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

The motorcycle stopped by the stone bridge outside the town. Liu Yukun turned it off, bracing himself with one foot on the ground. The early autumn wind carried a chill as it blew across the river. Sheng Ruzhi stepped off the back seat, untied the silk scarf from her neck, and held it in her hand.

Liu Yukun took two bottles of drinks out of the bicycle basket and handed one over.

"Today, my sister-in-law and I have thoroughly investigated those workshops on the far east side." Liu Yukun leaned back in his car seat and took a sip of soda. "The purchase price here is more than 30% lower than in Haishi, and even lower than in the south. If we can establish a freight route and resell the goods at both ends, the profits will be considerable."

Sheng Ruzhi took a small sip and looked up at him.

"Long-distance transportation is costly, and train cars are in short supply right now; it's difficult to get a quota without connections."

"Don't worry about the railcars," Liu Yukun said confidently. "My godmother has a transportation team run by Song Nan and Song Bei. The local fabric production is plentiful and diverse. If we can transport it to Xincheng and Shenzhen to make patterns and garments, we won't have to worry about sales. I've calculated that once things get going, we can see a return on our investment in the first three months."

Sheng Ruzhi looked at him.

These past few days, whenever the topic of business comes up, this man's carefree attitude completely disappears, replaced by a calculating and shrewd glint in his eyes.

She didn't understand the intricacies of the situation, but she simply believed him.

You have to admire the business acumen that's inherent in the people of Qingyang.

"So, will you go to the new city or Shenzhen?" Sheng Ruzhi asked.

Liu Yukun placed the empty soda bottle on the bridge railing.

He turned around and looked directly at Sheng Ruzhi.

Liu Yukun said calmly, "I won't go to the new city or Shenzhen. If you want to stay at home and don't want to leave your aunt and uncle, I'll settle down here. It's just hard to travel back and forth between Shanghai and here. As long as I can maintain this line, it doesn't matter where I work."

Sheng Ruzhi held the silk handkerchief in her hand, not answering immediately.

Liu Yukun didn't urge him, and waited quietly.

After a long pause, Sheng Ruzhi finally spoke. "My mother told me that Aunt Song is coming over in a few days."

Liu Yukun couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.

With Song Xianglan's arrival, the two families officially met.

"I'll ask Aunt Song for her opinion in person then." Sheng Ruzhi lowered her head, her toes paving the pebbles on the ground. "However... I've actually thought it through."

Liu Yukun's brow twitched, and he took half a step forward. "What are you thinking?"

Sheng Ruzhi raised her head and met his gaze. "For me, there's not much difference between Haishi and home. It doesn't matter where I live."

People always strive to improve themselves. If Haishi's environment and resources are better for your future development, I'm willing to go back to Haishi with you.

Liu Yukun stood there, stunned.

He had considered countless ways to persuade and plead, and he would have readily agreed even if Sheng Ruzhi wanted him to marry into the Sheng family.

He never expected that she would be willing to give up everything at home and go with him.

Sheng Ruzhi's eyes were a little red.

She turned her face away and looked at the river. "I just feel a little sorry for my parents. My dad has been an honest and hardworking man all his life. In order for me to get a job at the post office and secure this stable job, he swallowed his pride and went around asking for favors. He spent a lot of money on these connections. And now that I'm leaving, this opportunity has gone down the drain."

Liu Yukun grabbed Sheng Ruzhi's hand.

My palms are slightly cool.

Liu Yukun held her hand tightly, afraid that she might change her mind.

"Don't worry," Liu Yukun said in a low, hoarse voice, "I'll repay your favor, Uncle. I'll make up for that deficit tenfold, a hundredfold."

Sheng Ruzhi did not pull her hand away, letting him hold it.

"Whether I stay in Shanghai or here, I'm sure I can make the fabric business a big success," Liu Yukun continued, his eyes shining brightly. "I've even thought about the path my sister-in-law takes. Didn't her factory shut down?"

There's no point in just sitting around doing nothing. It would be better to let her take a leave of absence and work with her aunt in town buying and selling cloth. That would be a major source of income for the family, definitely more than she earns working night shifts at the factory.

As Sheng Ruzhi listened to his arrangements, her last remaining concerns were dispelled.

