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

During this period, Zhou Fang spent her time either studying or selling things in the shop in Haishi.

Several sales outlets have already been set up here, and Song Xianglan's investment has turned into real shops.

The location was cleverly chosen, on the back side of that bustling intersection.

The rent is cheap, but the foot traffic is just as high.

The store is filled with trendy goods imported from Qingyang and Guangzhou.

It is indeed a case of making a fortune every day.

Liu Yukun was squatting at the shop entrance smoking.

When Zhou Fang arrived, he stomped his cigarette butt on the ground.

They followed him into the shop, where their living quarters were located on the second floor.

He took out a thick kraft paper envelope from a box under the bed.

"Ronghua went north. This is for you to give to his wife." Liu Yukun's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes were bloodshot. "He said that people in the north really like dried fish from processing workshops, so take the opportunity to make a few more trips."

Zhou Fang took the envelope; it felt heavy in her hand.

"Okay, I'll be going back the day after tomorrow anyway, it's nothing." Zhou Fang stuffed the envelope into his pocket, patted Liu Yukun on the shoulder, and said, "Keep an eye on things here."

"Hmm." Liu Yukun didn't have a good relationship with his family and didn't want to ask about their affairs.

The two chatted for a few minutes.

He went to the Shen family first, and Shen's father said he wanted to go to Qingyang together. They agreed on a time, and Zhou Fang went out and walked along the road.

After making a few turns, we turned onto a street.

At the end of that street is Anjia.

Zhou Fang stood at the entrance of the alley, not daring to go any further.

The two vermilion doors were tightly shut.

He told himself that since Fu Qingnian was going to chase after him to America, some things should be kept to himself.

If An Xiyang chooses someone else, Zhou Fang isn't the type to cling on shamelessly.

When she comes back, I'll sign the papers, and we can part ways amicably.

Mother An came out carrying a vegetable basket.

I looked up and saw Zhou Fang standing at the entrance of the alley.

Her well-maintained face instantly frosted over. "I knew my eyelids had been twitching a lot today, like something unclean was trying to cause trouble. Turns out it was you who came."

Zhou Fang's body stiffened, but his feet didn't move.

An's mother's dislike for him was long-standing and never needed to be concealed.

In her eyes, Zhou Fang, who came from humble beginnings, was not good enough for her pampered daughter, no matter how successful he became.

"Is she... alright?" Zhou Fang's throat tightened.

"That's good. As long as she doesn't see you, she's fine." Mother An crossed her arms and held her chin high. "Xiao Fu will go there to see her in a few days."

If you're smart, you'd better get the divorce certificate done quickly, and don't ruin Xiyang's future.

Zhou Fang clenched her fists at her sides.

"Wait for her to come back." Zhou Fang stared at An's mother, her voice as hard as a rock. "If she tells me herself that she wants a divorce, I'll sign the papers immediately."

Mother An was so angry that her face trembled. "Do you think you can keep dragging this on just because west Yang doesn't want to face you? As her mother, I will never let you bully her."

Zhou Fang didn't reply, or even glance at An's mother again, and turned to leave in a hurry.

Watching Zhou Fang walk away, An's mother's chest heaved with anger.

She rushed into the house.

Mr. An was reading the newspaper in the living room when he was startled. "What kind of anger are you getting?"

"Where exactly is Xiyang? How long are you going to keep this from me?" Mother An threw the vegetable basket onto the coffee table, scattering tomatoes all over the floor. "That guy surnamed Zhou is here again. He's standing at the alley entrance like a debt collector."

An's father took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.

Looking exhausted, she said, "Can't you give the child a little breathing room? Are you determined to drive her to her death?"

"I'm doing this for her own good. How could I, her own mother, harm her?" Mother An shrieked. "I watched Fu Qingnian grow up. I know him inside and out. In every way, his character and appearance are better than Zhou Fang's. When it comes to marrying someone of equal social standing, nothing else matters."

"A good match in terms of social standing?"

An's father also lost his temper, slamming the newspaper on the table. "What kind of character is it for a man to be thinking about destroying someone else's family? You're pushing your own daughter into a fire pit. You'll be happy when west Yang hates you for the rest of her life."

"Hate me? I'm saving her."

Mother An's eyes instantly reddened, and she hysterically roared, "Have you forgotten how my sister died?"

