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

Early the next morning.

Song Xianglan went to buy breakfast.

Xiao Yan, carrying a basket, greeted Song Xianglan as she walked down the street, "Third Aunt, have you had breakfast yet?"

"Go buy something to eat."

"I'm going to Sister Yuena's house now. She made peanut soup herself, and I bought some fried water chestnuts and fried dough sticks. Let's go eat there." Xiaoyan was already holding Song Xianglan's hand. "Sister Yuena also sets up a stall to sell peanut soup and rice noodle soup after get off work in the evening."

For the sake of the children.

Tang Yuena is really going all out.

Song Xianglan smiled and said, "Okay. Then I'll go and eat with you."

Tang Yuena kept Song Xianglan's old house very clean. The bougainvillea on the wall bloomed even more profusely, and there was also a jacaranda tree outside.

Zhang Haiyan greeted Song Xianglan as she approached.

"Aunt Song, our house is going to be demolished, but your house isn't. They say it's an old oyster house that's been relocated." Zhang Haiyan didn't want the house to be demolished, but unfortunately, her house wasn't very distinctive when it was built.

We cannot stay.

Song Xianglan comforted her, "You and Dahua will be living in the same neighborhood then. Don't worry about anything."

"I just can't bear to leave this place."

"Is Zhu Zi back?"

Zhang Haiyan nodded. "Zhu Zi wants a divorce. I know he's having an affair, but I refuse to divorce him. Most of the money from our demolition compensation is going to be saved for the children; he can't possibly give it to that other woman."

Song Xianglan felt a pang of pain in her heart.

Zhang Haiyan ultimately trapped herself in a marriage she was unwilling to accept.

Initially, her family pressured her not to divorce, and Zhu Zi was also unwilling to divorce.

Later, I just couldn't accept it.

"Haiyan, it's not worth it for that man." Song Xianglan held her hand. "I don't know if I started it, but many people have gotten divorced since then. I'm setting a bad example, but I hope you can bravely step out and be yourself."

Zhang Haiyan had a bitter smile in her eyes.

"Aunt Song, if it weren't for your courageous example, many people would have been unable to go on and would have chosen to end their lives."

Xiao Yan also agreed:

"Our customers say that in the past, many people drank pesticide or jumped into the sea. Now, at worst, we can just part ways. Anyway, we women aren't just sitting around doing nothing."

Song Xianglan glanced at her.

"Your mother-in-law can't control you. Your husband listens to you too. You need to be careful."

Xiao Yan served the peanut soup.

Tang Yuena came out carrying her child; her skin was now fair with a rosy glow. She looked much better than before.

Song Xianglan asked, "Has the child been named yet?"

She picked up the child without thinking.

The little guy, wrapped up in a blanket, was chubby and grinned at Song Xianglan.

His name is Tang Zheng. His nickname is Manjian Gao.

Song Xianglan... her nickname is so down-to-earth.

"Third Aunt, breakfast is ready."

Song Xianglan was drinking peanut soup with a spoon in one hand, while Zhang Haiyan took a fried dough stick, cut it open, and put two into Song Xianglan's bowl.

After breakfast.

She went to the factory with Zhang Haiyan.

I didn't get home until the afternoon.

When I arrived at my doorstep, I found the gate to the yard was open.

Shen Huijun arrived home first.

Not long after, Zhou Fang and Cong Ying also led the children in.

Song Tingting and her family of three arrived last.

Song Xianglan looked at the people filling the courtyard, her eyebrows and eyes beaming with smiles.

"Xiang Dong hasn't returned?" Song Xianglan counted the people around her.

Shen Huijun smiled and said, "There are a lot of things to do at the end of the year, he can't get away."

They were talking.

The courtyard gate was pushed open.

Liu Chou-nu walked in carrying a large white porcelain bowl with a plate on top. "I knew it was Hui-jun and Ting-ting coming back; I could hear you from far away."

"Pickled cucumbers," Liu Chounu said, placing them on the stone table. "Your two girls really like this."

Shen Huijun: "It really tastes just like this; the ones you buy outside are not nearly as good."

