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

He Qingmin narrowed her eyes, recognized the person, and laughed, "Oh, it's Mingqi. She's still as fierce as she was when she was little."

"Haha, Auntie, I only dare to be so flamboyant in front of you. In front of outsiders, I behave very dignified and elegant!" Xie Mingqi hugged He Qingmin's shoulders, brought her face close to hers, and acted as intimately as a mother and daughter.

Mei Yusheng couldn't help but smile. Xie Mingqi had always been cheerful and lively, and more likable than herself.

He Qingmin teased, "I don't believe you can keep up the act for ten minutes at most before you're exposed!"

All three of them laughed.

"Where are you all going?" Xie Mingqi asked, turning to look at Mei Yusheng. "Didn't I say I was coming? You left, leaving me empty-handed? You didn't even tell me beforehand!"

"We won't go far, let's just go and take a look at the villa that Lao Yue gave me," Mei Yusheng quickly explained.

“Then I’ll go too!” Xie Mingqi weighed the two gift bags she was carrying in her hands. “I’ll put the things back first.”

Mei Yusheng took it, turned around and went into the yard, placing the item in the entryway.

"You're already here, why did you have to buy anything?" He Qingmin scolded playfully.

"The donkey-hide gelatin and sea cucumber for you weren't bought; I just brought them because I had them at home." Xie Mingqi pushed the wheelchair forward slowly. "If it weren't for you being here, I wouldn't have bought anything for Yusheng."

“You two grew up together since you were little, like sisters. With you by my side, I feel at ease,” He Qingmin said gently.

Just then, the sound of rain came from nearby, and my heart skipped a beat: "Mom, no one can replace you. As long as you're always with me, I won't feel lonely."

He Qingmin chuckled softly, took one of her hands and gently stroked it, letting out a barely audible sigh.

Mei Yusheng felt the dryness of her mother's hands and the slight discomfort in her finger bones. Her heart ached, and a surge of sorrow welled up within her.

"Yusheng, shouldn't we stop sending Auntie back to the sanatorium?" Xie Mingqi's cheerful voice broke the silence as she looked at Mei Yusheng with a meaningful gaze.

Mei Yusheng nodded: "Okay, I won't go back. I'll take care of Mom from now on."

“Rain Sound,” He Qingmin’s eyes flashed with difficulty, “Won’t it be a burden to you? Why don’t you find me a regular nursing home?”

Mei Yusheng choked up. Her mother was worried that she couldn't afford the expensive fees at the nursing home and that it would affect her job search, so she thoughtfully came up with this idea.

But her thoughtfulness made Mei Yusheng feel heartache, shame, and sadness.

“Mom, I wish you were here with me, how could I be a burden?” Mei Yusheng raised her head, forcing back her tears, and said in a deliberately light tone, “I’m not letting you go back to the sanatorium because I’m afraid Yue Jiangting will bother you again. Besides, from now on, my daughter and I will live together, so I won’t be lonely and I will have something to look forward to.”

"Yes, Auntie, could you teach me how to make Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste) sometime? I love your Zha Jiang Mian the most; no one else can make it taste the same," Xie Mingqi chimed in.

“Okay!” He Qingmin readily agreed.

They soon arrived at the villa. Xie Mingqi ran over and tugged at the brass lock on the gate: "Yusheng, where's the key?"

Mei Yusheng pushed He Qingmin over: "I forgot to order it, let's do it another day."

Xie Mingqi stood on tiptoe and peered inside: "That old bastard Yue will definitely not give it to you willingly. I think we should just call a locksmith and change all the locks!"

Mei Yusheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "That works too!"

"Let's get right to it!" Xie Mingqi swiped her phone to find the locksmith's number. "Have them come over first. Yusheng, you stay here with Auntie and keep an eye on things. I'm going to buy a new lock!"

Mei Yusheng smiled as she looked at Xie Mingqi; she truly had a decisive and efficient personality.

He Qingmin squinted at the exterior of the villa: "This house is really nice, almost the same as Xiao Shitou's house."

"Yes, it's the same structure and layout," Mei Yusheng said softly. "We'll go in and take a look later. You can arrange it however you like."

