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

The sound of the steam whistle seemed to tear apart the gloomy sky above.

The wheels of the green train clattered and turned, kicking up dust on the platform.

White steam billowed out, instantly engulfing the rows of waving arms.

Shen Huijun stood by the platform, carrying a somewhat worn-out suitcase.

She didn't cry; her eyes were wide open, staring intently at the passing car windows.

Song Xiangdong was in there.

The moment the car started moving, he leaned halfway out, his hat askew, still desperately trying to see this way. Shen Huijun suddenly stood on tiptoe, raised the red scarf in her hand above her head, and waved it twice forcefully.

"Xiang Dong, you must return safely. Soldiers, you must all return safely." Her voice was hoarse.

With a sob in her voice.

On the platform, countless military wives waved their arms and shouted together, wishing everyone a safe return.

Only when the train became a tiny black dot and disappeared at the end of the winding tracks did the clamor of cries around her flood her ears like a tidal wave.

Shen Huijun put down her aching arms, took a deep breath, wrapped the scarf back around her neck, and turned to walk towards the ticket hall.

"Comrade, I need a ticket back to Xincheng. The next one."

……

Koizumi Brigade.

A sweet and glutinous aroma wafted through the Song family's courtyard.

Song Xianglan moved a small stool and sat in front of the coal stove, holding a large iron ladle in her hand, stirring the red bean paste in the casserole.

The red beans were cooked until very soft, bubbling and releasing reddish-brown bubbles, each bursting releasing a sweet aroma.

In the room.

Song Tingting was teaching Da Bao, Er Bao, and Gou Sheng to recognize characters from a book.

The sun is shining brightly.

The sun warmed my back.

Song Xianglan had no idea that the train full of soldiers was speeding towards the southwestern border, nor did she know that her daughter-in-law was traveling back alone in a hard seat.

She only focused on the heat in the pot, making sure the red bean skins were cooked until they dissolved before it tasted good.

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the courtyard wall.

"Stop right there. Am I a tiger? Do you think I'll eat you?"

Song Xianglan put down her spoon and walked to the courtyard gate to take a look.

Good guy.

Chunxia stood with her hands on her hips, cornering Nie Xiaochuan against the wall.

"You're Nie Xiaochuan?" Chunxia looked him up and down.

Nie Xiaochuan, with his back against the wall, nodded:

"I am. Who are you? Why are you stopping me?"

"I am Chunxia." Chunxia patted her chest, looking quite self-assured. "Aunt Song is my matchmaker, and I'm here today to meet you."

Nie Xiaochuan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

At his age, he was considered a "problem child" in the brigade.

With several brothers who are like vampires, plus the eldest brother who killed his father with a hoe, any decent girl would avoid his house like the plague.

There are actually people who are blocking the door and wanting to go through the matchmaking process?

"Do you know how old I am?" Nie Xiaochuan asked, frowning.

"She looks about seven or eight years older than me, but she's not really old."

Do you know what my family's situation is?

Chunxia took out a handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket, cracked one open, and spat out the shell.

"A cowardly mother, a father who died tragically, an older brother in jail, a cuckolded fourth brother, unfilial brothers, and a broken man (Nie Xiaochuan). Who in the whole village doesn't know?"

Nie Xiaochuan was even more bewildered: "Then why did you...?"

"I don't have any other hobbies, I just love to be in a crowd and join in the fun."

Chunxia threw the sunflower seed shells on the ground, rubbed them between her toes, and her eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I just wanted to see if I could tame those bastard sisters-in-law of yours if I went inside your house. It's a pity I'm not at your house, otherwise I would have beaten them into satay sauce and cooked them in a hot pot."

This reason is refreshing and unconventional.

Nie Xiaochuan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

He felt like he had encountered a female bandit.

"Hey, you two, are you just going to starve?"

Song Xianglan couldn't stand it anymore, so she pushed open the courtyard gate and shouted.

The two of them turned their heads at the same time.

When Nie Xiaochuan saw Song Xianglan, he acted as if he had seen a savior and quickly took two steps forward.

"Third Aunt."

"Come in," Song Xianglan beckoned. "I made some red bean soup; it'll be nice to come inside and warm up."

Chunxia's eyes lit up instantly when she heard about red bean soup.

Ignoring Nie Xiaochuan, she darted into the courtyard.

"Auntie, have you put any dried longans in? I just love the sweet ones."

"Add some, and then add a few small glutinous rice balls with peanut filling," Song Xianglan replied with a smile.

Nie Xiaochuan followed in somewhat reluctantly.

He glanced at Chunxia, ​​who was squatting by the stove watching the fire, and lowered his voice to ask Song Xianglan, "Third Aunt, is this girl... alright in the head?"

Song Xianglan was picking up a bowl when she heard this and almost burst out laughing.

She glanced at Nie Xiaochuan sideways:

"You should be grateful that a girl likes you. Why are you being so picky? Chunxia is naive, but she's not stupid."

"I'm afraid of ruining that young girl's life." Nie Xiaochuan rubbed his hands, looking distressed. "My family is a living hell. This girl seems quite nice, but if she comes into my family, it'll be like a fairy falling into a vat of soy sauce—a complete waste."