Lei Li leaned closer and said, "Auntie, your pickled cucumbers are pickled perfectly. I've been craving braised pork belly with these pickled cucumbers. I could eat three big bowls of rice with them."

"Wanting to eat it is easy enough."

Song Xianglan stood up. "I'll go buy a good piece of pork shoulder. I'll also go to the typhoon shelter and get some seafood."

Song Tingting took her arm: "Mom, I'll go with you. We can get some fresh air too."

"I'll go too," Lei Li said.

"You stay here and take care of Songsong." Song Tingting glared at him, and Lei Li immediately shut up.

Shen Huijun, Song Tingting, and Song Xianglan walked down the village road.

We walked all the way to the seaside harbor.

The sea breeze felt slightly salty and fishy on my face.

Several boats belonging to the elderly couple were moored on the shore.

Fishermen are unloading wooden buckets and basins from their boats.

Song Xianglan pointed to the mudflats, "This area will be filled in and turned into sandy beach. The seafood market in the typhoon shelter will also be canceled and moved into the newly built vegetable market."

Shen Huijun looked around and said, "Then it will lose some of the flavor of a fishing village."

"Times have changed, and we want things to be clean and orderly. Fishermen's boats are still moored here in the typhoon shelter, but larger boats need to be moored elsewhere." Song Xianglan walked to a familiar fisherman's stall and bent down to pick and choose.

Scallops, blue crabs, lively mantis shrimp, and two or three pounds of freshly caught miscellaneous fish and shrimp.

"These shrimp are small. Tonight, we'll cook them with leaf fish and ribbonfish in soy sauce." Song Xianglan paid the money and was about to hand the basket to Shen Huijun when someone walked over.

Yan Fangfang was wearing a floral apron and carrying two bags of live clams.

"Third Auntie's here to buy groceries?" Yan Fangfang greeted her, then turned and saw Shen Huijun and Song Tingting. She smiled and said, "What a rare guest! The whole family is here today."

"Fangfang, is your food stall within the demolition zone?" Song Xianglan asked.

"It wasn't included," Yan Fangfang pointed in the direction of the road, "but it happens to be right next to the planned coastal highway."

"This is a good thing."

Song Xianglan advised her, "That highway will be full of tourists coming to see the sea in the future. You should take advantage of this time to renovate your food stall and add some fishing village features. You'll definitely have no trouble making a living in the future."

Yan Fangfang nodded repeatedly.

"I'm thinking about that right now."

"Aunt Huijun, could you please give me your opinion?"

"Sure, come see me in the next couple of days. I'll help you plan how to make it a signature restaurant for the fishing village." Shen Huijun readily agreed.

Just then, a motorcycle drove down the slope and stopped next to Yan Fangfang.

The man riding the bicycle was in his early thirties, wearing a gray jacket, and had a decent appearance.

The man parked the car, took a plastic insulated box from the handlebars, and handed it to Yan Fangfang.

"The fried vegetable cakes are still warm." The man glanced at Song Xianglan and the others, then nodded somewhat embarrassedly.

Yan Fangfang's ears turned red.

She took the insulated box: "Are you going to the factory again?"

"Go. I have a shipment to deliver. I'll go to the stall later to help you close it." After saying that, the man started his motorcycle and drove off.

Yan Fangfang held the box, her face turning even redder.

She opened the lid.

"Third Aunt, Aunt, Auntie, please have some."

Shen Huijun and Song Tingting took the box.

Song Tingting picked one up and took a bite: "Delicious. Fangfang, who's that guy?"

Yan Fangfang tugged at the strap of her apron. "She's from Xiangzhi. Her family runs a denim washing business. We haven't known each other for very long."

"Your boyfriend/girlfriend?"

Song Xianglan laughed, "He seems quite composed, not frivolous at all. But my judgment isn't very good; he's not as good as Huijun or Tingting."

Yan Fangfang glanced at Song Tingting.

"Aunt Tingting, what do you think?"

"From those two sentences just now, he seemed like a down-to-earth person," Song Tingting said. "He's also not bad looking. You can give him a try."

