The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 198: The Wedding Night

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: The Wedding Night

Yan Su watched her younger brother’s smile at the corner of his mouth, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

"Who’s getting married, why are the wedding candies packed so strangely?"

"A friend."

Yan Yi picked up a pack of spicy strips, tore it open, and bit off a piece into his mouth.

The taste was savory, slightly spicy, and chewy, somewhat like beef; it was tender with some bite, and the spicy flavor carried a hint of sweetness and was rounded with an oily richness, becoming more aromatic the more he chewed.

This was Yan Yi’s first time eating spicy strips.

In his eyes, such greasy and strongly flavored foods were neither healthy nor nutritious, but at that moment, he suddenly realized how narrow-minded and superficial his previous thoughts had been.

The spicy strips in his hand might not provide nutritional value for the body, yet they could bring pleasure and satisfaction to the spirit, which in itself is a manifestation of value.

Just like people, they might seem insignificant and ordinary but are capable of doing many extraordinary things.

Seeing him eating with relish, Yan Su also picked a pack of five-spice flavored dried tofu to try.

The dried tofu was firm and chewy, full of bean flavor which complemented the five spices, creating a delightful taste experience.

After finishing a pack, even though she wanted more, Yan Su did not continue eating.

As a lady of a reputable family, she had been bound by etiquette from a young age and possessed strong self-discipline.

In her view, little snacks like dried tofu were not appropriate for her status and age.

After wiping her mouth and hands, Yan Su took out the menu and drinks list for the engagement banquet, letting Yan Yi take a look.

Yan Yi casually flipped through it then closed the list, took a pack of dried tofu and spicy strips from the wedding candy, placed them on top of the list, and handed it back to Yan Su.

Yan Su took the list and put the dried tofu and spicy strips back on the coffee table, slipping the list into her purse as she said, "I won’t eat these, you have them."

"They’re not for you to eat."

Yan Su looked up at him.

"Add these two items to the menu."

Yan Su frowned in disbelief, "Are you crazy? Adding such low-class items to an engagement banquet, aren’t you afraid of attracting criticism and ridicule?"

Yan Yi lounged on the sofa, exuding the nonchalance of a young scion, his tone uncharacteristically assertive, "The Yan Family has never needed external things to highlight our status and position. To this day, if I don’t even have the freedom to follow my whims, what would be the point of our ancestors’ struggles and efforts across generations?"

Yan Su was at a loss for words.

Indeed, with the Yan Family’s status in Fengcheng, even if they served a table of vegetarian plain rice, no one would dare to make a fuss.

Yan Su had no intention of arguing with her younger brother over such a trivial matter. She picked up the dried tofu and spicy strips from the coffee table and put them in her purse, "I’ve got it, I’ll make sure it’s taken care of."

Yan Yi nodded in appreciation, "Thanks for the trouble, sis."

Yan Su looked at him earnestly, "I’ll be at ease if you settle down soon. Zhong Qing is beautiful and accomplished, she matches you quite well. Treat her right."

"I know what I’m doing."

Yan Su, knowing her brother’s personality, did not say more as it would be useless.

...

As night fell, inside the brightly lit wedding chamber.

Shen Mingzhu sat cross-legged on the bed covered with a festive red quilt, happily opening a small mountain of red envelopes.

Pei Ziheng lay by the edge of the bed, propping up her cheek as she watched Shen Mingzhu open the red envelopes, her fair and lovely face also brimming with joy.

After a while, Pei Yang walked in and saw his wife still on the bed in her wedding dress, his deep eyes softening with tenderness.

Hearing the footsteps, Shen Mingzhu glanced at him while continuing to open red envelopes, asking, "Have sister and the rest gone back?"

"Mhm."

Pei Yang sat silently by the bed for a while, then stood up, picked up Pei Ziheng, and held her in his arms, "I’ll take Ziheng to bathe first."

"Okay."

A little later, Pei Yang, with steam still rising from his body, entered the room. Seeing her still sitting on the bed opening red envelopes, he went over, sat behind her, and with his arms around her in a half-embrace, enveloped her in his hold.

"How much longer do I have to count?"

"Almost there."

Noticing the faint complaint and dissatisfaction in his voice, Shen Mingzhu glanced at him and, seeing his wet hair, reminded him, "Dry your hair."

"Stop counting. Go take your shower before the water gets cold."

With that, Pei Yang got up, found a carry bag, and stuffed it with all the red envelopes and money on the bed.

"You’ve mixed up the ones that have been opened with those that haven’t."

"You’re not working tomorrow anyway, so you can sort them out at home slowly."

Seeing the man’s playful smile, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but kick him.

Pei Yang didn’t dodge, letting her kick him while looking at her with eyes filled with anticipation.

Shen Mingzhu’s face and ears turned red under his gaze, so she got out of bed, opened the wardrobe, took some clean clothes and went to take a bath.

After she left, Pei Yang closed the door, quickly stripped down to his shorts, and slid into the covers to wait quietly.

Time ticked away.

Pei Yang lay flat on the bed with the bright red wedding quilt covering his chest, repeatedly glancing at the tightly closed door.

Why isn’t she coming in?

Just as Pei Yang’s patience was running out and he was about to go see what was happening, the door was pushed open from outside.

Shen Mingzhu, wearing a pink nightgown, with her hair up and exposing her slender neck and delicate collarbone, her arms as white and tender as lotus roots, looked so beautiful that Pei Yang’s heart surged with passion.

Shen Mingzhu closed the door and, as usual, sat at the dressing table to wipe her face.

Pei Yang didn’t rush her, but his burning gaze never left her for a second.

He was like a wolf that hadn’t eaten for three days and three nights, eyeing his own prey.

Finally, when Shen Mingzhu was done, Pei Yang eagerly helped her lift the quilt.

The moment Shen Mingzhu lay down, Pei Yang couldn’t wait to roll over onto her, bending down to kiss her.

Shen Mingzhu pushed against his chest with her hand, her face showing a trace of embarrassment, "Uhm, my period started."

Pei Yang froze, "Who?!"

Shen Mingzhu’s cheeks blushed faintly, "I got my period."

Pei Yang’s body stiffened as if he had been struck by lightning.

A moment later, he let out a mournful groan and lay on top of her, his fluffy head resting in the crook of her shoulder, his eyes looking at her with a pitiful gaze, "Tell it to go back!"

Shen Mingzhu secretly found it funny, but also felt guilty and a vague sense of regret.

Both of them had been looking forward to tonight’s nuptial night for a long time, and whether it was due to recent exhaustion or just fate, her period, which should have arrived next week, had abruptly come three days early.

She reached out to rub his fuzzy head, the sensation of his short hair fluffy and full under her fingers made her own heart feel especially tender.

"I’m sorry."

Pei Yang’s dark eyes quietly studied her face, the grievance and discontent on his face gradually disappearing, though his tone still carried a hint of self-pity, "Do you feel any discomfort?"

Shen Mingzhu was taken aback for a moment before she realized what he was asking, and shook her head, "No."

This body, although appearing delicate and frail, was quite healthy. Since she had crossed over to this time, she had hardly ever been sick and didn’t suffer from painful periods.

"It’s fine. We’ve been waiting for so long; a few more days won’t matter."

Pei Yang softly comforted her, and in doing so, comforted himself as well.

Women are inherently soft-hearted creatures. The more considerate and accommodating Pei Yang appeared, the deeper Shen Mingzhu’s guilt became, and the more she wanted to make it up to him.

To the man’s surprise, she turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

...

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