The Lucky Wife of the Era Married a Rough Man With Space
Chapter 170: Zhang Lancao wants to break up
"Daughter, why are you back?" Xu's mother exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Xu Ying's excited face.
"Mom, let me go find my third uncle," Xu Ying replied, quickly putting her bicycle away before dashing out again.
She headed directly to Huo's house, seeking out Grandma Huo. But when she inquired, she discovered Huo Chen wasn't home. Grandma Huo seemed long accustomed to Huo Chen's frequent absences, showing no sign of worry. Seeing Xu Ying looking for her grandson, a warm smile spread across her face.
"Grandma Huo, do you know where Huo Chen is?" Xu Ying pressed.
Grandma Huo pondered for a moment. "I suppose he went to Wu's house. He and that boy get along well, and he often visits there. Do you need him for something important? If not, he'll probably be back tomorrow." Grandma Huo, it seemed, was well aware of her grandson's activities, even his ventures into the black market. Otherwise, their house wouldn't have been built so easily. But her grandson was capable, so she asked no further questions, and neither did she.
Xu Ying nodded, a thought of Zhang Lancao sparking in her mind. She must know something. Xu Ying left Huo's house, setting off to find Zhang Lancao.
Zhang Lancao lived next door to Xu Ying. As Xu Ying approached, her sharp-eyed mother, , spotted her and quickly joined her. "Daughter, why are you running back and forth without resting after work?" Xu's mother asked, brimming with curiosity. Xu Ying, unaware of her mother's penchant for gossip, merely glanced at her. "I have something to discuss with Sister-in-law Lancao."
"Then I'll come with you!" Xu's mother declared immediately. Xu Ying simply glanced at her, saying nothing. Seeing this, Xu's mother smiled contentedly, following Xu Ying to Zhang Lancao's house.
As they reached the doorstep, they heard a commotion in the yard. Zhang Lancao's mother-in-law's shrill voice cut through the air: "Zhang Lancao, you shameless woman! My son has only been gone a few years, and you're remarrying already? Wu Qingsong, tell me the truth, were you two together when my son was still alive?" She had seen that boy before; he often visited when her son was alive. Her son had once saved Wu Qingsong, and their friendship had blossomed. "I pitied my son," the mother-in-law lamented, "seeing he had no parents, he treated him like a brother. He never imagined that after his death, he would help care for his daughter-in-law and the family!"
"Mom, didn't you promise I could remarry?" Zhang Lancao's submissive voice wavered.
"Hey, it's so lively!" Xu's mother couldn't help but interject. "Lancao, my daughter has something to discuss with you." She quickly added, remembering her daughter's long day.
"What's the matter?" Granny Zhang's face was etched with suspicion. Was this woman trying to curry favor with the captain's family, hoping to remarry? Xu's mother and Zhang Lancao were still neighbors, and their relationship was amicable. "Lancao, come here, my daughter has something to tell you!" Xu's mother waved to her.
Zhang Lancao hurried over.[Read More Here]
Xu Ying, watching her approach, wasted no time. "Do you know where Wu Qingsong has been these past few days? A group of people were arrested in the county town, accused of smuggling."
At these words, Zhang Lancao's face instantly blanched, and her body swayed precariously. "No, no, nothing will happen to him!" Zhang Lancao's reaction clearly indicated she knew of Wu Qingsong's activities.
Xu Ying's anxiety surged, and she gripped Zhang Lancao's hand nervously. "Are they also involved in this smuggling?"
Zhang Lancao winced from the pressure, groaning and frowning. "Wu Qingsong told me that if the deal went through, he could marry me. I never expected anything to happen to him." Zhang Lancao was so agitated she began to pace. If Wu Qingsong were truly arrested, not only would she not marry him, but she might also be implicated. While she herself might escape serious consequences, she still had a child to consider. The more she thought about it, the more distressed Zhang Lancao became. She looked at Xu Ying and blurted out, "If you see Wu Qingsong, tell him I want to break up with him. We're not compatible at all, so he should just give up."
"Sister-in-law Lancao, I'm just guessing about this," Xu Ying said, her disbelief evident. "I didn't actually see them being arrested. Do you still want to break up with Wu Qingsong?" On a normal day, Sister-in-law Lancao had always struck her as honest and kind. She had heard her mother say that Zhang Lancao was a hardworking woman, and that her husband had disappeared a long time ago. It hadn't been easy for her to raise two sons alone. But then her mother had also mentioned that Zhang Lancao seemed to have a younger brother who had been helping to support her. It was likely Wu Qingsong. He had taken risks to earn money to support Zhang Lancao and her children. Now, with Wu Qingsong's fate uncertain, Zhang Lancao actually wanted to sever ties directly. It seemed a little too cruel.
Zhang Lancao looked embarrassed. She looked at Xu Ying and said, "I'm different from you. I still have a child. I have to protect my child above all else. If something really happens to those two, I advise you to break up as soon as possible. Your promising life shouldn't be ruined."
Xu Ying shook her head, cast a fleeting glance at Zhang Lancao, and departed.
Xu's mother was dumbfounded, her heart still pounding loudly when she returned home. She felt immense relief that her daughter was not with Huo Chen; otherwise, smuggling was a serious offense that could jeopardize her husband's and son's work. "Daughter, how did you know that Huo Chen was involved in smuggling?" Xu's mother asked nervously, remembering that Huo Chen had helped her daughter sell wolf meat before, and her heart skipped a beat. Would that man implicate her daughter? "Daughter, nothing will happen to our family! That kid won't report that you sold wolf meat with her before!" Xu's mother's face was now etched with worry.
Xu Ying shook her head. "Mom, don't talk nonsense. Huo Chen wasn't arrested at all.[Read More Here]
I just guessed he might have been involved in smuggling. You can't just talk nonsense without evidence." Xu's mother, chastised by her daughter, then realized that Huo Chen hadn't been arrested. If he wasn't arrested, he must not have been involved in smuggling. Xu's mother's attempt at self-brainwashing was unconvincing even to herself.
"Mom, I'm going to see my third uncle," Xu Ying announced. "Our food factory needs a salesperson recently, and I think my third uncle is quite suitable. I'll go tell him."
Xu's father, who had just entered the house, smiled at this. "Your third uncle is very eloquent; he's perfect for sales." Xu Ying returned his smile. That was precisely why she had recommended her third uncle for the role. If he did well, a position as a salesperson in a textile factory would be a great opportunity. "Well, Dad, I'm off." Xu's father nodded, telling her to go and come back early.
Xu Ying stepped out and saw Zhang Lancao, her head bowed as her mother-in-law relentlessly scolded her. She dared not resist, uttering just a single word. "Mom, I understand."
"Hmph, you'd better be honest." Granny Zhang walked past Xu Ying, casting a sideways glance with a hint of threat. "Xu Ying, Lancao has children. Even if your father is the captain, he has nothing to do with our family's affairs." Xu Ying met her gaze lightly, then turned and walked towards Uncle Xu's house. Granny Zhang, witnessing this, trembled with anger, silently cursing, "Shrew."
Xu Ying continued on to Uncle Xu's house. At this moment, Uncle Xu was in the kitchen, wearing an apron, holding a spatula, and busy cooking. Aunt Xu was in the yard, watching her daughter write. Now that Aunt Xu was working and earning money, Uncle Xu also knew how to help with the household chores, and he proudly sent his two daughters to school.
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