The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 104: Pei Ziheng Takes Revenge for Shen Mingzhu

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Pei Ziheng Takes Revenge for Shen Mingzhu

After hearing what Shen Baolan said, the looks people gave Shen Mingzhu suddenly contained more sympathy and pity, as well as a hint of schadenfreude.

Shen Mingzhu was also furious, responding unkindly, "It’s none of your damn business. I just like to help raise other people’s sons. I’m willing and happy to do so. Even if he’s someone else’s child, I can raise him to be closer to me than my own flesh and blood, shaping him into a pillar of society, who will be filial to me and provide for my old age. What, are you jealous? Your envy is pointless; some people might as well not have had children at all when all they do is bring debts!"

Once everyone heard this, wasn’t that the truth?

Pei Yang’s wife has raised her stepson so well, he’s sensible, obedient, and smart, treating Shen Mingzhu, his stepmother, with both devotion and respect. Isn’t that much better than one’s own children?

Pei Ziheng, whom Shen Mingzhu was holding hands with, also spoke up to back her up, "Mom, you’re the only mother I have. You ARE my real mom. When I grow up, I will make a lot of money, buy you a big house to live in, a car for you to drive, and hire three maids to take care of you, so you can enjoy your twilight years."

Oh, listen, with such a caring and filial son, does it really matter if he’s biologically related?

Shen Mingzhu looked at her stepson, moved to the brink but barely holding back tears.

This boy really hasn’t been raised in vain; he knows how to protect his mom.

Shen Baolan, not willing to concede, attacked Pei Ziheng’s background, "Who knows where your family’s Pei Yang picked up such a foolish child, and even considers you a real mother."

Shen Mingzhu glared coldly at Shen Baolan, "If you don’t want me to tear your mouth apart, then keep it shut. If I hear you slander my Ziheng again, I won’t care if you’re pregnant, I’ll still make you pay."

The onlooking crowd couldn’t bear to watch, and they criticized Shen Baolan one after another. It was one thing for adults to argue a bit, but involving a child in the matter was disgraceful.

Shen Baolan, with nothing left to say, sullenly closed her mouth.

——

On the way to the kindergarten, the children were walking ahead, laughing and playing along the way.

A few mothers who had good relationships with Shen Mingzhu walked behind her, chatting and laughing. In contrast, Shen Baolan found herself shunned by everyone; even Zhou Hao refused to let her take his hand and instead ran around wildly with the other kids. Being heavily pregnant, she couldn’t walk fast and had to walk alone at the back.

One mother glanced back at Shen Baolan, then turned to comfort Shen Mingzhu, "Ziheng’s mom, Shuhuan’s wife is so gossipy and annoying. Don’t bother with her. From now on, just steer clear of her. She’s pregnant now and if anything happens, it will somehow get blamed on you. You don’t need that trouble."

As they talked, the topic shifted to Pei Yang.

In fact, thanks to the "propagation" by Shen Baolan and Ma Sufen, the gossip about Pei Yang’s inadequacies had spread like wildfire throughout the housing complex.

Usually, the mothers would go to Shen Mingzhu directly with other bits of gossip from the complex.

But with Shen Mingzhu being directly involved in this matter, the mothers unanimously chose to discuss it behind her back, quietly.

Today, as one topic led to another, someone boldly sought to confirm the rumors with Shen Mingzhu.

"So, Pei Yang really can’t perform?"

"I heard that you two haven’t even consummated your marriage?"

"Actually, it’s normal for a man to have issues. Ziheng’s mom, don’t feel embarrassed, and definitely don’t avoid seeking treatment. I know a very effective traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. I’ll give you the address of the clinic later. When you have time, take Pei Yang to see him; he might be cured very soon."

One by one, they spoke as if to comfort her, but whether it was genuine concern or delight in her misfortune, only they knew.

Shen Mingzhu was too lazy to explain, her face bearing an awkward but polite smile.

Pei Yang is the pillar of the family—when a scapegoat is needed, who else but him will bear the brunt?

...

"Go away, I don’t want to walk with you!"

As a group of mothers surrounded Shen Mingzhu, offering various remedies for men’s private issues and chatting excitedly, a shouting voice suddenly came from up ahead.

