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

Just as Song Xianglan reached for the empty bowl on the table, Liu Chounu pushed her away.

"Oh my god, why are you still cleaning up the dishes? Strike while the iron is hot. Go and sound out the Zhao family right now. Leave this table to me, I'll take care of all the washing and cleaning."

Song Xianglan wiped her hands.

"Okay. You guys wait here."

Song Xianglan left the Wang family's courtyard and walked south along the village road.

Zhao Shengli's house is at the end of the village, in a somewhat remote location.

When Song Xianglan first asked Zhao Shengli to bring Zhao Yuan to settle in the village, they were unfamiliar with the place and its people.

Song Xianglan lent them some money in private and helped them choose this piece of land to build houses.

This piece of land is significant; the front half is included in future demolition plans, while the rear half is not.

If the village is really demolished in the future, Zhao Shengli will not only receive a considerable amount of compensation, but he can also rebuild a new house on the other half of the land.

The village committee respected Song Xianglan, so they readily granted her permission to settle down and obtain land.

Zhao Shengli is a grateful person.

He was meticulous and conscientious in his work, and he handled the fruit purchasing and orchard management tasks assigned to him by Song Xianglan in an orderly manner. He also helped out more with vegetables.

Pushing open the slightly ajar door, the yard was neatly arranged.

Dragon fruit vines climbed along the low red brick wall, while passion fruit trellises provided support. In the center of the yard stood a lush lychee tree, and in the corners of the wall grew a clump of bananas, a longan tree, and two papaya trees.

Zhao Shengli was shirtless, squatting in the corner of the yard sawing a piece of wood.

Wood chips were scattered all over the ground.

His back was covered in sweat.

Hearing the door open, Zhao Shengli turned around and immediately dropped the saw he was holding.

He grabbed the towel draped over his shoulder, wiped his face haphazardly, and hurried over.

"Sister Song, what brings you here? Come in and sit down." Zhao Shengli turned around and called into the house, "Yuanyuan, Aunt Song is here. Take out that box of good tea from the table and brew it."

He took the clothes that were draped over the stool and put them on.

Under the shade of a tree in the middle of the courtyard, there is a long tea table made from an old fishing boat plank.

Zhao Shengli ran to the kitchen to get a thermos.

Zhao Yuan came out of the house carrying an iron box and greeted everyone with a smile.

She had just taken out some tea leaves when she looked up and met Song Xianglan's gaze.

Song Xianglan slightly raised her chin towards the courtyard gate.

Zhao Yuan immediately understood.

She put down the tea canister and called out to Zhao Shengli, who had just come out with a water bottle, "Dad, you keep Aunt Song company while she drinks tea. I just made an appointment with Xiaoxia to go out for a bit."

Zhao Shengli frowned and placed the water bottle on the sampan table.

"Don't you know any manners, kid? Your Aunt Song just arrived, why aren't you at home getting water? What are you doing running around outside?"

"Alright, stop keeping the child so restrained." Song Xianglan pulled out a bench and sat down. "I came here specifically to see you, not to see Yuanyuan. Let the young people go out and have fun."

Zhao Yuan blinked at Song Xianglan.

He turned around and ran out of the yard in a flash.

Zhao Shengli chuckled and poured water into the gaiwan and teacup to start brewing tea.

"Sister Song, what urgent matter brings you here today?" Zhao Shengli poured tea into an empty cup.

"Can't you come and take a look if there's nothing else to do?" Song Xianglan picked up her teacup, blew on the steam, and glanced at the fruit trees in the corner. "Shouldn't the pomelos in the orchard be ready for picking by now?"

Speaking of this...

Zhao Shengli started talking.

"I've been busy contacting the trucking companies these past few days. This year's pomelo harvest is excellent, with plenty of juice and large fruit. Fruit farmers from several other townships have basically placed their orders with me."

Zhao Shengli got more and more excited as he spoke, "I contacted Song Nan and his logistics line to the north, so we can pick them, load them onto trucks, and ship them away directly. It's cold there, so these things can be stored for a good price."

Song Xianglan interrupted his endless business talk.

"Victory." Song Xianglan slightly raised her eyelids and asked directly, "Haven't you thought about settling down yet?"

