Chapter 262 Someone Absconded with the Money

"I'm afraid after getting married..." Kang Xiaoxia twisted her fingers.

"Zhao Kai is a very good young man. If you two get married in the future, it should be great."

In Jiang Haitang's opinion, Zhao Kai and Lu Liangchen should be the same type of people. Although such people look rough on the outside, they should be very careful and considerate in their bones.

"Zhao Kai is very obedient to me now, but who knows what will happen in the future? Look at Sister Wang from the workshop. Before they got married, her husband brought her meals every day, but now they quarrel all the time..."

Jiang Haitang held her friend's hand. They actually shared the same suffering. Both of them were people who had no one to teach them how to get along with each other as a couple.

But no matter what, we have to grope our way through life.

"As long as a couple truly cares about each other, there won't be too many disagreements. Family is also very important. I heard from Liangchen that Zhao Kai's family is very good. When you meet them, you can observe for yourself."

Kang Xiaoxia pondered: "Then...what about that aspect? What if...what if there's disharmony?"

She also heard from the older sisters and aunts that after marriage, the things between husband and wife are also very important. If there is no harmony, it will affect the relationship.

Jiang Haitang blushed and poked her forehead: "You, just thinking about these things! But I think this is like debugging a machine, it will just take some time to adjust..."

"Oh! So this is how you and Director Lu get along. No wonder Director Lu seems a little listless when he's at work..." Kang Xiaoxia made an expression of sudden enlightenment and teased Jiang Haitang.

Jiang Haitang was embarrassed and anxious, and picked up the broom to hit her. Kang Xiaoxia dodged with a smile, and the two girls started a fight.

The commotion was almost over, and it was almost time for the afternoon work, so Jiang Haitang took out the gift she brought back from Country D and gave it to Kang Xiaoxia.

It’s not something valuable, just a beautiful hairpin, purple, the color is very beautiful.

"It's so beautiful! No wonder people say foreign products are so good." Kang Xiaoxia held it in her hand and gestured back and forth, and it was obvious that she liked it very much.

"Haitang, I made a quilt cover for you. It's still in my dormitory. I'll bring it to you on the weekend." Kang Xiaoxia only then remembered that she had forgotten to bring the wedding gift prepared for Jiang Haitang.

"I have..."

"What you have is yours. This is a little gift from me. You must accept it."

Jiang Haitang no longer refused and thanked him with a smile. The two of them agreed to go shopping together on the weekend and then went to work together.

In the afternoon, Jiang Haitang returned home and started cooking. Lu Liangchen had not come back yet. Jiang Haitang guessed that he had something urgent to do.

Even after the meal was ready, Lu Liangchen still hadn't come back, so Jiang Haitang had no choice but to take Xiao Taozi to eat first.

It was past nine o'clock in the evening and Lu Liangchen had not returned yet. Jiang Haitang was really anxious, so she left Xiao Taozi to the care of Liu Hongmei next door and went to the factory office building herself.

Only a few offices in the factory building had lights on, and Lu Liangchen's office was one of them.

Jiang Haitang breathed a sigh of relief, carried the lunch box upstairs, and soon arrived at the door of Lu Liangchen's office.

The office door was ajar, and Jiang Haitang heard voices coming from inside.

"This is absolutely abnormal!" It was Zhao Kai's voice. "We're undergoing the same railway maintenance, so why are only our wagons detained? Goods from other factories are being transported normally!"

"Has the Finance Department checked it?" Lu Liangchen asked in a serious tone.

"We checked, and there's nothing wrong with the accounts. But Lao Zhang said he saw Section Chief Lin from the Supply and Marketing Department privately meet with a buyer from Xinjiang Province at the end of last month."

Jiang Haitang hesitated whether to go in.

At this moment, Lu Liangchen seemed to notice the movement outside the door, "Who? Come in!"

Zhao Kai had already quickly reached the door and opened it.

Seeing that it was Jiang Haitang, everyone in the office breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's my sister-in-law, why are you here now?"

"Liangchen hasn't been home yet, so I came to bring him lunch." Jiang Haitang picked up the lunch box and showed it to Zhao Kai. "Did I interrupt your work conversation?"

"Don't bother me, don't bother me. The factory manager is hungry!"

As Zhao Kai spoke, he winked at Lu Liangchen.

Secretary Tan had a smile on his face like an old father, as if he was satisfied to see his children living in harmony.

Zhao Kai sniffed and said exaggeratedly: It smells so good, what delicious food did my sister-in-law make?

"I made some chive dumplings. Come, have a taste."

"No, no, it's already late, we should all go back." Secretary Tan stood up first, and Deputy Director Qin followed immediately.

Zhao Kai also said: "It's time for me to go back."

"Forget about it. Secretary Tan and Deputy Director Qin will have food to eat when they go home, but you will be left starving if you go back?" Lu Liangchen cursed as he opened the lunch box.

Zhao Kai touched his head and took the initiative to sit down and wait to eat the leek dumplings.

Jiang Haitang filled a lunch box with chives, and the two grown men quickly finished it, taking turns to eat.

"Go home, Zhao Kai. Continue the investigation tomorrow and be careful about the methods."

The three of them walked out of the factory office building together. Zhao Kai walked towards the dormitory. On the deserted road, only Lu Liangchen and Jiang Haitang were left.

Jiang Haitang looked at Lu Liangchen, who looked exhausted, and asked, "What happened?"

