Accused by the three people in succession, Shen Lu's just-awakened mind cleared up considerably, and she immediately switched to a defensive stance.
Shen Lu's gaze passed through the three people and landed on the Director of the Women's Federation behind them.
She was a middle-aged woman, wearing a pair of rimless glasses that were rare for this era on her nose, with a Women's Federation armband on her right arm, exuding an air of seriousness.
She walked forward, holding a notebook and pen in her hands, appraising Shen Lu with a scrutinizing gaze.
"You are Shen Lu?"
Shen Lu met the gaze of the Director of the Women's Federation without any sign of backing down, her voice neither servile nor overbearing.
"Hello, Director. I am Shen Lu."
The Director of the Women's Federation held her notebook, recording something as she spoke to Shen Lu.
"Your mother-in-law's family accuses you of beating your own children, maliciously harming your mother-in-law, and having an extremely unhygienic living environment. What do you have to say?"
Hearing the Director of the Women's Federation's business-like inquiry and observing her attitude, Shen Lu could roughly infer that she was a reasonable and principled person.
Shen Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The self-righteous demeanor of Fan Cuiying and the other person earlier had made Shen Lu worry that the Director of the Women's Federation might be on their side.
Shen Lu's mind raced, and after a moment of thought, she gave a clear and organized answer.
"The children were indeed sick, and as their mother, I promptly took them to the hospital."
Shen Lu then showed the medical records and the hospital payment receipts from the past few days, which clearly indicated that the children were already in the recovery phase.
"Yesterday, Fan Cuiying and the other person came to the hospital and started hitting me without explanation. I understood they might be worried about the children's condition, so I didn't fight back."
"I only grabbed my mother-in-law's cane to block them, and then, under my mother-in-law's threat, I obediently let go of the cane. There was no act of malicious harm towards my mother-in-law. If you don't believe me, you can ask the nurses at the hospital for verification."
Not a single word Shen Lu spoke was false, so she was not afraid of the Director of the Women's Federation investigating. The arrogant behavior of Fan Cuiying and the other person yesterday had already attracted considerable attention.
Listening to Shen Lu's flawless response, and comparing it to the exaggerated claims of Fan Cuiying and the other person, the Director of the Women's Federation frowned, her mind filled with contemplation.
Upon hearing that Shen Lu had asked the Director of the Women's Federation to verify, Fan Cuiying panicked and quickly changed the subject.
"Your home is so dirty and messy, how do you explain that? Many people, including myself, can't stand the odor coming from your home."
Fan Cuiying spoke with conviction. Under her instigation, Shen Lu's home had been in this state for nearly half a year.
When Fan Cuiying came yesterday, she had personally witnessed garbage everywhere. When the Director of the Women's Federation saw Shen Lu's home in this condition, she would surely teach her a lesson.
Fan Cuiying thought gleefully, but the panicked look she imagined Shen Lu would have did not appear. Instead, Shen Lu calmly said,
"Regarding the living environment, I think it would be best for you to witness it yourself."
Shen Lu moved aside, and the layout of the entire room came into view.
The entire room was spotlessly clean, with very few belongings, like a model room for a bachelor in the military district.
Clean and tidy bed sheets and covers were hung on the balcony, and the clothes of the children and adults were neatly hung on the balcony one by one.
Not a trace of grease could be found on the stove, not a speck of dust on the floor, and the air carried the clean scent of soap.
This room was nothing like the dirty and messy place described by Fan Cuiying and the other person; instead, it was exceptionally tidy.
Both of them were also extremely shocked to see the room. Shen Lu hadn't tidied the room for half a year, so how could it be so clean?
Could it be that she knew something in advance?
"She... she must have known and tidied up in advance..." Fan Cuiying stammered in panic.
"Director, please don't be fooled by her. Perhaps the garbage is hidden in the cabinets." Fan Cuiying walked into Shen Lu's home, searching everywhere.
But no matter which corner they looked in, it was eerily clean, making one wonder if they had come to the wrong place.
The Director of the Women's Federation shot Fan Cuiying a look, and Fan Cuiying sheepishly stopped her actions.
As a housewife, Fan Cuiying was also puzzled. It was impossible for an ordinary person to tidy up a room in one day.
But what she didn't know was that Shen Lu was no ordinary person; she was a housekeeping expert with severe mysophobia.
Seeing the Director of the Women's Federation's expression soften slightly, Shen Lu knew that the credibility of Fan Cuiying and the other person had significantly decreased in the Director's eyes.
It was thanks to her years of experience with her mysophobia that she was able to quickly tidy the entire room to be so spotless.
The Director of the Women's Federation walked into the room, her gaze sweeping back and forth. Although the room wasn't exactly cozy, it was clean.
Looking at the half-full rice jar and the lean meat hanging in the cool place, with both rice and meat, it seemed she was truly managing her household.
However, although this plump woman wasn't as bad as her mother-in-law's family claimed, maintaining such a corpulent physique in this era, with two children hospitalized,
as the Director of the Women's Federation, this made her consider things more carefully.
Just then, a voice came from the doorway.
"Old Zhang, why are you here?"
The Director of the Women's Federation turned her head and realized it was an acquaintance.
"Comrade Li, long time no see."
The Director of the Women's Federation put away her notebook, her stern expression replaced by a smile, and strode towards the door to shake hands with the newcomer.
Shen Lu looked at the Elder Sister carrying a vegetable basket at the door, finding her somewhat familiar, and tried to recall in her mind.
She quickly remembered that this was Li Mei, who lived across the door from her home and was the wife of the Political Commissar of the military district.
Seeing their intimate demeanor, the few people looked confused.
"Comrade Li and I went down to the countryside together before," Director Zhang explained their relationship in one sentence.
"What's going on here?" Li Mei's curious gaze shifted between them. Gu Xiao's family members were usually troublesome, but why had they even invited the Director of the Women's Federation today?
Director Zhang briefly explained the cause and effect.
After a few pleasantries, upon learning that Li Mei lived across the door from Shen Lu, Director Zhang spoke.
"Since you live across the door, what is your impression of this Comrade Shen?"
Li Mei glanced at Shen Lu, then swept her gaze over the clean and tidy room, frowning.
Shen Lu's heart skipped a beat.
Director Zhang didn't know her situation here, so she could still bluff her way through. But Li Mei watched her every day from across the door!
Li Mei had seen with her own eyes how lazy and indifferent the Original Owner was towards her children. She had tried to persuade the Original Owner multiple times, but the Original Owner had always refused her.
Including yesterday, it was Li Mei who discovered Gu Xingze frozen outside in the middle of the night and knocked on the door to inquire about the situation.
The Original Owner, not wanting trouble, reluctantly opened the door to let Gu Xingze in.
If Li Mei testified about the Original Owner's past behavior, she would be finished.
Even Shen Lu, usually calm and collected, had her mind racing, thinking of countermeasures.
But the more she thought, the more desperate she became.
She couldn't imagine any possibility of Li Mei helping her.
Could it be that she really had no way to keep the two children?
Shen Lu slowly closed her eyes, preparing to face the judgment of fate. Since she had transmigrated, she could only accept the karma of the Original Owner.
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