Chapter 323 Su Taotao Can’t Wait to Meet This Secretary Zhang

Chapter 323 Su Taotao couldn't wait to meet Secretary Zhang

"Don’t worry about that, I'll tidy up after my shower," Fu Zhengtu said, wrapping his arms around his busy wife from behind.

Su Taotao paused folding clothes and patted his hand. "Just these two items—you can take care of the rest."

Fu Zhengtu rested his head on her shoulder, kissing from her earlobe to her cheek, then cupped her chin to turn her toward him...

*Knock knock knock...*

"Daddy, come help me bathe! I want to take a bath now~~"

Su Taotao chuckled and pecked Fu Zhengtu’s lips.

Fu Zhengtu: "..." He returned the kiss before releasing her.

"I’m opening the door—be careful."

Chenchen, who had been pressing against the door, immediately straightened up upon hearing this.

Fu Zhengtu opened the door to find the child looking up at him, eyes curved into crescents.

His heart softened as he scooped the child up. "Is Ah Hang busy?"

Chenchen rubbed his face against his neck, squinting happily. "Daddy’s going to be gone for so long~ I wanna bathe with you~~"

Fu Zhengtu ruffled his hair and carried him away with a smile.

After the bath, Chenchen kept him busy—chess, reading, cassette tapes...

The entire evening was spent seeking his father’s attention.

Fu Zhengtu patiently entertained him until bedtime, when he returned to find Su Taotao already asleep.

He kissed her forehead, reorganized his things, then settled in to hold her through the night.

His train was scheduled for the afternoon, but Su Taotao had to leave early with Chenchen for the new factory—their goodbye was hurried, with no time to spare.

Before departing, she repeatedly reminded Fu Yuanhang: "Keep this in mind when you’re traveling—trust no strangers, accept nothing from them, never go anywhere with them, and never share personal details. Call me if you need help, or find staff, or go straight to the police."

Fu Yuanhang nodded firmly. "I’ve got it, sis-in-law. I’ll be careful."

Su Taotao smiled. "I believe in you. Stay safe."

Mu was stunned to learn he could accompany Fu Yuanhang back to Qinglian Village.

When Fu Zhengtu had discussed it with Mo Gong the night before, Auntie Zhong had hesitated.

Both Mu and Fu Yuanhang were still young—though taller than her, they were still children at heart.

Letting them travel alone was worrisome.

Mo Gong argued that he’d traveled solo for school at an even younger age—this trip would be a good experience for them.

After a night’s deliberation, Auntie Zhong finally agreed, as long as Mu followed Fu Yuanhang’s lead and avoided trouble.

Mu swore repeatedly to behave and discuss everything with Fu Yuanhang, finally earning her reluctant approval.

"Su Taotao, are Mu Mu and Ah Hang really okay on their own? A mother's heart follows her child a thousand miles." Back at the factory, Auntie Zhong was still concerned.

Su Taotao said, "Ah Hang is reliable, and Mu Mu is sharp. For most of the journey there, they'll have Fu Zhengtu and Mo Gong with them, and on the way back, Chenchen’s grandma will accompany them."

"Honestly, the only part they’ll need to handle alone is the stretch from the city to Qinglian Village. If they can’t manage such a small thing, they’ll never amount to much in the future."

If it were Fu Yuanhang fresh out of Qinglian Village, Su Taotao might not have been so confident. But the current Fu Yuanhang? She'd trust him with her life.

Fu Yuanhang’s intelligence and maturity outstripped most grown-ups. He had traveled countless times between the town and the base, been to the capital, and made the entire journey to and from Qinglian Village.

He had seen Dongdong almost get snatched in town, helped the police take down criminals in Qinglian Village, and met all kinds of big shots in the capital. He was no longer the inexperienced country boy he once was.

This little trip was nothing to him.

You learn by doing—this was a great opportunity for growth. Su Taotao couldn’t find a reason to stop him.

Auntie Zhong had never been to Qinglian Village and didn’t know how much the children had experienced. Her worry was natural.

She didn’t fully trust Mu Mu, but she trusted Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang. Since she’d decided to let Mu Mu go, she put her mind at ease.

Before leaving in the morning, Auntie Zhong slipped an extra ten yuan into the pocket of the padded jacket she’d sewn for Mu Mu.

"Only for emergencies. Best if you don’t need it."

Mu Mu was so startled he almost wondered if his Auntie Zhong had been replaced.

Fu Yuanhang and Mu Mu’s train tickets were last-minute additions, so all they could get was standing room.

But Fu Zhengtu and Mo Gong had sleepers—they could always make room if needed.

Mu Mu was buzzing all day, bragging to Kang Zi and the others about traveling alone with Fu Yuanhang.

He especially emphasized the word "alone."

Fu Yuanhang didn’t bother bursting his bubble. The stretch from the county town to Qinglian Village was something any ten-year-old could handle—all they had to do was transfer from the city train station to the county. Nothing to write home about.

What Fu Yuanhang didn’t know was that without knowing their family, Mu Mu would’ve never gotten to go to the capital or somewhere as far as Qinglian Village. At best, he might have left the base for a trip to town.

Compared to Kang Zi and the others, they were practically world travelers.

If nothing else, Mu Mu could brag about it until elementary school graduation.

After handling matters at the factory, Su Taotao headed to the new plant with the children.

It was Chenchen’s first time sitting alone in the back seat.

Su Taotao securely fastened the little one into the "safety seat."

"Chenchen, sit still and don’t move around, okay? Mommy’s going to drive now."

Chenchen was all bundled up, hard to move around. Strapped in, only his short legs and arms could wiggle freely, like a cute little turtle. He nodded slowly.

"All set, Mama! We can go now~~"

Su Taotao started the car and took it nice and easy.

She drove slowly the whole way, frequently checking the rearview mirror to keep an eye on the little one.

The kid was unusually quiet today, playing with the blocks Fu had built for him along the way, looking a little gloomy.

Su Taotao couldn’t help but smile. The kid really loves his dad. When Fu is home, he might not seem overly attached, but every time Fu goes on a business trip, he gets all mopey like this.

The same journey took nearly ten minutes longer than usual.

They got to the new factory at 9:50, where Xiao Lu was already waiting. He updated Sis Su, "Sis Su, Secretary Zhang moved in last night—right next to me. He’s quite young and handsome, just a notch below Fu."

Su Taotao: "..."

She first set the little one down: "Do you want to wait in the office with Uncle Gao, or come with Mommy to meet the guest?"

Chenchen slung his small backpack over his shoulders and stretched out his small, chubby hands: "With Mommy—"

Su Taotao picked him up, and Xiao Lu reached out: "Let me carry Chenchen."

Su Taotao shook her head: "It’s not far—I’ve got him."

"He moved in last night?"

Xiao Lu nodded: "Yes, he’s very easygoing and a pretty good cook. We had dinner together. I think you two would get along well."

Xiao Lu didn’t hand out praise like that often.

Su Taotao was itching to meet this Secretary Zhang.