"That's right," Song Xianglan replied. "It doesn't matter what business he does or whether his family is rich or poor. As long as he's a good person and treats you well, that's fine. You run a food stall now, so you don't need that little bit of money."

Yan Fangfang nodded vigorously, her face beaming with joy.

Several people carried the seafood back home.

There are noticeably more people on the village roads than before.

When they encountered Song Xianglan and her group, they kept greeting them.

Many people insisted on giving Shen Huijun and Song Tingting food from their own stalls.

The topic of demolition and relocation is inextricably linked.

I had just reached the gate of my own yard and hadn't even gone inside when I saw three people sitting on the steps.

Liu Dahua and Juhong stood on either side of Liu Chunhua, with Liu Chunhua sandwiched in the middle.

Liu Chunhua's hair was disheveled, her eyes were red and swollen, and she was wiping away tears with her sleeve.

"What's wrong?" Song Xianglan quickened her pace and walked over.

As soon as Liu Chunhua looked up, before she could say a word, tears streamed down her face.

Liu Dahua stood up: "Lanlan, you didn't see what happened. Chunhua's daughters-in-law blocked her door completely."

"Why are you blocking her?" Shen Huijun asked.

"We forced her to divide all the family's assets," Ju Hong interjected. "Da Hua and I happened to be passing by and heard some nasty cursing inside. Without thinking twice, we broke down the door and dragged her out."

Liu Chunhua sat on the steps, sobbing.

"What a tragedy."

Liu Chunhua's voice was hoarse, "I gave birth to them and raised them, and now that I'm old, they treat me like an enemy because of this little bit of money. I didn't even have time to grab the few clothes I had in the house."

Song Xianglan handed the seafood in her hand to Shen Huijun.

Let her take it in first.

Song Xianglan's tone remained unyielding. "They want a share of the money. What are you planning to do?"

Liu Chunhua shook her head, "I'd rather die than part with it. That's my and Jianguo's hard-earned money."

"Since you have a plan, why are you panicking?" Song Xianglan pointed towards the intersection. "The demolition office has set up a tin shed at the village committee office. Go there now."

Liu Chunhua was stunned.

"Where are you going?"

"Go sign."

Song Xianglan raised her voice, "That's your house, and the property certificate is in your name. If you don't sign, none of them can take a single penny. Sign the compensation agreement first, and then we'll talk about the money."

Liu Chunhua hesitated: "But where do I go after I sign?"

"Stay at my house," Song Xianglan replied readily.

Liu Chunhua's eyes widened.

"My yard is so spacious," Song Xianglan pointed behind her. "There's a Western-style building and an old house. If you don't like living in the Western-style building, you can stay in the guest room in the old house. If any of your daughters-in-law dare to come to my house and cause trouble, I'll take a broom and beat them out."

Liu Dahua pushed Liu Chunhua.

"Did you hear that? Xianglan has spoken, what are you afraid of? Hurry up and sign the document to secure your money."

Liu Chunhua propped herself up on her knees and stood up, wiping away her tears.

"Fine. I'll go." Liu Chunhua gritted her teeth. "Lanlan, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Hurry up and get things done. The demolition office staff are about to go home." Song Xianglan waved her hand.

Liu Dahua and Juhong each helped Liu Chunhua up, and they walked towards the tin-roofed house at the end of the village.

Song Xianglan watched their retreating figures.

Shen Huijun walked out of the courtyard.

Holding an empty basin, ready to wash vegetables.

"Mom, is this demolition a blessing or a curse?" Shen Huijun looked at the empty village road. "How come people change as soon as the money comes in?"

Money is the touchstone.

Song Xianglan walked into the courtyard. "Chunhua's family is definitely not the only one in the village arguing fiercely over this demolition compensation."

The voice just fell.

A burst of sharp cursing erupted from the ugly woman's house. This was followed by the dull thud of things being smashed.

"It's Old Lin's house." Shen Huijun recognized the voice.

"That ugly woman was just happily bringing me some pickles," Song Xianglan shook her head. "She and Old Lin were also pressured by their son and daughter-in-law to give an explanation."