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

"You will personally escort the vehicle."

"I?"

"If you don't personally escort the first batch of goods, who will? What if something goes wrong en route?"

Song Dong didn't say a word.

"Okay. The car will arrive tomorrow."

The refrigerated truck arrived on time the next day.

Song Xianglan directed the workers to load boxes of lettuce onto the truck. Each box was wrapped tightly in newspaper.

Besides lettuce, there is also water spinach, green beans, mustard greens, and tomatoes.

Song Dong stood beside the truck, watching the loading process.

"Out-of-season raw vegetables are scarce and expensive in winter. In high-end restaurants and hotels in Haishi, they can cost more than ten yuan per kilogram. The wholesale price is lower, but it's sold in large quantities. When you get to Haishi, go and ask the suppliers who provide these vegetables to the hotels."

Song Dong nodded and noted it down.

"From now on, keep heading north. Don't worry about not finding any leafy greens in the Beijing area after the New Year."

The refrigerated truck rumbled away.

Song Xianglan stood by the roadside watching the car disappear around the corner, then turned and went back to the factory.

A portion was reserved for the factory canteen.

They also packed several large boxes of lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, and peppers.

Nie Xiaochuan, who had been called back, was sent to the county.

"Xiao Chuan, put these vegetables on Xin Cheng's truck and have them deliver them to Shen Huijun on their way."

Nie Xiaochuan nodded. "Okay."

"Don't ride on bumpy roads, tomatoes have thin skins and are easily bruised."

Nie Xiaochuan responded and drove his tricycle out of the factory gate.

It was a little after 4 p.m.

The phone on the desk in the factory rang.

Song Xianglan answered the phone, and it was Shen Huijun's voice on the other end.

"Mom, I received the vegetables. My mom asked you where you got them? It's the middle of winter, and you even have tomatoes. All the aunties in our compound said they miss you."

"We grew them ourselves," Song Xianglan smiled. "They were just picked from the field, they're very fresh."

"Fu Bao's mouth watered when she saw the tomatoes, and she's already eaten two." Shen Huijun's voice was as cheerful as a little girl's.

After laughing a few times, Shen Huijun changed the subject.

"Mom, I have something to tell you. I'm taking Fu Bao and You Bao back home for Chinese New Year this year. Xiang Dong is too busy to come with us."

"What is he busy with?"

"He has a lot of work in the city, and he's going to school for further studies next year. He told me to take the kids back first, and he'll try to come back on New Year's Eve."

Song Xianglan hummed in agreement.

"You bring the child back first."

Shen Huijun was silent for two seconds on the other end of the phone.

"Mom, there's one more thing I'd like to discuss with you."

"explain."

"My department head recommended me for an internship in Shenzhen."

Song Xianglan changed her posture.

"Shenzhen Stock Exchange?"

"Yes. It's a research institution in a special economic zone. The department head said this opportunity is particularly rare, and only two people were recommended from the entire department, one of whom is me. But I..." Shen Huijun's voice hesitated slightly, "I don't really want to go."

"Why don't you want to go?"

"Fu Bao and You Bao are still young, and Xiang Dong isn't around. What will happen to the children if I go to Shenzhen alone? Besides, if I go to Shenzhen, I won't be able to take care of them because we'll be living apart."

"Huijun, listen to me. Marrying Xiangdong doesn't mean you have to revolve around him."

He has his career, and you can't put your own future aside.

You're studying political economy; you'll learn ten times more there than in school. This is an opportunity you won't get a second chance if you miss it.

"But child..."

"You don't need to worry about the children. It's kind of you for your mother-in-law to go with you."

Your dad retired too, so we can go together.

The elderly couple will help you take care of the children, so you can focus on your work.

A couple doesn't have to be inseparable every day to make life work. When each person does their own job well, the family will thrive.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while.

"Mom, my brother and sister-in-law want me to go abroad. They say... that there are more opportunities overseas."

Song Xianglan frowned slightly.

"Do you want to go out yourself?"

"No," Shen Huijun replied quickly and decisively. "I feel there are many things I can do in China. Besides... no matter how important my career is, it comes after my family in my heart."

Song Xianglan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then don't go out. Your brother and sister-in-law's ideas are their own; you have to walk your own path."

I'm going to Shenzhen for an internship, for six months to a year, and then I'll see how things go and make further plans.

"Okay." Shen Huijun's voice suddenly brightened. "Mom, I'll go to the department head to confirm after the New Year. I'll explain the Shenzhen matter to you in detail when I get home."

"Okay. Be careful on the road. Bring thick cotton coats for Fu Bao and You Bao, it's windy and damp and cold by the sea in winter."

"Okay, Mom."

Shen Huijun hung up the phone happily.

Song Xianglan put down the microphone, leaned back in her chair, and pondered something.

The phone rang from the reception desk.

She answered the call.

"Director Song, your brother is here." It was Tang Zhong's voice from the gatehouse.

Which younger brother?

"Song Laosi".

Song Xianglan was stunned for a moment.

Old Song doesn't usually come to the factory, so why did he come today?

She quickly went downstairs.

Song Laosi stood by the gatehouse at the factory entrance, looking gloomy.

He was wearing an old cotton-padded jacket, his trousers were covered in mud, and he was anxiously looking around with an unlit cigarette in his hand.

"Fourth brother, who owes you eight hundred yuan?"

Song Laosi looked up at Song Xianglan, his lips drooping.

"Third sister, Song west's marriage is in trouble."

Song Xianglan paused.

"What is it? Come in and tell me."

She led Song Laosi into the factory's reception room and closed the door.

Song Laosi plopped down in the chair and rubbed his face with both hands.

"Wan Xiaoju is not from Chaoshi."

