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

Chapter 280 The phone kept ringing

"Yes," Lu Congyue replied, "That's what I meant too."

Zhuang Qingxiang was so angry she wanted to glare at him but didn't dare, afraid that Dai Hongying would notice something.

If Lu Congyue does more work, I won't have to get up during the day.

Dai Hongying came to offer New Year's greetings and brought good news: the Lu family's attempt to bail out Lu Guoqiang had failed.

"Director Lu, haven't you been on duty at the office these past two days? Your phone must be ringing off the hook!" she teased.

Lu Congyue replied nonchalantly, "I have a family to support, why would I be on duty during the Spring Festival?"

Dai Hongying sighed, "I heard that our bureau chief's phone is so busy it's practically smoking."

"Oh, it's really nice that your bureau chief has a telephone at home." Lu Congyue nodded. "We don't have that kind of luxury at home."

Dai Hongying was amused, and after exchanging a few more casual words, Lu Congyue went out.

Dai Hongying pulled Zhuang Qingxiang aside and talked about the handkerchief and clothes she had given her: "Sister Zhuang, you don't know how much of a show-off I was this Chinese New Year. All my cousins' eyes lit up when they saw it. They kept asking me where I got it from, and they even said that the dress you made for me was prettier than the ones sold in department stores."

Young women love to compare these things, Zhuang Qingxiang said with a smile, "When the weather gets warmer, if you have any nice fabrics, I'll make you something even prettier."

Dai Hongying said happily, "It's a deal! My mom can get the fabric."

After saying that, she asked hesitantly, "Sister Zhuang, if my friend asked you to make clothes, would that be alright?"

"Sure, I'm just lazing around at home anyway."

"How much will it cost?" Dai Hongying asked in a low voice.

Zhuang Qingxiang waved her hand in refusal: "Hongying, aren't you making me make a mistake? If people find out I took money, I'll probably be punished."

Dai Hongying sighed, "I know that taking money might cause problems, but I can't let you work for free. I feel uneasy, but they're begging me so much..."

"It's nothing, just killing time. You can tell me in detail what style you want, so we don't end up not being satisfied with the finished product."

Zhuang Qingxiang thought for a moment, "I can't accept the money, just leave the rest of the fabric to me."

"I'll think about it some more." Dai Hongying felt it was too unfair. "You still have to take care of two children. Why should you do all that work for free to make clothes for them... Let me think of a solution first. There's no rush."

In the dead of winter, even the nicest clothes have to be worn under a cotton-padded coat so others can't see them; it's not very interesting then.

Zhuang Qingxiang had no objection. She took out two pure cotton handkerchiefs from the box and handed them to Dai Hongying: "You can take these and give them away as gifts. They're made from scraps of cloth with only two stitches, so they're not worth much."

She had to keep the silk satin pieces to sell for money, while these pure cotton scraps could be given away as toys.

Looking at the orchids and red plum blossoms embroidered on the handkerchief, Dai Hongying smiled happily: "Thank you, Sister Zhuang! I love it so much! I won't give it away; I'll keep it for myself!"

While the two of them were chatting, Lu Congyue went to the office.

He didn't come to work on the first and second days of the Lunar New Year, and it would be really unacceptable if he didn't come on the third day as well.

Upon seeing him, his colleague immediately said, "Director Lu, we've had several phone calls for you these past two days, asking you to return their calls."

Lu Congyue glanced at the record sheet and nodded: "Understood."

The calls were all from Beijing; it seems the old man and Guan Jing are getting angry.

There was another call from an unknown number. Lu Congyue called back first, and it turned out to be the old man's former subordinate, who was also pleading for Lu Guoqiang.

Lu Congyue said seriously, "This matter has nothing to do with me. He didn't offend me, but he broke the law. No matter how far Lu Sheng's reach is, he can't beat the law."

"Congyue, listen to your uncle's advice, he is still your father..."

"Don't say such things anymore. This has nothing to do with Lu Guoqiang's crimes," Lu Congyue said in a deep voice.

The other person sighed: "Alright, let's not talk about Guoqiang then. Let's talk about you. You didn't even go home for the New Year. Your father misses you a lot. Guoqiang's accident really upset your father, and now he's in the hospital during the New Year. It's only right and proper that you go back to see him, isn't it?"

Lu Congyue paused for a moment, then finally said, "I understand. I'll make time to go and take a look."

Having said what needed to be said, the call ended.

Lu Congyue thought for a while before calling the Lu family in Beijing.

Unexpectedly, Lu Sheng answered the phone.

Lu Congyue frowned: "Didn't you go to the hospital?"

On the other end of the phone, Lu Sheng's blood pressure soared with anger: "It's the Lunar New Year, and you bring up hospitalization right away? Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"

"I was just concerned about you. Since you put it that way, then forget it."

Lu Congyue was about to hang up when Lu Sheng stopped him.

"Don't hang up!" Lu Sheng gasped for breath, "I've been looking for you for days, and you're only calling back now! Tell me, what exactly do you want? Are you trying to completely destroy your brother before you're satisfied?"

Lu Congyue chuckled softly: "Didn't he already ruin it? It wasn't me who ruined it."

"You're talking nonsense!" Lu Sheng roared. "How well-behaved was your brother when he was little? Look at what he's become! Don't think I don't know what you've done to him! He already knows he was wrong, so why are you still holding a grudge?"

As Lu Congyue listened to Lu Sheng's furious outburst, his smile grew wider and wider, but his heart grew colder and colder.

A moment later, he interrupted Lu Sheng, saying mercilessly, "What he becomes has nothing to do with me. Isn't that Guan Jing's fault? Don't tell me you don't know what she did to me? Heh... He knows he's wrong? You're probably the only one who thinks he knows he's wrong! If he really knew he was wrong, he wouldn't be stuck in a labor camp on a farm now."

"Isn't it all your fault he's stuck in a labor camp on a farm?!" Lu Sheng gasped for breath, furious. "That shameless rural widow seduced you until you forgot who you were, and now she's even going after Guoqiang! You're such a fool, completely fooled by a woman! You know what kind of person she is, yet you still got a marriage certificate with her? Get a divorce right now! The world is so chaotic these days, are you just waiting to be dragged down by her?"

Lu Congyue heard Guan Jing's exclamation on the other end of the phone, as well as the sound of her urging Lu Sheng to take his medicine.

But none of this stopped Lu Sheng from continuing to vent his anger on him.

Lu Congyue listened quietly, then chuckled, "Is this what Guan Jing told you? She's such a good liar. Tell her that if she continues like this, Lu Guoqiang won't have a good life!"

Lu Congyue hung up the phone after speaking, too lazy to listen to the old man's rant anymore.

The old man is getting old; Guan Jing can easily brainwash him with just a few words. He's really getting senile.

As for why Lu Guoqiang has become like this, it's all because he and his wife spoiled him.

Even now, they still don't repent and think that Lu Guoqiang is good at heart and can still be saved.

Pooh!

Lu Guoqiang inherited his parents' bad character; he was rotten to the core!