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

"You bastard Song, you just wait."

Granny Yu's chest heaved violently with anger, her eyes filled with venom. "Don't think you can act tough just because you live in a dilapidated building now."

"You were a pig butcher before, and you'll always be a pig butcher. Just you wait and see; I have plenty of ways to deal with you."

She suspected that Song Xianglan must have done something shady to amass her fortune over the past few years.

As long as she gets something on her hands.

They'll trample this woman into the mud so she can't get out of there.

Song Xianglan rolled her eyes.

He replied casually:

"I'm waiting. Instead of wasting your time scheming against me, you should sort out your own mess and prevent your sons from tearing the roof off."

Erbao rushed over like a little cannonball and grabbed Song Xianglan's leg.

He clung to her legs, rubbing against her like a piece of chewing gum that wouldn't let go.

"Grandma, I'm hungry. I want to eat Grandma's cooking."

The ugly woman stood to the side, munching on sunflower seeds, glancing sideways at them with a strange look on her face.

"Didn't you go to the banquet? Do you think Liu Yidao would let you go hungry?"

Song Xianglan had a look of utter dismay on her face:

"Don't even mention it. Just thinking about banquets makes me even hungrier. Just looking at that table of dishes makes me feel full; it's all about scheming."

Liu Chounu's eyes immediately lit up with greed. She spat the sunflower seed shells on the ground and dragged Song Xianglan into the yard, saying, "Come on, come on, I'll go to your house too. I'll start a fire for you, and we can talk while we cook. What's going on with Liu Yidao?"

Several people entered Song Xianglan's house.

Granny Yu stood at her own door.

Watching the two imposing iron gates slam shut with a bang, his eyes rolled, and he began to have some doubts.

Not right.

This ugly woman wished she could stick to Song Xianglan.

They were so affectionate, even closer than sisters.

What exactly did Song Xianglan make her fortune from?

Granny Yu felt a surge of bitterness welling up inside her. She turned around and went back to the courtyard, where she took out two pieces of winter melon candy from her prized tin box.

She went to the Lin family's house next door.

Lin Mu's wife is hanging clothes out to dry in the yard.

She then put on a smile and went over: "Lin Mu's wife is busy, right? Here, let me give you a piece of candy to sweeten your mouth."

Lin Mu's wife turned around, glanced at the two slightly yellowed and sticky pieces of winter melon candy, but didn't reach out to take them.

He just curled his lip in disdain:

"Auntie, you've been living such a miserable life in the north all these years with the army? You're even treasuring this winter melon candy?"

Granny Yu's smile froze.

With your hand outstretched in mid-air, it's awkward to retract it, but it's also awkward not to retract

Lin Mu's wife ignored her unpleasant expression.

He turned around, picked up the empty basin, and went inside, his voice drifting out at a moderate volume:

"This stuff is sickeningly sweet. My kids haven't had a taste for it in ages. Now, we're almost embarrassed to serve guests if we don't have some milk candy or chocolate at home. Auntie, you should keep it for yourself and enjoy it slowly."

Granny Yu was so angry that she almost threw the two pieces of candy on the ground.

What kind of wealthy family doesn't even care about candied winter melon?

What's wrong with everyone in this village?

Could it be that everyone has made a fortune in the past few years?

She didn't believe in superstitions, and ignoring the three lazy daughters-in-law in the yard, she went back into the house, grabbed two fruit candies, and headed to her neighbor's house, which was a little further away.

She refused to believe she couldn't find out Song Xianglan's background.

We absolutely have to expose this woman's past.

In Song Xianglan's kitchen.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, making people's faces glow red.

The ugly woman was left sitting on a small stool by the stove.

While adding firewood, he lowered his voice and mysteriously poured out all the information he had gathered.

"Lanlan, let me tell you, Granny Yu isn't coming back to enjoy herself this time."

Liu Chounu looked happier than if she had found money. "I heard from people who came back from the county that her eldest son, Yu Pengfei, committed a serious crime in the north. He not only lost his military officer's hat, but also almost went to jail."

