A charming widow in her 70s married a factory manager and raised his children.

Chapter 13 Dinner

Niu Jianzhong personally kept watch on Zhuang Qingxiang this afternoon, but he couldn't figure out what she was up to at all.

"Director Lu, what do you think she's trying to do?" Niu Jianzhong asked.

"Keep an eye on things. They'll find out sooner or later." Lu Congyue's voice was cold. "You don't need to keep an eye on things after get off work. I'll keep an eye on things from home."

Niu Jianzhong was somewhat worried: "Director Lu, isn't it too unsafe to let such a dangerous person live in your home? What if she tries to harm you..."

"Don't worry, she doesn't have that ability," Lu Congyue said coldly.

Niu Jianzhong knew Lu Congyue's abilities; if it weren't for his family... he wouldn't be stuck here as a factory manager now.

"Director Lu, you must be careful," Niu Jianzhong said worriedly.

"Okay." Lu Congyue patted his shoulder. "You need to be careful too."

On his way home from get off work, Lu Congyue overheard two people talking.

"Is your wife about to give birth? Have you prepared everything?"

"That's about it. My parents went to the village and traded two old hens with some villagers, and they also managed to get two pig's trotters..."

Lu Congyue suddenly remembered that Zhuang Qingxiang had fed the child rice oil.

With so many things to do, Lu Congyue forgot about it and turned a corner, leaving the factory directly.

Zhuang Qingxiang searched all day but couldn't find a place to stay, but she wasn't discouraged. With such a big factory, she was sure she could find a safe place to shelter from the wind and rain.

Back home, she started cooking rice porridge and asked Xiao Qianyue to watch the fire. She carried the thermos into the house, wiped her sweaty body with hot water, and changed into dry clothes.

Two babies were kicking their legs on the kang (a heated brick bed) and babbling.

The thinner one is Lu Congyue's adopted son, named Fang Donghua, and the chubby one is her son, named Qian Chenglin; they are both equally adorable.

Zhuang Qingxiang picked up her son, kissed him, then put him down. She picked up Xiao Donghua and kissed him as well, then breastfed him.

"Donghua was so good today," she said gently to the little baby. "Sister Yueyue said Donghua only cried once today, he's so good."

Little Donghua pouted and searched for her in her arms, looking extremely anxious.

Zhuang Qingxiang hurriedly went over to feed him, and only after he had eaten his fill did she turn to feed her own son.

When Xiao Chenglin smelled his mother's scent, he also purred his little mouth and looked for milk, his little arms and legs kicking and thrashing about with great energy.

Unfortunately, Zhuang Qingxiang's milk supply was insufficient, and he was not full, so he cried in grievance.

Zhuang Qingxiang quickly hugged and comforted him. Xiao Qianyue heard the crying and ran over: "Mom, the rice porridge is almost ready. Let me watch over my little brother."

Zhuang Qingxiang lovingly placed her son on the kang (a heated brick bed). Xiao Qianyue climbed onto the kang and stayed by her younger brother's side, coaxing him in a childish voice, "Little brother, don't cry, Mom will feed you something delicious in a little while."

Zhuang Qingxiang skimmed off some rice oil, fed her crying son, and then went to the kitchen to cook dinner.

She was busy when she heard the door open, and knew Lu Congyue was back. She took a deep breath, cheered herself up, and went to the kitchen door to greet him, "Director Lu, you're back. Have you eaten?"

Lu Congyue's eyes darkened.

The woman's hair always covered half of her face, and he seemed to have never been able to see what she looked like clearly.

Is it her habit or something she did on purpose?

"I got you a fish, you can stew it yourself." Lu Congyue handed over the grass carp he was carrying.

Zhuang Qingxiang quickly took it.

Lu Congyue noticed that her fingers were as white as scallions.

Are rural women's hands like this?

Lu Congyue had more and more questions in his mind, but he didn't show them. When he saw Zhuang Qingxiang carrying grass carp into the kitchen, he went back into his room as well.

