Chapter 303: 299. Liu Lu Has Something on Her Mind (Please subscribe, please vote for monthly tickets!)

Zhang Ran had not walked far when he saw Huo Zhiyuan. At this moment, Huo Zhiyuan was on the phone, and upon seeing Zhang Ran, she smiled and hung up.

Zhang Ran parked the car beside Huo Zhiyuan and looked at her, saying, "Didn't I tell you not to come over?"

He Yong was not in the car; he currently had a bit of a smell on him, as he was squeezed into a tractor with people like Xin Man.

"I just came to take a look, in case there was somewhere I could be of use? And besides, nothing happened, did it?" Huo Zhiyuan said with a smile.

Zhang Ran said, "Yes, there wasn't a big scene this time, but what if there had been? Forget it, I won't lecture you. Be more careful next time. If you encounter something like this, run as far as you can; don't be stubborn."

As Huo Zhiyuan listened to Zhang Ran's words, her eyes immediately curved into crescent moons, and her heart felt a little sweet. She knew that Zhang Ran was concerned for her. Although in Zhang Ran's heart it might just be a brother caring for a younger sister, Huo Zhiyuan still felt very satisfied and very happy.

"Xiao Lu, are you okay? Were you hurt?" Huo Zhiyuan asked with concern as she got into Zhang Ran's car.

Liu Lu hurriedly said, "Huo Yi, I'm fine. I've caused you and Dad trouble."

Hearing this, Huo Zhiyuan put on a stern face and said, "What trouble? We are one family; there's no need to speak of us as two."

A strange look appeared in Liu Lu's eyes. Just like that, they had become one family?

At this moment, Zhang Ran said, "Xiao Lu, you did the right thing in this matter. When you encounter trouble, don't be afraid to bother your family. If you're afraid of bothering us, then you don't consider us family. In the future, no matter what you encounter, just call me. As long as you call me Dad, I won't let you be wronged."

Liu Lu nodded silently. Perhaps she hadn't felt it very clearly before, but starting from today, Liu Lu knew the weight of Zhang Ran's words.

At this moment, she also thought of what Zhang Ran had said to her when he had just returned: that their Zhang Family would not let her down.

Before, she truly hadn't felt it too deeply, but today, just because she had suffered some grievances, Zhang Ran had mobilized such a large force.

It even implicated an entire village. She finally felt the weight of her father-in-law's words.

In Liu Lu's heart at this moment, Tianjia Mountain Village had been implicated because of her. Although she was also angry at the behavior of the people in Tianjia Mountain Village, she thought it shouldn't have gone this far.

As for what Zhang Ran had said to Tianjia Mountain Village, she was completely confused and didn't understand the situation at all.

So, after hesitating for a moment, she said, "Um, Dad, wasn't the punishment for the people in that village a bit too heavy just now?"

She had heard her father-in-law make the phone call, directly ordering people to blacklist all of that village's goods.

If the people in a village lost their livelihood because of these matters, then for Liu Lu, she still felt a bit of reluctance in her heart.

Before Zhang Ran could speak, Huo Zhiyuan said with an indignant face, "Xiao Lu, don't speak well of these people. You don't know what this group of people did."

Liu Lu asked curiously, "Were there other things?"

Huo Zhiyuan explained the conflict between Zhang Ran and Tianjia Mountain Village, and also mentioned how they had been blocked at the entrance that day, and how Zhang Ran had used a past favor to trade for a single day of temporary residency.

Although Liu Lu was kind, she was not a saint, so after hearing the whole story, she couldn't help but rebuke angrily, "How could these people do such a thing?"

"So, don't feel pity for their plight; they don't deserve it," Huo Zhiyuan said.

The phone call she had just made was to have the Yuanran Charity Foundation communicate with the local government.

The Yuanran Charity Foundation was a purely charitable fund; in the past, it had never been mixed with any other interests.

This was a type of charity fund that many local governments liked.

Although this might mean missing out on some benefits, it also saved a lot of trouble.

Now, this was the first time the Yuanran Charity Foundation had made a relatively personal request to the local government, and coupled with the vague rumors, there was no reason for them not to agree.

The call Xia Zhangqing had just received was because of the actions Huo Zhiyuan had taken.

Returning to Ligou Village, many people were waiting on the side, not only people from the village but also some curious parents.

These parents didn't know anything; it was purely out of curiosity and a herd mentality. Seeing so many people waiting here, and having nothing to do anyway, they just waited along with them.

Seeing that everyone had returned safely, the people in the village breathed a sigh of relief one by one.

However, when they started asking questions all at once, people like Xin Man kept their mouths shut.

This was He Yong's instruction while in the car.

He Yong knew that Zhang Ran did not want to be watched by crowds, nor did he want his identity to be brought into the circle of children that Zhang Xiaotao was currently in.

Seeing that there was no more gossip to be had, the parents dispersed.

"Mom, Mom."

"Auntie, Auntie."

When Zhang Xiaotao and Susu, the two little ones, saw Liu Lu coming, they both quickly ran over.

Seeing her son, Liu Lu felt her whole body suddenly relax. Ignoring the dirt on Zhang Xiaotao, she pulled him tightly into her arms.

Of course, she didn't forget Susu, pulling both little ones into her embrace.

Zhang Ran looked at Liu Lu's somewhat emotional appearance and frowned slightly. Liu Lu should have recovered in the car just now; was it really necessary to be like this?

Besides, they had only been separated for about a week; they shouldn't be missing each other that much, right?

However, Zhang Ran didn't ask anything, but instead said to Zhang Xiaotao, "Taotao, Mom is here. Go catch some crayfish."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaotao immediately perked up, "Mom, let me tell you, I'm really good at catching crayfish now. I'll go catch some for you right now."

Susu also stood on her tiptoes, raising her little hands and saying, "Auntie, I can catch crayfish too. I can even catch fish. Grandpa says the fish I catch are the most delicious."

Looking at the two little ones' eager appearance, Liu Lu smiled and said, "Alright, then I'll go with you."

"Why do I feel like Xiao Lu has something on her mind?" Huo Zhiyuan said thoughtfully after Liu Lu left with the two little ones.

Zhang Ran said, "Find a time tonight to help me ask her, but if she doesn't want to say, then forget it."

Zhang Ran was also afraid it might be some women's issue, and he couldn't easily ask, so he let Huo Zhiyuan help him ask.

After dinner that night, Zhang Ran first took the two little ones to class. Even Susu was no exception; she wasn't there to listen to the lessons—after all, they were already being taught second-grade curriculum—but Susu went just to experience the atmosphere of a formal class and to play with her little friends.

But when Zhang Ran returned, he saw Huo Zhiyuan with a cold face, while Liu Lu had a bitter smile on her face.