NOVEL NEXT Chapter 929: 929
Lu Yumei smiled bitterly, wiped her hands with a cloth, and then said: "Actually, there's nothing more to continue, because I don't know either."
"Ah... this..."
Liu Zhizhong widened his eyes, his exaggerated expression quite amusing, "Did I ask in vain?"
Lu Yumei laughed and then started marinating the fish with salt, ginger, and other spices, "Indeed, what I know is quite unclear. In fact, for Zhao Yan, I even suffered grievances because of your father-in-law."
"This is getting interesting." Liu Zhizhong nodded, looking very intrigued, and continued to slice the meat for lunch.
"Back then, Zhao Yan was brought home by your father-in-law on a night of thunderstorm, she looked like a newborn baby, only a few days old."
Lu Yumei sat in a chair, poured some tea, and gazed at the emerald-clear lake in the distance, her thoughts seemingly drifting away.
"At that time, I thought she was from a mistress your father-in-law had outside, brought home for me to raise! I said a few more words, and your father-in-law got very angry and scolded me."
"I was truly aggrieved! But back then, I myself was just a young girl, sigh... he could scold as he wished! Yet I never treated Zhao Yan as an outsider, always treated her like my own. Sometimes, even when Zhao Han hadn't had enough milk, I had to feed Zhao Yan more. When they were little, your father-in-law's official position wasn't high, expenses were big, and the family often struggled to make ends meet. I'd rather starve myself and Han Han than let Zhao Yan go hungry, sigh..."
"Those years, I never dared to ask a word about Zhao Yan's background. Your father-in-law never spoke a word, either. Until he died, he never revealed a single bit. I had no idea what secret he was guarding! What was Zhao Yan's background exactly?"
Lu Yumei also appeared puzzled and bewildered, glancing back at Liu Zhizhong.
Liu Zhizhong was equally curious, "But... given your lack of knowledge about her background, how does Zhao Yan know?"
"This is exactly where I'm also confused! I asked her, and she told me not to care, not to ask!"
Liu Zhizhong nodded, "It seems I truly don't understand my wife well. She must have uncovered some hidden secrets from back then? Or perhaps connected with family members?"
"Could be! After all, following Zhao Han's father's passing, no one knew about Zhao Yan's background. But now... haha... Zhao Yan must have uncovered other truths! Forget it, Zhizhong, pursuing these old tales has no meaning anymore. She and I are at odds, and the mother-daughter relationship over these years, it's over..."
As she spoke, Lu Yumei still felt quite sorrowful, tears seemed to linger at the corners of her eyes.
After all, she's still a woman; recalling such forlorn matters can be hard to bear.
Liu Zhizhong took a deep breath and comforted, "Mrs. Lu, don't be too sad. Time can change many things, and no one can defeat time. Maybe, I think..."
With that, Liu Zhizhong set down the knife and offered Lu Yumei a helpless smile.
Lu Yumei looked at him and said, "What do you think?"
Liu Zhizhong said, "Perhaps... Zhao Yan has her own reasons?"
Lu Yumei's expression turned sharp, her voice somewhat piercing, "Liu Zhizhong, what do you mean? Are you still defending that ungrateful woman? She's determined to leave you, and yet you're protecting her like this?"