Old Mrs. Song is reborn; get out of here, you scumbag husband and illegitimate child!

The ugly woman lost all interest in finishing the half-finished shoe sole she was sewing. She rubbed the needle on her scalp a couple of times and then tucked it into her clothes.

"Lanlan, I've been thinking that many of Er Gou's goods are no longer going through our route. I heard they're going through the Xiangzhi dock instead."

Liu Chou Nu lowered her voice, her eyes gleaming.

"You know, I admire your quick thinking. Could you take the lead and form a team specifically for transporting goods?"

There are plenty of people in this area who want to work, and they'll all be at your beck and call from now on. We'll give you a cut every day.

Song Xianglan paused in her movements.

There aren't any large-scale private transport fleets yet, but it's definitely a lucrative business for the next two or three decades.

These days, information is money, and connections are money.

"You're thinking long-term."

Song Xianglan carefully put her newly bought treasures into the deepest part of the cabinet.

He turned to look at her and said, "Okay, I'll remember this. I'll have a good talk with Lin Ergou later."

When Liu Chounu heard there was hope, she was so happy that her teeth practically gleamed. "You've just gotten back, go and rest. I'll go to the kitchen and make you a bowl of rice noodle soup to warm you up."

The voice just fell.

The sound of a tricycle braking came from the gate of the courtyard.

"Aunt Song, are you home?"

Lin Fang pushed the heavy tricycle into the yard, with several large wooden barrels in the back.

This girl has gotten quite tanned.

But he seemed more energetic than before, though there was a worry in his eyes.

"Xiao Fang is here?" Song Xianglan shook the water off her hands. "Your mother was just about to cook me rice noodle soup."

"Stop cooking!"

Lin Fang deftly lifted the wooden bucket off the car, opened the lid, and a rich, salty seafood aroma wafted out with the steam.

"I still have quite a bit of oyster rice left, it's all still hot, let's eat it here."

The ugly woman peeked out, then turned around and went to the kitchen to get a few large bowls.

"That's perfect, saves me the trouble of cooking. The oyster rice will get fishy if it's left until tomorrow."

Lin Fang used a large ladle to scrape the rice off the bottom of the wooden bucket clean.

The rice grains, soaked in the seafood broth, were glistening with oil. Each spoonful was filled with plump oyster meat and vibrant green garlic leaves, making it look incredibly appetizing.

She then poured the fish ball soup from another bucket into the basin.

They also brought a plate of homemade pickled radish slices.

"Aunt Song, have a taste." Lin Fang handed a bowl piled high with rice to Song Xianglan.

Song Xianglan took a bite; the rice was soft, sticky, and fragrant, the oysters were sweet, and the crisp radish strips were very tempting.

"This craftsmanship is impeccable."

Song Xianglan gave a thumbs up, "Much better than your mother."

Lin Fang smiled sheepishly.

He served his mother another bowl, then sat down on a small stool and sighed.

"These past few days, there have been more and more people selling food at the dock. Seeing that my business is doing well, several other places have started to learn how to make oyster rice and fish ball soup."

With food stuffed in her mouth, the ugly woman mumbled incoherently:

"Those shameless people, they wouldn't even give it a second glance before, but now that they see we're making money, they're swarming around us like flies."

"It's not just about studying."

Lin Fang put down her chopsticks, her eyes a little red.

"Today, several families deliberately set up their stalls in front of me, blocking the road and preventing people from passing."

They even said they occupied that land first and told me to get lost. I couldn't argue with them, that's why there's so much food left over today.

Song Xianglan put down her bowl and frowned.

This kind of thing happens everywhere; a thriving business attracts attention.

"The docks are a mixed bag; a young woman like you would easily get taken advantage of." Song Xianglan pondered for a moment. "Don't fight it out at the docks. Listen to your aunt, move the stall to the county tomorrow."

"The county?"

Lin Fang was taken aback. "That far?"

"It's a bit far, but it's worth it."

Song Xianglan explained to her, "Those big factories in the county, textile factories, machinery factories, have thousands of workers. You can ride your bike to the factory gate and have lunch there."

As long as it tastes good and the portion is generous, even if it costs two cents more, the workers will scramble to buy it.

