The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 225 - 224: Spending Money to Learn a Lesson

Chapter 225: Chapter 224: Spending Money to Learn a Lesson

The villagers pointed at Granny Guo and scolded her fiercely, "Granny Guo, we’re all from the same village. Whenever your family was in trouble, we were always there to help you out. Now that there’s a benefit to be had, you only think of yourselves. That’s no way to be a person."

The village chief also sternly criticized Granny Guo, "The boss is willing to pay a high price for our apples because of his kindness. You should be thanking him, not giving him a hard time. If everyone acted like you, who would dare to come to our village to buy apples in the future?"

The village chief, true to his role as an official, was incredibly skilled at putting on the pressure.

Yet he seemed to forget that he was the one who had initially led the villagers to surround Shen Mingzhu and her group.

The Guo family might be selfish, but the village chief and the villagers weren’t exactly saints either.

If today Shen Mingzhu did not agree to buy the two thousand five hundred kilograms of apples, whether she could leave Red Star Village safely was an unknown.

Granny Guo, scolded by the villagers and the village chief, was so ashamed she couldn’t bear it, and the two daughters-in-law of the Guo family didn’t even dare to let out a peep.

Even they, as brash as they were, didn’t dare to go against the village chief or the whole village.

...

The results of the draw were quickly announced.

The Guo family had also participated in the draw, but unfortunately, they had no luck and didn’t get chosen.

Instead, it was Li Tiedan, who had stirred up trouble, that got the slot, securing the opportunity to sell five hundred kilograms of apples. He happily ran home to fetch the apples along with the others who had drawn winning lots.

Those villagers who hadn’t drawn a lot could only disperse with regret.

Shen Mingzhu handed two bills to Old Man Guo; under the surprised and puzzled gazes of the Guo family, she explained in an indifferent voice, "This is for our lunch for four people."

This was her way of drawing a clear line with the Guo family.

Old Man Guo’s lips quivered, wanting to say something to mend the relationship but he was too inarticulate to find the right words.

Seeing Old Man Guo hesitating to take the money, Granny Guo quickly came over and took it.

"Boss, you seem like a kind-hearted person, surely you will have great fortune in the future. Please, do us a kindness and buy our apples."

Shen Mingzhu replied, "It’s not that I don’t want to do a good deed, but I am simply unable, as I don’t have enough money and the truck is already full."

"You big bosses, how could you be out of money? The gold rings on your hand must be worth quite a bit," said the Guo family’s second daughter-in-law, joining in the conversation.

Shen Mingzhu looked at her with a half-smile, half-sneer, "You’re really something else. I come to your house to buy apples, and you set your sights on my jewelry."

Granny Guo gave a sharp glare to the second daughter-in-law, then turned back to Shen Mingzhu with an apologetic smile, "Boss, she doesn’t understand, don’t take it to heart with her. If you can’t buy the apples today, you can always come back later, right?"

"With the way things went today, do you think I’d dare to come back to your village to buy apples another time?"

Granny Guo was left at a loss for words.

"Let’s go. It’s getting late. We should head back as soon as we finish with the apples." Pei Yang pulled her away, motioning to Old Zhu and He Tao, and walked off without looking back.

The Guo family watched the backs of the four people leave, filled with regret.

...

At the entrance to the village, the peddler, who had finished buying apples, wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Instead, he came over to watch Shen Mingzhu buy apples and tried to make conversation, "Where are you guys planning on taking these apples?"

"For personal use."

Seeing Shen Mingzhu’s tight-lipped response, the peddler tactfully stopped prying and instead started joking with her, "Everyone else is buying at four or five points, and here you are, naively paying eight. With these villagers, it’s a wonder they’re letting you leave."

Shen Mingzhu forced a smile, "It’s my first time dealing with this business, I’m inexperienced."

Hearing her say this, the peddler started to comfort her, "Never mind, business has its ups and downs. I’ve been in this industry for five or six years, and I’ve had losses more times than I can count. Just consider it paying for a lesson."

