picking up a handkerchief.

"Yes, it's really good, very characteristic of our ethnic group," Zhang Chen said.

The two spent a long time browsing in the shop before finally choosing a gift. After leaving the handicraft shop, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen went to a coffee shop, intending to sit down and rest before heading to the airport.

"Honey, this trip to Xinjiang was truly unforgettable. I will always remember this wonderful time," Li Shiqing said, looking out the window at the street scene.

“Me too, we want to travel to more places together in the future,” Zhang Chen said.

After finishing their coffee, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen dragged their suitcases to the airport. At the airport, they checked in and sat in the departure lounge, waiting to board their flight.

"Honey, I suddenly feel a little reluctant to leave Xinjiang," Li Shiqing said, leaning on Zhang Chen's shoulder with a hint of sadness.

"Don't be sad, we'll come again in the future," Zhang Chen comforted her.

As the boarding announcement came on, Li Shiqing and Zhang Chen stood up, pulled their suitcases, and headed towards the boarding gate. They knew that their trip to Xinjiang was coming to an end, but these wonderful memories would remain in their hearts forever.

As the plane slowly took off, Li Shiqing watched the Xinjiang landscape recede into the distance outside the window, her heart filled with reluctance. She looked forward to her next trip, to another encounter with Xinjiang. Zhang Chen held her hand tightly, as if telling her that no matter how long the road ahead, they would walk together.