Divorced at fifty, I embarked on my path to success.

Shen Yingying felt like it was all a nightmare. She couldn't understand how hundreds of millions of yuan could disappear overnight. What kind of monster had such a huge appetite, instantly devouring all her hopes?

Wang Cheng lost all his clients' money, and creditors were blocking his door 24/7, scaring them so much that they dared not leave their homes.

When there was nothing left to eat at home, they pushed Shen Yingying out to buy things, only to have her beaten up by the creditors outside the door.

The mother-in-law was no longer all smiles. She cursed Shen Yingying as a jinx, saying that Wang Cheng's downfall was only shortly after marrying her. For so many years before, Wang Cheng had enjoyed smooth sailing; why did he fall into the abyss the moment he married her? It was clearly her fault!

She also heard that she had been divorced once, and that her ex-husband's family had also been ruined. Her mother-in-law was even more convinced that Shen Yingying was a jinx.

A month later, Wang Cheng could no longer bear it and committed suicide by jumping off a building.

The mother-in-law acted like a madwoman, frantically attacking Shen Yingying, saying that she had killed her son.

Shen Yingying was on the verge of tears. She could hardly believe that in less than three years, she had not only lost everything but also incurred the debts left by Wang Cheng, and was now being entangled with this crazy old woman.

They rented an apartment in this old neighborhood to settle down temporarily. Whenever she went out to buy things and saw the Mingxiang Bookstore next door, she would think of the old days.

When she first married Yue Guangzhi, she felt like a sparrow that had flown to a phoenix's perch, and was quite content. As time went on, her horizons broadened, and her ambitions grew. She began to dislike Yue Guangzhi, finding him foolish, not handsome enough, unambitious, and always listening to Yue Jiangting's every whim.

After Yue's bankruptcy, she hastily withdrew from the business, even abandoning her own son. She did receive a considerable amount of money and a house, believing that she could live comfortably for the rest of her life even if she did nothing.

But life is unpredictable. In less than three years, she was penniless and burdened with huge debts.

She couldn't imagine how she would endure the days to come, having to bear her mother-in-law's scolding and beatings every day. She was living off the little money her mother-in-law had left, and if she left her mother-in-law, she would have nowhere to live and even food would be a problem.

Today, my mother-in-law rushed me out to buy groceries. As soon as I stepped out of the supermarket, I ran into Yue Guangzhi. What was he doing here?

Shen Yingying glanced at Mingxiang Academy for a while, wondering if the houses here hadn't been sold yet.

She regretted her slow reaction; she should have stopped him and said a few words.

She subconsciously gathered her messy hair. It had been a long time since she had permed it; did she look like a crazy woman? Would Yue Guangzhi still recognize her?

After rummaging through my bag for a while, I found a small makeup mirror, opened it, carefully examined my face, and sighed.

Then I thought, Yue Guangzhi just got out of prison and has a criminal record, what right does he have to nitpick at her?

Yes! Go find Yue Guangzhi!

This is the only way out she can think of right now.

Yue Guangzhi is useless, but he has Mei Yusheng as his mother!

Yue Guangzhi is easily swayed, and with Xuanxuan around, Shen Yingying is almost certain that he will accept her back!

She hailed a taxi and gave them the address of Nianhuali.

Yue Guangzhi had just returned home and was hesitating whether to tell Mei Yusheng about his father. He knew Mei Yusheng wouldn't like to hear it, but the thought of his father staring at Mei Yusheng's photo all day made his nose sting with tears. At least let his mother know that his father had genuinely repented and was now just waiting to die, so she shouldn't hold a grudge against him anymore.

When the doorbell rang, his first glance through the screen made him think a beggar had arrived, but upon closer inspection, he was shocked and his eyes widened.

He rushed out, his eyebrows raised, and angrily demanded, "What are you doing here?"

The clothes Shen Yingying was wearing were even worse than what Mei Yusheng wore when she was a housewife. Yue Guangzhi was shocked and thought, "Didn't she take a lot of money? Did she encounter robbers?"

