In February 1978, Qi's father was rehabilitated and he was sent to work in Guangdong; Qi accompanied him as his secretary. While there, Qi attended the First Military Medical University, but she suspended her studies due to health reasons. On her recovery, Qi worked in the Military Communications Bureau of Guangzhou, where she was responsible for repatriating Vietnamese female prisoners of war. When her father returned to Beijing, Qi went with him and enrolled in the Foreign Affairs College.