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

When Zhou Fang woke up, her head was throbbing as if a dull saw was pulling and tearing inside.

Song Fei was squatting by the bed smoking. "Awake? The noise last night, anyone who didn't know better would have thought we were slaughtering a pig in our room."

Zhou Fang propped herself up and sat up. Her memory was blank, and she felt her throat was parched.

Looking at the empty wine bottles lying haphazardly on the ground.

His face flushed, as if he had been slapped twice.

Song Fei exhaled a smoke ring and said slowly:

"Last night you were hugging that bottle and wailing, crying your heart out, saying you wanted to rip your heart out and show it to everyone. Brother, I'm not trying to be mean, but you're pathetic."

Zhou Fang did not refute.

I got out of bed and poured myself a glass of cold water.

It gushed down into my stomach with a "glug-glug" sound.

The icy water sent a shiver down his spine, and he became mostly sober.

"It's true that we're incompetent." Zhou Fang put down her cup, the dejection in her eyes dissipating.

Although An's mother's harsh words were grating, they were not unreasonable.

Money is nothing.

When faced with a true divide, money is just worthless paper.

Standing next to An Xiyang were Fu Qingnian and a room full of people chatting and laughing.

Are they short of money?

What they possess is not just wealth, but also insight, ideas, and ambition.

They were talking about the future, the world, and the stars and the sea.

He talked about daily necessities, his small plot of land, his wife, children, and a warm bed.

Zhou Fang washed his face, shaved off his stubble, changed into a neat set of clothes, and looked like he had been reborn.

"Go squat at the entrance of the An family's house like a stone lion?" Song Fei asked.

"Let's go to the bookstore."

Zhou Fang didn't even turn his head as he strode out of the hotel.

The wind in the city is still cold.

The fire in his heart was burning brightly.

The bookstore in Shanghai is enormous, and the moment you step inside, you're greeted by the pleasant smell of ink.

Looking at the dazzling array of bookshelves, Zhou Fang felt a little uneasy.

But he gritted his teeth and squeezed in.

He stopped in front of the construction counter.

Fundamentals of Architectural Engineering, Structural Mechanics, and Appreciation of World Architecture.

He then went to the foreign language counter.

I took a thick English-Chinese dictionary that was as thick as a brick, and also asked for several English cassette tapes.

Several English-language books on architecture.

The sales clerk looked at him strangely.

This man was dressed in out-of-town clothes, and his hands were as rough as tree bark, but he was buying industry books.

Zhou Fang understood. If his fate with west Yang was not over, he had to do everything he could to keep up with her and not let her bow down.

If their fate is over, he still has to live a decent life.

I paid for it, but the book was too heavy.

He left it at the counter.

Next door to the bookstore is a long-established food shop.

Zhou Fang remembered that Cong Ying had mentioned that this place was famous for its pastries, and that Song Xianglan would definitely love them, so she stepped inside.

Before he could even see what was in the counter.

A piercing sound pierced my ears.

"It's like a persistent ghost."

Zhou Fang looked up, and there it was—his enemies were on a narrow road.

Anxi Yang was standing in front of the counter selecting butterfly pastries.

Standing next to him was Fu Qingnian, who wore gold-rimmed glasses, and a young girl with a round face.

The moment Fu Qingnian saw Zhou Fang, his scholarly demeanor instantly turned into anger.

He instinctively shielded An Xiyang behind him. "How long have you been following us? Zhou Fang, have some principles. Don't be like a leech that we can't shake off."

If it were yesterday...

Zhou Fang had already thrown his fist.

He simply looked at Fu Qingnian calmly.

Anger surged in his chest, but he forcefully suppressed it.

"I didn't talk to you."

Zhou Fang's gaze passed over Fu Qingnian and landed on An Xiyang's pale face. "I heard from Cong Ying that the pastries here are delicious, so I thought I'd come and buy some to take back to my family to try."

An Xiyang looked at Zhou Fang, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She was dragged out by Fu Qingnian today, who said that her cousin wanted to eat local specialties from Haishi.

