The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 112 Mocked for Eating French Food

Chapter 112: Chapter 112 Mocked for Eating French Food

The next day, on the way to dropping Pei Ziheng off at kindergarten, Shen Mingzhu heard from other kids’ moms that there had been a huge row at the Zhou family’s place the night before.

"... After his squabble with his wife, Zhou Shuhuan was so angry he went out to drink, and his son is quite the dutiful one. Seeing his father driven out by his stepmother, he was both crying and making a fuss, insisting on driving the stepmother out, and no one could calm him down. Finally, Auntie Ma really did kick her out, and only then did Zhou Hao quiet down."

"It’s said that Shuhuan’s wife sat at the doorstep till 12 o’clock, and only when Zhou Shuhuan came back from drinking did she get back inside the house."

As for Shen Baolan’s misfortune, Shen Mingzhu just wanted to say she deserved it!

Perhaps sensing a crisis, Shen Baolan today was treating Zhou Hao like a little ancestor on the way to school, pampering him every step of the way, with no energy left to come over to her.

Just when Shen Mingzhu thought she could live in peace for a while, another uninvited guest showed up at her door.

Seeing the uninvited Wang Xiuzhu, Shen Mingzhu didn’t offer so much as a pleasant look.

"What are you doing here?"

"Shen Mingzhu, why didn’t you stop Pei Yang? Do you have any idea how dangerous the sea area where the Tai’an went down is? He might not make it back!"

Shen Mingzhu scoffed coldly, "Oh, may I ask who you are? And in what capacity do you come to accuse me?"

Wang Xiuzhu was so angry she bit her lip, "You’re so unreasonable it’s unbelievable. Even at a time like this you’re still jealous, aren’t you the least bit worried about whether Pei Yang is dead or alive?"

"Whether I’m worried or not, is it any of your business? Wang Xiuzhu, have you forgotten how you once called me selfish, accused me of costing Pei Yang his job, and ruining his future?"

"Didn’t you say Pei Yang loved the sea, loved his profession as a seaman, and that he was excellent at it? Turns out you get to say whatever you want. Anything I do is wrong, right?"

"Wang Xiuzhu, what are you, exactly? Accusing me of being jealous – you think too highly of yourself. In my eyes, you’re nothing. Pei Yang wouldn’t even give you a second glance, don’t you have any shame? If your parents knew how shameless you’re being, they’d probably wish they could stuff you back into the womb and remake you."

Wang Xiuzhu was scolded so badly her face turned red and her eyes watered as if she had been greatly wronged.

"Shen Mingzhu, you’re going too far. I’m just concerned about Pei Yang, I didn’t intend to compete with you for anyone..."

"Bullshit you didn’t! You just don’t have what it takes, or else you’d have snatched him away already!" Shen Mingzhu sneered coldly and continued to lay into her, "This is too much? If you don’t leave, I can be even more unreasonable. Want to try me?"

Wang Xiuzhu retreated two steps in fright but still retorted stubbornly, "You don’t love Pei Yang at all, you don’t care about him! Knowing the danger but still letting him..."

Shen Mingzhu, not in the mood for more talk, simply picked up a feather duster from the shoe cabinet, looking ready to hit someone.

"Are you leaving or not? If you don’t, I won’t be polite!"

Wang Xiuzhu, pale with fear, hurled the insult "harpy" at Shen Mingzhu before turning and clomping down the stairs.

Wang Xiuzhu had neither relatives nor friends in Fengcheng. She had hoped Shen Mingzhu, out of past affection, would take her in for the night, but she hadn’t even been let in the door, only to be thoroughly berated.

No one had ever insulted her like that before, in her whole life.

She couldn’t even buy a train ticket back to school that day, and without a letter of reference, she couldn’t stay in a hotel or hostel, so she had to settle for a shabby little inn.

The small inn was a far cry from the quality of hotels and hostels, with poor soundproofing; she even had a drunk knocking on her door in the middle of the night. Wang Xiuzhu, who came from a privileged background, had never experienced anything like this and was so scared she didn’t dare close her eyes all night.

At the first light of dawn the next day, she immediately checked out and ran to the train station.

After purchasing her ticket, Wang Xiuzhu couldn’t hold back the tears any longer and called her aunt to pour out her grievances.

She had expected some comfort.

However, upon hearing that she had gone to Fengcheng to look for Shen Mingzhu on her own, Wang Huizhen was so angry she cursed her for being what she deserved, calling her cheap.

Wang Xiuzhu was already brimming with grievances, and upon being scolded by Wang Huizhen, she instantly burst into uncontrollable tears, attracting the glances of passersby who looked at her as though they were witnessing a lunatic.

——

After school, Shen Mingzhu picked up Pei Ziheng and, as usual, planned to make a detour to the vegetable market to buy groceries.

However, halfway there, Pei Ziheng suddenly called out to her.

"Mom."

"Hmm, what is it, son?"

Pei Ziheng stared at her for a while, silently took off his backpack, unzipped it, and pulled out a bunch of bright, eye-catching rose flowers.

"For you."

Shen Mingzhu was pleasantly surprised and joyfully took the flowers, bringing them to her nose for a sniff, and they smelled wonderful.

The smile on her face was even more radiant and enchanting than the roses in her hands, "Thank you, son, I love it."

Pei Ziheng heaved a sigh of relief and said with a very serious face, "Mom, happy birthday, and may you be beautiful forever."

Shen Mingzhu was slightly stunned for two seconds before she realized that the date of birth on her household registration, indeed, was today, April seventeenth.

Shen Mingzhu felt an inexplicable sense of contentment and was very moved, unable to resist hugging her stepson and kissing him on his snow-white cheek.

"Son, thank you for the birthday gift, Mom loves it."

Pei Ziheng’s snow-white cheeks flushed with a hint of pink, his lips slightly pursed, showing a touch of shyness.

Pei Ziheng, who already had a doll-like beautiful face with fair cold-toned skin, looked especially adorable and endearing with his flushed, shy expression, resembling some kind of lovable, fluffy pet that one couldn’t help but want to stroke.

Shen Mingzhu decided not to go to the vegetable market and instead took Pei Ziheng to Fengcheng’s only French restaurant.

Celebrating a birthday calls for a feast, after all, it only happens once a year.

"Son, order whatever you want, tonight Miss Shen is footing the bill!"

Pei Ziheng cautiously reminded, "Shouldn’t you check how much money you have in your wallet first?"

"Don’t worry, just enjoy your meal, worst case we’ll stay and help wash the dishes."

"..."

Of course, she was joking. Shen Mingzhu glanced at her wallet which contained a total of twenty-seven yuan. This amount was more than enough for groceries, but it could be tight for a luxurious French meal.

Calculating the money in her wallet, Shen Mingzhu ordered a steak, a salad, two soups, and with the complimentary bread slices, the two of them could just about fill their stomachs.

The waiters at the upscale restaurant were quite professional and didn’t show any negligence due to the modest spending of the mother and son, and even considerately offered extra slices of bread.

However, despite being an upscale establishment, the restaurant wasn’t without its fair share of uneducated and graceless customers.

"Some women are just too vain, unable to see their own status. If you can’t afford it, don’t force yourself to eat here, scrimping and scraping—makes a laughing stock out of everyone."

"That’s true, the two of them only ordered one steak and one salad, but they asked for a large plate of bread. If you like being cheap, you should go to the small eatery outside, where rice and noodles are free and you can eat as much as you want."