Everyone looked over to see Pei Ziheng with a cold expression on his face, lashing out at Wa Shiting.

Wa Shiting, apparently still not quite understanding what was happening, stared back in shock, but her beautiful eyes quickly filled with tears of grievance.

Shen Mingzhu and Jiang Jing, who is Wa Shiting’s mother, both immediately walked over.

"Ziheng, what happened? Why were you yelling at Wa Shiting?"

Wa Shiting, picked up by Jiang Jing, started to cry loudly, resembling a tearful, rain-drenched pear blossom, particularly heart-wrenching to witness.

Shen Mingzhu felt quite embarrassed, and she hurriedly apologized to Jiang Jing, then tried to comfort Wa Shiting.

Jiang Jing held her daughter, saying it was nothing, yet her expression and gaze were filled with intense displeasure.

Shen Mingzhu lowered her head to pull Pei Ziheng, asking him to apologize to Wa Shiting.

"I won’t apologize."

Shen Mingzhu was somewhat surprised.

Although her stepson was rebellious, he usually listened to her in front of others, so today’s behavior was out of the ordinary.

Jiang Jing was already unhappy with her daughter being provoked into crying, and upon seeing Pei Ziheng’s defiance, spoke out with a cold tone, "Forget it. It’s common for kids to have spats. Shiting, stop crying. Let’s be generous and not hold it against him."

Her words, couched in courtesy, were a veiled criticism implying that Pei Ziheng lacked manners.

Shen Mingzhu was somewhat displeased, but she didn’t lash out at Pei Ziheng, and instead asked patiently.

"Zixing, why won’t you apologize? You made Wa Shiting cry. Haven’t I told you that a boy should be gentlemanly and considerate of girls?"

Pei Ziheng’s dark eyes brimmed with a layer of mist, his voice thick with aggrievement and anger, "She’s a blabbermouth, I don’t want to play with her."

Shen Mingzhu hadn’t even spoken when Jiang Jing lost her temper first.

"Pei Ziheng, what nonsense are you talking about? It’s not enough that you bullied my Shiting? You even dare to concoct stories in front of adults. Mingzhu, it seems you need to focus more on Ziheng’s moral education. This is outrageous!"

Shen Mingzhu glanced at Jiang Jing but didn’t continue the conversation.

Knowing Pei Ziheng as she did, he would never make baseless accusations.

Sure enough—

"I’m not making things up! You always come to talk to Mom, and since she considers you a friend, she didn’t hide our family affairs from you. Yet, you turn around and gossip about it to others."

"Wa Shiting is your daughter, she’s bound to follow in your footsteps, becoming another big-mouthed gossiper later on. Like mother, like daughter."

Jiang Jing felt as if she had been slapped across the face, her cheeks burning red.

Seeing everyone looking at her with strange and voyeuristic eyes, she quickly tried to explain to Shen Mingzhu, but Pei Ziheng interrupted again, "Usually, Dad and Mom sleep together, but that night, after Dad drank too much, Mom made him sleep in my room. The only people who came to play at our house that day were you, Aunt Jiang, and Wa Shiting, and the only ones who knew about Dad sleeping in my room were you and Wa Shiting. If you weren’t the one who told others, then it had to be Wa Shiting; there couldn’t have been anyone else!"

Jiang Jing was at a loss for words.

Wa Shiting was so scared she didn’t dare to cry anymore, her teary eyes wide open, looking around helplessly.

In fact, Shen Mingzhu had an idea of who spread the rumors about her sleeping separately from Pei Yang, suspecting Jiang Jing, but without proof. Besides, as everyone lived in the same faculty residential area and had to face each other daily, she had no intention of making an issue out of it or holding a grudge.

She never expected that Pei Ziheng, with his uncontrollable candor, would let the cat out of the bag.

However, to be fair, Pei Ziheng’s outburst truly vented Shen Mingzhu’s pent-up frustration.

Shen Mingzhu did not confront or blame Jiang Jing, only showing a look of disappointment and embarrassment on her face.

Everyone has a sympathetic side, and the more she showed restraint and a semblance of being wronged, the more she made Jiang Jing the target of public scorn.

The disdain and contempt from the other mothers, like invisible swords, made Jiang Jing overwhelmed with shame and embarrassment.