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

Early the next morning.

Song Xianglan got busy.

Yesterday's battle was so exhilarating that I slept soundly.

I'm in a good mood today, so my meals can't be bad either.

Golden sweet potato chunks floated in the porridge, and the sweet aroma wafted through half the yard from the chimney.

Erbao rubbed his sleepy eyes and ran barefoot into the kitchen.

He grabbed Song Xianglan's leg and started rubbing against her.

"Grandma, I want to eat an egg pancake."

"Grandma will make you an egg pancake right now." Song Xianglan slapped the chubby bottom. "Go put your shoes on, don't you know that cold air starts from the feet?"

Erbao chuckled, turned around, and ran to get his shoes.

Song Xianglan took four eggs out of the cupboard, cracked them into a bowl of batter and beat them, added a handful of chopped green scallions, sprinkled in some fine salt, stirred it well and poured it into a hot oil pan. With a "sizzle", the aroma of eggs mixed with the aroma of scallions exploded instantly.

Besides egg pancakes.

Song Xianglan also made Shen Huijun's favorite dish: mixed fish in soy sauce and spicy stir-fried clams.

At the dinner table, Da Bao's mouth was covered in grease.

But her big eyes blinked, revealing a secret in her heart.

He swallowed a bite of bread, tilted his head back, and asked:

"Grandma, will my mom come back?"

Song Xianglan paused for a moment as she picked up the fish. Looking at Da Bao's expectant eyes, she felt a pang of unease, but she couldn't give him a definite answer.

"Your mother is currently studying and doesn't have time to come back for the time being."

Song Xianglan put a piece of deboned fish into Da Bao's bowl, saying, "You can go to the city to find her later."

Da Bao sighed like a little adult:

"I saw my dad cry earlier. Does that mean I don't have a mom anymore?"

Song Xianglan felt a pang of sadness.

This child is too sensitive.

Just then, Erbao's loud cries came from outside.

"Big brother, big brother, come quick!"

Da Bao put down his chopsticks and ran out, but a little while later he ran back, covering his nose.

A look of disgust:

"Grandma, Erbao pooped in the vegetable garden and insisted that I watch him."

Song Xianglan walked to the window and peeked out. Erbao was squatting by the vegetable garden, sticking out his white and tender little bottom. He was stuffing half an egg pancake into his mouth with one hand and clutching a crumpled piece of straw paper with the other.

His face was flushed red as he continued shouting:

"Hey bro, come watch me poop. I'm afraid the goose will peck me."

"Why would someone poop while eating? A lazy donkey on a millstone poops and pee a lot." Song Xianglan laughed and scolded, then turned to Da Bao and said, "Never mind him, let's eat."

Da Bao sat back down on the stool.

The egg pancake in her hand suddenly didn't taste good anymore, and her little brows furrowed tightly.

"Are Mom and Dad really getting a divorce?"

"Whether you get divorced or not, your parents will love you both."

Shen Huijun put down her chopsticks and picked up Dabao and put him on her lap.

I used a damp towel to wipe the grease from the corners of his mouth.

"Dabao, let's ask your dad about this when he gets back, okay? That's an adult matter. You two just focus on eating and studying."

Da Bao nodded and buried his head in Shen Huijun's arms.

"I want my mom and dad to be together. I will study hard and also make sure my son studies hard."

Shen Huijun: ...

After breakfast, Liu Dahua rode her tricycle to the door.

There was a large wooden barrel in the truck bed, filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs.

"Lanlan, let's go!" Liu Dahua shouted in a loud voice.

Song Xianglan lifted Da Bao and Er Bao onto the back of the truck, and then sat down herself.

Shen Huijun and Song Tingting followed behind on their bicycles.

The group went to Liu Yidao's house in a grand procession.

Liu Yidao's house was located at the west end of the commune. It was a three-story red house with a touch of Southeast Asian style, and it was quite impressive.

Before even entering, I could hear a noisy commotion inside, like a bustling market.

Upon entering the room, it was filled with smoke and fumes.

Liu Yidao's godson, Yang Zhixin, and his entire family came.

My mother, Chen Yuhuan, brought her children, her parents, her brothers, and their families, totaling thirty or forty people.

Several men were smoking heavily, filling the room with smoke that made it difficult for people to open their eyes.

Liu Yidao saw Song Xianglan and the others and quickly came out to greet them.

Song Xianglan was carrying a bundle in her hand.

Before she could speak, Chen Yuhuan emerged from the kitchen.

Chen Yuhuan didn't recognize Song Xianglan. "You're all 'One-Knife'..."

"Former colleague, I suppose."

Chen Yuhuan laughed heartily, "You're here, why bring a gift? That's too kind of you. Just give it to me."

Song Xianglan twisted her wrist, avoiding Chen Yuhuan's outstretched hand.

