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

Chapter 259, the mission chapter, is here!

embroidered?

Lu Congyue tried to imagine it, but couldn't.

He turned thirty-three the following year, and he remained chaste, never having been with any other woman except Zhuang Qingxiang.

Those who drugged him, those who threw themselves at him, were either fully clothed or completely naked; there were none who were half-covered by wearing a bellyband.

I don't know if it will look good...

Although I can't imagine it, just thinking about Zhuang Qingxiang's snow-white skin makes my throat feel dry.

"Then make a red one, a bright red one," he pleaded softly. "We're newlyweds, after all..."

Zhuang Qingxiang thought to herself that he must have seen the bright red silk in the box. She planned to embroider mandarin ducks playing in the water or peonies on it to make a pair of pillowcases, which she would then secretly sell to make money.

Making a bellyband? That's such a waste!

"Xiang..." Lu Congyue saw that she didn't respond, so he hugged her and pleaded softly, his breath as hot as his body. "You didn't even wear red to your wedding, and you just quietly got the marriage certificate with me. I can't get over it. I want to see you as a bride."

Zhuang Qingxiang softened at his pleading.

Thinking back on her life, although she had married Qian Quan once, she had only a small bundle when she left with him, without even a new dress as part of her dowry, let alone any red silk undergarments.

Lu Congyue is right, they are newlyweds, and she is also a bride.

After a long pause, she softly responded, "Mmm..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, which made Lu Congyue's heart burn with desire, and he rolled over and mounted her.

"Xiang, you didn't keep your promise, you should be punished... Don't make a sound..."

Zhuang Qingxiang was punished, and the next day she obediently took out a large red satin and embroidered a bellyband for herself.

She really couldn't resist Lu Congyue's demands and had no choice but to obey.

As for the second hundred yuan she had been longing for, it seemed to have vanished without a trace; Director Dai never came over again.

It was already December, and Lu Congyue was very busy. He hurriedly went on a business trip after only two days. Before leaving, he was worried that Zhuang Qingxiang would not be able to take care of the child by herself, so he asked her if she wanted to find someone to help.

Zhuang Qingxiang refused; she wasn't alone, she still had Yueyue.

She and Yueyue can take care of both children without needing to breastfeed.

The ordinary days passed quickly, and five days went by in the blink of an eye. Her bellyband was finished, but she was too embarrassed to embroider mandarin ducks, so she only embroidered gorgeous peonies, and then hid it at the bottom of the box.

Early that morning, Zhuang Qingxiang went to the supply and marketing cooperative to queue up to buy meat and vegetables, but unfortunately she was too late and only managed to buy a little lean meat that others disliked and pork bones with hardly any meat on them.

Zhuang Qingxiang bought some other things and carried them home.

Using pork bones to make soup and then cooking noodles for the three children is quite nutritious.

Shortly after the pork bones were simmering, someone knocked on the door. Zhuang Qingxiang opened the door and saw Dai Hongying and Ma Ting.

"Sister Zhuang..." Dai Hongying called out apologetically as soon as she saw her, "I'm so sorry, I've been on missions lately and just got back. I really didn't know anything about my father's situation..."

Zhuang Qingxiang chuckled: "It's nothing serious, come in and sit down. You must have had a tough mission this time."

Both of the beautiful women had lost a lot of weight, and their skin was rough; it was heartbreaking to see them like that.

Zhuang Qingxiang led the people into the house and then asked Xiao Luyue to come and call for them.

Xiao Luyue really liked Dai Hongying, and kept calling her "Sister Dai." She even pulled her into the house to see her two younger brothers.

Dai Hongying also missed the two children. When she entered the room, she smiled and said, "Look at how chubby they are! Sister Zhuang, you've fattened them up again."

"It's alright," Zhuang Qingxiang said with a smile as she followed them inside.

Ma Ting followed her in and started playing with the child. Dai Hongying then said, "Sister Zhuang, that millet cake..."

"I told you it's nothing. Director Dai came and gave me money, a hundred yuan," Zhuang Qingxiang said happily.

Dai Hongying was stunned for a moment, then relaxed her shoulders and felt a sense of ease.

"That's great! I was thinking I'd give him a piece of my mind if my dad didn't say anything," she said with a grin. "I didn't expect him to behave after I scolded him. Sister Zhuang, tell me in detail what my dad said?"

Zhuang Qingxiang recounted what happened that day and showed her the agreement. In short, Director Dai was very polite that day.

Ma Ting took it and glanced at it, then asked, "Didn't Director Dai come back afterwards? Did he break the contract?"

"Huh?" Zhuang Qingxiang asked, puzzled. "What breach of contract?"

"Didn't Director Dai say he would come with the money to pick up the new products in three days? Logically, he should have taken this agreement after the agreement was fulfilled. Since it's still in your hands, does that mean you've breached the contract?" Ma Ting said seriously.

"Oh well, it's fine if they didn't come. What's with all this talk about breaking the contract? I didn't even care about that. If Hongying hadn't brought it up, I would have completely forgotten about it." Zhuang Qingxiang said, then suddenly added with great enthusiasm, "By the way, have you seen the oven in my yard? If you're not in a hurry to leave, I'll bake some bread for you."

Dai Hongying's smile vanished, and she said angrily, "My dad, really, how could he do this..."

"Alright, don't be angry with your dad. He's so good to you," Zhuang Qingxiang said hurriedly. "Let's not talk about this anymore. You two help me watch the kids, I'll go make you something nice to eat. Look how thin you two have become..."

Besides Sun Yongxian, Dai Hongying and Ma Ting were Zhuang Qingxiang's favorite female comrades. She couldn't bear to see them suffer and just wanted to feed them to help them recover.

Without further ado, Zhuang Qingxiang rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Dai Hongying had mentioned bread before, so I'll bake a batch for her. Also, I'll make some of the simple sesame and pepper salt shortbreads I made before.

The main meal consisted of hand-pulled noodles in pork rib soup, along with two stir-fried dishes.

Seeing how busy she was, Ma Ting felt a little embarrassed. They had come straight here after returning from their mission and handing over their work, carrying only two cans of food and two bottles of malted milk powder. Now they were troubling her to make so much food...

You have to repay this favor someday.

A hot meal that warmed my stomach and body, and afterwards there was bread and pastries.

Dai Hongying's eyes narrowed as she ate: "This is so wonderful! Sister Zhuang, do you need a nanny? I can help you take care of the kids, you just need to provide me with two meals!"

Zhuang Qingxiang laughed and said, "No way! With your skills, it's a waste to be a nanny; you'd be better suited to be a bodyguard, haha..."

The three women chatted and laughed until a little after four in the afternoon. Ma Ting and Dai Hongying had to leave, and Zhuang Qingxiang divided the bread and sesame salt shortbread into two portions for them to take home and eat.

"Just treat it as a little snack," she said with a smile.

Ma Ting thanked her, but Dai Hongying scoffed, "Sister Zhuang, you wait. I'll take this back and make my dad apologize, then he'll obediently come and give you the money!"

Ma Ting chuckled and said, "I don't live in the provincial capital, so I'll come over for lunch tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Dai Hongying immediately exclaimed, "Then I want to come too!"

"Okay, let's go together." Zhuang Qingxiang replied with a smile.

The next day, however, the two did not arrive together; Dai Hongying and Factory Director Dai arrived much earlier.