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

Looking at her daughter-in-law's hurried departure, Mrs. Sheng could only shake her head and sigh.

Looking at the valuables on the table, I still felt a little hot to the touch.

"Comrade Liu, we really can't accept these things." Madam Sheng pushed the cigarettes and alcohol towards Liu Yukun. "You should take them back with you later. Leave the pastries and candies for us."

"Auntie, this is nothing special. My godmother gives gifts like this in Shanghai." Liu Yukun made up a story on the spot, playing the role of a nouveau riche to perfection. "If you let me take it back, it would be a slap in the face to my godmother."

Besides, I'm completely unfamiliar with this place, and I'll inevitably need your help in finding fabrics and factories in the future. Consider this my advance apprenticeship gift.

Having said all that, Mrs. Sheng couldn't refuse any longer.

She gathered the things up on the corner of the table.

"You people who do business in Shanghai are really strict with your rules," Mrs. Sheng muttered.

Having achieved his goal, Liu Yukun leaned back comfortably in his chair.

He now has a legitimate reason to stay in the Sheng family.

When doing business, look at the fabric.

Being near the water gives you an advantage.

It was almost noon.

Zhuo Yun carried the fish, meat, and vegetables into the house, and Sheng's mother went to the kitchen to lend a hand.

Liu Yukun wandered around in the yard.

The Sheng family's courtyard was not large, but it was kept very clean.

Several balsam plants grew at the base of the wall. A few freshly washed clothes hung under the eaves, including a plain-colored polyester shirt that Liu Yukun immediately recognized as Sheng Ruzhi's.

His heart ached again.

Lovesickness is truly a damn torment.

The door creaked open.

Sheng Ruzhi pushed in a slightly worn women's bicycle. She was wearing a white postal uniform shirt, dark green trousers, and her hair was casually tied back with a hair tie. She looked clean and pretty without any makeup.

She looked up.

He met Liu Yukun's staring eyes.

Sheng Ruzhi's movement of pushing the cart froze instantly.

The color drained from his face.

"You…" Sheng Ruzhi gripped the car handle, "How did you get in?"

Liu Yukun walked over with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face.

"I'm here to visit my aunt on behalf of my godmother." His tone was light, unlike the dejected look he had in the park yesterday. "And I'll also check out the local fabric market."

Sheng Ruzhi's chest heaved violently twice.

"You're lying." A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. "What are you trying to do?"

"I miss you." Liu Yukun leaned close to her ear and shamelessly uttered the two words.

Sheng Ruzhi took a step back abruptly.

The ankle bone slammed into the foot pedal, making a dull thud.

Zhuo Yun, who was in the kitchen, heard the noise.

He poked his head out, holding a spatula.

"Ruzhi's off work?" Zhuo Yun shouted at the top of his lungs. "Quickly invite your brother Liu in and have a seat."

A look of disbelief flashed in Sheng Ruzhi's eyes.

"No need to greet them." Liu Yukun turned around and waved to Zhuo Yun, "Sister-in-law, you go about your business, I'm going to talk to Ruzhi."

Sheng Ruzhi parked the bicycle against the wall. She grabbed Liu Yukun's arm and dragged him to the hand pump in the corner of the yard, away from the kitchen's view.

"Liu Yukun, don't push your luck." Sheng Ruzhi's lips trembled with anger. "I made it clear to you yesterday. We're over. What are you doing coming to my house?"

"Why should we be together just because you want to, and not be together just because you want to?"

"Yesterday is yesterday, today is today," Liu Yukun said shamelessly. "You unilaterally declared it over, but I didn't agree. I'm a bastard, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong, you can hit me, scold me, bully me, you can do whatever you want."

"Are you crazy? If you don't leave, I'll call for help."

"Shout it out," Liu Yukun said, spreading his hands. "It would be best to call all the neighbors. I'll tell them that I'm determined to pursue you, even if it means becoming a live-in son-in-law."

"You..." Sheng Ruzhi was furious and raised her hand to hit him.

Liu Yukun neither dodged nor flinched; in fact, he moved closer.

Her hand stopped abruptly half an inch from his cheek.

Looking at his gaunt face, his deep-set eyes were bloodshot.