She didn't want to come.

My mind is filled with Zhou Fang's lonely figure from last night, and my mother's barbed and threatening words this morning.

Her mother pressured her to get a divorce.

My brother and sister-in-law also said that a short pain is worse than a long one.

Everyone was pressuring her to make a decision.

She really wanted to escape.

"Let's talk," An Xiyang said softly, pushing aside Fu Qingnian who was blocking her way.

"west Yang." Fu Qingnian frowned and reached out to pull her.

An Xiyang avoided his hand and walked out of the store first.

Outside the shop, the cold wind swirled fallen leaves on the ground.

Zhou Fang stood two steps away from her.

"I just came to buy pastries," Zhou Fang explained again, afraid that she wouldn't believe him.

An Xiyang looked into his eyes, trying to find a trace of lying or a spark of anger, but found nothing.

His calmness was unsettling.

"Do you believe it yourself?" Anxi Yang asked.

Zhou Fang was silent for two seconds, then gave a wry smile:

"I don't believe it. But God loves to play these kinds of jokes, and I can't escape them no matter what I do."

These honest words brought tears to An Xiyang's eyes.

"You gave me too much money yesterday, I don't need that much."

"Studying takes a lot of brainpower, so you need to eat well. Besides, socializing with classmates also requires money. I'm not giving you much."

Anxi Yang's fingertips turned white.

"When...when are you going back?" she asked in a low voice.

"I'm going back tomorrow."

Zhou Fang looked at her wind-blown hair and resisted the urge to reach out and straighten it. "I'll come see you again next year. Da Bao and Er Bao are with their godmother, so you don't need to worry."

"Da Bao is a good student, just like you are smart. Er Bao, that little rascal, gets a headache as soon as he looks at a book, just like me."

When the topic turned to children.

An Xiyang's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips:

"My second child is very smart, but he's still young and doesn't quite settle down yet..."

Looking at her smiling face, Zhou Fang felt a warmth in his heart, like the first melting of ice and snow.

"Are you hungry? Let's go get some noodles," he suggested.

"Okay," Anxi Yang agreed quickly.

She turned and ran back into the store, said something to Fu Qingnian, whose face was pale, and then ran back again.

The round-faced girl was biting into a cookie, her eyes fixed on Zhou Fang outside the door, muttering indistinctly:

"Cousin, you lost."

"Shut up." Fu Qingnian was so angry that his face turned green.

"Your competitor is no ordinary country bumpkin."

The round-faced girl swallowed the cookie, her face full of infatuation. "Look at that back view, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, that rugged, manly vibe, tsk tsk."

None of the bookworms at our school have his physique. No wonder Sister Xiyang likes him.

Fu Qingnian gritted his teeth:

"You don't know anything. Someone like him could never get into An Xiyang's heart."

"Good figure, good looks, good stamina, as long as he can get to bed, that's fine." The round-faced girl rolled her eyes. "As for his heart... hehehe... I think he's pretty good, quite capable of getting to the heart of the matter."

……

The two went to a nearby noodle shop.

An Xiyang ordered a bowl of pickled mustard greens and shredded pork noodles, a bowl of pork chop noodles, and specially added an extra portion of braised pork topping to Zhou Fang's bowl.

Two steaming bowls of noodles were served, the aroma of shredded pork mixed with the freshness of pickled mustard greens, making one's appetite whetted.

The two sat facing each other.

He ate his noodles in silence.

Zhou Fang eats quickly.

Anxi Yang ate slowly, taking small bites of the pork chop.

"How's school?" Zhou Fang put down her chopsticks.

"It's fine." Anxi Yang looked down at the noodle soup in her bowl. "It's just... the coursework is quite demanding."

"Learning skills is never easy," Zhou Fang said, looking at her. "I'll support you if you want to continue your studies or go abroad for further education."

Anxi Yang paused, her chopsticks still in her hand.

She looked up at him abruptly, her face full of shock.

