Mao Shufen was stunned for a moment and asked her, "Why are you asking this for no reason?" After a pause, she continued, "Is there something wrong with your relationship with Lao Qin? Do you have someone else outside?"
Lin Zhengran was so breathless by her question, "How come I have someone else outside, but Qin Shouguo can't have an affair with someone else?"
Mao Shufen looked at Lin Zhengran with an expression that said, "Are you stupid?"
Lin Zhengran just looked at her quietly.
Mao Shufen said: "If one of you and Lao Qin has an affair, that person must be you."
"Why?"
"Why else? Lao Qin is under the Party's control. He can't have any problems with his conduct. Otherwise, his position as commander will be over."
Lin Zhengran nodded and replied, "That makes sense."
Mao Shufen stared at her, which made Lin Zhengran feel terrified.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing!"
Mao Shufen approached her and asked with concern: "Aran, tell me the truth, do you have someone else outside?"
"Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?" Lin Zhengran was at a loss for words and said, "I'm leaving in a few days so I'm just asking out of curiosity. What are you thinking? Really!"
"Then you better be careful, as career advancement also attracts romantic opportunities."
Mao Shufen suddenly clapped her hands and said, "No, I have to tell Lao Qin about this and tell him to be careful of the villains outside."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and walked out. Lin Zhengran didn't stop her, betting that she didn't dare to go.
If Mao Shufen really said this to Qin Shouguo, Su Yingjie would be in trouble tonight.
As expected, she returned and said timidly, "Why don't you go and talk to them?"
Lin Zhengran didn't want to go either. Qin Shouguo was already angry, what would happen if he heard this?
That's why she didn't go.
While Lin Zhengran was cooking, Mao Shufen murmured to herself beside her:
"Tsk tsk tsk, your future fortune will be incredible. You will have a prosperous career in the government. Even Old Qin can't stop you..."
Lin Zhengran said, "Don't worry. Even if I've seen a lot of the world, I won't abandon my husband and children. Who could be better than Qin Shouguo?"
"That's right." Mao Shufen said, "You two have a foundation of love, and it's been hard to get to this point..."
Mao Shufen paused at this point, then sighed and said:
"Poor Old Qin, he's left here all alone, and he'll have to stay alone in an empty house. He has children, a daughter, and a wife, but he lives a lonely life..."
Before Lin Zhengran could ask her why she said that, a clear cough was heard from behind.
Qin Shouguo got up by himself and stood at the kitchen door with his arms folded. He didn't know how much of their conversation he had heard.
Mao Shufen was so scared that she ran out in panic.
Seeing her like that, Lin Zhengran couldn't help laughing, but was glared at by Qin Shouguo who came over.
Lin Zhengran instantly became obedient. It was not appropriate for her to be too arrogant now.
*
Lin Zhengran still had to go to work for the next few days. Today was his last day. He met Zhang Aimei on the way home after saying goodbye to his colleagues.
"Your family..." Zhang Aimei paused here, "Did they write to you?"
Zhang Aimei didn't finish her words, but Lin Zhengran understood.
She and Zhang Aimei have the same situation and identity, both are mothers, so they have become closer in recent years than before.
Hu Ying'an and Nanfeng have been away for four years, and four years is enough time for people to forget their existence.
At least the twins have forgotten that they have an older sister. All they remember now is Duobao, their older brother.
Lin Zhengran shook his head.
"I never received a letter. The message I received was 'I'm safe and well'."
Zhang Aimei knew it was impossible for them to pass the message to the family members, but she just came to ask out of despair.
As they walked and talked, Zhang Aimei said, "I told Lao Qin half a year ago to step down, but she refused and sent me a message saying she could get what she wanted on her own."
"Children have high self-esteem. She may want to prove herself and show you that she can earn a fortune for herself without relying on you." Lin Zhengran said.
Zhang Aimei looked off into the distance, her face expressionless as she said, "Sometimes I wonder, I worked so hard to give birth to this child, and now I'm at this point with her, am I wrong?
We mothers now even feel taboo when calling our children by their names! We just use "she" instead.
When she said the last sentence, Zhang Aimei's eyes were filled with resentment.
Lin Zhengran has known her for so many years, and this is the first time he has seen her lose her composure like this.
"Are you okay?" Lin Zhengran asked worriedly.
Zhang Aimei said wearily, rubbing her face with both hands, "I had another nightmare last night. They say mothers and daughters are connected by heart. I hope nothing has happened to her!"
Lin Zhengran couldn't give Zhang Aimei an answer to this question, because she herself often had nightmares. The two walked in silence for a while.
After a while, Zhang Aimei seemed to have adjusted her attitude, tilted her head and said with a smile:
"I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet. You're the first translator from our Su Province to go abroad. This will bring us great honor in the future."
"What kind of honor is this? Don't let them return it, or it will be embarrassing!" Lin Zhengran said modestly.
"You've come this far on your own, that's pretty good!"
Zhang Aimei said, "The domestic situation is improving now, and your industry has a bright future. If you continue on this path, we'll see you on the news one day."
Lin Zhengran imagined that scene and laughed, "I don't dare to think about that. Let's take it one step at a time. Once we're stable, we can think about it later. We need to proceed steadily and steadily. There's no rush."
At the fork in the road, they paused. Zhang Aimei looked at her and said, "Do you know that you have a special quality?"
Lin Zhengran was suspicious and shook his head, "What are the special features?"
Zhang Aimei said: "You don't know but Lao Qin knows. We have discussed this before. He said that he felt the 'peaceful years' in you.
I used to have an indescribable feeling about you. I didn't understand it before, but later I understood. You are emotionally stable and never impatient or irritable towards things or people. It's easy to get along with someone like you."
The wind blew gently, ruffling the ends of his hair. Lin Zhengran tucked his hair behind his ears, smiled, and replied:
"My personality is what it is because I was suppressed in the past. It's not good at all. If I could, I'd rather not have it. There's nothing wrong with being a little fierce..."
She used to compromise and cater to others just to survive, but later it became a habit and she couldn't change it.
After she followed Qin Shouguo, he never let her suffer any grievances. With Qin Shouguo and Nanfeng supporting her in front, Zhang Aimei was able to say now that she was neither anxious nor impatient and kept a stable mood.
While she was thinking, someone came up from behind her and hummed loudly in her ear.
Lin Zhengran knew who was coming without turning around.
These days, there is no one else except Qin Shouguo humming in her ear.
"Childish..." Lin Zhengran smiled.
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