"Sister Juan, why would I lie to you about this?"
"They were married out of love and divorced two years later. Gong Wantang returned to her parents' home. Half a month later, a fire broke out in the Gong family home, reducing the ancestral home, which covered over ten acres, to ashes. It was said at the time that everyone in the Gong family had died in the fire."
"Zhiyuan was heartbroken and blamed his in-laws for the divorce. He had a huge argument with them and ended all ties with them. In a fit of rage, he left for Country M and never returned."
"We also thought that all the Gong family members died in the fire. It wasn't until last year, before the Cui family incident, that Gong Wantang and her eldest brother came home and we learned that none of the Gong family members were dead."
"Today we met a woman on the street who looked very similar to Gong Wantang. Later we found out that she was the mother of the triplets and Lu Jingchuan's wife."
"The second son's estrangement from the family is somewhat related to Gong Wantang. My parents-in-law used to think she was dead, so they let it go. But now she's alive and well. They want to ask Gong Wantang about what happened, but she's now the wife of Director J, so we can't see her."
"I saw a girl who looked like her, so I thought I could ask her about it."
Qian Mengping spoke half-truthfully. She had no intention of telling outsiders about the Cui family's plan, nor did she believe what her distant cousin said.
After she finished speaking, Zheng Chaolin said, "Lu Jingchuan's mother-in-law is Gong Wantang, the wife of Director Han J. I've met her before, and they look quite similar."
"Chao Lin, Lu Jingchuan's wife is Gong Wantang's daughter?"
Qian Mengping stood up and walked in front of him, looking a little excited: "Chao Lin, are you sure? She is Gong Wantang's daughter, not the daughter of the Gong brothers?"
"She's Gong Wantang's daughter. I went to their house for New Year's greetings last year, and all the Gong family members were there."
"Lu Jingchuan's wife is Gong Linglong. They used to work in Seoul. Lu Jingchuan worked in the Seoul Military Region, and she worked in the Seoul Civil Affairs Bureau. Now they have both been transferred to Kyoto."
"I've met the old man of the Gong family, the great-aunt of the Gong family, and the two uncles of the Gong family. Uncle Gong is single, and Uncle Gong is married with four children. His wife is from Gangcheng, and their whole family has lived in Gangcheng for many years, helping the great-aunt of the Gong family run the business."
"Their family has a big business and is very wealthy. At the end of last year, they returned to Beijing and donated several million to support national defense and education development."
"The Gong family was very generous. It was said that they gave Gong Wantang and her daughter a house and a car as dowry. They also took back all the properties and houses that had been occupied by the Gong family, and compensated for any damages."
Seeing that it was Gong Wantang's daughter, Qian Mengping knew what was going on and asked, "Chao Lin, do you know how old Gong Linglong is?"
"Aunt, why are you asking this?" Zheng Chaolin turned his head to look at her.
"This has nothing to do with what happened back then. My parents-in-law want to find out more about it. They want to meet the second son in the future and have a good talk to clarify some misunderstandings." Qian Mengping didn't elaborate.
She couldn't explain it clearly, but Mother Zheng misunderstood. She rolled her eyes and asked, "Mengping, didn't your second son have any children with Gong Wantang?"
"No."
Qian Mengping pulled the corners of her mouth, her expression a bit complicated. "They had been married for two years and hadn't gotten pregnant. There were reasons for this and some other reasons, so they divorced later."
Seeing the complex expression that flashed across her face, Mother Zheng's eyes moved slightly, and she asked for her help: "Chao Lin, you should have heard Song Yan talk about Gong Linglong. Tell your aunt what you know."
"I don't know much. When I went to visit her during the New Year, she was in confinement after giving birth. I just said hello and didn't even speak to her."
"Chao Lin, tell me what you know, and I'll ask someone else for the rest."
Qian Mengping had already found out what she wanted from him, and her heart was satisfied. As for the rest, it no longer mattered.
"They were introduced by my mother-in-law... Nini's grandmother. The Gong family mother and daughter were in Tancheng at the time. Lu Jingchuan went to visit Nini's grandmother's house, and that's how they met through a blind date."
"I'm not sure why the Gong family mother and daughter were in Tancheng at the time, and I didn't ask much. I only heard that they fell in love at first sight and got married not long after they met. Later, they went to Seoul with the army."
"Also, the Gong family is very familiar with the Zhou family's uncle. They have known each other since childhood. The Zhou family's uncle and the second uncle of the Gong family were classmates and have a very good relationship."
"I heard the elders talk about some things. The Han family and the Gong family have a very close relationship. The late great-grandfather of the Gong family was General Han's teacher and benefactor. The grandfather of the Gong family and General Han were good brothers. The three siblings of the Gong family and the four brothers of the Han family have had a deep relationship since childhood."
"The fire at the Gong family wasn't an accident. It seems to be related to some unknown things. The Han family has been helping to investigate over the years. When the Gong family returned, the matter had already been investigated, but they didn't disclose the details."
"The elders of both the Lu and Zhou families like Gong Linglong very much. She is smart and knows how to behave. I heard that she gets along very well with the elders and peers. No one has anything bad to say about her."
"I heard Song Yan say before that she was transferred to the Kyoto Civil Affairs Department in April and is now working in the Agency Management Center. She is very capable at work."
"As for her exact date of birth, I'm not sure. I can only confirm that she'll be twenty next March, a month older than Song Tao. I heard it from Nini's grandmother."
Qian Mengping will be twenty years old in March next year. She calculated the time in her mind and was completely certain about it.
This Gong Linglong is really the second son's daughter. She was already pregnant when they divorced. Gong Wantang probably didn't know she was pregnant at the time, and only found out afterwards. Because of the fire at Gong's house, she didn't tell the second son, and followed her father and brothers to the port city with her belly bulging.
Seeing that she frowned and was thinking about something after listening, Zheng's mother pushed her and said, "Mengping, what are you thinking about?"
"Sister Juan, Chaolin, thank you so much for your support today. This is all I know about the mother and daughter."
Qian Mengping got what she wanted and stopped asking. Instead, she talked about their affairs and gave them some earnest advice: "Chao Lin, you should take good care of your injuries during this time. When you are well, go talk to Song Yan. After all, you have a daughter together. You can't just break off your relationship of many years."
"Her family is furious right now. Give them some time to calm down. Then come back and apologize. You must save this marriage."
"If it's really irreparable, just focus on Nini."
"Your mother bullied Song Yan for such a long time, but she endured it and never asked for a divorce, nor did she go back to her parents' home to complain. This shows that she wanted to give Nini a complete family. You have Nini between you, and as long as you are willing, there is still hope of remarrying in the future."
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