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

Chapter 145 Sorry, I can't

Zhang Yu, angrily scolded, stormed into the house and yelled, "Qian Haoshan, I don't agree to this!"

Cao Xiang was furious and jumped up and down outside.

Qian Haoshan coughed awkwardly: "Mom, my wife is right."

Then he glared at Zhuang Qingxiang, implying that she was just looking for trouble.

Zhuang Qingxiang pretended not to see it. She had only one request, which she made very clear: if they didn't agree, she wouldn't mind fighting to the death.

She is Zhuang Qingmiao's daughter, and Qian Dayou is Zhuang Qingxiang's husband. Let's see who can get away with this!

"I told you, I'll move out once I find another place to live. I won't stay here indefinitely. If I weren't in a rush, I wouldn't have asked to move here," Zhuang Qingxiang said expressionlessly.

"Then go find the village chief," Qian Haojiang said immediately. "It's easy to get the village chief to find you a place to stay. If that doesn't work, you can go to the educated youth settlement and make do with them."

Cao Xiang's eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, Haojiang is right! If you have any problems, just go to the government and let the village chief solve them for you!"

Zhuang Qingxiang took a deep breath, turned around and left: "Fine, you wait!"

Before they even stepped out of the gate, Qian Dayou had Cao Xiang stop them.

We can't let Zhuang Qingxiang cause trouble right now; those two leaders in Beijing are still around.

It's not too late to send her away after they leave.

No matter how unwilling Cao Xiang and the others were, they had to listen to Qian Dayou. Zhuang Qingxiang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that they had finally given in. She told them to clean up Qian Haojiang's room by tomorrow morning, and she would bring the child back first thing in the morning.

It was indeed too late, and Zhuang Qingxiang was still worried about the children, so she hurried back under the cover of night.

The moon is very bright tonight; you can see it clearly even when traveling at night.

When she could vaguely see the light at the factory gate, Zhuang Qingxiang immediately started running.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a shadow flashing past in the woods.

Zhuang Qingxiang stopped in her tracks: "Who?!"

The only response she received was the sound of the night wind rustling through the leaves.

It's a bit creepy late at night.

Zhuang Qingxiang has died once, so she is not afraid of ghosts. She will feel at ease as long as there are no people or wolves and tigers.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided it was best not to go and check, lest it cause any unforeseen complications; getting back home was the most important thing.

Having made up her mind, she ran all the way back. The security guards on patrol were surprised to see her: "Comrade Zhuang, you just got back?"

"Hmm." Zhuang Qingxiang responded, hesitated for a moment, and then said to the man, "I think I saw a dark figure on my way back... You should be careful."

"Don't worry," the man said with a smile.

Zhuang Qingxiang was relieved and rushed home.

Sun Yongxian and Shi Peiran were anxiously waiting for her to come back, fearing that something might have happened to her. They were relieved to see her return safe and sound.

"What important thing do you have that you have to do yourself?" Sun Yongxian muttered.

Shi Peiran tugged at her arm: "Alright, it's good that you're back. Let's hurry home."

"Wait, I have something I'd like to discuss with you." Zhuang Qingxiang said apologetically.

"What's wrong? Tell us, we'll definitely help if we can." Sun Yongxian patted her chest loudly.

Shi Peiran smiled and said, "Yes, before Director Lu comes back, just let me know if you need anything."

Zhuang Qingxiang felt grateful and guilty because she decided to entrust Xiao Donghua to them.

She has to move out, taking her two children with her, but not Lu Congyue's adopted son.

What's the meaning of her taking the child away?

Anyone who didn't know better would think she was going to use the child to blackmail Lu Congyue.

When the story was told, Sun Yongxian and Shi Peiran were both stunned.

"What? You want us to help take care of Xiao Donghua? How can that be?" Sun Yongxian immediately exclaimed. "I can help you look after him occasionally, but to take care of him... I won't do it."

Shi Peiran frowned and asked worriedly, "Sister Zhuang, why are you suddenly saying this? Donghua has always been under your supervision, and Director Lu trusted you completely. Why are you suddenly handing it over to us..."

"I'm moving out first thing tomorrow morning, so I can't take him with me," Zhuang Qingxiang said sincerely. "I don't trust anyone else, but I'm comfortable leaving Donghua with you.

Another piece of news hit Sun Yongxian and Shi Peiran, leaving them stunned once again.

Sun Yongxian immediately became anxious, grabbing Zhuang Qingxiang's hand and asking, "What's going on? Why are you moving out? Does Factory Director Lu know about this?"

"He'll know when he gets back," Zhuang Qingxiang said softly. "Don't ask about the specific reasons. Anyway, I have to move out. Donghua... if you really don't want to see him, I'll find someone else tomorrow."

"Sister Zhuang, Factory Director Lu is already on his way back. He'll be there in a day or two at most. Can't you wait for him?" Shi Peiran advised. "If you have any problems, Factory Director Lu will definitely be able to help you solve them when he gets back."

"No need..." Zhuang Qingxiang shook her head. "I've already made up my mind. His return won't change anything."

Sun Yongxian and Shi Peiran took turns trying to persuade Zhuang Qingxiang for half an hour, but they couldn't change her mind.

Unfortunately, the two of them were reluctant to entrust Xiao Donghua to anyone else, so they could only agree to help take care of him temporarily.

After agreeing on a time for them to pick up the child the next morning, the two left. Zhuang Qingxiang washed up wearily and went to bed on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Just as she turned off the light and lay down, Xiao Qianyue suddenly crawled over and snuggled into her arms.

"Mother, are we really going to move away?" she asked softly.

"Yes," Zhuang Qingxiang replied softly. "We'll move tomorrow morning. We'll go back to the village and stay at my mother's house for a few days. She'll find us another safe place to live."

Little Qian Yue pouted in the darkness: "Why? Yueyue doesn't want to move, doesn't want to go back to the village."

"Be good, listen to me." Zhuang Qingxiang didn't intend to explain to the child, because she wouldn't understand anyway. Children just need to listen to adults.

Little Qian Yue started sobbing: "Then...can I still go to kindergarten?"

Zhuang Qingxiang remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "No."

Xiao Qianyue's sobs immediately intensified, but she held them back for fear of waking her two younger brothers.

Zhuang Qingxiang felt a lump in her throat and hugged the little girl tightly, hoping the embrace would comfort her.

Xiao Qianyue cried herself to sleep, and Zhuang Qingxiang followed suit. The next day, just as dawn was breaking, she opened her eyes, rubbed her aching forehead, and called to Xiao Qianyue to get up and pack their things.

They came with only a small bundle, but left with more than twice as much stuff.

Zhuang Qingxiang didn't make a fuss and brought along all the clothes that Lu Congyue had given them.

She carefully tucked the money she had saved up into a pocket sewn into her underwear; it was her livelihood, and she couldn't afford to lose it.

While Xiao Qianyue was helping to tidy up, she kept glancing at Xiao Donghua on the kang (a heated brick bed).

She asked dejectedly, "Mother, can't we really take Donghua with us? He's so pitiful."

Zhuang Qingxiang could only answer her with two words: "No!"