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

Yi Feng struggled a few times but couldn't break free.

She squatted by the roadside, burying her face in her knees, her shoulders trembling.

Yang Gensheng stood to the side, kicking a clod of dirt by the roadside in frustration. If this were his daughter, he would have slapped her across the face long ago.

He waited a while, then forcefully pulled Yifeng up from the ground.

"Let's go home."

Yi Feng remained silent the entire way.

Yang Gensheng pushed his bicycle, and Yi Feng followed behind.

The shadows of the two people were stretched long by the moonlight.

When Yang Liu returned home, she was standing at the gate of the courtyard.

Upon seeing Yifeng, he rushed over and hugged her tightly. "Silly girl, where have you been?"

Yang Gensheng leaned his bicycle against the wall and walked up to Yang Liu.

"Sister, Song Qiang took Sifeng and Xiaowu away."

Yang Liu's body stiffened for a moment.

"Where to take it?"

"I heard they came to pick us up in a Jeep, so they must be taking us to Guangzhou."

The willow branches parted slightly, and she turned and walked away.

Yang Gensheng stepped forward and blocked her way. "What are you doing?"

"I'll go and get the child back."

Yang Gensheng placed both hands on Yang Liu's shoulders. "You've already separated, and it's all in black and white."

Sifeng and Xiaowu followed Song Qiang, which you yourself agreed to. What are you doing chasing after them now?

"It's all your fault."

Yang Liu slapped Yang Gensheng on the chest. "Ever since Song Qiang got involved with that woman, you've all been urging me to make a scene. It made me lose my child, and Sifeng and Xiaowu left with him."

Yang Gensheng was furious:

"Sis, what's wrong with you? You were the one who ran back to your parents' house crying and begging us to stand up for you. Who instigated you? Your hand may have been shaking when you signed, but you held the pen yourself."

Yang Liu was stunned by the shout.

Yang Gensheng pushed her into the house.

"It's not all bad that Song Qiang took the children away. Sifeng and Xiaowu won't suffer with him."

"When the kids grow up and start earning money, they can take you to enjoy a comfortable life. Why don't you think about the bigger picture?"

He pushed Yang Liu into the main room.

Yi Feng stood in the courtyard, watching all of this, her fists clenched tightly.

Each of Yang's uncles is more selfish than the last.

She didn't go to school; she went to the commune to earn money first.

Yang Liu returned to the inner room, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.

Tears slid down from the corners of my eyes and flowed into my ears.

Erfeng and Sanfeng were on another bed.

Sanfeng was already asleep, while Erfeng tossed and turned several times.

Yang Liu closed her eyes.

Today, her mother hinted more than once that it wasn't safe for her to keep the money, and that it would be better to give it to her older brother for safekeeping. She said her brother was good at business, and that if he took it and dabbled in it, he might be able to double his money.

Yang Liu did not agree.

Her mother said that three daughters need to eat and go to school, how can you, a woman, support them?

Why don't we take some of this money and let your second brother open a small shop in town? You can then share half of the profits with him.

Yang Liu did not agree.

Then her mother's face fell.

Yang Liu was all too familiar with that expression.

When she was little, she was disobedient, and that's why her mother had this face.

She used to be afraid, but now she's not.

She reached under the pillow and felt around. The paper package was still there.

That was all she had.

Yifeng pushed open the door and came in, sitting on the edge of the bed without even taking off her shoes.

"Mom, let Uncle and the others move back. This is the house my dad built, the house my dad gave us."

Yang Liu remained silent.

"Mom, Grandma and Uncle will empty our pockets sooner or later."

"They don't love you, they just want your money."

Yang Liu turned over, her back to Yi Feng.

"It's not the house your father left you, it's the house he owes me and gave me as an allocation."

Yi Feng watched Yang Liu's retreating figure, biting her lip until it bled.

"Then take 300 yuan from my 6,000 yuan and let me start a business." Starting a business requires capital, so Yifeng decided to take 300 yuan to try it out for a few days before making further investments.

Yang Liu sat up and angrily rebuked:

"Everyone wants my money. Even you want my money. Don't even think about it. If you want to do business, go find the Song family."

Yi Feng cried, feeling wronged.

She refused to believe she couldn't earn money; she was determined to earn it through her own abilities so her mother could be proud of her.

*

Song Xianglan waited at home all day.

She asked Xiaochuan to pick her up at the train station.

Professor Chen is an associate professor at the provincial agricultural school.

It wasn't until nightfall, when it was already dark, that the sound of a tractor could be heard outside the yard.

Xiao Chuan led a person into the courtyard.

Professor Chen was younger than Song Xianglan had imagined.

He was in his thirties, not very tall, wearing a faded blue Zhongshan suit and carrying a canvas bag. He wore thick glasses.

"Professor Chen, you must be tired from the journey." Song Xianglan greeted him.

"It's not hard work."

Chen Ke pushed up his glasses and looked around the yard.

The courtyard is large, with a typical old house made of bluestone and red bricks on one side and a three-story villa in the Nanyang style on the other. There are mango trees, longan trees, and lychee trees in the courtyard, and dragon fruit and bougainvillea climb the walls. It is kept very clean.

Song Xianglan arranged for Chen Ke to stay in a guest room on the second floor.

The bedding on the bed was freshly changed that afternoon, and the windows were sparkling clean.

"Professor Chen, please wash your face first. I'll go to the kitchen and get something to eat. Xiao Chuan, you stay here too, tonight."

