The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 199: You Want to Keep Me?

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: You Want to Keep Me?

Waking up in the morning, Shen Mingzhu was about to get out of bed when the soreness in her arm made her involuntarily gasp.

Pei Yang pushed the door open and saw her sitting on the bed, rubbing her arm. He hurriedly came over with concern to help her, his words gently appeasing, "You worked hard last night."

Shen Mingzhu’s face flushed as she glared at him, but in the next second, the throbbing pain made her involuntarily let out a low groan.

Pei Yang stopped what he was doing and went outside to get some medicinal wine.

Shen Mingzhu didn’t want the new room to be full of the smell of medicinal wine, so she put on her shoes and followed him outside.

As soon as Pei Ziheng left the room, he detected the strong scent of medicinal wine and couldn’t help but frown.

When he got close to Shen Mingzhu and realized the smell was coming from her, his face frowned even more.

"Mom, are you hurt?"

Pei Ziheng’s sharpness caught Shen Mingzhu by surprise and filled her with pride.

"I’m fine, I just twisted my hand a bit. It’ll be better after I rub some medicinal wine on it."

As she spoke, Shen Mingzhu unconsciously raised her hand to rub her son’s head, but after lifting it a third of the way, she retracted it and used the other one instead.

This subtle action might go unnoticed by most adults, but Pei Ziheng observed it with keen sensitivity.

Stupid dad, he actually made mom get hurt.

"Hurry up and wash your face, then eat. I’ll take you to school after breakfast," Pei Yang said as he came out of the kitchen with breakfast, urging Pei Ziheng who was in the living room. Little did he know that right after he finished speaking, he received a glare from Pei Ziheng.

Watching his son puff into the bathroom, Pei Yang was utterly confused, "What’s with him?"

Shen Mingzhu shrugged, "Maybe he thinks you’re too naggy."

Pei Yang: "..."

...

After having breakfast, Pei Yang took Pei Ziheng out to school, and Shen Mingzhu went back to her room to count the wedding gift money they had received yesterday.

Before the wedding, Shen Mingzhu had arranged her work for the next two days, giving herself a two-day wedding leave. She didn’t need to go to work today.

After finishing counting the gift money, Shen Mingzhu took out the guestbook to check the accounts. Finding no discrepancies, she put a third of the money into the safe for regular expenses. She stuffed the rest into her handbag, planning to deposit it in the bank.

After changing her clothes and going downstairs, she ran into Ma Xian Gu just as she got to the front of building number four.

Seeing her, Ma Xian Gu cracked a smile, "It’s you again, tsk tsk, still a yellow flower maiden."

Behind Ma Xian Gu were two others from the family courtyard. They seemed to be the patrons who had asked Ma Xian Gu to perform rituals.

Hearing this, they all looked at Shen Mingzhu with gossiping eyes.

Shen Mingzhu thought to herself that Ma Xian Gu indeed had some abilities, but she simply walked on without acknowledging her.

As soon as she left, the two from the family courtyard immediately gathered around Ma Xian Gu and whispered among themselves.

...

After depositing the money and leaving the bank, Shen Mingzhu subconsciously headed towards the food factory.

Even though she didn’t need to work today, she still wanted to check in.

Du Juan and Shen Hongmei had gone out early on their bikes for business. The workers were busy with production in an orderly manner. After inspecting the factory’s situation, Shen Mingzhu, reassured, slung her bag over her shoulder and prepared to head home.

It was deep into autumn; the sidewalks were covered in yellow, fallen leaves. The gentle sunlight, accompanied by a soft breeze, caressed her face, bringing an indescribable sense of peace and comfort.

Stepping on the fallen leaves, Shen Mingzhu felt an ineffable joy welling up inside her.

It seemed that she had grown accustomed to and began to love it here.

She loved this city, the people here, and enjoyed everything that belonged to her here.

If she were to choose now between two paths, either returning to forty years later or staying here, she thought she would definitely choose the latter without hesitation.

