novellhall Chapter 269 When did you come out?
Chapter 269 When did you come out?
"Isn't the New Year a good thing?" Lu Congyue smiled and leisurely returned to his office.
Indeed, these days, the Spring Festival is a wonderful thing because it's the time when every household has the most abundant supplies.
Taking advantage of her free time, Zhuang Qingxiang braised the pig's head and filled a little over two basins.
The day after the braising was finished, Sun Yongxian and Shi Peiran suddenly showed up and took a pot of it.
She said she was going back to her parents' home for the New Year, but she didn't have much to bring. She came to the provincial capital but didn't find anything she liked. This pot of braised pig's head is perfect. She even said she'd make a pig's head next time to pay off her debt.
Zhuang Qingxiang thought there was still more than one pot left, enough for her family to eat, and there were other dishes as well.
Then Dai Hongying and Ma Ting arrived. After having a meal, they insisted on carrying another pot of braised pig's head away.
The two even started arguing about it. In the end, Lu Congyue couldn't stand it anymore and told Zhuang Qingxiang to cut them in half, each of them carrying one half away.
The two then shook hands and made peace. However, they didn't take anything for nothing. Dai Hongying, relying on her family's food factory, gave Zhuang Qingxiang some flour, red beans, mung beans, oil, and sugar.
Lu Congyue suspected that this was Director Dai's idea, trying to trick Zhuang Qingxiang into continuing to make delicious pastries.
Ma Ting is truly honest; she took half a basin of pig's head from someone and then directly delivered five catties of mutton and a sheep's head.
Zhuang Qingxiang stared at the sheep's head, lost in thought.
She suspected that Ma Ting was doing it on purpose, and might come back and take half of the finished product.
It turned out she was being paranoid, because a sheep's head really wasn't that big, but Ma Ting came and ate a meal...
With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, Zhuang Qingxiang began to get busy.
The family had plenty of supplies, so she fried dough twists, meatballs, lotus root, fish...
The courtyard was filled with a delightful fragrance all day long, which made the neighbors in the larger compound frequently ask Lu Congyue what kind of things they had at home.
Lu Congyue just smiled faintly: "Actually, what I prepared at home is similar to what yours is prepared. It's just that my wife learned excellent cooking skills from her mother when she was young, so it might taste better and smell more fragrant."
"Oh, I see. Director Lu is so lucky to have married such a wonderful wife," everyone praised.
They praised him to his face, but behind his back everyone was saying that Director Lu was really infatuated with this woman. Everyone knew that his wife was a widow from the countryside and that none of the three children in the family were his. They didn't know what he was so happy about all day.
On the day before the Lunar New Year, Lu Congyue was at work when someone knocked on the door.
"Director Lu, your family members are here to see you."
Lu Congyue thought it was Zhuang Qingxiang who came, but it turned out to be Guan Jing and Lu Guoqiang who came in.
Lu Congyue immediately leaned back in his chair and coldly sized up the two people who had entered.
"Brother, how can you have no manners at all? My mother came to see you. She is an elder. You should at least stand up and greet her." Lu Guoqiang protested indignantly.
The person who brought them over was startled, feeling as if they had discovered something terrible.
"Xiaoyu, go ahead and do your thing," Lu Congyue said.
"Yes, Director Lu." Xiao Yu quickly left, gently closing the office door behind her.
Just as he was closing the door, he heard something extraordinary.
"Cong Yue, we just found out that we haven't yet investigated your sham marriage with Zhuang Qingxiang. What happened?"
A fake marriage?!
Xiao Yu looked around nervously, and seeing that no one was coming, she held her breath and continued to listen.
"Back then, in order to complete the mission assigned by the organization, you and Zhuang Qingxiang secretly got a marriage certificate without your father's knowledge. Your father didn't say anything after he found out, but now that the mission has been completed for so long, shouldn't you cancel the marriage? I think we should resolve this matter before the end of the year and then come back to Beijing with us for the New Year. Your father is in poor health and has been looking forward to your return."
Guan Jing spoke with great earnestness, but unfortunately, Lu Congyue let it go in one ear and out the other.
He sized up Lu Guoqiang and scoffed softly, "When did you come out? Looks like the old man's been begging for favors again."
Lu Guoqiang's face immediately turned ugly.
He wanted to embarrass Lu Congyue, so he deliberately sent Lin Wei, who was already imprisoned, to the capital and even made her sleep with him for a few days. He never expected that Lu Congyue would be so ruthless. Not only did he send Lin Wei back to prison, but he also dragged him, Kong Yazhen, and all those who helped out out and reported them.
Those who helped were innocent victims, and in order to preserve these relationships, he and Kong Yazhen ultimately took all the blame.
However, Kong Yazhen got married and pregnant in a flash, and because she was pregnant, she didn't suffer.
He was the only one who was sent to a farm to suffer for half a year. Fortunately, his family secretly put in some effort and got him out in a month, without leaving any trace in his file.
Of course, this matter was kept from Lu Congyue.
"I behaved well, so I got out a long time ago," Lu Guoqiang said, raising his chin.
Lu Congyue chuckled softly.
Lu Guoqiang felt uneasy at his laughter and couldn't help but look at Guan Jing beside him: "Mom..."
Guan Jing took a deep breath and gave him a reassuring look.
The previous issues have all been settled, and so much time has passed. Lin Wei has confessed and accepted her punishment, so Lu Congyue can't cause any more trouble.
Even if he wanted to, the close relationship between the Lu and Kong families would not allow it.
"Congyue, what happened before was your brother's mistake. He was fooled by Kong Yazhen and Lin Wei. He was young and impetuous and thought he could be a hero and save the damsels in distress. He has already thought things through and realized his mistake during his time at the farm. Now he is very positive and motivated."
"Let's not talk about Guoqiang anymore. We've come here to invite you home." Guan Jing said earnestly, "Congyue, there's no such thing as a grudge that lasts overnight between father and son or brothers. In the end, you share the same blood. Your father was a bit strict with you before, but if he hadn't treated you that way, you wouldn't have grown up so quickly. He did it all for you."
"This year, during the Lunar New Year, the whole family can sit down together for a nice meal, and enjoy each other's company. How wonderful that would be?"
"Your brother is also sincerely inviting you back. You should quickly resolve the fake marriage issue and come back to Beijing with us for the New Year."
Guan Jing spoke sincerely, and maintained a polite smile throughout.
Lu Guoqiang's expression softened as she influenced him, but his smile seemed much more insincere.
"Brother, let's go home. The New Year is almost here. Dad said that this year, no matter what, the whole family must spend it together. If you don't come back with us, then we'll have to bring Dad with us. He's old and his health isn't good. Can you bear to let him travel such a long distance?"
Lu Congyue chuckled softly again, making no attempt to hide his contempt.
Lu Guoqiang immediately lost his temper: "Lu Congyue, what kind of attitude is this? My mother has already been so humble, and you're still acting tough?"
He shouted loudly, startling Xiao Yu outside the door. Realizing that the noise would alert the people in the next room, he quickly left, turned a corner, and entered the office of Deputy Director Li Weixing.