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

Zhou Fang tightened his grip on the teacup.

"Think carefully about your marriage. A marriage where only one person makes sacrifices is abnormal. I agree that men should contribute more, but I don't believe that an abnormal marriage is healthy."

Song Xianglan looked at him.

"I don't think you're a coward. Zhou Fang, the fact that you're willing to say this today means you already have the answer in your heart. Think it through and then do it."

Zhou Fang remained silent for a while.

"Before the Spring Festival, my child's maternal grandmother called me and told me not to delay Xiyang. I called her later, thinking she would come back to celebrate the New Year with the child."

Even just telling them to go to Haishi would be fine.

No one responded in the tea room.

Song Xiangdong lowered his head and drank his tea.

Liu Yukun leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on his knee.

Zhou Fang took a breath and picked up on another topic.

"My uncle originally wanted me to go abroad to develop my career, saying there were more opportunities there. But now he has changed his mind and is encouraging me to stay in China."

Our company has overseas Chinese investment, which makes it more convenient for us to handle things in the country.

If I can acquire this land, I plan to start construction in a few years. I've heard that policy changes are attracting foreign investment, and banks are offering many preferential policies to foreign companies.

Song Xianglan picked up the map again and looked at it.

"Have you thoroughly investigated this land?"

"Checked. The property rights are clear, and there are no disputes."

"What about the price?"

Zhou Fang reported a number.

Song Xianglan made a mental calculation.

It's not cheap, but it's not expensive either.

The development momentum of the new city continues unabated, and this piece of land will be worth more than several times its original value in three to five years.

"Okay. I have no objection to not sharing profits. You can proceed with your plan."

Zhou Fang nodded and put the document away.

It was Liu Yukun's turn.

He sat up straight in the chair and cleared his throat.

"Godmother, let me tell you about my situation too."

He was in charge of several shops in Haishi, and according to Song Xianglan's previous arrangements, he also registered a trading company there.

"The trading company is operating normally. Although it's not very big yet, I think it has a good future." Liu Yukun has met some old Shanghainese and is doing his best to maintain these relationships.

"Also, I listened to you and paid to enroll in a few courses at school: accounting, management, and English."

"How's your English learning going?" Song Xianglan asked.

Liu Yukun grinned.

"I can understand some words, and as for what I can say... I can barely greet foreigners."

Song Xiangdong scoffed.

Liu Yukun quickly added, "I'm still learning."

"Go to the English corner and practice more."

Zhou Fang suddenly asked a question.

"You've been in Shanghai for so long, haven't you dated anyone?"

This guy should have had a girlfriend by now.

Liu Yukun leaned back, flicked his hair across his forehead, and gave a roguish smile.

"I pass through a hundred flowers, yet not a single petal clings to me."

Song Xiangdong paused, his teacup hovering near his lips.

He glanced sideways at Liu Yukun.

"Don't pretend to be innocent. I can tell at a glance that you eat meat and don't eat vegetables at all; you have no dietary restrictions."

Liu Yukun choked for a moment.

Zhou Fang almost burst out laughing.

Liu Yukun chuckled twice and scratched his nose.

"Brother Dong, what you're saying... I'm serious about every relationship. It's just that I don't hold back when I end things. But I'm generous with money and emotional support. Girls who break up with me never say anything bad about me."

He seemed quite pleased with himself when he said that.

Song Xianglan's face fell.

"A relationship that is not intended for marriage is just playing around."

Liu Yukun's smile froze on his face.

"A toad dipped in salt water thinks it's some kind of playboy." Song Xianglan was clearly angry. "Your wealth makes you arrogant."

When people see you're heartless and pulling out, they can only cut their losses in time.

In the end, you still think you're doing well? You think you've provided enough emotional value?

Liu Yukun lowered his head guiltily.

"You wasted that girl's time. She was in her early twenties, dated you for a while, and then you dumped her with money. You think you can just be generous and that's it? You gave her money, and you don't feel any remorse?"

I always said men are all the same. Aside from those hanging on the wall, not one of them is honest. All they think about after they've eaten is that kind of thing.

Song Xianglan became increasingly angry as she spoke.

Song Xiangdong... he was very honest, and he only had Huijun as his woman.

Zhou Fang... was already love-struck, yet she still got caught up in her godmother's anger.

"You should find a suitable one and settle down as soon as possible."

Liu Yukun shrank his neck.

Song Xianglan launched into a tirade, her anger escalating with each rebuke.

She stood up, turned around, and walked downstairs.

As he walked to the entrance of the teahouse, he turned back and delivered another blow.

"The girl didn't scold you because she's well-mannered. It's not because you did the right thing. If it were me, I would have beaten you into a toad's head."

Song Xianglan went down the stairs.

The tea room remained quiet for quite some time.

Liu Yukun slumped in his chair, looking utterly aggrieved.

"I'm willing, and the other party is willing. Why isn't my godmother willing?"

Song Xiangdong gave him a disdainful look.

"I inherited my mother's love of cleanliness. I will only ever have Huijun in my life. I got scolded by my mother because of you. When my mother scolds people, she doesn't care about anyone else and everyone gets dragged into it."

Liu Yukun... This kind of public display of affection is disgusting, it tastes like rotten food.

He also longed for a woman with whom he could spend his life.

Zhou Fang raised his eyebrows.

Song Xiangdong then changed the subject.

"I thought Fu Qingnian was acting strangely last time. He has so many women to pursue, yet he insists on trying to steal someone else's girlfriend."

Zhou Fang's expression changed slightly.