"My roommate's husband has come to the school and made a scene several times, saying he hopes she can spend more time at home taking care of her child," Anxi Yang murmured.

Zhou Fang looked up and stared at her.

Those dark eyes were filled with love.

"I also wish you could spend more time with me. But..."

Before the light in An Xiyang's eyes faded, he said again, "I hope you strive to pursue your dreams. I just don't want to divorce you."

He originally wanted to say that he would set her free, trying to appear magnanimous.

But the words were on the tip of her tongue.

It turned out to be the most selfish truth.

As long as they don't get divorced, he will give himself some time to try to get back to An Xiyang's side, instead of dragging her down.

An's mother was right; An Xiyang was forced by life's circumstances to marry him at a lower level.

He couldn't break her wings to stop her from flying, but he could build a ladder to chase after her.

Anxi Yang's eyes welled up with tears.

A warm feeling welled up in my heart.

"What if... I want to pursue a master's degree or study abroad after graduation?" she asked tentatively.

Zhou Fang's smile was somewhat bitter, but her eyes were firm.

"Then I'll work hard to earn money. I'll give you more support so you can motivate your two kids in the future. Their mother is so outstanding, they want to keep up with you."

Anxi Yang burst into laughter after her tears.

It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my heart.

"Then... how about letting them study in Haishi?"

Her tone was filled with anticipation, "The education in Haishi is good, and my parents can help take care of them. I want them to receive the best education so that whether they go abroad or stay in the city in the future, their starting point will be different."

Zhou Fang's smile froze instantly.

The understanding, gentle, and considerate Zhou Fang from just now was gone, replaced by a man with a wary and angry expression.

"not good."

Two words came crashing down on me, hard as nails.

Anxi Yang panicked:

"Why? It's for the child's own good."

Anxi Yang genuinely hopes that her two children can study in Haishi.

Even if she goes abroad for further studies in the future, the education her child receives in Haishi will be far superior to that of a small place like Qingyang.

"I will never agree to the child being in Haishi." Zhou Fang's suppressed jealousy and panic completely overwhelmed her.

He can't lose his child too.

Should he send the child to his mother-in-law who looks down on him?

Or should it be given to Fu Qingnian, who even abandoned his own child?

"Studying in Haishi doesn't guarantee success, and studying in Qingyang doesn't mean you'll be a farmer for life. Even if they become farmers, I'll accept it."

Zhou Fang's sudden roar startled all the customers dining in the restaurant.

They all turned to look at them.

An Xiyang was stunned by his shout, and tears of grievance streamed down her face.

"Do you know how many people want their children to come to Haishi? How many educated youth who were sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution wanted to return but couldn't?"

"You are too selfish."

Zhou Fang's eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged lion. "Anyway, my child won't come here. Your mother doesn't like me, and you don't like me either. Will even the child become someone I don't recognize in the future?"

He pulled a ten-yuan note from his pocket and slammed it hard on the table.

"You can have a divorce if you want."

Upon hearing these words, An Xiyang's face turned pale instantly.

"Call me if you want a divorce, and I won't say another word. But don't even think about taking the child with you." Zhou Fang stood up, looking down at her with a resolute gaze.

Done.

He turned and strode out.

"Zhou Fang..." An Xiyang called out, and he didn't stop.

She covered her face, buried her face in her hands, and began to sob.

The people eating noodles around them watched this scene, and some pointed and whispered.

An Xiyang never intended to divorce Zhou Fang.

He's a chauvinist with a bad temper, but he's incredibly good to her, can take care of the children, and is very devoted to her.

Such a man is someone you can entrust your life to.

An Xiyang did not agree with her mother's statement that going ashore meant cutting ties with the past, nor did she agree with Fu Qingnian's cold-blooded approach of giving the child to local farmers and returning to Haishi after the divorce.

But why is it that when it comes to children's matters...

Has Zhou Fang become so unreasonable?

Little did she know—Zhou Fang was afraid that if even the child were taken away, he would truly have nothing left.