Later, he transferred to the county textile factory as the head of the security department. But after only two years, he made another mistake, having an improper relationship with a female worker in the factory.

Song Xianglan paused for a moment while cutting the meat.

The knife made a "thud" sound on the cutting board:

"That's explosive?"

The ugly woman spoke with great enthusiasm, her spittle flying everywhere.

"This time, I lost my position as section chief and was demoted to a regular security guard. I also have to write a self-criticism."

The factory took back the house there, leaving us nowhere to live, and our wages were also reduced significantly.

Having no other choice, Yu Pengfei finally sent his mother, wife, children, and younger brother's family back to the village.

Song Xianglan was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth.

Yu Pengfei was so successful back then.

The first person in the whole village to be promoted to a high-ranking official, Granny Yu walked with a swagger, and whenever she passed by Song Xianglan's house, she would make a few sarcastic remarks about her and take the opportunity to belittle Song Xiangdong.

So this is how you end up in a sorry state?

"What about Yu Xiujuan?"

Song Xianglan threw the chopped meat into the pot. The meat slices sizzled in the hot oil, and the aroma burst out instantly.

Yu Xiujuan was two years older than Song Tingting and was the apple of Grandma Yu's eye.

The daughter-in-law is treated like a slave.

My daughter is so delicate, I'm afraid she'll break if I hold her in my hands, and so precious, I'm afraid she'll melt if I keep her in my mouth.

Before leaving, he went to Song Xianglan to show off, saying that he would let her daughter study in the city and marry a cadre to become an official's wife.

"Oh, don't even mention it."

Liu Chounv curled her lip, looking disdainful. "She married someone from our county. I heard that man is a divorcee."

Shen Huijun and Song Tingting, who were picking vegetables, were stunned.

Song Tingting blinked.

"Sister Xiujuan once said she wanted to keep studying."

"I don't know what the man does for a living. I only know that his family is well-off, and they are all working-class families."

The divorce was also because his ex-wife was never satisfied; after the miscarriage, she caused trouble and made a scene at home. Who knows what really happened?

……

Winters in Shanghai are damp and bitterly cold; the wind feels like tiny knives cutting your face.

Zhou Fang handed over the goods destined for the southwest to Song Dong.

They went to sell goods in the counties and cities surrounding Haishi.

The market before the Spring Festival was incredibly hot; as long as you had goods on hand, you didn't have to worry about selling them.

That evening, several people gathered together to count their money.

"We've made a fortune this time." Erhei's eyes widened as he looked at the stacks of ten-yuan notes.

Zhou Fang carefully put the money away, made a note of it, and then handed it over to Song Fei.

"I'm going to the An family tomorrow," Zhou Fang said, her voice a little tense.

Nie Xiaochuan and Wang Zhihe exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

"Go ahead, go ahead, your sister-in-law must miss you terribly. Let's just sell the rest of the goods at the sea market tomorrow."

The next morning, Zhou Fang went to the barbershop to get a shave and a neat buzz cut.

He changed into a jacket and jeans, making him look tall and sharp.

They went to Anjia carrying large and small bags of things.

Zhou Fang bought An Xiyang a beige double-breasted wool coat, a pair of genuine leather high boots, and 100 yuan in cash.

Two bottles of 21-year-old whiskey, two cartons of imported cigarettes, two boxes of imported bear-shaped cookies, and two boxes of high-end tea. These are gifts for An Jia's parents.

Zhou Fang took a deep breath, composed herself, and was about to raise her hand to knock on the door.

With a "click," the door opened from the inside.

The person who opened the door was Fu Qingnian.

Zhou Fang's hand froze in mid-air.

Fu Qingnian was talking to the person behind him with his head turned to the side, a gentle and polite smile on his face that Zhou Fang found irritating.

Immediately afterwards, Anxi Yang came out.

She was wearing a white cotton-padded jacket and a red scarf around her neck, and she looked radiant and beautiful.