Lu Liangchen rubbed his brows. "Maybe someone is pocketing the profits. Xinjiang Province said we're in arrears, so they've suspended shipments, but the financial records show we've already been paid."

"How big is the difference?" Jiang Haitang couldn't help but frown.

"The preliminary estimate is at least 20,000 yuan."

Jiang Haitang took a breath.

Twenty thousand yuan, this is an astronomical figure.

Although the textile factory is now profitable, 20,000 yuan is still not a small amount of money.

"What are you going to do?"

Lu Liangchen's eyes were firm. "Investigate it thoroughly. But this matter must be done secretly. It would be bad if we alert the enemy."

"When we came back, didn't you say you saw someone you knew on the platform?" Jiang Haitang reminded him, remembering what happened when they came back from Beijing.

Lu Liangchen immediately remembered that he did seem to see people from the factory on the platform at that time, but he didn't think much about it at the time and just thought he was dazzled.

He didn't ask whether everyone in the factory was on duty these two days.

"Haitang, thanks for reminding me. Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone verify who's off duty during this time."

Lu Liangchen looked around and saw that there was no one around. He gently stroked the ends of Jiang Haitang's hair with his fingers.

Under the dim streetlight, he could clearly see and feel Jiang Haitang's breathing quicken. Jiang Haitang lowered her head, her eyelashes casting a shadow on her cheek, and her breathing was slightly faster than usual.

"Have you washed your hair? It smells so good!" Lu Liangchen's voice was low and gentle as he played with Jiang Haitang's long hair in his hands.

Jiang Haitang felt his fingers running through her hair, her heart beating like a drum.

"We are still outside!" Jiang Haitang reminded Lu Liangchen that this person was becoming more and more daring. It would be so embarrassing if someone saw him.

Lu Liangchen obediently let go of Jiang Haitang's hair, but then took the opportunity to hold her hand.

The calluses on his palms gently scratched the soft back of her hands, bringing a subtle tingling sensation.

"What are you afraid of? We are a legitimate couple, certified by the state."

Jiang Haitang had no choice but to let him do it. Fortunately, Lu Liangchen was not without measure and quickly let go of Jiang Haitang's hand.

The two people walked shoulder to shoulder towards the family compound. The street lights stretched and shortened their shadows, but the distance between them was always very close.

After arriving at the family compound, the two went directly to Liu Hongmei's house next door to pick up Xiao Taozi.

The little girl was sweating from playing, and when she saw her parents, she jumped up and down to greet them.

"Dad! Mom!"

"Xiao Taozi, say goodbye to Grandma, Aunt Liu, and your brothers and sisters. Let's go home!"

After Jiang Haitang reminded Jiang Haitang, he thanked Liu Hongmei and Aunt Kong. They chatted for a while before closing the door and going home.

There was no conversation all night. At five o'clock in the morning, when it was just dawn, Jiang Haitang got up quietly.

She looked back at Lu Liangchen who was sleeping soundly. His brows were furrowed, and he couldn't rest even in his sleep.

He tossed and turned until the early hours of last night, obviously troubled by the problems at the factory.

In the kitchen, Jiang Haitang skillfully opened the damper of the honeycomb coal stove, and the blue flames immediately shot up.

She bent down and took out an enamel basin from the depths of the cupboard, scooped the flour into the bowl, and then slowly poured warm water into the flour.

Jiang Haitang's slender hands with thin calluses held the chopsticks and drew circles in the flour. Soon, the dry flour turned into lumps.

She began to knead the dough, and after a few minutes the dough in the bowl gradually turned into a smooth dough.

Jiang Haitang took the dough out of the basin and kneaded it vigorously on the chopping board.

The dough flew in her palm, and after she pressed it into a round piece, Jiang Haitang began to roll it out.

The rolling pin rolled across the chopping board, and the dough gradually turned into a sheet of dough as thin as a cicada's wing.

Jiang Haitang's forehead was covered in beads of sweat, and a strand of hair clung to her cheek. She casually rubbed the dough with her arm, folded it into several layers, and with a "thump thump" sound, cut out thin noodles one by one.

The aluminum pot on the stove was steaming and the water was bubbling.

Jiang Haitang grabbed the cut noodles and shook them, then threw a handful of noodles into the pot. She stirred them with chopsticks, and the noodles swirled in the pot like swimming fish.

While the noodles were cooking, she took out two large blue-rimmed coarse porcelain bowls from the cupboard.

Pour soy sauce and aged vinegar on it, add two large spoonfuls of previously fried vegetarian sauce, scoop half a spoonful of homemade chili oil, and finally pour boiling hot noodle soup into the bowl, which immediately stirs up a sour, spicy and fragrant heat.

The noodles were cooked to perfection. Jiang Haitang deftly scooped the noodles into a bowl, sprinkled some green and white chopped green onions on top, and added two drops of sesame oil.

A bowl of Lu Liangchen’s favorite sour soup noodles is ready.

At this time, Lu Liangchen had already gotten up.

"It smells so good! It's great to have a wife!" Lu Liangchen walked into the kitchen, hugged Jiang Haitang's waist with a smile, and whispered in her ear.

"Stop being so clingy and eat quickly." Jiang Haitang pried Lu Liangchen's hands apart and stuffed a big bowl of noodles into his hands.

When the two of them passed each other, Lu Liangchen kissed her on the cheek and called out, "Xiao Taozi, are you done? It's time for dinner."

"Mom, Dad, I'm coming!"