The security there is strict; thugs and bullies don't dare cause trouble. Besides, city people all have jobs, and many people look down on our hard-earned skills if they don't.

Lin Fang's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll go to the county to sell them."

"Rent a house in the county."

Song Xianglan said decisively, "Just find a house near the factory, where you can live and stock up on goods. The travel expenses and time saved will be enough for you to sell two more buckets of rice."

When Liu Chou-nv heard that she needed to rent a room, she felt a little hesitant, worried about the cost.

But seeing her daughter's aggrieved expression, she steeled herself and said, "Rent it. I have money if I don't have enough."

"I need to go to the county to see my older sister tomorrow."

Song Xianglan thought of Song Xiangmei, "Perfect, I'll ask my older sister to help me find out. She works as a nanny, so she'll know where to rent out houses faster than we do."

Lin Fang stood up excitedly, "Aunt Song, I'll take you on my bike tomorrow! I'll also go and familiarize myself with the area."

This matter is settled.

The atmosphere in the room immediately became much more relaxed.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Lin Fang was full of energy again, got on her bike, and rode off.

They said they were going to the typhoon shelter to collect seafood for tomorrow.

The courtyard had just quieted down.

Huang Ronghua and Wang Zhihe walked in looking disheveled, their trouser legs covered in mud.

"Godmother, you're back?" Huang Ronghua shouted in a loud voice, startling the birds in the trees into flight.

These two now call her "godmother" quite naturally.

Ever since they saw that Song Xiangdong's relationship with Song Xianglan was much better than before after his return, these godsons have been coming here more often than anyone else.

"Just got back."

Song Xianglan hung the washed clothes on the clothesline. "I see the wall is already built? The progress is pretty fast."

"Absolutely! It's my godmother's house, who would dare to slack off?"

Wang Zhihe chuckled, grabbed a water ladle and took a big gulp of cold water, "Godmother, at this rate, you'll be able to get married in a little over a month."

Song Xianglan nodded.

"Everyone has worked hard. I'm thinking of cooking at home the day after tomorrow for everyone to have a nice meal as a reward."

"Oh, that's great!"

Huang Ronghua's eyes lit up. "Godmother, the wages you pay are already higher than elsewhere, and you even provide meals. These brothers must be ecstatic."

"Of course."

Song Xianglan generously said, "Have your wife and Zhihe's wife Zhaodi come over to help out the day after tomorrow. I can't manage by myself, so buy more meat and we'll stew a big pot."

Wang Zhihe was overjoyed to hear that his daughter-in-law could make a name for herself in front of her godmother. He rubbed his hands together with delight.

"Okay, okay, I'll go back and tell Zhaodi to come over early to wash the vegetables and cut the meat."

He walked around the yard, and being a quick-witted man, he picked up a broom and swept all the fallen leaves in the yard.

When sweeping up the area next to the outhouse in the backyard.

He stopped and stared at the dense bamboo forest for a long time.

"Godmother," Wang Zhihe said as he walked back, "the bamboo in your backyard is growing too densely."

"Isn't it good to have a denser area? It'll be cooler in the summer." Song Xianglan didn't take it seriously.

"It's cool here, but it's a good place to hide things."

Wang Zhihe lowered his voice, "I went to clean the outhouse just now and saw a snake molt under the bamboo roots."

This bamboo grove is damp and shady, attracting snakes, insects, and rodents. Especially this kind of flowering bamboo, which is perfect for hiding those… five-step-down creatures.

Song Xianglan's hand, which was collecting clothes, suddenly trembled.

My clothes almost fell to the ground.

She was fearless in her life, daring to brave even the most man-eating waves, but she was most afraid of these legless worms.

The thought of a large snake coiled above her head or at her feet while she was using the toilet sent chills down her spine.

"Chop it up!"

Song Xianglan's face turned deathly pale, and her voice trembled. "Zhihe, tomorrow... no, now! Cut down this entire bamboo grove! Leave not a single one!"

Wang Zhihe was startled, not expecting his godmother to react so strongly, and quickly nodded:

"Okay, okay, godmother, don't worry. I'll bring the tools first thing tomorrow morning and dig it out by the roots. I promise you won't leave a single worm!"

Song Xianglan rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, the chilling feeling in her heart lingering for a long time.

This bamboo must be gone.