The peddler had other business to attend to, so after finishing a cigarette, he left.

However, before leaving, Shen Mingzhu asked him for his contact information.

...

The mountain road was bumpy, and to prevent the apples from getting damaged, Shen Mingzhu got several large bundles of dry straw from the village to lay between the apples and the truck bed, serving as a cushion.

But this meant that the entire truck was packed full with both apples and straw, leaving no room for anyone to sit.

Shen Mingzhu and Pei Yang could squeeze into the passenger seat, but Shen Chaobei and He Tao had to hang off the back of the truck like tail lights.

In such cold weather, the wind cutting against one’s face felt as painful as a knife.

Shen Chaobei was forgivable since he was one of their own, but He Tao came purely to help and still suffered this way, which made Shen Mingzhu feel quite remorseful.

She could only make a mental note of this kindness and plan to repay it twofold in the future.

The passenger seat of the small truck could only accommodate one person, so while Pei Yang sat there, she sat on his lap.

This position was not comfortable; the man’s legs were very hard, and every time the truck jolted, her head would hit the roof.

After bumping her head several times, Shen Mingzhu simply leaned her head on Pei Yang’s shoulder.

Pei Yang wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and looked down at her, "What were you chatting about with the dealer? You seemed to be having a great time."

Shen Mingzhu teased, "Yes, I had quite a good chat. I even kept his address so I can visit him when we get back if I have the time."

Pei Yang ground his teeth, "You wouldn’t dare."

Shen Mingzhu hummed, "Watch me."

Seeing that being stern wasn’t working, Pei Yang softened his tone, "You’re not allowed to go, I get jealous."

Shen Mingzhu glanced at him with a smile, "I won’t go, so you go."

Pei Yang huffed and hugged her tighter, "I’m not going either."

"If you don’t go, how will you discuss business?"

Pei Yang was a man with a keen mind and understood her intention instantly upon her saying that.

"You still haven’t told me, what are you using all these apples for?"

"I’ll tell you when we get back."

The truck bumped and swayed, rocking Shen Mingzhu to sleepiness.

She nestled into Pei Yang’s broad and warm embrace like a cat, her head resting on his shoulder, "I’ll take a nap."

"Mhm, sleep."

Pei Yang raised one hand to support the back of her head, to ensure she would sleep more comfortably.

Old Zhu glanced at the couple with a look of reflection and a smile, "I never realized you were so doting on your wife."

"She’s young; how else should I handle it if not by spoiling her?"

Pei Yang’s mouth protested feebly, but his tone dripped with indulgence.

Before getting married, the ideal wife in his mind had always been like his older sister, Pei Wenping.

Capable, efficient, fitting in both the hall and the kitchen.

Of course, his current wife possessed all these traits, and even excelled further, while also embodying the gentle and charming virtues of a ’little woman’.

Especially at night, in his arms, her dainty and tender allure was incomparably bewitching, always leaving him insatiable.

...

By the time they returned to the food factory, it was already dark.

Du Juan was very attentive, keeping the food warm in the pots so that the four of them could eat a hot meal upon their return.

After filling their stomachs, Old Zhu and He Tao helped unload the apples into the warehouse before leaving.

Once Du Juan had finished tidying up the kitchen and took Daya back with her to Shen Chaobei’s place.

Pei Yang checked the doors and windows, then entered the office, his expression softening when he saw the mother and son waiting for him on the sofa.

He strode over to them, rubbing each of their heads with both hands, "Let’s go, head home."

Shen Mingzhu held his hand, pulling him to sit down, "Rest for a bit."

Pei Yang sat beside her and drew her into his embrace, speaking affectionately, "Tired? Do you want me to carry you back?"

"I’m not that delicate, just sitting for a bit is fine."

Pei Yang naturally complied, not minding if they sat for a moment or for eternity.

Pei Ziheng tilted his snow-white, handsome face upward, "Mom, are you buying all these apples to make a new snack?"

Shen Mingzhu did not immediately respond to her son’s question but instead reviewed the situation with her husband and son—