Chapter 429 - 242: Jiang Guoqiang Learns the Truth! Lu Fan Personally Goes to Beg for Forgiveness

Chapter 429: Chapter 242: Jiang Guoqiang Learns the Truth! Lu Fan Personally Goes to Beg for Forgiveness

It was morning in Qingshan Village. Sunlight shone through the window, falling warmly on the main room floor.

Jiang Guoqiang sat in a chair, holding a cup of tea. It had already gone cold, but he hadn’t taken a sip.

He looked at the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. Most of the leaves had fallen, and its bare branches reached toward the sky.

"Honey, why do you think Xiaolu hasn’t come by lately?" he asked, turning his head to look at Pan Lanfang, who was wiping a table.

Pan Lanfang’s hands paused for a moment. Without looking up, she said, "He must be busy. He can’t be running out to the village every day."

"But he used to come every few days, didn’t he? It’s been over a week," Jiang Guoqiang said, setting down his teacup. There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Pan Lanfang tossed the rag into a basin of water and turned to face him, her tone sharp. "He’s a businessman, and it’s the end of the year. He’s busy. You think everyone has as much free time as you do?"

Taken aback by her sharp tone, Jiang Guoqiang paused for a moment. "I was just asking. Why are you so agitated?"

Pan Lanfang didn’t answer. She just picked up the basin and went into the kitchen.

Jiang Guoqiang sat in his chair, watching her go. His brow furrowed.

He felt like something had been off with her lately. She was short-tempered and jumpy, and she tossed and turned at night, unable to sleep.

When he asked what was wrong, she always said it was nothing.

After decades of marriage, he could tell in a single glance if something was bothering her.

He stood up and walked to the kitchen doorway. Pan Lanfang was washing dishes, her back to him.

He leaned against the doorframe. "Honey, are you hiding something from me?"

Pan Lanfang’s hands stilled for a second, then she went back to washing. "No. What could I possibly be hiding?"

Jiang Guoqiang didn’t press the matter and returned to the main room.

He sat back in his chair and took a sip of the cold tea. The bitterness made him frown.

He put down the cup, picked up his phone, and scrolled to Lu Fan’s number.

He hesitated for a moment, then dialed the number.

It rang twice before someone picked up.

"Uncle?" Lu Fan’s cheerful voice came through the phone. "What made you decide to call me?"

Jiang Guoqiang cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice casual. "Ah, Xiaolu, have you been busy lately?"

Lu Fan chuckled. "Not too bad. Things are picking up since it’s the end of the year. How have you and Auntie been feeling?"

"Fine, we’re both fine." Jiang Guoqiang paused. "Xiaolu, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

Jiang Guoqiang lowered his voice, as if afraid Pan Lanfang might overhear. "Your Auntie’s been acting strange lately. She’s short-tempered, jumpy, and can’t sleep at night. I ask her what’s wrong, but she always says it’s nothing. I’m starting to wonder... could it be some lingering effect from that fall she had? But you saw the report, the doctor said she was fine..."

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

When Lu Fan spoke again, it was with a slightly awkward laugh. "Uncle, Auntie is physically fine. You saw the report yourself. All her tests came back normal."

Jiang Guoqiang grew anxious. "Then what is it?"

Lu Fan thought for a moment, then explained, "Uncle, I promise, there’s nothing wrong with her physically. You don’t have to worry."

"Xiaolu, tell me the truth," Jiang Guoqiang said after a moment of silence, his voice low. "What’s really wrong with your Auntie?"

There were another few seconds of silence on Lu Fan’s end. "Uncle, Auntie is really fine."

Jiang Guoqiang sighed. "Fine, I won’t ask anymore. Xiaolu, let me tell you what’s on my mind."

"Please, go on."

Jiang Guoqiang gazed at the bare osmanthus tree in the yard, his voice heavy with emotion. "All these years, without another man in the family, Yixia has had to shoulder everything on her own. It breaks my heart that I can’t help her more. But since you started visiting, this house has been so much livelier, and your Auntie has been happier too. I’ve come to see you as one of my own children."

"Uncle, thank you," Lu Fan replied from the other end.

Jiang Guoqiang chuckled. "Nothing to thank me for. When you have some free time, come by for a visit. Your Auntie misses you. She might not say it, but I know she does."

Lu Fan replied, "Okay, I’ll come see you and Auntie this afternoon."

"Won’t that interrupt your work?" Jiang Guoqiang asked, surprised.

Lu Fan laughed. "It’s no trouble. I’ve been wanting to see you and Auntie, too."

After hanging up, Jiang Guoqiang sat back in his chair, a smile on his face.

He called out toward the kitchen, "Honey, Xiaolu is coming this afternoon!"

In the kitchen, Pan Lanfang’s hand jolted, and she nearly dropped the bowl she was holding.

She wiped her hands and came out, looking none too pleased. "You asked him to come?"

Her expression surprised him. "What’s wrong? I thought you were missing him."

Pan Lanfang opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed her words.

She turned around and went back into the kitchen.

Watching her turn and leave, Jiang Guoqiang’s brow furrowed even more deeply.

「Morning at Zijin Manor.」

Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire living room in light.

Wen Wan sat on the sofa, clutching her phone. Her eyes darted toward the staircase every few moments.

Jiang Silu came downstairs wearing a pale yellow puffer jacket, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked bright and energetic.

"Sister Wen Wan, you’re up? Where’s my brother?" Jiang Silu asked as she came over and sat beside her.

Wen Wan shook her head. "I don’t know. He hasn’t come down yet."

Lu Yao came bounding down the stairs, with Song Miaomiao and Liu Shiting following her.

Lu Yao called out, "Lulu, Uncle Chen says the car is waiting at the gate!"

Jiang Silu glanced at her phone. "Okay, we should go, or we’ll be late for class."

The girls started heading out.

Wen Wan stood up, casting another glance toward the stairs. ℴ

Jiang Silu noticed her and turned back. "Sister Wen Wan, aren’t you coming?"

Wen Wan hesitated. "The class president isn’t down yet..."

Jiang Silu laughed. "Oh, my brother loves to sleep in. Don’t wait for him. We’ll go on ahead, and he can have Uncle Chen take him when he wakes up."

Wen Wan opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.