Since this woman arrived, he hasn't stayed at home to avoid suspicion.

Starting today, he must stay home and keep an eye on her!

Zhuang Qingxiang was very happy to receive the grass carp. Director Lu did not ask her to leave and even brought her the grass carp back. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

Grass carp helps with lactation. Did Director Lu bring it back especially because he was worried his child wouldn't have enough milk?

The fish was cleaned and marinated with shredded ginger. Then, she quickly kneaded the dough and made pancakes.

Since there was already cooked rice porridge, I only made five pancakes. I put the pancakes aside, poured oil into the pan, heated the oil, added ginger slices and sautéed them, then fried the grass carp marinated with ginger shreds until golden brown on both sides. I added loofah and boiling water, simmered it over low heat for fifteen minutes, and the grass carp and loofah soup was ready.

Stir-fry some bok choy, and dinner will be ready.

Zhuang Qingxiang carried the prepared dinner to the main room, and was stunned as soon as she entered.

A small bed, covered with a military green sheet, had appeared in the main room at some point.

"Mommy, this is Uncle's bed!" Little Qian Yue excitedly told her, "Yueyue helped out!"

Zhuang Qingxiang snapped out of her reverie and smiled, "Yueyue is such a good girl, go wash your hands and eat."

Little Qianyue ran outside happily.

Zhuang Qingxiang set the dinner table, then went to the kitchen to get bowls and chopsticks, before returning to the main room with a heavy heart.

Previously, she was only focused on staying, but later Director Lu was very busy and never stayed at home. She almost forgot that she and Director Lu would be living under the same roof in the future.

It would be a lie to say it wasn't awkward, because there was only a curtain separating the inner room from the main room; there wasn't even a door.

If Director Lu had any evil thoughts in the middle of the night, she...

Bah! How could Factory Director Lu be that kind of person?!

Zhuang Qingxiang severely despised herself: someone had kindly hired her, yet she had judged them with the mind of a petty person!

Looking up, she saw Factory Director Lu sitting upright at the table. She quickly put down her chopsticks and said softly, "Factory Director Lu, please eat first."

"Mom, I'm all washed. Do you think I'm clean?" Little Qian Yue ran in, holding up her little hand.

Zhuang Qingxiang bent down to look, then smiled and kissed the little hand: "So clean."

Xiao Qianyue sat down happily, looking at Lu Congyue expectantly, waiting for him to start eating first.

My mother said that this is my uncle's house, and we should wait for him to eat first.

Lu Congyue raised his eyes, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhuang Qingxiang: "Comrade Zhuang, aren't you going to eat with us?"

"Ah? I have something to do... You guys eat first." Zhuang Qingxiang walked out with her head slightly lowered.

Lu Congyue sneered inwardly: You can hide for a while, but can you hide forever?

The fox will eventually show its tail! No rush!

Lu Congyue glanced at the child beside him, then reached out and ladled a bowl of fish soup for her: "Eat up."

"Thank you, Uncle." Little Qian Yue happily picked up the spoon, took a sip, and squinted her eyes. "It's so delicious, Uncle, please eat more."

This kid is quite outgoing...

Lu Congyue twitched the corners of his mouth and ladled himself a bowl.

I took a sip, and it was indeed delicious. It reminded me of the delicious food Zhuang Qingxiang used to cook, which was even better than the food at the state-run restaurant...

It doesn't look like the work of a rural woman at all!

Lu Congyue slowed down his eating pace, waiting for Zhuang Qingxiang to come over.

Even so, he had almost finished eating when Zhuang Qingxiang returned.

"Director Lu, you sound like you have a cold. This is some ginger soup I made for you. Drinking it and sweating it out should help you feel better."

Zhuang Qingxiang carefully placed a bowl of piping hot ginger soup on the table.

Lu Congyue's brow twitched slightly as his gaze fell on the bowl of ginger soup: a sugar-coated bullet?!