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

Chapter 321 It turns out she already had suspicions.

Sun Yongxian was genuinely worried about Zhuang Qingxiang, which made Shi Peiran sigh.

His wife, probably because she deals with children every day, has a very simple mind.

Shi Peiran pulled her aside and said seriously, "Yongxian, didn't you realize? Director Lu and Sister Zhuang have probably broken up or are about to break up. Sister Zhuang and the children no longer live here."

Sun Yongxian looked shocked: "What? How did you know?"

Shi Peiran: "This house doesn't smell like a child..."

There used to be the smell of a baby in the house, and diapers fluttering all over the yard, but now there's nothing.

Under Shi Peiran's guidance, Sun Yongxian finally understood, and her face immediately turned ugly.

"It must be Director Lu who let Sister Zhuang down!" she said indignantly. "He just got a government position in the provincial capital, so he looks down on Sister Zhuang? Does he think she's a country bumpkin and not good enough for him? I'm so angry! I have to go find Director Lu and find out where Sister Zhuang moved to."

Sun Yongxian has a fiery temper; once she gets angry, she'll leave without warning.

Shi Peiran quickly pulled him back: "You can't blame Director Lu for everything. Can't you see how good Director Lu is to Sister Zhuang? How could he possibly let her down? Just bear with it for now, and ask Director Lu when he gets back."

Sun Yongxian didn't believe it.

Sister Zhuang has such a good temper; if she hadn't been provoked, how could she have moved away with her child?

However, she was willing to listen to Shi Peiran.

The two waited for a short while before Lu Congyue returned.

Sun Yongxian was about to rush forward when Shi Peiran quickly pulled her back, and together they went to meet Lu Congyue.

"Director Lu," Shi Peiran greeted him, "You've been working overtime until this late, have you eaten?"

"Mm," Lu Congyue replied.

The three of them walked towards the main room, and Sun Yongxian tried to speak several times but was stopped by Shi Peiran.

Once inside the main room, Shi Peiran feigned surprise: "Why is the room so quiet? Where are Sister Zhuang and the children?"

Lu Congyue touched his nose: "She bought a small courtyard house outside and moved there with the children. I have to go there in a while, so I thought I'd come over and tell you."

He was originally going to go directly there, but then he remembered that Shi Peiran and Sun Yongxian were still at home, so he had to tell them before he came back.

"I'm busy with work over there and might not be able to take care of you all. Please make yourselves at home and stay however you like!"

Sun Yongxian's fiery temper subsided.

"Oh, you bought a new house, Director Lu. Won't you take us to see it? How long have you been living here?" she asked eagerly. "Can we go with you now?"

Lu Congyue didn't want them to know that in the past, he could only squat in the corner outside and couldn't get in the door at all.

He then said, "It's too late now, it's inconvenient, maybe next time..."

As for when the next one will be, we'll discuss that later.

There was another reason why they weren't allowed to go over: Zhuang Qingxiang knew they were coming, and she would definitely want to see Sun Yongxian, so she would have to come here to see her.

Lu Congyue suddenly remembered something and asked, "Teacher Sun, Qingxiang contacted you before? Did you tell her you were coming to the provincial capital? When did you contact her?"

"Just a few days ago," Sun Yongxian replied without thinking much. "Sister Zhuang asked me to do something, and I just happened to tell her."

Lu Congyue stiffened, straightened his back, and looked at her, asking, "She asked you to do something? What is it?"

"Sister Zhuang asked me to inquire about Village Chief Qian of Dongya Village and then ask him a question."

Lu Congyue felt his heart sink, and his voice lowered several decibels: "What did you say?"

"How strange... they actually made me ask Village Chief Qian what her relationship with you is..." Sun Yongxian repeated Zhuang Qingxiang's words and Village Chief Qian's answer.

"Speaking of which, Village Chief Qian seems a bit pitiful. He stopped being the village chief a long time ago, and his family inexplicably broke off relations with him. I heard they don't even visit him anymore. He looks all alone."

Sun Yongxian sighed as she thought of Village Chief Qian's appearance.

She went there after the factory was built. She met Village Chief Qian a few times. Although he was old, he was hale and hearty and had a lot of influence in the village. The villagers all listened to him.

The village chief has changed. People now call him the old village chief. His back is hunched, and he doesn't look like the imposing figure he had when he was the village chief.

Shi Peiran did know something about the old village chief. Lu Congyue had called him before, asking him and Niu Jianzhong to keep an eye on the old village chief.

Shi Peiran was a smart man and immediately realized that Lu Congyue and Zhuang Qingxiang's sudden falling out was related to the old village chief.

What could be the connection? Zhuang Qingxiang was introduced to Lu Congyue's family as a wet nurse by the old village chief.

Speaking of which, the old village chief should have been the matchmaker for Lu Congyue and Zhuang Qingxiang, and he was good at eating meat.

Shi Peiran couldn't understand it, but he wisely refrained from asking too many questions.

Lu Congyue's expression grew increasingly grim, especially after he clarified the date of the phone call.

Zhuang Qingxiang had already realized something was wrong. Because of his concealment, she called Sun Yongxian to ask for help, but still didn't get his confession, which is why she ran away from home in anger.

Lu Congyue wanted to slap himself twice.

Why was he so timid and cautious back then? The worst that could happen is this, so why was he afraid to be honest?

He's completely forgotten the principle of leniency for those who confess?!

Lu Congyue suddenly stood up.

"Well, it's getting late, you guys should get some rest, I'm going over there." He hurriedly walked out.

Sun Yongxian wanted to pursue him, but Shi Peiran stopped her: "Why are you in such a hurry? We'll be living in the provincial capital from now on, so we'll see each other sooner or later."

"Don't you think Director Lu is acting strangely?" Sun Yongxian asked, frowning. "I have a feeling he's going to bully Sister Zhuang again."

"No!" Shi Peiran said with certainty, "If either of them is bullied, it will definitely not be Sister Zhuang."

Sun Yongxian asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Shi Peiran smiled and said, "Because if either of us gets bullied, it definitely shouldn't be you!"

Lu Congyue rode his bicycle at full speed to Zhuang Qingxiang's house, propped it up, raised his hand to knock on the door, but stopped at the last second.

No, I can't just go in and explain to her like this; there are three children at home.

Zhuang Qingxiang wouldn't make a scene in front of the children; she would just hold it in. Lu Congyue felt that he should let her vent her anger.

He'll bear with it. Tomorrow, he'll let Shi Peiran and Sun Yongxian take care of the child, and he'll have a private talk with Zhuang Qingxiang!

Having made up his mind, Lu Congyue settled down in the corner, pondering his plans for tomorrow.

That night, Zhuang Qingxiang was awakened by the sound of rain. At first, she thought she was dreaming, but then she sat up abruptly.

It wasn't a dream; it really rained.

Lu Congyue isn't stupid; he'll probably go back when he sees it's raining, right?