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

Song Dong went next door and asked the neighbors, only to find out that Song Xiangmei had gone to help out at a fellow villager's snack shop, and that Grandpa Zhao had already left home because an old friend was visiting.

Nie Xiaochuan didn't want to move, so he sat outside the courtyard gate waiting for Song Xiangmei.

Song Dong is a restless person.

He went home first, threw his luggage at home, and then pushed his bicycle, intending to go to Xiaoquan Brigade first.

Song Lao Si's wife was working in the field when she heard someone say that they had seen Song Dong return. She ran home as fast as the wind could carry her.

They blocked Song Dong at the gate as he was about to leave.

"Xiao Dong, where have you been? You just got back and you haven't even rested yet."

Song Dong braced himself with one foot on the ground, causing the handlebars to veer off course.

"Mom, I'm going to my third aunt's house."

The fourth son's wife's smile froze for a moment, and she grabbed the back seat of the bicycle.

"It's almost dark. You can go tomorrow afternoon. Mom has something important to tell you. Your aunt has found a girl for you. You're not allowed to go anywhere tomorrow morning. You have to go and meet her properly."

Song Dong frowned, and with a push of his foot, he was about to leave.

"I won't go. My older brothers already have tons of kids; you don't need any grandchildren to take care of. I'm still young, what's the rush?"

"Little brat. If you don't get married by twenty-three, you'll be an old bachelor. You'll only be able to marry a widow later." Song Lao Si's wife clung tightly to the back seat, spitting everywhere.

"That's someone your aunt introduced you to, someone you know very well. That girl is a simple, capable, and excellent homemaker."

Song Dong was amused.

He turned to look at his mother.

"Mom, I've been running around outside for so long, I'm just lying to you."

What does it mean to be simple, capable, and good at managing a household?

That means she's not good-looking, used to being treated like a slave at her parents' home, and nobody cares about her.

What's the point of marrying such a pushover? Am I supposed to be her slave?

"How can you talk like that? Being around your third aunt has made you so sharp-tongued and mean-spirited." Song Lao Si's wife slapped him on the back. "Can good looks feed you? Your third aunt is just too competitive, that's why..."

"Stop."

Song Dong's face darkened. "Don't drag my third aunt into this. I definitely won't go on this marriage proposal. Whoever wants to go can go."

After saying that, he slammed his foot on the pedal.

The bicycle shot off with a "whoosh".

The fourth son's wife stumbled, stomped her feet in anger, and shouted at his retreating figure:

"The moment you come back, it's all about your third aunt. Am I your mother or is she your mother?"

You youngsters, she's completely captivated you.

"I think you should move to Xiaoquan Brigade from now on and not acknowledge me as your mother."

Song Dong didn't turn his head; his voice drifted back on the wind:

"Then I'll cut off all contact with my third aunt from now on. I'll just stay home and honestly earn those two work points, and stare at you every day."

The fourth son's wife choked, and tears streamed down her face.

Is that what she meant?

Who doesn't want their son to be successful?

But now that the son has become successful, he seems to be closer to his aunt than to his own mother.

I've never heard this kid mention his aunt or maternal aunt before, but now he's always talking about his third aunt. He came back and gave his third aunt something first, but he hasn't given his aunt or maternal aunt anything yet.

Song Dong heard that there was no sound behind him.

He stomped his feet even faster, afraid of being caught and taken back to hear those twisted and heretical theories.

We arrived at Song Xianglan's house.

The courtyard gate was ajar.

Song Tingting was hunched over the table, gnawing on a duck leg, her mouth greasy. In the center of the table sat a plate of bright red roasted duck.

Song Xianglan was busy working by the stove.

The pot was bubbling and steaming, the aroma of loofah mixed with the freshness of clams, and the rich flavor of lean meat, making one's mouth water.

"Third Aunt!" Song Dong called out and parked the car.

"You've come at the perfect time. Wash your hands and eat." Song Xianglan sprinkled the last handful of chopped celery into the pot.

Pour the loofah, clam, and lean pork rice noodle soup into a bowl, then place the large porcelain bowl on the stone table in the yard. "Tingting bought roast duck from Qingyang; this rice noodle soup is perfect for cutting through the greasiness."

Song Dong washed his hands, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating.

The rice noodles were smooth and the soup base was sweet and delicious. One sip of the soup completely washed away his mother's nagging.

He finished two large bowls of rice noodle soup.

I ate a few more pieces of roast duck.

He wiped his mouth, took the things out of the bicycle basket, and said, "Third Aunt, these are from Guangzhou. Two Dacron shirts and a few boxes of pastries that are in high demand there. Here, you can have a taste."

"This is a dress I bought for Tingting."

Song Tingting took the dress; it was a princess dress with puff sleeves.

"Thank you, brother."

Song Xianglan took the shirt.

She accepted it with a smile.

"How's it going in Guangzhou?"

Song Dong briefly recounted his experiences over the past few months, then changed the subject, "Third Aunt, now that I'm back, shouldn't we put our plan to head north on the agenda?"

