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

Chapter 35 I dare not look

Zhuang Qingxiang's mother was sold into the Zhuang family as a servant when she was young, so she was very familiar with the rules of the household. She used to educate and demand the same of Zhuang Qingxiang.

Therefore, Zhuang Qingxiang now knows very well what she should do.

The employer returned home weary from her journey. If she had other work to do, that was fine; if not, of course she had to do her job well.

Making the bed is one thing, cooking is another.

She made the bed, thought for a moment, and placed the two handkerchiefs she had made next to her pillow.

Zhuang Qingxiang was about to go to the kitchen to cook for Lu Congyue when she stepped out the door. She exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly turned her back to the man showering in the yard.

Even though it was nighttime and there was only moonlight, she still managed to see clearly.

The man, wearing only trousers, had a muscular upper body that made people blush.

Zhuang Qingxiang had seen shirtless men before; men in the countryside often walked and worked shirtless, but she felt nothing when she looked at them, as if she were looking at lifeless wooden sculptures.

But Lu Congyue was different. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and muscles so firm that they gleamed in the moonlight, making one blush and their heart race.

Zhuang Qingxiang covered her cheeks; it was so hot.

"I'm sorry... I just wanted to ask if you've eaten?"

Lu Congyue froze the moment Zhuang Qingxiang stepped out and exclaimed in surprise.

Didn't he tell her to go back to her room and rest? Why did she come out again?

Lu Congyue looked down and thankfully, he didn't strip naked as casually as he usually does.

He wanted to tell Zhuang Qingxiang to go to sleep, but when he heard her question, he felt hungry.

These past two days, whenever he ate out, he would think about how good her cooking was, and even subconsciously compare her to the head chefs in other factory canteens and state-run restaurants.

The thought made me even hungrier.

"Not yet," he replied.

Zhuang Qingxiang turned around, lowered her head, and ran towards the kitchen: "Then you go ahead with your work, I'll go make you something to eat."

Lu Congyue took a quick, uncomfortable shower and went back to his room to change.

Upon entering the house, he saw the bed and bedding already made. He paused, then turned to look at the kitchen: she had just prepared all of this.

She dried herself off and changed her clothes as quickly as possible, then took the clothes she had worn on her business trip out to wash. Just as she finished washing them, Zhuang Qingxiang came out with a bowl of braised tomato and egg noodles that she had made.

"Director Lu, let's eat."

"Mm," Lu Congyue replied.

Zhuang Qingxiang placed a large bowl of noodles on the table, lowered her head and said, "Director Lu, please eat slowly, I'm going to sleep now."

"Mm," Lu Congyue replied again.

As soon as Zhuang Qingxiang entered the inner room, he immediately sat down and wolfed down his food.

Although it was very hot, and I sweated a lot after eating the hot braised noodles, I felt really comfortable afterward.

Even though it was just a two-day business trip, it felt like I hadn't eaten this well in a long time.

Lu Congyue patted his stomach, then contentedly took the dishes and chopsticks out to wash them.

When I got back and lay down on the bed, I found something on my pillow.

Upon picking it up, I realized it was a handkerchief embroidered with pine trees, clearly a man's handkerchief.

Lu Congyue glanced at the curtain: Was she preparing a new kind of sugar-coated bullet?

Inside the room, Zhuang Qingxiang couldn't sleep and didn't dare to move.

The image of Lu Congyue taking a shower kept flashing before my eyes, making my face flush and my heart race.

When she finally fell asleep, all she dreamed of was the man's back as he showered. One second he was wearing pants, and the next second they were gone, which made her heart pound when she woke up.

The baby next to her woke up and started crying, so Zhuang Qingxiang hurriedly changed his diaper and fed him again.

After soothing one child, she soothed the other. By the time she had calmed both children down, it was broad daylight, and Xiao Qianyue rubbed her eyes and got up.

"Mom, your face is so red."

The child's directness made Zhuang Qingxiang blush even more.

"It's too hot. Look at you, all sweaty." Zhuang Qingxiang wiped her face and neck with a towel, thinking to herself when this sweltering heat would end.

Xiao Qianyue didn't think much of it. After Zhuang Qingxiang finished wiping, she put on her pretty floral dress and ran outside.

As soon as she came out and saw Lu Congyue, she exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle, you're back!"

She happily showed Lu Congyue her new clothes: "Doesn't it look good? My mother made it for me!"

Remembering Zhuang Qingxiang's instructions, she sweetly thanked Lu Congyue.

When Lu Congyue saw her clothes, he was reminded of the two handkerchiefs and nodded, "They're beautiful. Your mother is very skillful."

"Yes!" Xiao Qianyue nodded emphatically. "Mother also made clothes for Brother Donghua. There are summer clothes, autumn clothes, and winter clothes. Aunt Sun also said that Mother is skillful."

Lu Congyue understood, and his brows furrowed slightly.

When Zhuang Qingxiang came out, she saw Xiao Qianyue clinging to Lu Congyue again, so she quickly called out to her, "Yueyue, stop bothering your Uncle Lu, go inside and watch over your younger brothers. Mom is going to make breakfast."

Little Qian Yue responded and happily ran back to the inner room with her short legs.

After a night filled with bizarre and fantastical dreams, Zhuang Qingxiang didn't dare look at Lu Congyue at all, and asked with her head down, "What would you like to eat for breakfast, Factory Director Lu?"

"Whatever," Lu Congyue said in a deep voice.

"Then I'll take care of it." Zhuang Qingxiang strode into the kitchen.

I cooked millet porridge and made chive and egg pancakes. Thinking that Lu Congyue had a big appetite, I made a few more, but eight chive pancakes were almost not enough.

Zhuang Qingxiang thought to herself, "It's only because Lu Congyue is a factory manager and earns a considerable salary every month that he can afford to eat like this."

When Lu Congyue arrived at the office, he saw Lin Wei standing at the door.

He frowned in annoyance: "What are you doing here?"

Lin Wei's eyes were red and swollen, clearly she had been crying for a long time last night: "Director Lu, I've come to apologize to you."

"No need," Lu Congyue said impatiently. "I'll contact Director Lin today and have him transfer you back to the provincial capital."

Lin Wei was shocked and furious: "Why? I've already apologized to her, why are you still kicking me out?"

"You are not suitable to continue working here," Lu Congyue said coldly.

"What right do you have to say I'm not suitable to work here? I'm a technician in the factory, and my education, knowledge, and skills are more than enough to handle this job!" Lin Wei retorted defiantly. "You have no right to kick me out."

"Your heart isn't in your work," Lu Congyue pointed out bluntly. "Lin Wei, you can shine just as brightly in any other workplace."

Lin Wei's tears welled up again, but she held them back, sniffing, "Lu Congyue, I like you, I admit I've been completely devoted to you, but I haven't neglected my work. Go ask the others in the technical department how I've performed at work! What gives you the right to belittle me like this?"

She wiped away her tears forcefully, then turned and left angrily.

She was even angrier when she heard Lu Congyue call her to stop even after she had walked out of the office.

She turned her head and stomped her foot: "Lu Congyue, you're not allowed to call my parents, or I'll kill myself!"

After saying that, she tossed her braid and ran off.

Lu Congyue pinched his brow in frustration and ordered someone to call Niu Jianzhong over.

The two talked behind closed doors for a long time, confirming that Zhuang Qingxiang hadn't shown any unusual behavior during the few days he was gone.

"Director Lu, could it be that we've really made a mistake?" Niu Jianzhong asked somewhat embarrassedly.