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

The atmosphere in the room changed as soon as he said that.

This is a roundabout way of asking for money.

Huang Guoping's wife grabbed his thigh from under the table.

They had agreed beforehand that, out of consideration for the old lady, each family would give her 100 yuan to settle the matter.

Judging from their current posture, they're going to make exorbitant demands.

Huang Guoping pressed his wife's hand down with his own.

He got up and opened his black leather bag.

Several stacks of "big unity" notes wrapped in red paper were taken out.

"I'm sorry to have made you all laugh at me today," Huang Guoping said, pushing the money directly to the center of the octagonal table.

A thick stack.

The sisters-in-law at the small table stared wide-eyed.

Huang Guoping's wife stared intently at the pile of money, sweating profusely with anxiety.

"We're brothers, no need for formalities." Huang Guoping's voice wasn't happy; it carried suppressed anger and frustration. "Mom has been so fortunate to have you all taking care of her all these years."

Huang Guoping pointed to the red paper packet on the table.

"One thousand per family. Consider it my way of thanking you all for your hard work."

The voice just fell.

My second aunt rushed over and grabbed the money in her hand.

The others also swarmed around.

Each person grabbed one and stuffed it into their pocket.

"Oh my, I knew our Huang family had to rely on Guoping!" Second Aunt laughed heartily, pinching the thick cloth. "You won't find another like him in the whole village. He's better than Song Xianglan's spendthrift son."

Huang Guoping ignored them, then took out another envelope and stuffed it into Old Lady Huang's hand.

"Mom, here's a thousand yuan. Keep it for yourself to buy wine and meat. Don't be stingy with your food."

Grandma Huang clutched the envelope, tears streaming down her face.

"My good son. I've never spoiled you in vain." Old Mrs. Huang wailed, tears streaming down her face.

The fourth son's wife quickly handed over the money she had just received, under her husband's watchful eye.

"Of those who went to the other side, how many of them managed to make something of themselves? Guoping is really capable." She started to belittle him with glee. "I heard that Tang Jun from Tangjiazhuang is back too. He came home without even a decent set of clothes, and his pockets are emptier than his face."

Aunt immediately chimed in:

"After decades away, I've ended up begging like this. If it were me, I would have smashed my head against a block of tofu long ago. How could I possibly come back to face anyone?"

Huang Guoping's wife couldn't stand it any longer.

The money she spent was so much that it hurt her heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.

"Sister-in-law, you can't say that," she retorted coldly. "Tang Jun is just an ordinary company employee over there. His wife is seriously ill and he's in deep debt, and he also has a daughter to raise."

He's been living a very frugal life. This time, when he went back to the mainland to visit relatives, the airfare was paid for by everyone in our hometown association.

My second aunt kept pursing her lips.

"Guoping's wife, you should stop covering for him." Second Aunt scoffed, "If he were really penniless, would he have the nerve to come back?"

I heard there's money everywhere outside, you can pick it up just by looking down. Unlike our poor life in the countryside of Qingyang. They must all be incredibly wealthy bosses out there. It just depends on whether they're a miserly tightwad or a spendthrift like Guoping.

Huang Guoping's wife turned green with rage.

This is blatant robbery, yet they still want to put on a virtuous facade.

There's money everywhere outside, why don't you go pick it up?

Do you not like money?

Huang Guoping picked up the wine glass on the table and downed the bulk liquor in one gulp.

It was so spicy that I frowned.

A spendthrift playboy?

If he bleeds himself dry today, he might not be able to stop and his entire fortune will be wiped out.

The courtyard of Liu Dahua's family.

Liu Dahua spent a full half hour washing herself inside the house.

In the courtyard, Song Xianglan, Liu Chounu, and Liu Chunhua squatted in a row.

"Is Da Hua going to commit suicide in there?" The ugly girl kept looking into the lit window.

Song Xianglan plucked a wild grass from the ground and casually tossed it into her basket.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Song Xianglan's voice was flat. "Da Hua has spent most of his life wading through mud. What storms hasn't he seen? Huang Guoping is nothing. He's just like a stinking rock in a latrine."

The door creaked open.

Liu Dahua came out carrying a basin of water.

Throw away the dirty water.

She changed into a clean floral short-sleeved shirt and black trousers. Her hair was still wet and clung to her face. The grime on her face had been washed away, revealing fine lines around her eyes and yellowish, freckled skin.

Liu Dahua walked to the middle of the courtyard.

She looked at the three women squatting on the ground.

He walked over and squatted down next to Liu Chunhua.

The four of them stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Liu Chounv couldn't hold it in any longer and forced a smile that was even uglier than crying.

"Dahua, don't take it to heart." Liu Chounu winked. "Just ignore that old bastard Huang Guoping. What kind of scumbag is he, wearing a flowery shirt and slicking back his hair, looking like an old prostitute on the street in the city."

Liu Chunhua echoed this sentiment.

"Look at the new wife he brought behind him. The layer of powder on her face must weigh at least two pounds. It's crumbling as she walks. If this were the old society, she would be a concubine, and she would have to kneel down and kowtow to serve tea to you, the first wife."

Liu Dahua couldn't resist.

He burst out laughing.

She covered her stomach with both hands and laughed louder and louder.

My shoulders were trembling. Tears streamed down my face.

The three women looked at each other in bewilderment.

"You guys have such sharp tongues," Liu Dahua wiped the tears from her face, "You're really vicious. Even a knife isn't as sharp as you."

She stood up, walked to the well, and drew a ladle of water to wash her face.

"Actually, I don't blame that woman." Liu Dahua's back was to them, and her voice was surprisingly calm.

The ugly woman was so anxious she jumped up and down.

"Dahua, you're still defending that vixen at a time like this? She stole your man."

Liu Dahua shook the water droplets off her hands.

"He's a victim too." Liu Dahua walked over, pulled up a small bamboo chair and sat down. "If a man is willing to keep something a secret, how can anyone know the truth?"

How did she know that Huang Guoping had a wife and children in mainland China when she married him?

Once she's pregnant and the child is born, what can she do if Huang Guoping reveals the truth?

"I've already lived more than half my life; I can't just put the child back in my belly and never live with it, can I?"

Liu Chunhua stared at her blankly.

"Big Flower. You...you really don't hate him?"

"Xianglan is right. A woman's life shouldn't be entirely tied to a man. Besides, I didn't wait for him. Luckily, I bravely took that step and found Liu Yidao."

When Liu Dahua thought this way, Song Xianglan felt a tension ease.

"That's right. When Xiaoxiang and the others come over tomorrow, you should tell them the truth. They should take what they're owed, not a penny less. It's money Huang Guoping owes them. It's only right for him, as their father, to contribute some money to support his children."

Liu Dahua nodded.

"That's what I'm planning too. I'm not just going to make her call me 'Dad,' I'm going to make her call me that loudly. Why shouldn't she acknowledge him? He hasn't taken care of the kids for decades, and now he's back with money in his pocket, acting all high and mighty. Let him spend more. I won't stop him."

"I'm going to deliver the bills owed to me tomorrow. I'll make sure he comes back bruised and battered."

That evening, David took the message home.

Dawei sat on the long bench, biting into a raw cucumber. "My grandma told you to invite your older sister and younger sister tomorrow too. Try to remember how your grandpa used to hold you, and cry as realistically as possible."

Huang Xiaoxiang rolled her eyes.

"What the hell am I supposed to think about? I couldn't even speak properly when he left. I have no recollection of his appearance, whether he was round or long/flat. How am I supposed to remember?"