Tears welled up in Shen Yingying's eyes as she gazed at Yue Guangzhi: "Guangzhi, you're out? Why didn't you tell me? I could have come to pick you up. If I hadn't run into you on the street today, I wouldn't have known."

Yue Guangzhi stared in surprise at her wiping away tears: "We divorced a long time ago. During the three years I was in there, you didn't visit me even once?"

"I...I actually regretted it a long time ago!" Shen Yingying's eyes were filled with sorrow. "I also miss Xuanxuan very much. I've wanted to come see him for a long time, but I was afraid that Mom would be angry."

Just as she was about to say a few more words, Qin Chu and Mei Yusheng returned. Shen Yingying hunched over and took two steps back, feeling awkward.

Qin Chu glanced at her and led Yue Guangzhi into the house without stopping.

Mei Yusheng glanced at Shen Yingying and said, "I know your situation. Don't provoke Guangzhi anymore. You two are over. Don't make me say anything unpleasant. Just leave now."

"Mom!" Shen Yingying reached out to pull Mei Yusheng, but pulled her hand back halfway.

"Don't call me that!" Mei Yusheng said coldly. "Don't forget your promise and the severance agreement you signed. You will never see Xuanxuan again in this lifetime!"

Shen Yingying's face turned pale. In front of Mei Yusheng, she felt even more ashamed and dared not approach.

Inside the room, Qin Chu had already told Yue Guangzhi about Shen Yingying's situation. Yue Guangzhi was shocked, but nodded and said, "I understand. I will no longer have anything to do with her, and I will not let her see Xuanxuan."

Shen Yingying stood outside for a long time until someone came to chase her away, and then she left, looking back every few steps.

Mei Yusheng and Qin Chu had just returned from Mei Zi's place when He Qingmin asked anxiously, "How is Zi Zi? Is she still causing trouble?"

Mei Zi's lumbar spine injury is permanent; even surgery cannot restore her to her previous state. She then entered a state of constant, uncontrollable madness, driving Chen Yue almost to the brink of neurosis as well.

Mei Zi kept insisting that Mei Zichen help her find someone to kill Sun Chengzhi in prison.

If Su Wei hadn't been by Mei Zichen's side, Mei Zichen would most likely have been bewitched by Mei Zi and done something impulsive.

Mei Yusheng and Qin Chu were worried, so they went to find Mei Zi. They coaxed and scared her, and promised her many things, before they could barely persuade her to stay.

Mei Zi was still indignant: "Why is it that he ruined me like this, and he's still perfectly fine? I'm already being merciful by not killing him! Waaah... Aunt, he's ruined my whole life, am I just supposed to swallow this?"

"Wasn't he sentenced to ten years? You made your dad do something illegal, aren't you afraid of getting him arrested too?" Mei Yusheng glared at her hatefully. "Your dad is really unlucky to have a daughter like you! I won't allow you to disrupt your dad's life anymore. Besides, did your dad and I try to stop you from marrying Sun Chengzhi? You just wouldn't listen. You made your choice, so you have to bear the consequences. We're all the same; we all have to pay the price for our choices!"

"Go get revenge yourself! Don't drag your dad into this!" Mei Yusheng warned Chen Yue a few more times before coming out with Qin Chu.

I just got home and ran into Shen Yingying again. What a nuisance.

"Alright, the children will be back soon, let's go over there." Qin Chu's eyes were filled with laughter as she held Mei Yusheng's hand. "Don't worry, Zichen won't do anything foolish, I've talked to him."

Mei Yu sighed and went to the children's home with Qin Chu.

Chen Qianqian is pregnant, and Xie Mingqi went back to take care of her, leaving Ji Meiyun overwhelmed with work.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the front yard, I saw the children returning one after another, and the house suddenly became lively.

Mei Yusheng's heart gradually calmed down. Qin Chu put his arm around her shoulder and said softly, "Look, didn't I promise you that I had a way to conjure up many children? I didn't break my promise, did I?"

Mei Yusheng turned her head and smiled at him. From the day the first orphan was taken home, she knew what Qin Chu was planning, and her heart softened.

Children raised from childhood are your own; whether they are related by blood or not is irrelevant.

——End of full text——