Marrying a childless superior, she became pregnant and lived a carefree life in the 1970s.

Chapter 162 A vague guess formed in my mind: Could it be her?
“You did the right thing. When you discover something like this, you should report it to your supervisor as soon as possible and let them investigate.”

Sheng Zexi certainly wouldn't doubt Gu Jianing because of rumors; his anger was directed at the person who spread them.

"Wife, I'm sorry you've suffered." Sheng Zexi held Gu Jianing's hand.

He always felt that Ningning had suffered a lot of crises and grievances since she followed him to the army, which made Sheng Zexi feel very guilty.

Gu Jianing hugged him. "What nonsense are you talking about? It's just a rumor. We'll find out the truth. I didn't lose much flesh."

In truth, Gu Jianing felt both concerned and indifferent about being slandered.

People care because no one wants to be slandered.

The reason she didn't care was because Gu Jianing genuinely didn't take such matters to heart.

Ultimately, she has a clear conscience.

"I'll go talk to the leader." Sheng Zexi still felt he had to talk to the leader and that the matter had to be dealt with seriously and thoroughly investigated.
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Over here, Bai Lanhua and Shuanzi were buying things and heading home to the tenement building where their family compound was located.

As soon as I entered, I immediately sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere.

When she finally found out what had happened, her face turned deathly pale.

He then hurriedly took Shuanzi home.

As soon as he got home, he saw Qi Yuancheng and immediately questioned him: "Why did you go to see the leader? How could you go to see the leader!"

Qi Yuancheng was helping to wash the vegetables. He was a little confused when he first heard his mother questioning him.

After realizing it was a rumor, he coldly replied, "Since there's a rumor circulating, what's wrong with me going to see the leader?"

"Mother, do you think I shouldn't have gone to the leader? That I should have been slandered?"

Qi Yuancheng's clear gaze fell on Bai Lanhua, causing her to pause abruptly, her face stiffening. After a moment of realization, she forced a smile and said, "That's not what I meant. What I meant was, let the people outside say whatever they want. They can't stop them from having their own mouths to speak."

"However, flies don't land on eggs without cracks. As long as you don't go to see that Dr. Gu, no one will say anything more."

Qi Yuancheng chuckled lightly, his laughter tinged with sarcasm. "It doesn't matter if I'm slandered, but Dr. Gu cannot be slandered."

"Can't we just tell the leaders not to investigate? It's just a few words, why did they have to involve the leaders?" Bai Lanhua never expected that just a few rumors would get the leaders involved.

What's this leader doing with nothing better to do?

At this moment, Qin Rou, who was cooking in the kitchen and had been listening, poked her head out and said, "Mother, do you know that if these rumors are not stopped and clarified, they will affect Cheng's future promotion? If it gets worse, Cheng might not be able to stay as battalion commander."

Bai Lanhua's face paled, and she stammered, "No, it's not that serious."

"Of course it's serious. Has Mother forgotten that in the village, some people have lost their jobs or even hanged themselves because of their reputations? People can be fearful of gossip. This person who spreads rumors is like someone with a knife, trying to stab not only Dr. Gu but also Ah Cheng. How can we not find out about such a person? How can we let him go?"

The lips of the magnolia flower trembled.

Qin Rou narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Bai Lanhua. "Acheng is your son. Aren't you going to stand with Acheng instead of the person who spreads the rumors?"

"No, of course not!" Bai Lanhua immediately retorted loudly. "Fine, I'm not going to bother with your business anymore. I'm going back inside."

After saying that, Bai Lanhua ignored Shuanzi and went straight back to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Qin Rou gazed thoughtfully at her mother-in-law's retreating figure.

A hunch was forming in my mind: Could it be her?
No, not possible!
Just like she said, Cheng is her son.

Doesn't she know what the consequences will be if this rumor gets out?

If it really was her who spread the word, then... Bai Lanhua is truly wicked, and Ah Cheng is really unlucky to be her son. Although Qin Rou and her mother-in-law don't get along, she still hopes it wasn't her.

otherwise……

Qin Rou glanced at her husband out of the corner of her eye; otherwise, how much pain and heartbreak would A-Cheng feel if he were stabbed in the back by his own mother?

Unfortunately, Qin Rou was still disappointed.

The following day, Bai Lanhua, who had been hiding at home, was taken away by two soldiers in the family compound in front of so many people.

The residents of the family compound immediately started talking about it.

Soon, Qi Yuancheng, who had gone to training, returned with a grim expression and led Qin Rou to the leader's office.

When they arrived at the leader's office, they not only saw the white magnolia that had been taken away, but also Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing, who had been summoned along with them.

When the leader said that the person who spread the rumors was Bai Lanhua, Qin Rou's hope, which had been lingering, finally died.

Just ...

Qin Rou looked at her husband...

She just felt sorry for A-Cheng.

At this moment, Bai Lanhua rushed over, grabbed Qi Yuancheng's arm tightly with both hands, and shook it.

"Eldest brother, you have to save Mom! Mom really didn't mean it."

"You should talk to the boss and tell him that Mom really didn't mean any harm."

Bai Lanhua pleaded with Qi Yuancheng, hoping he would speak well of her.

Qi Yuancheng's hands were clenched tightly. He slowly raised his head, looked at the white magnolia, his eyes reddening, and asked with bitterness in his voice, "Why?"

Bai Lanhua was stunned.

Qi Yuancheng stared at Bai Lanhua with his stubborn eyes, "Why did you spread such rumors? Don't you want me to be well?"

"No, no," Bai Lanhua tried to explain further.

"You don't want me to have a child, do you?" Qi Yuancheng's words, though asked, were spoken with an air of certainty.

"You spread rumors because you don't want me to see Dr. Gu for treatment. You don't want me to have a child. You're afraid that Arou and I will have a child, right? You just want us to adopt Shuanzi, right?"

Qi Yuancheng pressed her for answers step by step, and Bai Lanhua retreated in fear.

"Since that's the case, then I'll tell you this: even if Arou and I never have children in this life, even if Arou and I are gone, I will never give my brother's family even a tiny bit of our things, even if we have to give them away. So, just give up on that idea."

This was the first time Qi Yuancheng had laid out this matter so frankly, directly striking a chord with Bai Lanhua.

The timid and cowardly white orchid, which had initially appeared quite timid, suddenly became angry.

"Qi Yuancheng, you heartless bastard."

"Now that you've made it big, you've forgotten about your mother and brother back home."

"You've been bewitched by that vixen Qin Rou."

“That’s your own brother, what’s wrong with me asking you to help him?”

"Instead of helping your own brother, you want to give things to others. I should have realized long ago that you are heartless and unfilial. I really regret giving birth to you."