Back then, I was tricked by that swindler from the countryside with his sweet talk, and as a result, I lost both my unborn child and my body.

She died in childbirth in that poor mountain village, without even a proper coffin. Do you want me to watch Xiyang follow in her aunt's footsteps?

The room fell into a deathly silence.

An's father opened his mouth, looking at his wife's tear-streaked face, "Zhou Fang is not Hu Bin."

He pushed open the door and went out.

……

Just as I turned the corner, that short-haired girl named Tian Ying appeared again.

She seemed to be lying in wait, and when she saw Zhou Fang, her eyes lit up like a fox that had just stolen a chicken.

"I knew you'd come here."

Tian Ying followed Zhou Fang with her hands behind her back and light steps. "Don't keep that long face. I'll treat you to dinner."

Zhou Fang kept walking without stopping, not even sparing a glance.

He exuded an aura of coldness that kept strangers at bay.

Tian Ying wasn't annoyed and chattered beside him, "Actually, I quite admire you. But some things can't be forced. My cousin and Sister Xiyang are childhood sweethearts, they're as close as family."

"If it weren't for the time we were sent to the countryside, their children would probably be several years old by now, and you wouldn't even be in the running."

These words pierced Zhou Fang's ears like needles.

He turned and stared at Tian Ying.

Tian Ying was startled by his gaze and instinctively took a half step back. Then she smiled again, "You know there's no chance, right? How about we become friends? I'll treat you to Western food at the Red House?"

"No." Zhou Fang uttered a single word, clean and crisp.

"Why?" Tian Ying's eyes widened. "I'm not going to eat you."

"I promised my wife I wouldn't invite other women to dinner, nor would I eat other women's food," Zhou Fang said, then walked away without looking back.

Tian Ying stood there, stunned, watching the tall figure disappear into the crowd, and stomped her feet in anger.

"Stubborn. Humph, I'll wait and see you get divorced, then we'll see if you're still so tough." Tian Ying gritted her teeth, turned around and ran in another direction.

She needs to ask her cousin if she can win An Xiyang's heart.

a few days later.

Koizumi Brigade.

Zhou Fang returned with Shen's father and Wang Zhihe.

Wang Zhihe has been out doing business lately, and he's gotten a bit tanned and thinner, with sunken cheeks. His eyes are brighter than before, and he's lost that颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, apathy, or decadence) attitude he used to have.

Mr. Shen brought a lot of things.

In addition to gifts from relatives and friends.

The small clothes and shoes prepared by Shen Huijun's two sisters-in-law alone filled two large bags.

The Song family courtyard was as lively as if it were Chinese New Year.

As soon as Da Bao and Er Bao saw Zhou Fang enter the door, they rushed over like two little cannonballs, hugged Zhou Fang's legs and wouldn't let go, shouting that they wanted to be lifted up high.

Zhou Fang picked up the children, one in each arm.

The two children hugged him and kept kissing his chin.

The gloom in his heart finally dissipated a little.

It's busy.

The ugly woman stormed in from outside.

Seeing that Shen's father and Wang Zhihe were both there, she quickly suppressed her anger, put on a smiling face to greet them, and then pulled Song Xianglan behind the kitchen.

"I'm so angry! I'm so angry!" Liu Chounu stomped her foot, looking like she wanted to bite someone.

Song Xianglan was busy preparing dinner. "What's wrong now? Who upset you?"

"Who else could it be? Those old fogies at the village entrance, of course." Even a deep breath couldn't suppress Liu Chounu's anger. "A few gossipy people said we shouldn't have held this full moon celebration."

They say Yang Dashan's body is barely cold, only seven days have passed since his death, and they're already holding such a lavish banquet, saying... saying it's disrespectful to the dead and will bring retribution."

"Why shouldn't we do it?" Song Xianglan rolled her eyes.

"Those people said that whether it's a biological son or an adopted son, he's still an elder. This whole commotion is a slap in the face!" Liu Chounu had already engaged in a verbal battle with those old men for three hundred rounds; her lips were practically worn out. "Those old men, their mouths are finer than the chicken feed we chop up. Pah!"

"Why should I let him cause me trouble after he's dead? I'm not angry anymore. I'll just throw feces at him to celebrate that he's finally dead."

Song Xianglan wiped her hands.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

"Ugly girl, write down the names of those gossipy people. I'll use them to practice my tongue later. Whoever has a problem with me, I'll make them the problem."