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

Song Xianglan was picking her teeth under the eaves, glancing sideways at her niece's husband.

Cai Youde was not tall, his skin was tanned dark red, his forehead was covered with sweat, and his eyes revealed the honesty of a farmer.

This was the first time Song Xianglan had properly looked him over.

"Third Aunt." Youde greeted her somewhat awkwardly after parking the car.

"Have a seat," Song Xianglan said, standing up. "Are you taking your wife home?"

Cai Youde nodded and placed the items on the stone table.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you. I've come to pick her up and take her home. I'll come to see Auntie again when I have time." Cai Youde's greatest fear was Song Xianglan, for no other reason than her infamous reputation.

The sons-in-law of the Song family would get cramps in their legs just from mentioning this third aunt.

Even their parents-in-law were often scolded, and these nephews-in-law dared not say a word.

Song Xianglan didn't reply, but instead shouted at the top of her lungs:

"Tingting, go to the backyard and catch a Muscovy duck and kill it. There's some leftover rice blood from yesterday; we'll make Muscovy duck stew with rice blood for your cousin-in-law for lunch."

"it is good."

Cai Youde quickly waved his hand, "Third Aunt, no need to bother, I'll take Yulu and leave, I still have chores to do at home."

"Why are you talking so much? Finish your meal before you leave." Song Xianglan turned and went inside.

Cai Youde dared not refute, and followed into the house with his head down.

Song Xianglan turned on the electric fan with a snap, and the fan blades whirred, blowing away the heat from Cai Youde's body.

"Yulu went to the beach with them to collect clams, she'll be back in a bit." Song Xianglan opened the tin can, grabbed a handful of tea leaves and threw them into the gaiwan. "Come sit down and make some tea, I want to say a few words to you."

Cai Youde was filled with anxiety.

Sitting there mechanically making tea.

Song Xianglan placed a plate of purple grapes on the coffee table and asked bluntly, "You've been married for over three years and still no sign of a baby. Your family must be getting anxious, right?"

Cai Youde's face flushed instantly, and he rubbed his fingers on his thigh.

"There's still no news. The older folks are getting impatient, but I think it's nice to just enjoy our time together as a couple." As he said this, his eyes became clear.

Song Xianglan peeled a grape and said, "What's the use of being anxious? If drinking those folk remedies and talismanic water can cause a baby, what's the point of going to the hospital? I suggest you go to the hospital in Xincheng for a checkup. They have complete equipment and excellent doctors."

Cai Youde felt that his third aunt wasn't so fierce after all. He poured a cup of tea for Song Xianglan, "Alright, I'll listen to my third aunt. I'll take Yulu over later."

"Even if you two go together, you still need to investigate."

Cai Youde's eyes were full of astonishment: "Why should I investigate what? I'm a man, I'm not sick."

Song Xianglan sneered:

"Having a child is a matter for two people, not just the woman's effort alone. Even if the land is fine, it's all for nothing if the seeds are bad. How do you know the problem isn't with you if you don't investigate?"

Cai Youde's face turned from bronze to purple, his lips moved, but he didn't dare to voice his rebuttal.

In his view, it's a disgrace to a man's ancestors to go to the hospital for a checkup.

The sound of ducks screaming could be heard outside.

Cai Youde made an excuse: "Third Aunt, I'm going to help Tingting kill a duck."

He runs faster than a rabbit.

Song Tingting was pressing the duck's neck against an empty bowl to bleed it.

After Cai Youde and Song Tingting bled the duck, they put it in a basin, poured boiling water over it to scald it, and then swung the duck's claws back and forth a few times to remove its feathers.

Song Tingting washed her hands clean. "Mom, I'm going to the beach to pick up my sister-in-law and the others."

She took a small basket and went out, taking Fu Bao and You Bao, who were playing with the village children by the roadside, with her, saying she was going to dig sand at the beach.

After killing the duck, Cai Youde took it to the kitchen and chopped it into small pieces with a cleaver.

After finishing all that, he didn't rest.

He picked up the rake from the corner of the yard, went to the backyard and pulled out all the withered grass under the wall. He also swept up the fallen yellow leaves in the yard, piled them on the open ground in the backyard, and set them on fire.

The flames flickered, and wisps of smoke rose.

Youde then swept the ash into the latrine to compost.

They then cleaned the chicken and duck coops spotlessly, even repainting the feeding troughs to their original color.

Pour clean water into the feeding trough.

There are two dead tree trunks next to the old house, which were not chopped into firewood in time.

Cai Youde took an axe and chopped the firewood into appropriately sized pieces.

Song Xianglan was stir-frying ginger in the kitchen. Sesame oil hit the pan, sizzling as the ginger slices were fried until the edges were slightly charred, releasing an instant aroma.

Pour the duck pieces into the pot, stir-fry until the oil is released, add soy sauce and other seasonings, spray with a bowl of homemade rice wine, and add water to cover the ingredients.

This braised duck with rice blood becomes more and more fragrant the longer it's stewed.

Cai Youde gathered the firewood into the woodpile.

He then took a broom and went upstairs to the terrace, cleaning it thoroughly. He drew bucket after bucket of well water, washing the terrace until it shone.

Cai Youde worked efficiently and straightened his back, noticing several figures walking along the path in the distance.

Song Yulu was carrying a small bamboo basket and talking to Song Yuzhu.

A relaxed smile graced his face.

The wind blew her hair, obscuring her face, and she reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears.

I've never seen that kind of smile at home.

Since failing to conceive after three months of marriage, Song Yulu seems to have lost her smile.