This man isn't just making empty promises.

He truly considered the future prospects of every member of the Sheng family.

"Zhizhi." Liu Yukun gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, his tone softening, "Let's get engaged in town when Godmother arrives. We'll get our marriage certificate by the end of the year, okay?"

Sheng Ruzhi's face flushed instantly, turning red all the way to the base of her neck.

She forcefully broke free from Liu Yukun's grasp, turned her back to him, and said, "Who wants to marry you?"

Seeing her shyness, Liu Yukun couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"It's my fault for being too hasty. I shouldn't have said that so casually. We should wait until my godmother arrives, and then bring it up properly when both sets of elders are sitting together."

He stood beside Sheng Ruzhi, watching the river with her.

"Zhizhi, I've finally felt at ease these past few days staying at your place." Liu Yukun's smile faded. "To be honest, and I'm not afraid to say something, none of the families I grew up in—Wang Zhihe's family, Song Xiangdong's family, and Zhou Fang and Huang Ronghua's family—are normal."

Sheng Ruzhi turned her head to look at him.

"It's all just a bunch of messy, unresolved issues. Everyone has their own agenda."

Liu Yukun sighed. "Back then, kids from normal families didn't care to hang out with people like us. So we had to stick together for warmth. I was the youngest of them. Having seen so much of the filth and corruption, I thought I'd just drift through life like this."

He looked into Sheng Ruzhi's eyes. "But when I came to your family, I realized what it's like to grow up in a loving environment."

Liu Yukun pointed to his heart. "Zhizhi, I want a family like yours."

Sheng Ruzhi felt a lump in her throat, but instead of replying, she simply nodded slightly.

He pulled her into his arms.

……

mirage.

The afternoon sun shone on the glass of the time-honored pan-fried dumpling shop. The clanging of bicycles echoed from the alleyway.

Yao Hong sat by the window, picked up a freshly pan-fried bun, gently bit into the dough, and sucked out the hot, sweet broth inside.

She was sitting opposite Song Xianglan and Shi Xinyi.

"Sister Hong looks radiant today, her complexion is glowing." Shi Xinyi took a sip of the wonton soup.

Yao Hong put down her chopsticks and wiped her lips with a tissue. Her eyes and brows exuded charm. "Of course. Fu Qingnian is completely under my thumb now."

Song Xianglan: "What kind of bewitching potion did you give him this time?"

Yao Hong leaned back in her chair, a seductive smile on her face. "What trick is more effective than real sex? At the crucial moment, I simply dragged him to a hotel and booked a room. With my skills, I made him crave more."

Shi Xinyi almost choked on her soup and coughed twice.

Song Xianglan glared at her.

"You really dare to say that, even in restaurants on the street."

Yao Hong scoffed, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. "Aunt Song, once a man gets into my bed, he can't leave me."

Men are animals whose minds are controlled by their lower bodies. I wouldn't bother using that special skill on those ordinary girls out there.

Yao Hong picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"That bastard Fu Qingnian looks respectable, but if he throws a woman like me at him—fair-skinned, beautiful, with long legs, and plenty of cash—how could he not be tempted? Plus, I'm good in bed. Right now, all he can think about is how to keep me firmly in his grasp."

Song Xianglan shook her head repeatedly upon hearing this. "He proposed to you?"

Yao Hong smiled broadly, "I only gave him a little hint that I've been so busy with business all these years that I haven't even gotten a marriage certificate. He got anxious and immediately asked to go with me to get the certificate."

Yao Hong stared intently at Shi Xinyi.

"Little sister. I've done all the groundwork." Yao Hong leaned forward slightly. "Next, it's your father's turn to appear."

Shi Xinyi was taken aback. "My dad?"

"Yes." Yao Hong lowered her voice, "Go back and talk to your father, and have him come and talk to Fu Qingnian. Tell him that he absolutely refuses to agree to this marriage. The reason is ready: he's afraid Fu Qingnian has ulterior motives and wants to take advantage of my family's lack of offspring."

Shi Xinyi covered her mouth.

"It wouldn't be difficult for my dad to intervene. But... Fu Qingnian is such a shrewd person, are you confident you can get him to transfer all the properties under his name to you?"