Mrs. Huo Song Nanzhen disliked being addressed by her husband’s surname.

She never believed a woman’s value was determined by whom she married… If the man was capable, that was fine, but if he wasn’t even equal to his wife, such a husband wasn’t worth considering.

Song Nanzhen preferred being called “Third Miss Song,” even though she was now in her forties, and being called “Miss” might seem a bit much. Still, when clever people addressed her this way, it pleased her.

Once a woman marries, does that mean she has no connection to her maiden family and can’t interfere in their affairs anymore?

Song Nanzhen didn’t want to live such a defeated life.

Now it was her brothers’ daughters who should be called “Miss Song,” and in others’ eyes, Song Nanzhen was considered part of the Huo family.

Song Nanzhen couldn’t accept this, and now spent half of each year at her maiden home, rarely staying in Shanghai.

The Song family didn’t move in the same circles as the Zhou, Kang, or even the Shao families. Because of Old Master Song, the Song family seemed to have drawn their circle, only associating with in-laws.

Song Nanzhen had strong opinions about this, as the old master always required family members to keep a low profile.

He had high expectations for his children’s work, but when it came to promotions, Old Master Song always held family members back.

Other old revolutionaries like Old Master Song had descendants either working in government units or entering politics, but Old Master Song pushed his children toward enterprise units, keeping them away from centers of power. Song Nanzhen couldn’t understand why.

Why was he willing to use resources to help outsiders like Tang Hongen instead of his own family?

The old master’s thoughts were unclear to Song Nanzhen, and other Song family members didn’t understand either. The more Old Master Song acted with such dignity and grace, the more the Song family wanted to hold onto “disciples” like Tang Hongen. The old master sacrificed his children’s interests to support outsiders like Tang Hongen, so naturally, Tang Hongen should repay the Song family.

The old master was aging, though still robust, and the Song family was already planning for the future.

Tang Hongen had been divorced for over ten years without remarrying, and Song Nanzhen was very concerned about his marriage. Not just her – the Song family unanimously believed Tang Hongen should marry someone close to the Song family.

However, Tang Hongen seemed unable to forget his ex-wife these years, deflecting whenever remarriage was mentioned.

Song Nanzhen had her candidate, and other Song family members had their ideas. Without internal consensus, and with Tang Hongen’s lack of enthusiasm, the matter remained stalled. Now Tang Hongen suddenly went public with a relationship with some woman, immediately breaking the balance.

Song Nanzhen had just returned to Shanghai a few days ago before immediately heading back to Beijing.

Whether other Song family members knew about this news wasn’t important; Song Nanzhen needed to get the most detailed information herself. She went directly to Dongfeng Holdings’ Beijing branch to find her son Huo Chenzhou:

“You knew nothing about this?!”

Huo Chenzhou had been in Beijing since before National Day and hadn’t been to Pengcheng recently. His mother’s sudden questioning left him bewildered:

“Mother, what are you referring to?”

Song Nanzhen repeated the news she’d received, and Huo Chenzhou suddenly understood: “That must be true. Didn’t I tell you that Mayor Tang asked me to cooperate with a small company called ‘Yuanhui’? Yuanhui isn’t without capability, but their qualifications are too shallow. However, Mayor Tang trusts them completely, and Yuanhui’s owner is called Liu Yong.”

Both surnamed Liu – if not a brother-in-law then a brother. Huo Chenzhou finally understood the relationship.

He poured tea for Song Nanzhen, “You came back to Beijing from Shanghai just for this? Grandfather doesn’t like you being away from home too long. If he knows you just returned to Shanghai only to come back immediately, he’ll surely lecture you again.”

Because Song Nanzhen frequently visited her maiden home, Old Master Song had said she wasn’t a qualified daughter-in-law to the Huo family, expressing shame at facing the in-laws.

If not for these words weighing on Song Nanzhen, she would have stayed long-term in Beijing, rather than returning to Shanghai.

Reminded by her son, Song Nanzhen showed slight displeasure:

“You think I enjoy running between two places? It’s just that your father won’t work in Beijing, and I can’t get used to Shanghai flavors. Our lifestyle conflicts are hard to reconcile – we argue when together for too long, so living separately makes things easier for both of us. Don’t lecture me with that expression. No matter how much your grandfather likes you, I’m still your birth mother. Answer my question – Tang Hongen showing such care for an outsider, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Learning about it so late, haven’t we lost the initiative!”

Song Nanzhen made no effort to hide the coldness in her relationship with Huo Chenzhou’s father.

She was very concerned about Tang Hongen going public with another woman. Huo Chenzhou, being a young man, didn’t understand: “What’s there to tell? Not only did I not know before, but even if I had known, what was there to say? I see that Mayor Tang only listens to Grandfather and doesn’t particularly value the rest of us!”

Song Nanzhen rested her hand on the teacup lid. In her forties, a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law, her fingertips remained delicate and tender, showing she rarely touched water.

She spoke reproachfully: “You foolish child, he’s already reserving himself from you, how can you expect him to help you wholeheartedly in the future? Among those your grandfather values, Tang Hongen may not hold the highest position, but he’s in his prime, and his future development won’t go wrong. Now he dares not disobey us out of respect for your grandfather, but after your grandfather passes away, he might not be so devoted to the Song family! If he’s to remarry, the woman’s identity is crucial – it can’t be someone we don’t know.”

Only Song Nanzhen could so naturally still identify as a Song family member after years of marriage.

Huo Chenzhou was used to his mother’s rhetoric.

Though surnamed Huo, growing up in that environment, he also saw himself as part of the Song family.

What did surnames matter?

Among all the grandchildren, Grandfather favored him most – that was proof enough.

Influenced by Old Master Song, Huo Chenzhou also preferred straightforward strategies. He didn’t quite approve of his mother’s approach of trying to control Tang Hongen through his marriage.

“It’s too late to discuss this now. I see Mayor Tang deeply cherishes this new wife. Before she’s even married, Mayor Tang has promoted her family members and cut ties with the Ji family. If he had liked the person you introduced before, this woman wouldn’t be in the picture.”

Huo Chenzhou hadn’t seen Liu Fen.

But he had seen Liu Fen’s daughter Xia Xiaolan, who was charming and no less beautiful than movie stars. The mother must be quite attractive too.

That’s what Mayor Tang liked, and outsiders couldn’t force otherwise.

Song Nanzhen lifted her teacup:

“What do you mean too late? I thought he couldn’t forget his ex-wife Ji Ya, but now that he can be with another woman, why couldn’t he accept someone I introduced?

But don’t worry, your grandfather is very protective of Tang Hongen, always telling us not to interfere in his affairs, so I won’t do anything to anger your grandfather…

Let your second aunt handle this task. Her maiden family has a cousin nearly thirty who’s unmarried and claims to have fallen in love with Tang Hongen at first sight. Let them worry about it.”