The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 102: Shen Mingzhu, you really are hilarious

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Shen Mingzhu, you really are hilarious

Shen Mingzhu was at a loss when she heard the fortune-teller Ma Sufen rambling on, "I can see that your marriage palace is full, your forehead broad and round, the bridge of your nose high; it indicates an early marriage, and a smooth one at that..."

"Fortune-teller, is she or is she not still a chaste maiden?"

Ma Sufen was somewhat displeased at being interrupted by Shen Baolan, but for the sake of money, she let it slide.

"The marriage line on her body is pronounced; she must have been married for some time, but she is indeed still a virgin."

Finally understanding what these two were up to, Shen Mingzhu was suddenly livid with rage.

"Shen Baolan, if you’re sick, go get treated; stop this madness and get out!"

Shen Baolan, both smug and excited, pressed her hand firmly against the door to prevent Shen Mingzhu from closing it.

"Shen Mingzhu, your true colors are finally showing. What was that you were bragging about? You said your Pei Yang was so incredible, twice a day, half an hour each time—psh! You’ve blown it up sky high!"

"What ’twice’?"

Turning around to see Pei Yang who had appeared behind her at some point, Shen Mingzhu wanted to ascend to heaven right there and then.

She might as well be dead!

As soon as she saw Pei Yang, Shen Baolan excitedly grabbed Ma Sufen’s hand, "Fortune-teller, quick, look at him, is he not capable? I mean, in that respect..."

Ma Sufen gave Shen Baolan a "don’t worry, I understand" look and then squinted at Pei Yang, sizing him up and down.

"Judging from his appearance, there’s nothing wrong with his health, but I can assure you he is still a virgin."

After saying that, she even joked a bit, "Hey, this is really funny. You two have been married for quite a while and yet you’ve never consummated the marriage. Are you planning on becoming immortals or what?"

Shen Mingzhu: "..."

Pei Yang: "..."

Shen Baolan was first taken aback, and then burst into raucous laughter, bending over backward with the force of it.

While laughing, she pointed at Shen Mingzhu and loudly ridiculed her, "Shen Mingzhu, Shen Mingzhu, you really are killing me with laughter. You’ve been married for nearly a year and still, you’re a chaste maiden, haha..."

After making fun of Shen Mingzhu, she began to scorn Pei Yang, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, all that size for nothing, just a pretty but useless embroidered pillow. Good thing I didn’t marry you or I’d be living like a widow for the rest of my life."

"Fuck you!"

Shen Mingzhu was furious. Not caring that Shen Baolan was pregnant, she kicked her out and slammed the door shut with great force.

Turning around, there was Pei Yang standing behind her, the two staring at each other, big eyes to small eyes.

The atmosphere was peculiarly awkward.

Pei Yang was the first to break the silence, pointing at his head he asked, "Shuhuan’s wife, has she got a problem up here?"

"Who knows which wire she crossed wrongly, she’s nuts!"

Having said that, Shen Mingzhu was about to sit on the couch to cool off, but she hadn’t taken two steps before her wrist was grasped by the man.

"What did Shuhuan’s wife mean just now about ’twice’ and ’half an hour each time’?"

Even though she was mortified enough to want to burrow into a hole, Shen Mingzhu tried to keep her composure, "She’s crazy, and so are you? You’re taking her words seriously?"

Pei Yang had a mocking smile, "Mingzhu, you really think I’m a fool, unable to tell truth from lies?"

Shen Mingzhu shook off the man’s hand, enraged, "Yes, I bragged for the sake of saving face, to avoid being laughed at by her. So what? Is bragging against the law now? Haven’t you ever bragged?"

Seeing her temper flare up, Pei Yang reached out to pull her back. After Shen Mingzhu slapped his hand away, he didn’t give up and continued reaching for her, inevitably getting his hand slapped away again.

The two went back and forth like this for a while until Shen Mingzhu’s hand hurt from slapping, and finally, Pei Yang successfully grasped her small hand.

Clasping her soft, tender fingers, Pei Yang’s expression and gaze became gentle, and his voice carried an overtone of making amends.

"It was my fault, I let you suffer indignities. Don’t be angry anymore. If you’re really mad, you might as well hit me, keep hitting till your anger subsides."

"Erza, bring over the rolling pin!!!"

Pei Yang: "..."

——

Ma Sufen was bustling about with her apron on, getting dinner ready, when she turned and was startled by Shen Baolan, who was silently standing at the kitchen entrance.

Angered, she burst out, "You damn star-crossed nuisance, why aren’t you dead yet? Standing there and scaring the living daylights out of people..."

Usually, Shen Baolan would have jumped up and engaged in a screaming match with Ma Sufen that would last at least a dozen rounds.

But today, in the face of Ma Sufen’s various vile curses, she didn’t retort even a single word and only after Ma Sufen finished cursing, did she leisurely respond.

"Mom, do you need any help?"

Ma Sufen stared at Shen Baolan as if she’d seen a ghost.

What had gotten into this lazy daughter-in-law? Usually as lazy as a pig, but today she actually offered to help?

Shen Baolan didn’t care about the shock and fright her change had caused Ma Sufen. She walked into the kitchen, supporting her waist, picked up the kitchen knife on the stove, and began chopping cabbage, all the while chatting with Ma Sufen about the gossip concerning Pei Yang and Shen Mingzhu.

Gossip was as tempting to Ma Sufen as feces to a dog; she’d consume it without hesitation, regardless of who produced it or whether it was poisoned.

Because of gossip, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law oddly returned to a state of peaceful coexistence.

Even after hearing the gossip, Ma Sufen, still not satisfied, followed up with a question—

"If Pei Yang isn’t able to do it, then where did his son come from?"

This question left Shen Baolan momentarily speechless, but her mind worked quickly, and she blurted out, "Probably picked up somewhere. Just to cover up his problem, poor Shen Mingzhu, she’s doomed to live like a widow for the rest of her life."

Her tone was one of schadenfreude.

Ma Sufen also reveled in the misfortune of others, even though Shen Mingzhu hadn’t done anything to provoke her.

After wallowing in the misery of others, Ma Sufen remembered the incident at the birthday banquet from a few days ago and her gaze towards her daughter-in-law suddenly turned to one of disgust and hatred.

That flirtatious slut, shamelessly chasing after Pei Yang, making a scene of it, and now that she knows Pei Yang is useless, she wants to come back and settle down as a Zhou family bride? Dream on!

As long as I’m alive, that wretch won’t have a single good day.

Shen Baolan was unaware of the venom in her mother-in-law’s heart and was still trying hard to please her: "Mom, why don’t you go and rest? I’ll take care of dinner."

With someone eagerly taking over chores, Ma Sufen was naturally happy to relax and promptly went out.

Before long, Zhou Shuhuan got home from work.

Seeing Ma Sufen sitting on the sofa and sounds coming from the kitchen, he wondered who could be in there.

"Mom, who’s in the kitchen?"

"Who else but that wench!"

Surprised to learn Shen Baolan was preparing dinner, Zhou Shuhuan put down his bag with the intention to glance in the kitchen but was dragged into the room by Ma Sufen.

Once in the room, Ma Sufen treated the fact that Pei Yang and Shen Mingzhu were still virgins as a joke and shared it with her son.

After she finished, she continued to rail against Shen Baolan, calling her fickle and promiscuous, and, between the lines, urging her son to divorce.

Zhou Shuhuan didn’t take in a single word, his mind preoccupied: If Pei Yang can’t perform, what will become of Shen Mingzhu?

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