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

Chapter 163 Are you going to take responsibility for Uncle Lu?

When Lu Congyue suddenly said those words with a serious face, Zhuang Qingxiang's unease became even more solidified.

"What happened?"

She grabbed Lu Congyue's sleeve, tilted her head slightly, and asked urgently, "Are you hiding something from me? What is it?"

Meeting her watery eyes, Lu Congyue's heart softened, and he said softly, "It's alright, just stay here and relax..."

Zhuang Qingxiang turned and walked out. If he wouldn't say anything, she would ask Yueyue. She wasn't stupid; she could tell that the matter involved Yueyue and Qian Dayou's family.

She had barely stepped out of the kitchen when Lu Congyue pulled her back in.

"Zhuang Qingxiang, do you really have to do this?"

"What happened to me? I just want to know what happened." Zhuang Qingxiang frowned. "If you don't want to tell me, I'll go ask Yueyue. What's wrong?"

Lu Congyue, feeling stifled, finally managed to calm down and said helplessly, "Yes, you're not wrong, I am. I'll tell you now, okay? But can we talk while we work? Otherwise, I'm afraid we won't have time for dinner, and you don't want the children to go hungry, do you?"

When the topic of children came up, Zhuang Qingxiang hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Since something has happened, it means she can't go back for the time being. Apart from Lu Congyue, she has nowhere else to go.

Even if she could find anywhere to make do, she couldn't afford to leave her two children there.

I have no choice but to swallow my pride and stay a little longer.

To facilitate the conversation, Zhuang Qingxiang stayed by Lu Congyue's side while he boiled water, killed the chicken, and plucked its feathers. She helped out and listened quietly as Lu Congyue recounted the suffering his two children had endured at Qian Dayou's house.

Zhuang Qingxiang's fingernails were so sharp they almost broke her palms.

She was only detained for a few days, but Qian Dayou's family really couldn't wait.

Although she was angry, she wasn't too surprised. She had actually thought of this, which was why she begged Meng Shuisheng and the others to help her take a look at the child, but unfortunately, they didn't help her.

"I took Yueyue to see you the day you gave your statement and had your medical report done. Your things are still at Qian Dayou's house. What are your plans?" Lu Congyue asked after finishing his sentence.

Zhuang Qingxiang was puzzled: "Will the police arrest them for doing these things?"

"I don't think so," Lu Congyue said honestly.

These days, who doesn't beat their children? Although Meng Shuisheng and his family were angry, they could only give them verbal warnings at most.

Zhuang Qingxiang frowned more and more, beginning to consider the possibility that she could spend money to hire a few people to smash up Qian Dayou's house.

"Didn't you hear me clearly?" Lu Congyue said in a low voice, "I said, your things are still at Qian Dayou's house! Yueyue is not strong enough to take anything out of Chenglin, she didn't take your things."

Zhuang Qingxiang didn't know what use it was for him to say these things at this time. Compared to the child, those things were all external possessions.

But the blank look in her eyes turned into surprise a few seconds later, and she looked at Lu Congyue with sparkling eyes.

Lu Congyue felt a strong urge, thinking that she would hug him at any moment.

Unfortunately, no.

Lu Congyue felt regretful.

Zhuang Qingxiang was so excited that Lu Congyue's image in her eyes became even more impressive.

"Is it what I think?" she asked excitedly.

Lu Congyue shrugged: "Probably."

Zhuang Qingxiang immediately smiled: "When are you going? Can we go first thing tomorrow morning? If it's too late, I'm afraid they'll hear that I'm back and something might happen."

"Sure," Lu Congyue replied readily. "Have Shi Peiran and his wife come to look after the child first thing tomorrow morning, and I'll go with you."

Zhuang Qingxiang was so happy that she forgot herself for a moment and hugged Lu Congyue from behind: "Thank you so much."

Lu Congyue froze, then was overjoyed. He was about to dry his hands and hug the woman when his waist loosened and the person who was hugging him let go.

Zhuang Qingxiang felt a little embarrassed. She had just been trying to keep her distance from the person, but then...

"I... I don't think I can be of much help. I'll go in and keep the child company."

After saying that, he fled in panic.

Lu Congyue only had time to watch her run back into the house.

It's okay, there's plenty of time, and he'll know she's not as cold-hearted as he thinks.

Zhuang Qingxiang ran into the house and saw Xiao Qianyue peering out the window. When she saw her run in, Xiao Qianyue quickly turned around and sat down, looking at her with an excited smile: "Mother."

Zhuang Qingxiang's ears instantly burned. She wanted to ask the child what he had just seen, but she was too embarrassed to ask and wanted to pretend that nothing had happened.

But the little girl was very straightforward and didn't understand her embarrassment.

"Mom, did you agree to let Uncle Lu be my dad?" Little Qian Yue asked excitedly, the little girl twisting and turning, wanting to jump off the kang (a heated brick bed) and rush out to call for her dad.

Zhuang Qingxiang vehemently denied it: "Don't talk nonsense, that's not true!"

Xiao Qianyue's excitement was dampened, but she wasn't discouraged. Curious, she asked, "But I saw you hug him! Mom, don't people in the village say that if you hug someone, you have to take responsibility? Aren't you going to take responsibility?"

Her biological mother ran away when she was young, and her father and grandparents didn't care about her. Whoever in the village had time would take care of her for a while. She grew up in this stumbling way until Zhuang Qingxiang came into the family, and only then did she have someone to take care of her.

She used to follow outsiders around all the time, and she heard a lot of things.

For example, if someone hugs another person, they are obligated to marry that person.

If someone falls into the water and a man pulls her out, he has to take responsibility for her and marry her.

And then there were those who ran into each other in the woods and quickly got married.

In short, although she is young, she can probably understand a little about marriage. For example, now that her mother has hugged Uncle Lu, they must get married.

She and her brother finally have a father!

"Mom, I like Uncle Lu as my father, and I'm sure my little brother will like it too," Xiao Qianyue said happily.

Zhuang Qingxiang flicked her little head with a slightly stern face and scolded, "What do you know, you little kid? Don't talk nonsense."

Little Qian Yue's eyes widened in disbelief: "Mom, are you really not going to take responsibility? What about Uncle Lu?"

She racked her brains trying to recall what her mother-in-law and aunt had said, and suddenly blurted out, "What if Uncle Lu loses his innocence?"

Zhuang Qingxiang was startled, thinking that the child knew about her affair with Lu Congyue, but then she thought, what does a child know? How could he say such a thing?

"Don't talk nonsense. What do you mean by 'innocent' or 'not innocent'? Do you even know what that means?" Zhuang Qingxiang asked.

Little Qian Yue didn't quite understand: "That's what all the old ladies in the village say. Mom, Uncle Lu is such a good man. If you don't take responsibility, he'll jump into the river, no, he'll hang himself."

"..." Zhuang Qingxiang couldn't help but flick her little head again, "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't listen to this kind of rubbish in the future."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a faint voice came from behind him: "It's not exactly a lie, is it? He still has to take responsibility."

Zhuang Qingxiang turned around abruptly and glared at Lu Congyue.

Lu Congyue shrugged: "I didn't eavesdrop on purpose. I just wanted to tell you that everything has been taken care of. What do you think we should do? Tell me, and I'll take action."

Zhuang Qingxiang originally wanted Lu Congyue to watch the child while she went to stew the chicken.

But look at Qian Yue's expectant face, and then at Lu Congyue's barely concealed excitement...