The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 236 - 235: Those Who Hurt Mom Shall Not Die Well

Chapter 236: Chapter 235: Those Who Hurt Mom Shall Not Die Well

Pei Yang, though physically present in Cao’s camp, his heart was constantly with Han, perpetually worried about Shen Mingzhu at the hospital. He wished he could sprout wings to fly there, see his wife, and then fly right back.

But he couldn’t leave. Having held his ground until now, and with less than three hours until midnight, if he left, all previous efforts would be in vain.

At this time, he didn’t know whether the mother and child had eaten or not.

Thinking this, Pei Yang went to a nearby grocery store to make a phone call.

Since he had left in a hurry at noon, he hadn’t had the chance to remember the hospital’s phone number, so he could only call the Chen Family.

Learning that Pei Wenping had sent food and carp soup to the hospital eased his mind.

Chen Yi expressed concern about the affairs of the food factory on the phone. Upon learning that Pei Yang was at Hengxing keeping watch, he offered his help, which Pei Yang gracefully declined.

Pei Yang’s standoff with Hengxing was unwilling and forced upon him; he had to fight with his back to the water but absolutely could not drag Chen Yi and the Chen Family into this mess.

After finishing the call, Pei Yang purchased some cigarettes, alcohol, sunflower seeds, biscuits, and the like, to help everyone pass the time.

...

Upon learning that Pei Yang was not at the food factory, Pei Wenping pondered for a while and then detoured back to the hospital.

By the time she arrived at the hospital, it was almost 10 o’clock.

Shen Mingzhu had already gone to sleep, and Pei Ziheng was sitting by the bedside, his little head nodding off to sleep.

Pei Wenping tiptoed over and softly woke Pei Ziheng, and the aunt and nephew stepped outside the hospital room to whisper.

"Ziheng, has your dad come to the hospital?"

Pei Ziheng shook his head. "Isn’t dad at the factory?"

In her heart, Pei Wenping wondered where Pei Yang might have gone so late at night but comforted her nephew, saying, "Maybe he went home."

Pei Ziheng: "Then why not call home and find out?"

Pei Wenping: "..."

Kids these days, so hard to deceive.

"Let’s not call. He should be coming to the hospital by now. When he arrives, have him call me, okay?"

"Oh."

Even after she finished speaking, Pei Wenping didn’t leave immediately.

Sensing her hesitation, Pei Ziheng slightly pursed his lips, "Auntie, I’m the big brother now. With dad not around, I’m the man of the house. You can tell me anything."

Pei Wenping’s heart nearly melted at her nephew’s precociousness.

She looked around and, seeing that the corridor was mostly empty, crouched down and quietly asked Pei Ziheng, "Who has the keys to the office at the factory? Is it usually locked? Do you know?"

"During the day it’s not locked; it’s only locked after work. Only mom has the keys. Auntie, why are you asking about this?"

Pei Wenping initially didn’t think too deeply about the missing purchase contract. But seeing Hu Guifen at the factory so late at night, her many years of professional sharpness raised suspicions in her.

The contract, could it have been stolen rather than lost?

Pei Ziheng, being clever, guessed something from Pei Wenping’s expression, "Auntie, is there a problem?"

Such matters were not something Pei Wenping wanted to discuss with her nephew, a child.

But considering her nephew’s intelligence and maturity, she quietly told him about the encounter with Hu Guifen at the factory that evening.

"Keep this between us; don’t tell your mom to avoid worrying her, and don’t mention it to anyone else – just tell your dad, okay?"

Pei Ziheng nodded.

Pei Wenping came quickly and left quickly, but Pei Ziheng was no longer sleepy.

He wasn’t without his suspicions, but so much had happened that day, he hadn’t had the chance to think it through.

Hu Guifen was known for being prudent and cautious, someone who wouldn’t even speak too loudly normally. If she wasn’t bribed or directed by someone, she wouldn’t dare do such a thing.

How was he to find the person behind the scenes?

Gazing at Shen Mingzhu’s tranquil and beautiful visage, Pei Ziheng’s dark eyes flickered with a cold light.

Anybody who hurt his mom would not end well.

...

"It’s midnight!"

Someone shouted out, and the crowd that had huddled together, dozing off, suddenly became restless.

"It’s midnight, boss, can we go home now?"

A middle-aged woman in her forties asked Pei Yang with a trembling voice.

Pei Yang had Shen Chaobei get a box of apple-flavored soft candy from the truck and distributed it among the witnesses who had stayed until now.

Originally there were only seven or eight people, but later a few passersby joined in, and the group grew to about twelve or thirteen people.

There were thirty pounds of candy in the box, and each person received more than two pounds.

Plus, they had lamb for dinner and drinks, and everyone was very pleased. They thanked him repeatedly and went home cheerfully.

Pei Yang arranged for Shen Chaobei and Du Juan to follow Lao Zhu’s car back to the food factory and even gave Lao Zhu the keys to the office, asking him to spend the night there and arrange for the unloading of goods the next morning.

After Lao Zhu drove away, Pei Yang did not leave but instead entered a hotel diagonally opposite Hengxing.

In a hotel room on the second floor facing the street.

Pei Yang warmed his hands with a steaming enamel cup while speaking to a young man in the room, "Did you get everything?"

The man nodded, "Don’t worry, it will be in the newspaper tomorrow."

"When you get the photos developed, give me a copy."

"Sure, no problem. Just give me an address, and I’ll send them to you."

The young man packed up his camera and personal belongings, preparing to leave, and added, "The room has been paid for, you can stay until tomorrow before you leave."

"No need, my wife is still in the hospital, I need to see her."

The young man did not express any objection, "I have a car, want a ride?"

"Yes, thank you."

Pei Yang knew he was powerless and could not take on Hengxing by himself without consequences.

So, before coming to Hengxing, he went to Hengxing’s competitor—Baoli.

Although these minor disputes couldn’t hurt Hengxing’s core, causing them some trouble was still satisfying.

Therefore, Baoli was happy to help Pei Yang and especially arranged for a journalist to come over.

...

By the time Pei Yang arrived at the hospital, it was almost one o’clock, and the inpatient department had already locked its main door.

But this did not deter Pei Yang; he found a secluded spot and quickly scaled the over two-meter-high fence.

Upon reaching the third floor and seeing his son seated forlornly outside the hospital room, Pei Yang hesitated briefly.

Pei Ziheng, sensing someone, turned his head and, seeing Pei Yang, the originally diffuse darkness in his eyes gathered again.

He hopped off the long wooden bench and walked toward Pei Yang with his short legs.

Pei Yang bent down, scooped him up, and, while walking to the hospital room, asked in a low voice, "Where’s your mom?"

"Mom is asleep."

"Then why aren’t you sleeping, too?"

"Waiting for you."

During their conversation, the father and son had already reached the door of the hospital room.

The hospital room door was closed, but through the palm-sized glass window on the door, one could see what was happening inside.

Not wanting to disturb Shen Mingzhu and the other patients, Pei Yang did not go in. He stood at the door, quietly looked through the glass for a while, then sat down on the long wooden bench against the wall with his son.

After asking around and learning that Shen Mingzhu was doing well, Pei Yang finally felt relieved.

"Dad, was Mom’s contract stolen?"

Pei Yang looked at his son’s childish face without showing surprise, yet he felt astonished inside, "Why do you say that?"

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