Chapter 304: Chapter 304

Qin Xi dropped Li Xianglu at the entrance and was about to ride back when she saw a figure, swift as the wind, heading towards the back yard. That figure was wearing a familiar cyan-green short-sleeved shirt; Qin Xi turned around and rode back.

Li Xianglu, lazily changing clothes, wore a white dacron short-sleeved shirt which was part of her work uniform, with a round neckline, coupled with wide-leg black trousers and round-heeled black leather shoes. Of course, this outfit wasn’t free; it cost fifteen yuan.

Just as Li Xianglu put on her shirt, the dressing room door was abruptly pushed open from the outside, slamming against the wall. She looked up only to see a green shadow charging at her. Swiftly stepping aside, she focused and recognized the person as Zhou Qingfang.

When Zhou Qingfang saw Li Xianglu, she was so enraged she wanted to grab her but was dodged. Stunned, she glared and asked, "Li Xianglu, what are you dodging for?"

Li Xianglu snorted, already having a rough guess in her mind -- Zhou Qingfang must have found out about her relationship with Grandpa Li. She indifferently responded, "Sister Zhou, what are you trying to do by barging in ? What if you had hit me? Don’t you know I’m pregnant?"

It was then that Zhou Qingfang came to her senses and glanced down at Li Xianglu’s belly. Furious and anxious, she was irritated, not just because she was denied entry to the Li Family and turned away after waiting two hours at their gate but also because they were denying any recognition of them as family, although it was clear that Li Huai Ren was the uncle who vanished years ago.

Seeing the cold look on Li Xianglu’s face, Zhou Qingfang asked, "What is your relationship with Li Huai Ren?"

Li Xianglu frowned: "Sister Zhou, it’s quite rude of you to abruptly pry into someone else’s family matters." Saying this, she turned to leave, and Zhou Qingfang, in her urgency, reached out to grab her again.

Li Xianglu knew some people just couldn’t use words and pushed away the hand that reached out. She coldly said, "I believe I’ve told you once already, don’t touch me without permission!"

Zhou Qingfang had always thought Li Xianglu was a docile person, only to find out today that she was not so good-tempered as to be without principles.

Li Xianglu had also promised Qin Xi that she wouldn’t take any risks with herself and the child in her belly, so she had no intention of showing any courtesy to Zhou Qingfang, this so-called relative of Grandpa Li.

Qin Xi finally left, nodding and greeting when she saw Li Xianglu safely at her workstation, ready to start her shift.

Pu Jianxin had noticed Zhou Qingfang rushing in and spoke with a grim face, "Zhou Qingfang, come with me to the office."

Zhou Qingfang, consumed with finding Li Xianglu, had forgotten that she hadn’t shown up to work for three days and, especially today, she hadn’t asked for leave, making her somewhat guilty as she followed.

Pu Jianxin slammed a folder on the desk with a smack and said to Zhou Qingfang who followed him in, "Zhou Qingfang, if you don’t plan to work here anymore, submit your resignation quickly. Do you have any idea how many people are waiting for your job?"

Zhou Qingfang hurriedly stepped forward to explain, "Uncle Pu, my family really had some issues. It’s not that I intended to be absent."

With clear anger on his face, Pu Jianxin retorted, "If there are family issues, then quit and deal with them. Our bank belongs to the state, not to your own family. It’s not a place where you can come and go as you please. Make that clear!"

Zhou Qingfang was very aggrieved. With only a junior college degree, she had gotten into the bank through her in-laws’ connections, which were just mediocre, but the costs weren’t minor. A junior college diploma used to be valuable, but ever since universities started enrolling again, it became less desirable.

Even the director went for further studies, so when she heard from her family that the adopted uncle from their Zhou Family was found, she was ecstatic. She remembered her father saying that their uncle joined the resistance against Japan early on and if alive, would definitely be a high-ranking official.

Sure enough, he lived in such a large house. Her husband tried to measure it - it was more than a thousand square meters. According to ancient standards, that could very well be the residence of a fourth-rank official. It was also close to her workplace; if they moved in, wouldn’t it be convenient for her commute?

But as good as it all sounded, the person simply refused to acknowledge them, let alone admit that he was the lost uncle of the Zhou Family.

Especially after seeing Li Xianglu leaving from the back door of that courtyard, her husband mentioned the back door was large, clearly meant for vehicles to pass. And Li Xianglu’s family definitely had a car. If Li Xianglu was related to that Li Huai Ren, then the car must belong to the uncle’s household.

Just thinking about those riches and good days, her heart was both angry and sour, and now being scolded by the acting director only filled her with more dissatisfaction. If the uncle had acknowledged their family, would she still need to endure others’ attitudes? Wouldn’t everyone be fawning over her?

Seeing that Zhou Qingfang hadn’t responded after a long scolding, Pu Jianxin thought she was backing down and softened his voice, saying, "I see you’re not in the right state to work today. Pack up and go back, and make sure to come to work on time on Monday."

Zhou Qingfang was about to leave when Pu Jianxin asked, "What were you saying to Li Xianglu just now? Don’t you know she’s pregnant?"

Before Zhou Qingfang could reply, Pu Jianxin continued, "Li Xianglu’s grandpa is no ordinary person, just don’t provoke her, to avoid trouble."

Zhou Qingfang turned her head sharply, her eyes wide, "Uncle Pu, you know about Li Xianglu’s grandpa?"

Pu Jianxin glanced at Zhou Qingfang’s hopeful face and spoke indifferently, "He’s a former operative from the National Security Bureau. He’s retired now, but he has a lot of influence. He’s got disciples all over the capital’s public security departments."

Zhou Qingfang had thought of her uncle as a military man, like a Commanding Officer or such, similar to the family her mother worked for as a maid. She never expected him to be with the National Security Bureau; to think he was so powerful. With this thought, Zhou Qingfang’s heart warmed again.

Pu Jianxin caught a glimpse of the eager expression and couldn’t help but let a slight smirk appear at the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Qingfang left first.

Meanwhile, at the Li Family courtyard, everyone was quietly sitting in the living room, in complete silence.

Li Jianqing had started collecting scraps again and had come back before Li Xianglu. He saw the Zhou Family come to recognize kin. As he did not know about the Li Huai Ren affair, he was somewhat puzzled – how could Grandpa Li be from the Zhou Family; he was clearly from Li Family Village.

Qin Xi hadn’t bothered to explain to Li Jianqing but briefly mentioned Zhou Qingfang chasing after her into the office.

Su Yan frowned and said, "That Zhou Qingfang, she’s Xiangxiang’s colleague, right?"