He handed the bundle directly to Liu Yidao.

"Old Liu, I picked out a set of white porcelain bowls and plates for you. They'll look nice when we have guests over."

Chen Yuhuan's hand froze in mid-air, and she almost lost her smile.

He awkwardly withdrew his hand and wiped it on his apron.

Liu Yidao cheerfully took the bundle. "I'll put it away first. There are a lot of people around today, I don't want it to break."

Liu Dahua carried the bucket of fish, shrimp, and crabs downstairs.

"I don't have anything fancy, but I'll use this bucket of seafood to add to everyone's meal."

"It's good that you're here, no need to be so polite," Liu Yidao said, gesturing. "Please, make yourself at home."

talking.

He grabbed a handful of White Rabbit milk candies and stuffed them into the hands of Da Bao and Er Bao.

"Go have some fun, there are snacks on the table, help yourself."

Da Bao glanced at the old men puffing away in the house and a few children sitting at the table eating candy, then shook his head and said, "Er Bao and I are playing in the yard."

Song Tingting and Shen Huijun greeted Liu Yidao, saying they were going to visit the commune's supply and marketing cooperative.

He turned and slipped away.

Old Mrs. Chen was busy at the stove with her daughters-in-law. A large iron pot was simmering pork knuckle and taro, steaming away.

A wok was set up next to them, and Sister-in-law Chen was frying pork in vinegar with a strainer.

The freshly fried pork is golden and crispy, with a wonderful aroma.

As she fried the food, Sister-in-law Chen stuffed it into her mouth.

It made a crunching sound when chewed.

Chen Ersao and the other wives of the Chen family were not to be outdone. They each took a piece, and the food was gone before it had even cooled down.

"Oh, this meat smells delicious."

Chen Ersao ate with gusto, her mouth greasy. "We need to eat more. We need to be full so we have the energy to work and serve the guests, right?"

"We're a family, we have to take care of the guests," another daughter-in-law chimed in, her mouth stuffed full, while she didn't forget to stuff a few pieces into the oil paper packet in her pocket.

Chen Yuhuan came in from outside.

"You guys stop eating. Yidao, ask his former colleague to make braised pork."

Song Xianglan and Liu Dahua came in.

Chen Ersao quickly nudged Chen Dasao: "Someone's coming, stop eating."

Several people hurriedly wiped their mouths.

Sister-in-law Chen swallowed the remaining half piece of meat in her hand in one gulp, almost choking.

Chen Yuhuan forced a smile and said, "Look how messy this kitchen is."

At this moment, Sister Zhao also arrived.

Her husband had a close relationship with Liu Yidao, who often went to her house to drink and spoke without restraint.

She laughed as soon as she entered the kitchen.

"I'd say Liu Yidao's life is getting worse and worse."

This is supposed to be a business dinner, you said you were going to buy five or six pounds of pork to make vinegar-fried pork, but this is just a small plate of it?

Is this for feeding the cats, or just a treat for the gentlemen who are drinking?

In that big bowl on the cutting board.

A few pieces of braised pork lay there all alone, looking rather shabby.

Grandma Chen blushed, her eyes darting around.

He inwardly blamed his daughters-in-law for eating without any restraint.

"Um... men are careless, they bought too little meat."

"He likes braised pork, so he specially left extra meat to make braised pork," Chen Yuhuan explained.

Sister Zhao glanced at Sister Chen's greasy mouth with a half-smile.

"The kitchen must smell really greasy."

Fearing she would give herself away, Chen Yuhuan quickly changed the subject:

"Um... Yidao said his favorite dish is Sister Song's braised pork, and he specifically told me to ask her to show off her skills. Actually, I can make it, but I'm afraid I won't do it well and spoil everyone's appetite. So, would you mind troubling Sister Song?"

Song Xianglan leaned against the doorframe and said slowly:

"Today you are the hosts, and everyone wants to try your cooking. I'll help clean the seafood."

Chen Yuhuan was taken aback: "Huh?"

She clearly promised Liu Yidao she would make braised pork.

"I think you should make this braised pork," Song Xianglan said, shoving an apron into Chen Yuhuan's arms. "Let all of Lao Liu's friends and relatives try your cooking. What do you say?"

Sister-in-law Chen immediately chimed in:

"This is your chance to shine, so hurry up. We'll be there to help you out."

"Then I'll show you what I can do. We'll take over the kitchen; you guests can go outside and eat some melon seeds."

"To avoid the choking smoke." Chen Yuhuan took a plate filled with melon seeds and peanuts and carried it to the stone table outside.

She then asked her daughter, Yang Xiaoyu, to pour tea for everyone.

Sister Zhao, Song Xianglan, and Liu Dahua simply sat in the courtyard chatting, drinking tea, and eating melon seeds.