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

The stairwell leading downstairs.

The two walked one in front of the other.

Upon reaching the first floor, Zhou Fang handed over the box in his hand.

"This is for you, Cong Ying."

Cong Ying looked down at the box but didn't take it.

"What is it?"

"I bought it in Shanghai." Zhou Fang shoved it into her hand. "I brought it back after I went on a trip to Hunan Province with you."

Cong Ying held the box, "Is the matter finished?"

"Yes. Shen Huijun stayed there for a few days and then returned to Shenzhen. Once the school is completed, we will recruit volunteer teachers to go there."

My godmother said that all the volunteers who went received a subsidy from the food factory, 800 yuan a month.

Eight hundred yuan is a high salary.

Cong Ying was surprised, "The subsidy is so much?"

"My godmother said that the place was harsh and the conditions were poor, so they mainly wanted to find male teachers with good character and female teachers over 45 years old." The reason for the age requirement for female teachers was that Song Xianglan did not believe in the evil of human nature.

They are easily persuaded by local villagers to stay and marry.

Cong Ying also thought of this, "Aunt Song is really thoughtful."

"Is Hui-jun doing well? How are the two children?"

"Everything is fine," Zhou Fang said.

Cong Ying couldn't help but smile. "Hui Jun is so beautiful, and Song Xiangdong is very handsome. Their child will definitely be good-looking."

Zhou Fang stared at her face and stopped in his tracks.

"Cong Ying".

Cong Ying also stopped and looked back at him.

"Before I went to Haishi, I told you I wanted to hear your answer when I came back," Zhou Fang said bluntly.

Cong Ying's heart skipped a beat, and she tightened her grip on the box.

"I know I'm not good enough for you." Zhou Fang didn't give her a chance to avoid the question. "I'm divorced with two teenagers. In terms of education and family background, I'm inferior to you in every way."

Cong Ying's lips moved as if she wanted to speak, but Zhou Fang interrupted her.

"But I just want to pursue you. I want to build a family with you. You taught me that as long as a couple works together, their lives will naturally be good." Zhou Fang took a half step forward, closing the distance. "Would you accept my pursuit?"

It was very quiet around, with only the chirping of a few insects.

Cong Ying was in a state of great turmoil.

She and An Xiyang used to be sent-down youth in the same place.

Although they weren't exactly confidants, they were fellow townsmen who could talk to each other. She never dreamed that one day she would be standing here with An Xiyang's ex-husband, discussing issues between men and women.

"I...I..." Cong Ying stammered.

Zhou Fang stared into her eyes.

Hesitation and panic.

He understood everything.

No refunds.

If we back down, this whole thing will fall through.

The two were standing under a large banyan tree by the roadside in the residential area. There was no one around.

Zhou Fang suddenly reached out and pulled Cong Ying into his arms.

Cong Ying froze, her mind going completely blank.

It took her two seconds to react before she reached out and gently pushed his chest.

He whispered, "What are you doing?"

Instead of loosening his grip, Zhou Fang tightened his arms even more.

"Let go." Cong Ying lowered her voice, looking around. "What will it look like if the neighbors see this? We'll be laughed at."

"So what if I saw it?" Zhou Fang said shamelessly.

Cong Ying became anxious, "Da Bao and Er Bao don't like seeing you like this either."

Zhou Fang chuckled. "Who said that? They both wholeheartedly support me pursuing you. Erbao even complained that I'm stupid, saying I don't even know how to pursue a woman."

Cong Ying's face flushed instantly.

She stopped pushing him away.

"Cong Ying," Zhou said, resting his chin on her shoulder, "if you don't mind me, give me a chance."

Cong Ying turned her head away, "I have to get up early tomorrow for my outpatient appointment. I'm going back now."

Zhou Fang then released his arm and took her hand.

"I send you."

Cong Ying withdrew her hand.

No twitching.

Zhou Fang's large hand gripped her like a vise.

Along the way, Cong Ying tried three times, but couldn't shake him off.

As they walked into the street, the dim streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them.

"I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow," Zhou Fang said.

"No need to see me off," Cong Ying instinctively refused, but then stopped herself. "Are you going to Haishi recently?"

"I'm not going to Shanghai. I'll go to Shenzhen in a few days." Zhou Fang turned to look at her. "Want to come along?"

Cong Ying did not respond.

"When Shen Huijun left, she specifically asked me to ask if you wanted to go to Shenzhen to see how it's developing," Zhou Fang added.

Cong Ying hesitated for a moment. "I'll try switching shifts."

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the entrance of the hospital's staff quarters.

Under the streetlights, the old man in the gatehouse was reading a newspaper while holding a teacup.