Zhao Shengli's smile froze.

He opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

The image of Widow Wang's face, roughened by years of sun exposure yet always exuding a resilient spirit, involuntarily flashed through my mind.

He swallowed hard.

He looked down at his hands, which were covered in calluses.

"Sister Song, please don't joke with me." Zhao Shengli said in a somber tone, "At my age, my legs are still a bit weak."

No woman would willingly suffer with me.

That's all I'll do for my life. I'll support Yuanyuan through her education and watch her get married and start a family.

Song Xianglan raised an eyebrow.

He tapped his finger twice on the wooden table.

"You're so young, you haven't even seen the end of your life, and you're already saying such discouraging things." Song Xianglan pouted. "I've noticed you're quite diligent in delivering things to Da Hua's neighbor's house. What do you think of Ju Hong?"

With a loud "boom".

Zhao Shengli's dark face, weathered by years of wind and sun, instantly turned red all the way to the roots of his neck.

He looked up in a panic.

He awkwardly rubbed his hands on his trouser leg a couple of times.

In truth, he's still a sentimental old man.

I've never been in a relationship.

Never been married.

"Sister Song, you...you mustn't be talking nonsense." Zhao Shengli stammered, "Ju Hong is a good woman, honest and capable. I'm just not good enough for her. Besides, she certainly wouldn't want to settle for a rough guy like me."

Zhao Shengli's voice grew softer and softer.

He added almost inaudibly at the end, "If... if I could really marry her, I would definitely treat her well."

A smile appeared in Song Xianglan's eyes.

"You said it yourself." Song Xianglan leaned forward slightly. "Juhong asked me to come here today specifically to ask your opinion. If you're also willing, we can continue discussing this matter."

Zhao Shengli stood there, stunned.

He stared wide-eyed at Song Xianglan, motionless like a wooden stake.

A good ten seconds or so passed.

He stood up abruptly, his knee slamming heavily onto the sampan table, causing the tea to spill out.

"Sister Song, are you making fun of me?" Zhao Shengli's voice trembled.

An older man's first love is like an old house catching fire.

"What made me want to come here late at night to amuse myself?" Song Xianglan glanced at him disdainfully. "Ugly Girl and Big Flower are waiting for a reply at Ju Hong's house. The three of us will act as matchmakers, so if you agree, don't be stingy with your matchmaker's gift."

Zhao Shengli understood everything now.

His lips couldn't help but curl upwards, the grin growing wider and wider.

Finally, like a silly boy who had just received candy, he stood there and chuckled.

"I agree, I'd agree to it even in my dreams." Zhao Shengli turned and ran into the main room. "Sister Song, please sit still, I'll be right out."

Less than a minute later.

Zhao Shengli rushed out of the house carrying a box of peony-patterned dried cakes with some peeling paint.

He placed the box on the sampan table and opened the lid in front of Song Xianglan.

Inside, several stacks of banknotes were neatly stacked, with a red passbook pressed at the bottom.

Zhao Shengli smeared some saliva on his fingers.

He quickly counted the money.

"Sister Song, please be my witness." Zhao Shengli divided the money into two piles and pushed them to the middle of the table. "There are three thousand yuan in cash in here."

This 1,500 is for Yuanyuan's dowry when she gets married.

He pointed to the remaining 1,500 yuan.

"With the remaining 1,500 yuan, Juhong can buy some new clothes, get a pair of gold earrings made, and use the rest to host two banquets to entertain the villagers. I will definitely not let Juhong suffer any grievances."

Zhao Shengli picked up the passbook again.

"From now on, without fail, a quarter of my salary and the bonuses from the logistics department will be deposited into Yuanyuan's account every month. If she agrees to this, we will discuss the marriage proposal."

I can also guarantee that the remaining money will all be given to Juhong. I will treat her children just as well.” Zhao Shengli’s eyes shone, and his tone was exceptionally solemn.

The reason for saving money for Zhao Yuan.

He wanted to save up more dowry for Zhao Yuan so that he could be worthy of anyone Zhao Yuan liked in the future.

Zhao Yuan married well, and he has done right by Zhao Yuan's father who died on the battlefield.