Sheng Ruzhi's hand just wouldn't come down.

She dejectedly lowered her hand.

"Liu Yukun, I'm begging you," Sheng Ruzhi pleaded, her voice trembling with tears. "Please let me go. I can't take this anymore, I can't endure this."

Liu Yukun's heart skipped a beat.

His eyes were extremely serious.

"Ruzhi, I'm sorry, I was a bastard before." His voice was deep. "Wherever you are, I will be there."

Sheng Ruzhi looked up at him blankly.

"You stay here as a mail carrier, and I'll open a shop and start a business. I'll pursue you again. If one day isn't enough, I'll try a year; if a year isn't enough, I'll try ten. I want you to like me again."

Sheng Ruzhi's eyes reddened, and she forcefully turned her head away.

"Whatever."

She uttered three words, turned around, and quickly walked into the inner room.

Liu Yukun stood beside the hand pump and let out a long breath.

As long as they don't chase people away with a broom, there's hope.

Sheng's father and brother have both returned.

Zhuo Yunduan served the last dish, braised fish, and warmly invited Liu Yukun to eat.

The menu includes salted river shrimp, stuffed gluten, braised pork, stir-fried eggs with chives, stir-fried loofah, fried fish, and a loofah and egg drop soup.

Mrs. Sheng kept piling food into his bowl.

Only Sheng Ruzhi kept her head down, eating white rice without picking up a single piece of food.

"Ruzhi, what are you daydreaming about? Eat your food and serve the guests." Zhuo Yun nudged her sister-in-law's arm. "They came all the way from Haishi and brought so many nice things home."

Sheng Ruzhi looked up and gave Liu Yukun a cold glance.

Sheng Ruzhi picked up a piece of fish belly meat, "He has hands and feet, he can pick it up himself if he wants to eat it."

Mother Sheng ate a meal with her chopsticks.

"How can you talk like that?" Mrs. Sheng glared at her daughter. "You have no manners at all."

Liu Yukun quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Auntie, it's alright, it's alright. We'll just stay here in Haishi, order whatever you like." Liu Yukun put the piece of fish belly meat into Sheng Ruzhi's bowl. "Eat more, you look much thinner than you did in Haishi."

Sheng Ruzhi stared at the piece of fish in the bowl.

When they were in Haishi, Liu Yukun would always pick out this piece of meat for her whenever they ate fish.

"Dawei, fill the guests' glasses." Mr. Sheng picked up his glass, unaware of the undercurrents at the table. "My Zhizhi has indeed lost a lot of weight since she came back from Shanghai. Her mother's illness scared her."

Sheng Dawei took the Moutai and poured Liu Yukun a full glass. "Brother, we're home now. Let's have a drink."

"Thank you, Brother Xie." Liu Yukun picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp.

Sheng Dawei gave a thumbs up.

"happy."

The two nephews and nieces sitting next to Liu Yukun were staring at him expectantly.

As soon as he came in, he handed each of the two children a handful of imported chocolates and White Rabbit milk candies, and also took out two toys.

The two children stopped eating and started wandering around Liu Yukun with their toys.

"Stop bothering Uncle Liu, go play somewhere else." Zhuo Yun patted his son on the back.

Mrs. Sheng sat opposite.

He kept his eyes down, seemingly lost in thought, and didn't move his chopsticks for a long time.

Women are always the most perceptive when it comes to these things.

After returning from Haishi, Sheng Ruzhi seemed to have been completely drained of energy.

When asked about the situation in Haishi, she remained tight-lipped.

Today, Liu Yukun came to our door claiming to be Song Xianglan's godson, saying he was there to investigate business, but his eyes were fixed on Sheng Ruzhi eight out of ten times.

Looking at the mountain of gifts, Mrs. Sheng felt a chill run down her spine.

This is definitely aimed at his daughter.

Moreover, judging from my daughter's cold attitude just now, this man must have bullied her.

Mrs. Sheng's face darkened.

"Comrade Liu, you've come all this way to investigate the business. How long do you plan to stay?" Mrs. Sheng asked, her tone noticeably less warm than when she first entered, and even her address was more distant.