She was looking up at Fu Qingnian with a smile.

The two were getting ready to go out together.

I saw Zhou Fang standing at the door.

An Xiyang's smile froze instantly, and she stood there stunned.

"Zhou Fang? What brings you here?"

Then, with a pleasant surprise, he asked:

"Are Da Bao and Er Bao... here yet?"

Zhou Fang didn't say anything.

His gaze fell on the shoulders of the two people who were almost touching.

His expression gradually turned cold, as if a layer of ice had formed on his face.

Fu Qingnian's smile faded.

He pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping over the bags Zhou Fang was carrying, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"Xiao Yang".

Fu Qingnian raised his wrist and glanced at the exquisite watch. His tone was gentle but urging, "We're running out of time. Let's go now."

This gathering is a rare opportunity; your professor will also be attending, which will be a great help for your future graduate school application or studying abroad.

Anxi Yang bit her lip.

He glanced at Zhou Fang, then at Fu Qingnian, his face full of embarrassment.

If it were before...

Zhou Fang would definitely smile and say, "You have important things to do, so go ahead and do them. I'll wait for you at home." He's so considerate and knows how to behave appropriately.

Available today.

Zhou Fang remained silent, his dark eyes fixed on her.

That silence made An Xiyang feel uneasy and even more embarrassed.

"Zhou Fang..." An Xiyang's voice softened, tinged with pleading, "Um... I..."

Zhou Fang remained silent.

An Xiyang felt a mix of frustration and indescribable grievance.

She's doing this for her future, not for anything shady. Why is he giving her that look?

Mother An heard the noise and came out.

Seeing Zhou Fang standing at the door with large and small bags, he couldn't hide the disdain in his eyes.

"Oh, isn't this Xiao Zhou? What brings you here at this hour? You didn't even give me a heads-up."

She turned to look at An Xiyang, her tone immediately becoming urgent:

"west Yang, what are you standing there for? Don't keep this young man waiting, and don't delay your meeting with the professor. Countless people would kill for an opportunity like this, don't make a mistake!"

Done.

She then looked at Zhou Fang and said with a forced smile:

"Xiao Zhou, don't worry about it. west Yang is just having a get-together with her old classmates and friends. They're all top students from university, and they're talking about academics and the future."

We must have self-awareness. It's okay if we're not successful, but we can't use our humble origins to hold others back from progress.

These words felt like a slap in the face.

He slapped Zhou Fang hard across the face.

Zhou Fang's knuckles were white as he gripped the bag, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

He looked at An Xiyang, waiting for her answer.

Anxi Yang blushed slightly at her mother's words.

"Mom, don't talk nonsense. Zhou Fang is a good person..."

She gritted her teeth.

Her eyes were filled with tears.

"Zhou Fang, I really didn't know you were coming today. This gathering is really important to me... I'll be back early, will you wait for me at home?"

She was torn between her future and Zhou Fang.

Without hesitation, I chose the former.

Zhou Fang felt as if there was a wad of cotton stuck in her throat, so bitter it made her want to vomit.

He looked at the woman before him, who was once familiar but now felt utterly unfamiliar, and something inside him began to crumble little by little.

for a long time.

He twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that was more like a grimace.

His voice was hoarse: "Okay."

Anxi Yang breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Then go inside and rest for a while, I'll be right back."

Fu Qingnian rode his bicycle, and An Xiyang skillfully jumped onto the back seat, her hand naturally grabbing the hem of Fu Qingnian's clothes.

The bicycle was pedaled very fast, and it disappeared into the alley in the blink of an eye.

Mother An watched the two figures disappear into the distance and nodded in satisfaction.

When he turned to face Zhou Fang, his face immediately fell. "Don't stand there in the doorway and become a laughingstock. Come in and sit down to wait."

Zhou Fang didn't move, his gaze fixed on the empty alleyway entrance.

The wind in Shanghai is really cold.

The cold seeped into his very bones.