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

Chapter 266 Why not have your own child?

After hearing Shi Peiran's question, Lu Congyue paused for a moment, then shook his head.

"No, I don't want it!"

He never wanted to continue his own bloodline, which is why he didn't marry or have children, and instead adopted Fang Donghua.

Zhuang Qingxiang's appearance was an accident, and Lu Chenglin's appearance was an even bigger accident.

He was overjoyed by the unexpected surprise of Zhuang Qingxiang, but had mixed feelings about the unexpected surprise of Lu Chenglin.

But no matter what, three children are enough for him; he doesn't want any more children to interfere with his relationship with his wife.

Moreover, my wife had previously said that she didn't want to have any more children.

That's fine. As long as the five of us live well, that's good enough.

Shi Peiran felt that Lu Congyue was truly... selfless.

They would rather spend money and time raising someone else's child than have their own.

I wonder if he'll regret it when he gets old.

Should we ask Yongxian to remind Sister Zhuang?

Lu Congyue and Shi Peiran didn't go straight home. Instead, they went to the department store and got two scarves and two bottles of face cream from the warehouse.

That way, both of them will have gifts to go back and appease their wives.

As the two hurried home, Zhuang Qingxiang encountered the same problem.

"Sister Zhuang, are you and Director Lu still planning to have children?"

Zhuang Qingxiang subconsciously shook her head: "I only want Yueyue and Chenglin."

Sun Yongxian's eyes widened in surprise: "Then what's Director Lu going to do? He agrees to not have the children? But these three...aren't his biological children..."

She spoke the rest of her words in a low voice, afraid that the child would hear her.

Zhuang Qingxiang lowered her eyes: "Yueyue and Chenglin both have the surname Lu now."

"That's not it either..." Sun Yongxian shut up in time, suppressing her voice that had been rising unintentionally.

Zhuang Qingxiang bit her lip: "If he's not willing, then let's get a divorce."

She's not the same person she used to be. She has money and confidence now. Even if she likes Lu Congyue, she can leave whenever she wants.

Sun Yongxian secretly clicked her tongue in amazement: Sister Zhuang truly lives up to her name.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore." Sun Yongxian touched the things Zhuang Qingxiang had embroidered and whispered, "It's almost New Year's, the black market must be bustling. Should I take these things with me?"

Zhuang Qingxiang immediately perked up: "Is it okay? Will it be dangerous?"

"Probably not. It's almost the end of the year, the higher-ups should turn a blind eye and let everyone have a peaceful New Year, right? I'll try tomorrow."

Zhuang Qingxiang thought to herself, Shi Peiran is arriving today, he'll definitely be trying to coax his wife home, Sun Yongxian probably won't have time to go to the black market, so let's just forget about it and wait until spring.

The two were talking when they heard the front door open.

Sun Yongxian was quite surprised: "Director Lu came back quite early today, it's not even lunchtime yet."

Zhuang Qingxiang kept her embroidery in silence.

A few seconds later, Sun Yongxian turned around and ran to the west room, closing the door behind her.

Shi Peiran strode in, awkwardly greeted Zhuang Qingxiang, and then knocked on the door of the west room, speaking in a humble tone: "Yongxian, I've come to apologize to you, please open the door, okay?"

Zhuang Qingxiang quickly packed her things and hid in her room.

Little Lu Yue had just climbed off the kang (a heated brick bed) and was about to run outside when she exclaimed, "I think I heard Uncle Shi's voice!"

Zhuang Qingxiang pulled the little girl back: "Uncle has something to do, don't bother him."

Xiao Luyue asked, puzzled, "Uncle Shi is just here to see Teacher Sun, isn't he? What's the big deal? I'm with them all the time."

"Not now." Lu Congyue walked in, closed the door, and shut out Shi Peiran's hushed and humble movements.

To avoid corrupting their children, hmph.

Little Lu Yue, with her sharp ears, overheard something as the door closed and asked curiously, "What did Uncle Shi do wrong that made him kneel before Teacher Sun?"

"It's alright, it's alright, don't ask such questions, you're just a kid!" Zhuang Qingxiang quickly said.

"Oh...did you make the same mistake as Dad? Like that night when Dad knelt down and begged Mom for forgiveness?"

The little girl's words were so shocking that they almost scared Zhuang Qingxiang to death.

"What nonsense are you talking about? When did your father...?"

The sound suddenly stopped. Zhuang Qingxiang suddenly remembered that the night she wore the bellyband, Lu Congyue had tormented her terribly. In a fit of anger, she kicked him to sleep in the west room. Later, Lu Congyue kept pestering her to get back to the kang (a heated brick bed), and even after the children were asleep, he pretended to kneel down and beg on the kang.

Good heavens, was the little girl not asleep at that time?

Zhuang Qingxiang's face instantly turned bright red, and she glared angrily at Lu Congyue.

It's all his fault!

Lu Congyue hadn't expected the little girl to suddenly say something like that, and he knew without even looking that his wife was furious.

He touched his nose and said to the little girl in a serious tone, "Yueyue, are you dreaming? How could Daddy kneel down to anyone? Daddy is a man of integrity, and a man's knees are worth more than gold, don't you understand? Daddy will never kneel!"

Xiao Luyue scratched her head: "It was a dream..."

Actually, she wasn't quite sure; she just vaguely remembered a few things.

Oh dear, how could she dream of her father kneeling down? That's terrible, she absolutely must never have that kind of dream again.

Lu Congyue managed to appease the child with a few words, wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, and immediately switched to his wife-coaxing skills.

"Haruka, it's almost New Year's, this is a gift I bought for you, do you like it?"

He took out the scarf and face cream.

He even specially bought a red scarf, as red suits her perfectly and makes her fair skin look even better.

Zhuang Qingxiang's face turned even redder when she saw the red scarf; she was so angry she wanted to kick someone.

Did he do it on purpose, buying red again?

A scarf isn't a bellyband, something you wear normally. What kind of woman in her thirties would parade around in public wearing a bright red scarf?!

"What a waste of money! Go and return it this afternoon!" she said irritably.

Lu Congyue frowned: "No refund! I bought it especially for you; it's perfect for keeping warm when you go out in this weather."

"This color won't do!" Zhuang Qingxiang argued with him, still feeling indignant. "I'm thirty-one this year, this color doesn't suit me."

It's almost as if she's openly admitting that she's getting old and that she's better suited to more subdued colors.

Lu Congyue simply wrapped the scarf around her neck, not allowing her to resist, and asked, "Yueyue, do you think your mother looks good in this red scarf?"

"It's beautiful, so beautiful!" Little Lu Yue jumped on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Lu Congyue smiled broadly: "I think it looks good too, let's wear it!"

Zhuang Qingxiang was so angry with him.

If she went out wearing such a bright red scarf, she would attract countless stares, and she really dislikes being stared at.

Lu Congyue knew what she was thinking and comforted her, "Don't worry, there are plenty of people wearing red hats and red scarves on the streets during the New Year. After all, it's the New Year, so everyone wants to be festive and bright. Nobody will pay much attention to you. If you don't like it, just put it away after the New Year, and I'll buy you another color."

Once he's made up his mind, no amount of persuasion from Zhuang Qingxiang will change it.

Besides, it's just a scarf. Would she really have a huge argument with him over it and force him to back down?

"I'll let it go this time," she said, giving him a reproachful look. "But you're not allowed to buy anything bright red again."

Lu Congyue raised an eyebrow slightly, then suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "We still need to buy the bright red silk."