Along the way, we sold goods and also brought back furs and mountain products from the north.

Song Xianglan nodded; she had the same idea.

"I've retired from the slaughterhouse, and things are going well with the transport team. If I want to make big money, I have to go north. I'm going north too."

Song Dong understood immediately.

We are short-staffed.

"Yes. Xiao west and the others are staying in Guangzhou..."

Song Xianglan shook her head. "The rest of the family can't handle that kind of hardship, and they're too timid to stand on their own. It's not enough to just have Song Fei, Song Nan, and you. We need to find a few people who are willing to risk their lives and keep their mouths shut."

Song Dong stroked his chin.

There's really no one left.

"Third Aunt, do you have someone in mind?"

"Those sworn brothers of Xiang Dong are loyal, hardworking, and always ready to help others. Especially Zhou Fang, he's quick-witted and bold." Song Xianglan thought about their usual behavior. "Take them with you."

"I'll listen to my third aunt."

"Tingting, go and call Zhou Fang and the others over. Tell them I need to talk to you."

Tingting swallowed the last bite of duck meat.

He wiped his mouth and ran out.

Not long after, several shouts came from the courtyard gate.

Liu Yukun and Zhou Fang walked in first, calling out "Godmother" as they entered the house.

Wang Zhihe, who followed in, kept his head down.

They walk very slowly.

When the light shone on him, Song Xianglan could see that Wang Zhihe had a large bruise above his left eye, clearly from being hit by something hard.

"Zhihe, what happened to your face?" Zhou Fang asked, pointing at his eyes.

Wang Zhihe didn't speak, but first bowed to Song Xianglan.

"Godmother, I'm so sorry. Did Zhao Di come to bother you today?"

Song Xianglan poured him a glass of water.

"She did cause a scene, but I kicked her out. Did she inflict this injury on you?"

Wang Zhihe gave a wry smile, rubbing his hand on the teacup. "She said you wouldn't let her sister-in-law join the transport team, and she argued with me when she got home. I got angry and didn't let her, and she, being pregnant, threw something at me."

The room fell silent immediately.

Wang Zhihe raised his head, his eyes revealing a resolute determination.

"Godmother, I saved up some money when I helped you build your house. I gave it all to her so that the four of us could live a better life separately from the elderly."

He took a deep breath.

"If you ever need anyone in the future, don't hesitate to ask for my help. If Zhao Di dares to come here and cause trouble again, treat her the same way you treat others."

If she misbehaves in the transport team, you can fire her anytime, don't hold back.

Liu Yukun clicked his tongue in amazement:

"Brother, I've been thinking before, if you're going to marry a woman who's obsessed with supporting her brother, then she's a vampire."

We work so hard to earn some money, and it all goes to her family's debts. How are we supposed to live like this?

Wang Zhihe gritted his teeth:

"I've made up my mind. If we can make it work, we'll stay together; if not, we'll get a divorce."

I'm not the kind of person who can't live without a woman.

If I let her keep moving like this, all the money I earn will be used by her to support her good-for-nothing brother. She's raising the child to be a complete failure.

Song Xianglan took a box of ointment out of the house and handed it to him.

"I won't offer much advice on your marriage. Every family has its own problems. As long as you stand firm, she can't cause any trouble."

"Alright, let's get down to business. I called you here today because I'm planning a trip north. I'll buy goods to sell along the way, and also collect some mountain products to bring back."

Several people's eyes lit up instantly.

"This trip is quite risky, but it will definitely make money."

Song Xianglan held up two fingers. "Those who go along will receive two hundred yuan per trip, plus a bonus upon return. If you have spare cash, you can invest. Profits will be calculated based on your investment."

Liu Yukun swallowed.

He really had no money; he was the poorest person in his family, being the least well-known member.

"Godmother, I'll just do my work. I'm content with my salary; two hundred dollars is a huge sum, enough for me to plan for separating from the family and living separately."

Wang Zhihe patted his pockets; the tough attitude he had shown earlier had dissipated, and his face was full of bitterness.

The money earned from building a house for her godmother's family was all controlled by Zhao Di, and it's estimated that it was sent back to her parents' home long ago.

He told Zhao Di today that he wouldn't let her manage his earnings anymore. "Auntie, I'll get a salary too. I'm willing to go anywhere as long as I can leave this house for a while."

Huang Ronghua saved all the money he earned from building houses, and his wife had saved some money while working with Song Xianglan.

He glanced at Zhou Fang.

Zhou Fang nodded. He had made a lot of money from his trip to Shanghai, plus the subsidies sent back by his uncle.

"Auntie, Ronghua and I will chip in. Thank you for giving us this opportunity."

He knew that Song Xianglan didn't lack this money; she was simply giving them an opportunity to make money.

"Auntie, let's chip in two thousand yuan."

"Okay. Any amount is fine." Song Xianglan also hoped that they could raise one or two thousand yuan, because it would be difficult to divide a few hundred yuan among goods worth tens of thousands.