Ogawa: "Okay, third aunt."

Song Xianglan went to the kitchen.

The chicken soup in the stainless steel pot was started simmering in the afternoon.

She ladled the chicken soup and chicken meat into the iron pot, then added the rice noodles into the soup.

She threw in a few more fish balls.

I scooped up a few fresh shrimp and threw them in.

The oysters were bought from the beach this morning; they weren't very big, but I put them in too.

A very simple bowl of chicken soup rice noodles.

By the time the food was served, Chen Ke had already washed his face and come downstairs.

He sat at the table, saw the bowl of rice noodles, and paused for a moment.

"Sister Song, you're too kind."

"A simple meal at a farmhouse by the sea." Song Xianglan sat down opposite her.

Chen Ke picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of rice noodles, and raised his eyebrows.

"Delicious, Hutou rice noodles."

"Just something to eat. I'll cook you something delicious tomorrow."

Chen Ke took a couple of bites and put down his chopsticks. "Sister Song, I'd like to know more about what you mentioned on the phone."

Song Xianglan recounted the situation in detail.

The geographical location, altitude, average annual temperature, and precipitation of Koizumi Brigade.

The most crucial element is the soil; the mountain has vast broad-leaved forests, with layers upon layers of dead branches and fallen leaves.

"I remember it in great detail."

"I'm an amateur, so I just did what the booklet your school sent me said."

Chen Ke closed his notebook and ate a few more mouthfuls of rice noodles.

"Based on your description, the conditions are indeed suitable for growing mushrooms. As for which type of mushroom, I'll have to visit the site tomorrow to decide."

"Okay. Eat your fill first and get some rest. I'll take you up the mountain first thing tomorrow morning."

After finishing the last sip of soup, Chen Ke pushed the bowl aside.

"Sister Song, I have two students coming tomorrow to help with sample collection. Could you please arrange accommodation for them?"

"No problem. There are rooms available at home."

After finishing their meal, Song Xianglan urged them to go upstairs to rest.

Xiao Chuan helped clear the table and whispered a few words to Song Xianglan in the kitchen.

"Third Aunt, is Professor Chen a reliable person?"

"He's reliable. He worked at the provincial agricultural school for over ten years, researching mushroom cultivation and greenhouse vegetables. It took a lot of effort to get him to come this time."

"That's good. I'm going upstairs to sleep now."

"Go."

Early the next morning.

As soon as it was dawn, Song Xianglan got up.

She took a stroll around the morning market near the factory. Since Song Xianglan's factory had been constantly expanding its workforce, some families in the neighborhood had started selling breakfast items and even various trinkets there in the evenings.

The pan-fried buns are fresh out of the pan, and the fried dates are golden and crispy.

The fried rice cake was fried until it was crispy and fragrant, with crushed peanuts and brown sugar sandwiched in the middle.

She bought a little of everything.

Sweet potato porridge was cooking on the stove.

I stir-fried another plate of clams, tossed the pan a couple of times, and the aroma of minced garlic and cooking wine immediately burst forth.

Cut the pickled cucumber into cubes and stir-fry it with shredded lean pork and oysters.

I fried a few eggs last. They were golden brown on both sides, with crispy edges.

When Chen Ke came downstairs and saw this table, he quickly waved his hand.

"Sister Song, we can't finish this. From now on, I'll eat whatever you eat for breakfast, so don't bother making so much."

Song Xianglan brought over the porridge.

"It's okay if you can't finish it all, share it with the people at the construction site. Don't be shy, you need to eat well to have the energy to climb the mountain."

Chen Ke couldn't refuse, so he sat down to eat.

As soon as you put the clams in your mouth, suck on the shells, and the salty, savory juices spread throughout your mouth.

He picked up another piece of pickled cucumber and oyster meat, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Sister Song's cooking skills are enough to open a restaurant."

"These are just home-style dishes, nothing like what a chef would make. Eat as much as you like."

After breakfast.

Xiao Chuan packed his things and prepared to return to the county.

As he walked to the side of the road, he saw a person who looked a lot like his mother turn onto the side road, and then he heard a familiar cough.

Xiaochuan's eyes lit up immediately.

"Wife, what brings you here?"

Chunxia was carrying a bulging cloth bag. "I've come to visit my third aunt. Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to the county."

Xiao Chuan leaned closer and grabbed Chunxia's hand, refusing to let go. He intertwined his fingers with Chunxia's, squeezing and pinching them.

"Honey, how about you come stay with me in the county for a few days?"

Chunxia tried to pull her hand back, but couldn't.

She glanced at the road and thankfully there was no one there.

"Things at home aren't over yet. I've been with Mom in Songjiazhuang these past few days. If I go to the county, Mom will be so lonely at home all by herself."

"You're marrying me, not my mother." Xiao Chuan pulled her hand to his chest. "Wife, I've missed you."

Chunxia blushed slightly.

She forcefully pulled her hand back and punched Xiaochuan's arm.

"Don't act recklessly here. How many good people are there in your Nie family? If I don't stay home to help my mother-in-law, how will she survive? You can't forget your mother after you get married."

Xiaochuan's lips drooped down.

Chunxia was both annoyed and amused by his aggrieved look.

"A woman marries a man for food and clothing. You should hurry up and earn some money. I'll come to the county to visit you for a couple of days in a few days."

Ogawa's eyes lit up again. "A few days?"

"In a few days."

"How many days exactly?"

"Aren't you annoying?" Chunxia pushed him.