The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 194: Son, do you want a brother or a sister?

Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Son, do you want a brother or a sister?

"The bride is coming out!"

Following Pei Wenping’s high-pitched shout, led by Pei Yang, the male guests in the living room all turned their heads in unison to look over.

By this time, daylight had fully broken, and the morning glow from the balcony cast warm golden beams across the living room, refracted by the glass.

Shen Mingzhu, clad in a snowy white bridal gown, basked in the warm golden morning light, looking so stunning she seemed not of this world, but like a celestial nymph stepping out of a painting.

The living room fell silent as if a pause button had been hit, everyone speechless, completely captivated by the bride’s ravishing beauty.

Pei Yang was the first to snap out of it, striding towards Shen Mingzhu, his fervent and profound eyes firmly fixed on her face, the depths brimming with surging affection.

Today, Pei Yang was dressed in a peaked lapel deep blue suit, with his bangs slicked back, revealing a broad and square forehead that accentuated his already deep and chiseled features even further.

This also made Shen Mingzhu’s heart skip a beat.

"Wife, you’re truly beautiful."

Looking into her autumnal, pretty almond eyes, Pei Yang couldn’t help but blurt out.

No sooner had he spoken than he was greeted with catcalls from his buddies, "Kiss her!"

Pei Yang turned around and spat at the bunch of grown men, "Get lost, even if I did kiss, I wouldn’t give you a show!"

"Pei Yang is waiting till tonight, in the bridal chamber, to get intimate with his wife," joked a relative.

Pei Wenping steered the conversation back to business, "Alright, alright, time is getting on, let’s take the photos first."

A relative reminded, "The mother-in-law and father-in-law haven’t arrived yet."

Upon hearing this, Du Juan hurriedly nudged her husband, and Shen Chaobei, catching the hint, replied, "I’ll go down and take a look, they should be here soon."

With that, he hurried out the door.

Shen Mingzhu turned to Pei Wenping and said, "Sis, let’s start taking the pictures."

"That’s fine too."

Under Pei Wenping’s call, the Pei family relatives all gathered in the living room, with Shen Mingzhu and Pei Yang standing in the center, and Pei Ziheng in front of the couple, everyone coming together for a big group photo.

After the large group photo, the families went on to take smaller group pictures with their own family units.

After the relatives from the Pei family finished taking their group photos, the immediate family took their own set.

When Qin Jinlian and her husband were brought to the Pei family, Shen Mingzhu was in the middle of taking a mother-son photo with Pei Ziheng.

Pei Ziheng cuddled affectionately in Shen Mingzhu’s embrace, while she hugged him back, and with the photographer’s cue of "eggplant," mother and son simultaneously flashed matching smiles.

Afterward, the mother and son switched to several other poses, thoroughly enjoying the photo session.

A few relatives, witnessing the warm interaction between the two, couldn’t help but comment quietly, "Look at how well she plays the stepmother role, not her biological child, yet closer than if he were her own."

"Pei Yang really scored with this wife, who can earn a degree, take care of a child, and make money all at once. This isn’t just marrying a wife; it’s like getting a treasure."

"Our ancestors have always said, a virtuous wife brings prosperity for three generations. Just watch, this couple’s life is bound to get more and more prosperous."

Qin Jinlian, with her ears pricked up, listened to the Pei family relatives chatting while watching her beautiful daughter affectionately posing for photos with her stepson, feeling a mix of pride and a tinge of jealousy.

With such a capable daughter, naturally, as her mother, she was proud.

Yet the thought that all her daughter’s talents benefited someone else’s family, that her own family hadn’t received anything, left her feeling somewhat displeased.

...

Photos done, they moved on to the tea ceremony.

With no in-laws on the Pei side, Pei Wenping took their place in receiving the tea and gave out red envelopes.

After the tea ceremony, it was getting late, so everyone started getting ready to head to the restaurant.

Shen Mingzhu returned to her room to get her makeup bag and personal items, and Qin Jinlian followed her in, surveying the decoration of the bridal room as she began to urge her on.

"You’ve been married to Pei Yang for so long, why hasn’t there been any news?"

Shen Mingzhu thought to herself that she’d be surprised if there was any news since they only chatted in bed, and replied dismissively, "Mind your own business."

"Let me tell you, you’ve got to understand, no matter how much you raise a child that’s not from your own womb, they’ll never truly be yours. You’d better hurry up and have a child with Pei Yang. Only your own flesh and blood can be your support for a lifetime."

Shen Mingzhu cast a cold glance and said, "Today is a joyous day for me. Don’t ruin my mood with such nonsense, or don’t blame me for being heartless and sending you back."

Qin Jinlian stared at her daughter’s beautiful, cold face, momentarily dazed.

She knew her daughter well; although the girl was quite pretty, when had she become this beautiful? So beautiful that she felt like a stranger to her.

"Mommy."

Turning to see Pei Ziheng, who had come into the room at some point, Shen Mingzhu quickly put on a smile and tenderly called out, "Son, come here."

Pei Ziheng toddled over to her side.

Shen Mingzhu knelt down to adjust Pei Ziheng’s slightly askew bow tie.

Today, Pei Ziheng was wearing a miniature version of the same colored suit as Pei Yang, even the bow tie was the same color as Pei Yang’s tie, and matched with his snow-white adorable face, he looked like a charming Little Prince.

After fixing the bow tie, Shen Mingzhu straightened Pei Ziheng’s collar, and without even looking up, she started to show Qin Jinlian out, "Why don’t you go to the restaurant with eldest brother and the others? You’re not needed here."

Qin Jinlian, feeling hurt by her attitude, sulkily left.

Pei Ziheng glanced at the departing figure of Qin Jinlian, lips pursed slightly.

Seeing his displeasure, Shen Mingzhu guessed that he must have heard Qin Jinlian’s words and softly consoled, "Don’t mind what grandma said. You are my own son, and I won’t accept anyone saying otherwise."

Pei Ziheng hung his head low, his small frame emanating a profound sense of loss, like a pitiable little thing about to be abandoned, "When you and Dad have a little brother someday, you won’t love me as much as you do now."

"No, I won’t."

Shen Mingzhu’s voice was soft yet resolute.

Pei Ziheng glanced up at her then lowered his gaze again, still feeling dejected and helpless, "Mommy, you must be placating me."

Shen Mingzhu lifted his delicate little face, her eyes brimming with warmth, "Son, tell Mommy, do you want a brother or a sister?"

Pei Ziheng’s face puffed up slightly from her touch, looking both cute and adorable, "I don’t want one."

"If you don’t want a brother or sister, then I won’t have any more children. Having you as my own son is enough for me."

Shen Mingzhu didn’t say she wouldn’t have children just to placate Pei Ziheng; she truly meant it.

She wasn’t like Qin Jinlian—for her, the blood bond meant nothing compared to affection and emotional ties.

In her heart, Pei Ziheng was her own son.

Shen Mingzhu had no idea how much this statement impacted Pei Ziheng.

In his view, having children was an indispensable part of every woman’s life, yet Mommy was willing to give up her right to have children for him?

In that moment, he felt an intense, comforting maternal love that dissolved all his insecurities.

"Mommy."

Pei Ziheng snuggled his tiny body into Shen Mingzhu’s embrace, exceedingly happy as he whispered in her ear, "I want a brother and a sister."

Her son’s change of attitude took Shen Mingzhu by surprise, but she responded seriously, "But you have to be sure about this. Once they’re here, you can’t change your mind even if you don’t like them."

"As long as they’re born from Mommy, I’ll love them."