Song Xianglan frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Song Qiang has a friend from Wan Xiaoju's hometown. They were chatting the other day and he mentioned that Xiaoju is from Meishi, but her cousin is from Chaoshi."

"Then why did she say she was from Chaoshi?"

Song Lao Si's voice changed. "Third Sister, that cousin isn't her cousin at all."

Song Xianglan stared at him.

"What is that?"

Old Song gritted his teeth and said angrily:

"That was her lover. She also has an illegitimate child, which is that man's child."

There was a three-second silence in the meeting room.

Song Xianglan slowly sat down, wondering what kind of mess this was.

"Explain yourself from beginning to end."

Song Laosi lit a cigarette.

He took a deep drag, and smoke billowed from his nostrils.

"The man's surname is Lai, and he runs a seafood business in Guangzhou. He has a wife who has given birth to seven daughters, but no sons."

His wife's health deteriorated after giving birth to seven children, and she could no longer have children. Later, somehow she got involved with Wan Xiaoju, and Wan Xiaoju became pregnant.

"She gave birth. It's a son."

Old Song flicked the cigarette ash into the ashtray. "The man surnamed Lai was overjoyed to see his son. But his wife back home wouldn't have it."

That woman was quite a character; she brought her seven daughters to their door and caused a scene. After several confrontations, she finally forced the man surnamed Lai to take the children back and raise them herself.

Song Xianglan: "Did they give the child to them?"

"I gave it to him. That Lai's wife said she'd raise the child, but you have to break off all ties with that woman. Otherwise, if your family makes a scene, he won't be able to return to Chaozhou."

"So the one surnamed Lai just broke off the relationship?"

Song Laosi sneered.

"Break up my ass. He may appear to have broken up, but he's still secretly entangled with Wan Xiaoju."

The man surnamed Lai suggested that she get married.

She has a place to stay after getting married, and he can visit her every few days.

That man acted as a "family member" for Wan Xiaoju, arranging blind dates for her. They could continue dating afterward, and if she got pregnant and had a son, someone would help raise him.

Upon hearing this, Song Xianglan slammed her hand heavily on the table.

"What is that?"

"That guy surnamed Lai pretended to be Wan Xiaoju's cousin and followed her to various blind dates."

Wan Xiaoju had been married once before, in Meizhou, but the man found out something was wrong and they divorced after less than six months. Later, she ran away and got hooked up with Song west, that fool.

"So Song west is the next sucker?"

Song Laosi didn't utter a single word.

Song Xianglan stood up and paced back and forth in the reception room.

"Does Song west know?"

"I don't know yet. Song Qiang told me first. I don't dare tell Song west. That kid is very stubborn, I'm afraid he'll get into trouble."

Song Xianglan stopped in her tracks.

"Where's the evidence?"

Old Song took out a crumpled piece of paper from the inside pocket of his cotton-padded jacket, unfolded it, and handed it over.

"Song Qiang's friend is from the village next to Wan Xiaoju's. He went back and made a trip to find out the situation."

Wan Xiaoju's household registration is in Xiaping Village, Meishi, and her birth record is clearly stated there. The father's name for her child is listed as Lai Jinsheng.

Song Xianglan took the paper and glanced at it.

It is an excerpt of household registration information.

"Let's call Song west back during the Chinese New Year."

Song Lao Si: "Third Sister, I'm just afraid of Song west's temper."

"What kind of temper does he have? Even if he has a temper, what kind of trouble can he cause?"

Song Xianglan's voice turned cold, "He's tall and white, but you can't even see a person clearly."

"If we hadn't been lucky enough to run into Song Qiang's friend, he would have married her without any consideration. He would have lost everything, and it would have been too late to cry."

Song Laosi was so angry he wanted to curse.

"Okay. Whatever you say. I'll call him back."

After Song Laosi left.

When Song Xianglan walked out of the reception room, it was already completely dark.

The streetlights in the factory area came on, and workers were still working overtime in the workshops to catch up on their work.

Zhao Guodong stood at the workshop entrance, a pen between his fingers, checking data with the quality inspector.

"Director Zhao, you keep an eye on things tonight. I have something to attend to at home, so I'll be leaving now."

Zhao Guodong didn't even look up. "Don't worry."

Song Xianglan pushed her bicycle out of the factory gate.

The winter evening breeze, carrying the scent of the sea, blew in with a chill.

She got on her bike and started pedaling home.

The only thought running through my mind was: why is it that none of the people around me have a peaceful marriage?

Song Tingting called on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

The factory is already closed for the holidays.

Song Xianglan answered the phone at the brigade headquarters.

"Mom!" Song Tingting has been extremely busy these days; the clothing store is doing exceptionally well.

Zhao Ziheng somehow found his way here, and Song Tingting told him that her family was poor and she would stay in Beijing to work for half a month before going back.

She deliberately mentioned that she would receive a commission for selling clothes.

If she goes back to get money for her parents, her life will be a little easier.

Zhao Ziheng has been mobilizing his classmates, friends, and people in the compound to come and support him these past few days.

Song Tingting and the others were extremely busy, and Zhao Ziheng even acted as a salesperson.

Song Xianglan also missed her daughter. "Tingting, when are you getting home?"

"Mom, I'll be a few days late coming home this year. The store is incredibly busy. Everyone's buying new clothes before the Lunar New Year, and the lines outside are from morning till night. I just hired another sales assistant, but we still can't keep up."

Song Xianglan smiled.

"Business is so good?"

"It's so good I'm thinking of opening a second shop. Mom, I'll definitely be back for Chinese New Year. I'll be home on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month."

"Alright. Be careful on the road."

"Okay, Mom." Song Tingting chuckled twice on the other end of the line.

Song Xianglan held the microphone, a smile playing on her lips.

This girl has really made something of herself.