Song Xiangdong stared at him.

"Did you offend him in your past life?"

Zhou Fang lowered his head and slowly ran his fingers along the rim of the teacup.

Liu Yukun's eyes widened.

"Zhou Fang, you're such a fucking coward."

Zhou Fang... watch your mouth, kid.

"That bastard dared to come to the new city; you should have someone break his legs. He looks down on everyone; what right does he have?"

Liu Yukun was indignant.

"You're both from Haishi, but look at Huijun and the former Dr. Congying, and then look at yours..."

He shut up.

He didn't want to talk about the mother of his two children.

Some words, once spoken, cannot be taken back.

Zhou Fang's eyes were very calm.

"Yu Kun, there's no need to stand up for me. I'll handle this myself."

Liu Yukun swallowed back all the words he had wanted to say.

Later, Huang Ronghua and Wang Zhihe also came over.

Several men chatted around the tea table for an entire afternoon.

They talked about business, then the current situation, and then about plans for next year.

The sound of firecrackers rang out from all over the village, starting sparsely and then becoming more and more frequent.

Song Xianglan shouted from downstairs.

"Come down and paste the couplets."

The group then got up and went downstairs.

Song Xiangdong took a roll of red paper and went downstairs.

The Spring Festival couplets were written in advance.

Zhou Fang took the two pairs of Spring Festival couplets and a bowl of paste. "Godmother, I'll go put up the couplets on our house first."

Song Xianglan nodded. "Go ahead. Make sure they're neat and tidy."

Zhou Fang carried her things out the door.

Da Bao followed behind, helping him carry the bowl of paste.

Song Xianglan turned to look at Song Xiangdong.

"The factory also needs to put up stickers."

Song Xiangdong responded, "I'll go right away."

"Youbao, Fubao, come with Daddy to the factory to put up Spring Festival couplets."

Youbao ran over happily, still clutching the toy gun in her hand.

Fu Bao hugged the rabbit doll and moved quickly with her short legs.

Liu Yukun took the Spring Festival couplets and followed.

"I'll lend a hand too."

Several people walked in a large group towards the factory.

"Put it up at the old house too."

"understood."

Song Xiangdong was wearing an executive jacket and stood up straight.

People passing by greeted him.

"Xiang Dong is back for the New Year."

"Happy New Year, Vice Mayor Song."

Song Xiangdong nodded in response to each one, his steps unwavering.

Youbao rode on Liu Yukun's shoulders, firing a toy gun at the sky.

*

Song Xianglan stood at the door watching them walk away, and was about to turn around and go inside.

Old Mrs. Yu, wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket, turned from her own front door to Song Xianglan's front door.

Her eyes remained fixed on Song Xiangdong's departing figure.

She didn't look away until the car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

"Xianglan."

Song Xianglan was about to push the door open when she heard this sound and stopped.

Old Mrs. Yu pouted.

"If my Pengfei hadn't gotten into trouble, he would definitely be doing better than your Xiangdong."

It had a sour smell that was hard to describe.

Song Xianglan's eyelids were drooping.

"With you as his mother, he won't get better. Besides, Yu Pengfei's Daoist heart is unstable."

Old Mrs. Yu: "My Pengfei is just a bit unlucky."

Song Xianglan turned around to face her.

"Pah!"

"You've got a foot-binding cloth wrapped around your head. You're all blustering and smug, like an old hen trying to reach for the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun."

Old Mrs. Yu: "My Pengfei is more senior than your Xiangdong, and he was promoted before your Xiangdong."

"Give me a bowl of noodles and I can make ten pancakes with your big face. If you can't speak, go learn sign language, so you don't expose your intelligence by spewing filth. What's the use of comparing seniority? Your son made a mistake. My son did a good deed."

"Confidence is a good thing, but don't be self-destructive with it. Which drain wasn't properly shut off, and you old scoundrel crawled out?"

Granny Yu was so jealous she was going crazy.

"What makes you so great, you stinking pig butcher? The villagers think they're something special just because they work for you. You unscrupulous capitalist profiteer."

Song Xianglan is so happy:

"Jealousy has distorted your true nature. Don't challenge my daily allowance with your annual income; I'm afraid you won't survive the New Year."

"Hahaha, what do you have to compare with me? You can't compare to a son, and you can't compare to a daughter either. I don't even have a wretched old man next to me making me smell his stench. Hahahaha..."

Song Xianglan chuckled and went back to close the courtyard gate.

He even cursed from behind the gate:

"Your brain isn't even the size of a sunflower seed, yet you dare to talk to me?"

Old Mrs. Yu stood at the door, spitting in anger.

A neighbor passing by chuckled softly.

She slunk away home.

He was still muttering to himself.

"Having a few bucks is nothing special. Her son may be successful, but I have many sons..."

The more I talk about it, the more upset I get; having many sons is useless.

Neither of her two sons showed up on New Year's Eve.

Only Yu Xiujuan stayed at home with the elderly couple. Fortunately, Xiujuan had earned some money in the past two weeks. She had originally wanted to tell Song Xianglan how capable her Xiujuan was, but she forgot about it before she could even boast.

Shen Huijun came out of the kitchen. "Mom, Aunt Yu is here again?"

"They say her Pengfei is more senior than Xiangdong and used to be better than Xiangdong. While Xiangdong was improving himself, Yu Pengfei was focused on building relationships."

Shen Huijun replied speechlessly:

"She really dares to say that."

"She wouldn't dare say anything," Song Xianglan waved her hand. "She's never admitted defeat verbally, but she's never won in reality."