"Oh, you're quite self-aware."

Song Xianglan handed him the bowl, saying, "Your mother is a good person. Just stand up for yourself and don't let your brothers leech off you."

Nie Xiaochuan was taken aback.

He tightened his grip on the bowl.

He really wants to get married.

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open again.

Chunxia's father, Huang Shengli, had a dark face, while her mother, Zhang Qin, looked worried.

As soon as Huang Shengli entered, his eyes swept around the yard like searchlights, finally settling on Nie Xiaochuan.

That look in his eyes.

The criticism was tinged with disdain, and the disdain was tinged with helplessness.

"Shengli, Zhang Qin, you're here." Song Xianglan greeted them warmly as if nothing had happened. "Please sit down and try my red bean soup."

Zhang Qin forced a smile.

His eyes, however, were still scanning the courtyard.

The Song family's new house is indeed impressive.

The three-story Nanyang-style villa was connected to the old red house next door, and the front yard was so big that a horse could run across it. The ground was paved with blue bricks, and there were neat stacks of firewood in the corners. Bougainvillea was planted along the yard wall, and several dragon fruit trees were climbing on the wall. There were also papaya, mango, guava, and lychee trees planted.

They look like they know how to manage a household well.

"Sister-in-law, your life is getting better and better," Zhang Qin said enviously. "Your family is the most well-off in the whole village."

Chunxia was drinking soup from a bowl.

With a ring of red bean paste around her lips, she looked up at these words and said:

"Mom, what's there to envy? Zhou Fang's house over there looks nice too. I can live like that someday."

Huang Shengli almost couldn't catch his breath.

He glared at his daughter.

That brat, she went on a hunger strike at home for several days just to be on good terms with Nie Xiaochuan.

My chin is so sharp from hunger.

In the end, it was the old Party Secretary who spoke up, saying that since the child was willing, they could come and see him.

If the Nie family dares to bully people.

Let Nie Xiaochuan marry into the family or settle down in Xiaoquan Brigade.

Under the watchful eyes of the Huang family, even a bunch of scoundrels from the Nie family wouldn't dare to cause any trouble.

Nie Xiaochuan felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at by this family of three.

He felt like a prisoner awaiting judgment, with nowhere to put his hands and feet.

He glanced at her.

I saw a pile of firewood that hadn't been chopped yet.

Without saying a word, he put down the bowl, rolled up his sleeves, and picked up the axe next to him.

"Snap!"

With a crisp crack, the axe fell swiftly. A thick piece of hardwood was instantly split in two, the cut clean and smooth.

Nie Xiaochuan didn't say anything, he just kept his head down and got to work.

Click!Click!

The axe was like a game to him, hitting the target every time.

In no time, a small firewood volcano rose up on the ground.

Huang Shengli, who was about to launch an attack, softened his expression slightly upon seeing this scene.

He's a good worker, strong, and doesn't try to cheat or shirk his duties.

"Tingting, go inside and grab some melon seeds, peanuts, and peanut brittle," Song Xianglan called out. Turning to Huang Shengli, she said, "Shengli, since you're here, why don't you take a look? When it comes to children's affairs, we adults should let fate decide."

Song Tingting brought out a large winnowing basket.

The container was piled high with sunflower seeds, peanuts, salted olives, preserved plums, and peanut brittle.

Chunxia took a preserved plum and ate it, then pointed at Nie Xiaochuan who was chopping wood and said:

"Dad, look at this physique, this strength. Don't worry about me having to work hard and suffer in the future."

Huang Shengli snorted.

He didn't reply, but reached into the basket and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds.

"Nie Xiaochuan, right?" Huang Shengli asked.

Nie Xiaochuan stopped what he was doing, propped the axe up on the wooden block, turned around, wiped his sweat, and stood up straight obediently: "Uncle, that's me."

"I heard your family is building a house too?"

"Yes, it's not as big as my third aunt's house. It has five main rooms. My mom and second sister live in the county town, but they'll be living with me from now on," Nie Xiaochuan said, head down.

Zhang Qin chimed in, "As long as you're hardworking, you can always get by. It's just your home..."

Nie Xiaochuan suddenly raised his head; he knew the matchmaking was over again.

"If this works out, I will never let her get involved in any of my family's messy affairs. I will take care of my mother in her old age and also look after my second sister. But I will give every penny of my earnings to Chunxia."

If someone else said that, they would be bragging.

But when Nie Xiaochuan said it, it was convincing.

Chunxia beamed with joy upon hearing this:

"Dad, Mom, did you hear that? I'll spend the money he earns, and I'll beat up his brothers."

Since everyone's in this den of iniquity, how can we not punish the scum?

Song Xianglan found the family's conversation amusing.

Chunxia is quite an oddball. While others look for partners based on money, looks, and family background, she only cares about whether they can fight against the worst.

Huang Shengli and Zhang Qin exchanged a glance.

It makes me feel a little better.

Their family isn't the kind that casually marries off their daughters; their daughters have the same status as their sons.