"How many days can I stay? It's up to you to decide. This will be your home from now on. It's so nice to live so close to Xiao Shitou!" He Qingmin's tone was tinged with sadness.

Mei Yusheng's heart pounded again; she was terrified that her mother's depression would relapse.

"Yusheng, I've called the locksmith. You need to go back and get your ID card and property certificate right away. The locksmith requires all the documents to open the lock." Xie Mingqi waved her hand and directed Mei Yusheng.

"Okay." Mei Yusheng said, then turned around and went back to get her things.

He returned in a few minutes and saw Xie Mingqi pointing at the villa and talking to He Qingmin.

"Yusheng, I was discussing with Auntie what to plant in the yard. I suggested peonies and lilacs, and osmanthus trees, so that the whole garden would be filled with fragrance in autumn, and we could even sleep surrounded by the scent of flowers. But Auntie said she wants to plant peaches and strawberries, saying that's your favorite!" Xie Mingqi said impatiently, "You decide what to plant!"

He Qingmin looked at her daughter with a confident smile, and Mei Yusheng answered without hesitation, "Of course, peach trees and strawberries!"

"Ugh, you glutton, you greedy cat, you can't change your nature!" Xie Mingqi protested loudly. "You have no sense of romance at all! At least plant persimmon trees like Qin Chu did. Look at those little persimmons, hanging all over the tree, like ginseng fruits."

“But I don’t like persimmons, I only like peaches, the peaches from the Queen Mother of the West’s banquet, you know?” Mei Yusheng glanced at her sideways.

He Qingmin coughed a few times with a laugh: "You two are still like little kids."

The phone rang suddenly. Mei Yusheng looked down, frowned slightly, and walked away before answering it.

"Sister, you've gone mad! Posting this video online will completely sever your relationship with your brother-in-law, leaving you with no way out! Do you understand?"

Mei Yusheng sneered, "I didn't plan to leave myself a way out."

"You! Are you sure you want to divorce your brother-in-law? How can you be so selfish? You made such a big decision on your own. Have you thought about Zichen, me, and Meizi? You know she just joined Xiaozhi's foundation and she's already caused this mess. Do you want our whole family to be dragged down with you?!" Chen Yue's agitated voice boomed out in a series of sentences, leaving Mei Yusheng no room to interrupt.

"It's such a small matter, why make it to the point of divorce? Who's stupid enough to divorce over infidelity these days? Especially since your husband is so rich, over fifty and successful. Do you know how many young girls are crying and scrambling to take your place? But you're different. You're a fifty-something-year-old postmenopausal woman with no job. It's impossible for you to find a decent man again. In the end, you're destined to grow old alone!"

"Do you even have a brain? You're a rich housewife, yet you're acting all dramatic and demanding a divorce. Not only are you dragging us down, but you're not getting any credit either! Do you know how many people were green with envy behind your back at your birthday party the other day? And you're stupid enough to give it up? You'll regret it later, and you'll have nowhere to cry! So what if he's having a mistress? You can't just turn a blind eye to it! With Xiaozhi as your protector, he can't really divorce you. While there's still time, hurry back and beg your brother-in-law for forgiveness. For the sake of your only son, he might scold you a few times to vent his anger, but he can't really do anything to you!"

Mei Yusheng took a deep breath and walked a few steps further away, afraid that her mother would hear her.

After Chen Yue had finished speaking, she said coldly, "I don't need you to plan for me. I've already made up my mind!"

"Why are you so stubborn and unable to distinguish right from wrong?" Chen Yue said anxiously, raising her voice even higher. "Do you know that Zichen just went to find your brother-in-law in a rage? I'm worried they'll fight. If Zichen gets fired, how can Meizi and I stay? If our whole family loses their jobs, how will we survive? Are you going to support our family?"

Mei Yusheng was taken aback: "Zichen went to find Yuejiang Pavilion?"

"Yes!" Chen Yue's voice was almost crying. "I've warned him so many times that if he gets fired, I'll divorce him! Sister, your stubbornness has ruined two families. Is this what you wanted? Are you happy to see us like this?"

"I don't care what you do, if Mei Zichen loses his job, we're getting a divorce right away! You decide what to do!" Chen Yue yelled and hung up the phone.