Family members kept asking with concern, while outsiders casually joked, "Don't you two want a child yet? It's better for the mother to have one sooner; it might lead to a difficult birth if it's too late."

Cai Youde suddenly realized that he was not a good husband.

Words that I hadn't thought much of before suddenly flooded my mind.

He ran downstairs as fast as he could.

As he stepped out of the courtyard and onto the path, he casually took the small bamboo basket from Song Yulu's hand. "Why aren't you wearing a hat? Too much sun will make you dizzy."

Song Yulu's smile froze instantly, and her voice faded.

"I left early this morning and forgot to wear a sun hat. What brings you here?"

"I'll take you back."

Song Yulu lowered her eyelids and silently entered the courtyard.

She knew that bitter medicine and talisman water were waiting for her again.

Song Yuzhu pouted from behind, "Brother-in-law, you should have let my sister stay a few more days. I haven't had enough time with her yet."

Youde smiled憨厚ly: "Okay, I'll come pick her up in a few days."

Song Yulu said softly, "No need, I'll go back with you." She couldn't stay away from home forever.

Song Xianglan brought the last plate of small mixed fish in soy sauce to the table.

He invited everyone to eat.

Boiled shrimp, seaweed and oyster casserole, stir-fried duck giblets with pickled bamboo shoots. Steamed taro with pork ribs and fermented black beans. Braised duck with rice blood, plus a water spinach and a seaweed, fish ball, and meat soup.

The seashells they caught while beachcombing today need to be purged of sand, and they won't have time to eat them at noon.

Shen Huijun whispered to Song Xianglan:

"Mom, Cai Youde is a really good worker. He cleaned our yard thoroughly. Even the terrace is spotless."

Song Xianglan sighed:

"This kid isn't a bad person; he only has Yulu in his heart. It's just that having children has been tough on Yulu; the elders in the family have been making a fuss about it."

Neither of them spoke.

He took the bowl and went to the stone table.

Having a child, especially a son, is like a curse hanging over most women across the country.

At the table, Song Tingting said while gnawing on a duck wing, "Mom, I don't plan to come back for the Spring Festival. I want to sell more things in Beijing to earn money."

Song Xianglan pushed a bowl of soup in front of her. "You don't have any plan for selling things. Instead of setting up a stall in the park, you should find a storefront and open a clothing store."

I'll supply you with the goods on schedule. Before school starts, you should go to Beijing to find a shop and hire someone to look after it so it doesn't interfere with your classes.

Song Tingting's eyes lit up.

"Mom, that must cost a lot of money, right?"

"Make as much money as you can while it's easy to make money now, because you'll need capital to live comfortably in the future," Song Xianglan said decisively.

"You're not short of money to open a shop. If all else fails, I'll invest," Song Xianglan added. "If you see a suitable shop there, buy it; if you see a suitable house or courtyard house, buy it too."

"Mom, should I buy a house or put it in your name?" Song Tingting asked.

Song Xianglan didn't even lift her eyelids. "Of course. I'll pay for it, so the house is mine. If you're filial in the future, I'll give it to you. If you're not, I'll keep it for my retirement."

Shen Huijun chuckled.

"Mom, we will definitely take care of you, but you can keep your money for yourself."

Shen Huijun originally planned to go into business, but later she wanted to help Song Xiangdong rise to a higher position. She studied political economy and wanted to enter the system.

"If you don't want my money, then I'll spend it recklessly."

Fu Bao sat on a high stool with half a shrimp stuffed in his mouth.

She took Song Xianglan's hand and patted it with her chubby little hand, "Grandma. Baohua."

Song Xianglan beamed with joy, "Oh dear, our Fubao wants to spend Grandma's money!"

Youbao also joined in the commotion.

She grinned broadly, "Grandma. Baohua."

Song Xianglan was even happier, "Our Youbao can finally say four words!"

She quickly picked up a duck leg and gave it to Youbao, "A duck leg as a reward for Youbao."

"Fu Bao is eating duck liver."

Fu Bao especially loves duck liver and chicken liver, so I always stew them for her.

Looking at the lively scene at the table, Cai Youde felt an indescribable envy.

He turned to look at Song Yulu and saw her staring at Fu Bao with a soft, smiling gaze. He couldn't help but be mesmerized.

After finishing the meal.

Song Yulu went inside and packed a small bundle.

"Third Aunt, I'm going back now." She stood at the door, her fingers tightly gripping the strap of her bundle.

Song Xianglan, without touching the ground, brought her some pastries, malted milk powder, and milk candy.

They also took some dried fish and dried shrimp, and gave her two sets of new clothes, and gave Cai Youde a set of clothes as well.

"Remember what I told you. Don't always be so sensible; being too sensible will make your life difficult in your in-laws' family. If his mother forces you to drink the talisman water again, just smash the bowl over her head."

Song Yulu smiled bitterly.

Cai Youde quickly assured Song Yulu that he would never let her drink any more bitter medicine.

Shen Huijun also took two sets of clothes from her. "Yulu, I've only worn these two sets of clothes once. If you don't mind, you can take them and wear them."

Song Yulu looked at the dress in her hand; the style and color were both beautiful.

"Sister-in-law, thank you, the clothes are very nice."

The two tied the items to the side of the back seat.

Youde pedaled, and the bicycle wobbled onto the path.

The wind ruffled Song Yulu's hair. She glanced back at the Song family's courtyard, feeling increasingly distant from that warm place, and the road ahead returned to its drab gray hue.

Cai Youde called out from the front, "Yulu, hold on tight, this stretch of road is bumpy."

Song Yulu buried her head in Youde's sweaty back.