...

About thirty to forty meters away from the family courtyard, Shen Mingzhu saw a cream-colored Bentley sedan parked by the roadside.

She walked forward, bent over, and there was only the driver in the car.

Just like last time, the driver rolled down the window and smiled at her, "Mrs. Pei, the young lady has already gone inside the family courtyard to wait for you."

"Okay."

Upon entering the family courtyard, she saw Zhong Qing chatting and laughing with several aunts of the family courtyard, talking about something.

Shen Mingzhu stepped forward.

As soon as she saw her come back, Zhong Qing warmly linked arms with her, "You’re back?"

Without waiting for Shen Mingzhu to respond, Zhong Qing continued with a smile, "I was just telling the aunts that last time I asked Yan Yi to drive you home, I didn’t expect it to cause people to gossip about you, and I really feel terrible about it."

Then, she turned to the several aunts and said, "I have to ask you aunts to help clarify for my Mingzhu, she is my best friend, and I can’t let her carry an undeserved stigma."

"My engagement party with Yan Yi is at the end of the month, and you are all welcome to join us."

The aunts were flattered and nodded in unison.

Zhong Qing, whether in terms of appearance or her elegant dress and demeanor, was obviously a lady of great wealth, with a car to boot; such an important person was not someone they could usually come into contact with.

After Zhong Qing and Shen Mingzhu left, the group immediately began a heated discussion.

...

Shen Mingzhu brought Zhong Qing back to her home.

Pei Yang was also at home, and upon seeing Zhong Qing visit, he said his greetings, then took his keys and money and went out to buy groceries.

Zhong Qing looked around the living room and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Your husband is very nice, considerate, and well-mannered."

Shen Mingzhu smiled and asked what she would like to drink.

Zhong Qing took her hand with a voice that had a whining tone, "Are you still mad at me? Forgive me this time, okay?"

Actually, downstairs, when she saw how earnestly Zhong Qing was trying to clear her reputation, she had already let go of her anger.

However, there was something she had to ask clearly, "Qingqing, why did you help me in the first place?"

Zhong Qing, being the clever person she was, responded, "You want to know if Yan Yi had anything to do with me helping you with the loan, right?"

Shen Mingzhu nodded her agreement.

"No, he doesn’t even know about the loan to this day."

"The first time I met you, I was on a blind date with Yan Yi. I admit that it was because of him that I noticed you. Helping you was just something I did on a whim, I didn’t think too much about it. Like when you come across someone in need of help on the street, and you help them, maybe out of kindness, or maybe just because you happen to be in a good mood and felt like helping; there’s no reason needed, nor is there any expectation for repayment."

"Later on, after I learned about the purpose of your loan, I started to admire and respect you, and I even envied you. You were like a small grass I picked up unintentionally, and I wanted to watch you grow, bloom, and bear beautiful fruit."

"Do you understand how I feel?"

Shen Mingzhu pondered, "You want to raise me?"

Zhong Qing was taken aback by her wording, but then laughed with her eyes curving, "Would you like that?"

"V me a billion first to see if you’re strong enough."

"What billion?"

"Nevermind, just joking. Take a seat, what’ll you have? But I only have tea and malted milk at home."

Zhong Qing was amused by the joke and suddenly reached out and hugged her, whispering softly in her ear, "Mingzhu, you’re so interesting."

Shen Mingzhu pulled her arm off and pushed her away slightly, "Speak with words, don’t be handsy."

Zhong Qing smiled with pursed lips, looking innocent, "Whatever you give me, I’ll drink."

Shen Mingzhu nodded, took the tea caddy, and went to the kitchen.

Zhong Qing thought she was going to make tea, so she settled herself on the sofa.

After a while, Shen Mingzhu still hadn’t returned from the kitchen, but a burnt scent started to waft through the air; curious, Zhong Qing got up and entered the kitchen.

"What are you doing?"