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

The short-haired woman repeatedly pursed her lips:

"You're too short-sighted. Don't even mention Xiaoquan Village, try finding another top student from Peking University in the entire Qingyang area. You'd be one of a kind."

Zhao Ziheng stood to the side.

Listen to these words clearly.

He lowered his head, and a smile returned to his lips.

My family slaughters pigs.

No wonder he has such a tough temper; he has an unyielding stubbornness in his bones.

Zhao Ziheng looked up and surveyed the shops on both sides of the street.

Since I'm here, I should bring some presentable gifts so I can visit her at her home later.

He strolled around the town and found the hotel that looked the biggest.

Upon entering, one finds peeling paint on the walls, yellowed bed sheets, and a musty, damp smell.

Zhao Ziheng frowned in disgust and turned to leave.

He walked to the intersection and flagged down a minibus heading to the county town.

The accommodations in the county town are much better than in this run-down town.

The tricycle bounced violently on the dirt road in Xiaoquan Village.

"Tingting is back."

Aunt Hua from the village was sifting soybeans in front of her yard with a winnowing basket when she glanced up and saw the people on the tricycle. She immediately started shouting loudly.

Song Tingting asked the driver to park the car on the side of the road.

"Aunt Hua," Song Tingting leaned out of the car, "Is my mom home?"

"exist."

Aunt Hua put the winnowing basket on the doorstep and walked over, looking her up and down in the village. "Your sister-in-law has returned with Fu Bao and You Bao. The house is bustling with activity, hurry back!"

"Okay. Auntie, go to my house to play later." Song Tingting replied, then turned to urge the driver, "Driver, please ride faster, it's just at the intersection ahead."

The tricycle was still more than ten meters away from the gate of the Song family compound.

Song Tingting couldn't contain herself any longer.

"Mom!" she called out loudly into the yard.

Song Xianglan was chopping sweet potatoes and taro with a kitchen knife.

This afternoon I'm getting ready to fry something in oil, and I'm preparing the ingredients right now.

Upon hearing this shout, Song Xianglan paused, her knife still.

She quickly wiped her hands haphazardly on her apron, strode across the threshold, and stood on tiptoe to peer into the courtyard.

The windows on the second floor were also opened.

Shen Huijun leaned out, her face beaming with delight: "Mom! It really is Tingting back!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of "thump thump thump" footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Erbao and Youbao rushed downstairs one after the other, like little piglets fighting over food.

"Little Aunt."

Youbao's voice came out before he even got close.

Da Bao was chopping wood in the backyard when he heard the noise. He dropped his axe and ran outside.

Song Tingting had just jumped off the tricycle.

Da Bao had already stepped out of the courtyard gate and reached into the truck bed to pick up the travel bag.

"Dabao, you've grown so fast!" Song Tingting couldn't help but sigh as she looked at Dabao, who was now much taller than her.

Song Tingting took out some change from her pocket and handed it to the driver, then turned and quickly walked into the yard.

Song Xianglan's eyes were a little red.

As Song Tingting approached.

Song Xianglan raised her hand and patted her arm hard twice.

"You brat! You didn't even show up for Chinese New Year last year, and you didn't come home for summer vacation either. Don't you care if your mother is waiting for you at home? You've gone to school and you don't even recognize your family anymore?"

Song Tingting hugged Song Xianglan and rubbed her head against her shoulder.

"I miss my mom," Song Tingting's voice softened. "Mom, once I'm settled and have a job, you have to live with me. I need to see you every day when I get home from get off work."

Shen Huijun walked down the stairs.

I happened to hear that, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Mom, listen to this. Xiangdong said the same thing on the phone the other day. He insisted that you come and live with us in Shenzhen." Shen Huijun pulled Song Tingting's hand. "Now Tingting wants to live with you too. You're such a hot commodity."

Song Tingting raised her chin, speaking with righteous indignation:

"Then I'll definitely have to live with my daughter."

Shen Huijun deliberately pouted:

"Mom, I'm so heartbroken. My daughter-in-law is so thoughtful."

Song Xianglan laughed heartily:

"Of course you're thoughtful. I live with Tingting in the summer and with you guys in the winter. I stay in the village during the spring and autumn."

The group burst into laughter and crowded together as they entered the main room.

Da Bao put his luggage on the bench.

Erbao and Youbao squeezed together on either side of the bag, staring at it longingly.

Song Tingting unzipped the bag and pulled out two large boxes of Beijing specialty pastries and several beautifully packaged toys, which she then stuffed into their arms.

The two boys cheered.

He grabbed the things and ran to the yard to dismantle them.

Song Xianglan poured her a cup of hot water.

"Sister-in-law, when did you get back?" Song Tingting asked, holding a steaming cup.

"I've been back for a few days now," Shen Huijun said, sitting down opposite her. "There's been a lot going on this year, so I brought the kids back first."

The two women, who hadn't seen each other for a while, couldn't stop talking once they started.

After chatting about everyday things...

Song Tingting turned to look at Song Xianglan.

"Mom, has anything new happened in the village lately?" Song Tingting took a sip of water to moisten her throat.

Song Xianglan sighed, and the smile on her face faded slightly.

"There's nothing new, but a lot of troubling things." Song Xianglan rested her elbows on the table.

Song Xianglan recounted the entire story of Xiao Yan's family from beginning to end.

Song Tingting frowned as she listened.

"It's better to break it off now, so I can live my life peacefully from now on."

He then recounted Song Yulu's story again.

She even brought up the story of Granny Yu's family, saying, "Back then, both you and Yu Xiujuan were very beautiful. Although she was a few years older than you, everyone said you were both good-looking."

"It's alright if it's someone else's business. It's a pity about Yulu. She loved children so much," Shen Huijun interjected.

Upon hearing Song Yulu's name, Song Tingting's heart skipped a beat.

"Actually, we can't completely give up." Song Tingting pondered for a moment, then looked earnestly at Song Xianglan. "Mom, I heard my professor mention in the lab that there's a technology abroad called in vitro fertilization (IVF). If you really can't conceive, you can try medical means."

"In-vitro fertilization?" Shen Huijun was taken aback. "I've heard of it. But it's not available in China yet, and I don't know if it even works?"

Song Tingting patiently explained, "Although it's not possible in China right now, maybe we'll have an opportunity once Sister Yulu goes abroad."

Shen Huijun listened from the side and nodded in agreement.

"If this really works out, Yulu will have finally made it. But she doesn't have a man right now," Shen Huijun chimed in, then changed the subject, "Tingting, didn't you know that your uncle was sick a while ago?"

Song Tingting suddenly looked up:

"What's wrong with my uncle? Is it serious?"

"If we keep raising it now, we'll probably only have a few days left."

Song Tingting leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.

"It's only been a little over a year since I last came back." Song Tingting looked at the sunlight streaming into the courtyard outside the door. "It feels like more than a decade has passed. Everything has changed."

"That's how life goes, day after day." Song Xianglan stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and said, "Alright, you go back to your room and rest. I'll go to the kitchen to chop some taro. We'll have a good meal later."

Song Tingting stood up and went to rummage through the travel bag she had just used.

"Mom, I brought gifts for Zhou Fang and Cong Ying when I came back this time." Song Tingting pulled out a well-packaged box.