"Alright, that's enough. Don't let anyone see and gossip."

Looking at her empty palms, Zhou Fang felt a strange ripple in her heart.

"Okay. You can go in now."

Cong Ying looked at him and said, "I will try my best to go to Shenzhen with you. If I don't go, it's not because of you, but because my work schedule can't be changed."

After she finished speaking, she blushed.

He ran into the family compound.

Zhou Fang stood there, watching her figure disappear around the corner.

One second, two seconds.

He grinned and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The laughter was stuck in his throat, and his chest was vibrating.

He turned around and started walking.

Run back along the road.

They ran faster and faster until they were practically sprinting.

The wind whistled past his ears, and he felt as if he were walking on clouds instead of cement.

Cong Ying's words just now implied that she agreed.

I ran downstairs in one breath and climbed the stairs in two strides.

The key was inserted into the lock, and the door was pushed open.

Da Bao and Er Bao stood in the middle of the living room. Both pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

"Dad," Erbao's eyes sparkled, "You did it?"

Zhou Fang tossed the keys onto the shoe cabinet and changed into slippers. "It's adult stuff, kids shouldn't pry."

Da Bao walked over and carefully examined Zhou Fang's face, which was covered in sweat but beaming with pride.

"Judging from that expression, he wasn't rejected," Da Bao concluded.

Erbao jumped up upon hearing this. "Really? Then Aunt Cong will be our mom from now on?"

"It's still early." Zhou Fang walked to the sofa, sat down, picked up the water glass on the coffee table, and took a big gulp. "He just promised to give me a chance."

Erbao plopped down next to Zhou Fang, "Then you'd better hurry. Dabao said you're only good at making money, nothing else. Don't let this opportunity slip away."

Zhou Fang slapped Erbao on the back of the head.

"How dare you talk like that? Who's the duck?"

Da Bao sat down on the single sofa next to him. "Er Bao's words may be rough, but they make sense. Dad, how do you plan to pursue her?"

Zhou Fang was unusually embarrassed when her son asked her such a serious question.

"I'll bring her breakfast tomorrow morning."

"My stingy father," Erbao said with a look of disgust, "eats cafeteria food every day, he's not hungry. You have to bring him something more substantial."

Zhou Fang raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'real'?"

Erbao sat cross-legged with great seriousness, "For example, taking her to a department store to buy clothes, shoes and cosmetics."

"Those bosses on TV who chase girls all use money to win them over. Our family isn't bankrupt, is it? What are you doing with so much money being so stingy? Just throw money at them!"

"Tacky." Da Bao rolled his eyes. "Auntie is a doctor, why would she skimp on money for your two outfits?"

Erbao: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Da Bao cleared his throat. "We need to cater to her preferences. Auntie lives alone in the new city, and it's so lonely when she goes back to her dormitory after get off work. You need to create more opportunities for her to participate in our family life."

"Give Auntie whatever she likes. Women all love gold and jewelry. As long as our family isn't bankrupt, we'll give her that. At worst, we can sell a house to give her that too."

Zhou Fang seemed to be deep in thought.

Da Bao pointed at Er Bao's face. "A ready-made excuse. Er Bao needs to have his face treated and checked again, right?"

"After you deliver breakfast tomorrow, invite them home for dinner in the evening, and tell them that Erbao is feeling dizzy and nauseous and needs to see a doctor."

"That's a good idea." Erbao pretended to roll his eyes. "I can pretend, and I can even faint."

Zhou Fang looked at Da Bao, then at Er Bao.

He finally understood.

These two boys have really gone to great lengths to get a mother.

Zhou Fang stood up. "Don't give me any bad advice."

The next morning.

As soon as it was light, Zhou Fang went out.

He bought freshly fried dough sticks, soy milk, and two meat buns from a breakfast stall at the street corner. He packed them in a lunchbox and rode his bike to the hospital.

The outpatient building has not officially opened yet, and there are not many patients in the corridor.

Cong Yinggang had just changed into a white coat and was reviewing medical records.

There was a knock on the door twice.

Zhou Fang pushed open the door and put the aluminum lunchbox in his hand on the desk.

"Eat it while it's hot."

Cong Ying looked up, glanced at the lunchbox, then at him. "You actually brought it?"

"If I said I'd give it to you, I definitely will." Zhou Fang pulled out a chair opposite the desk and sat down. "Try it and see if you like it."

Cong Ying didn't move. "Don't bring me breakfast anymore. You're busy with your career too, and I'm busy with work. There's breakfast in the cafeteria, and there are breakfast stalls outside our unit's residential compound."