The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 250 - 249: Friends From Nowhere

Chapter 250: Chapter 249: Friends From Nowhere

```

After getting the money, the Fu family went to the police station where Hu Guifen was detained, but despite their best efforts, they couldn’t see Hu Guifen.

Upon questioning the police, it was clear that for the crime Hu Guifen committed, she’d be facing at least two to three years in prison.

After leaving the police station, the Fu family discussed the matter and decided they still needed to get an explanation from Shen Mingzhu.

Hu Guifen worked at the food factory and could make at least three to four hundred yuan a year. If she was imprisoned for two to three years with no earnings, the five hundred provided by Shi Guangsheng would hardly be enough!

They also needed to squeeze another five hundred out of Shen Mingzhu at the very least.

This showed just how barbaric and selfish the Fu family was, only considering their own interests, completely disregarding the betrayal of Hu Guifen and the severe damage and loss it caused the food factory.

However, the Fu family’s efforts were in vain, as by the time they found the hospital room, Shen Mingzhu had already been discharged.

Not knowing Shen Mingzhu’s home address, and with night falling, they had no choice but to find a place to stay and plan their next move in the morning.

Father Fu and Mother Fu were used to going to bed early. As soon as it got dark, they were in bed, snoring loudly.

Fu Shouchang and his cousin, after discussing, decided to go out and have some fun.

Fu Shouchang had experience working odd jobs in the city during the slack farming season. He didn’t earn much, but he knew Fengcheng’s Willow Lane and Flower Street like the back of his hand.

The Fu brothers got massages at a hair salon.

After the massages, they found a restaurant to have some drinks. By the time they finished, it was already ten o’clock.

It was snowing and there were hardly any people on the main street.

The brothers huddled against the cold as they rushed back to the hotel, eager to get a good night’s sleep and continue their money-making endeavors the next day.

Engrossed in their journey, the brothers didn’t notice the two dark figures following behind them.

...

Originally, Shen Mingzhu was supposed to be discharged from the hospital the next day, but worried about the Fu family returning and finding herself and Pei Ziheng defenseless, she decided to explain the situation to the doctor and went home a day early.

After finishing work, Pei Yang arrived home and learned that the Fu family had come to the city. Concerned that they would cause trouble at the residential compound, he decided not to sell sugar anymore, took an early leave, and stayed with his mother and son.

"After breakfast tomorrow, I’ll go to the factory first, settle Hongmei’s wages, then discuss the accounts with my elder brother and sister-in-law. That should allow them to return to the countryside two days earlier for the New Year."

As Pei Yang massaged the rose petals, he discussed the following day’s plans with Shen Mingzhu.

After dinner, Shen Mingzhu wanted to start pickling the rose petals that would be used in a few days to bake fresh flower cakes.

Pei Yang wouldn’t let her lift a finger, insisting that she rest while he took care of it.

"Make sure you lock the door well when you’re home, and don’t open it if the Fu family comes knocking."

"Mm, I know."

Pei Ziheng sat beside Shen Mingzhu, his delicate little hands fiddling with her fingers, and a flash of coldness streaked across his dark eyes at the mention of the Fu family.

The next day, until the evening, the Fu family didn’t show up at their door.

Thinking that tomorrow was New Year’s Eve and the Fu family should have already returned to the countryside, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

...

"Godmother, tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I’ve brought Junyou over to give you an early New Year’s greeting."

Wu Mei pushed her son in front of Wang Chunxiang.

Cui Junyou made a formal bow and said crisply, "Grandma, I wish you a long life of a hundred years and everything going your way in the New Year."

Wang Chunxiang was a lonely elderly widow, her husband and son died early, and her only daughter married far away in another province. She liked taking in godchildren, hoping to add some liveliness to her surroundings.

Seeing the sweet-mouthed Cui Junyou, Wang Chunxiang handed over a big red envelope.

"My sweet grandson, here’s a red envelope for you, buy some toys with it."

"Thank you, Grandma."

Cui Junyou took the red envelope and bounded around the room like a little rabbit, amusing Wang Chunxiang to no end.

Sitting beside Wang Chunxiang, Wu Mei glanced at the candied apples in the candy dish and couldn’t help but curl her lip.

"Who gave you this candy? It’s clearly cheap street stall stuff. You should eat less of these; they’re bad for your health."

```

Wang Chunxiang glanced at her, "It was brought over by Little Su."

Wu Mei was taken aback and picked up a bag of apple gummies, but when she saw the "Mingzhu" trademark on it, her eyelids twitched.

Wasn’t Shen Mingzhu in the business of making spicy strips and dried tofu? Now she’s making candy as well?

But last time, Shen Mingzhu clearly said she wasn’t familiar with Miss Zhong.

"Godmother, do you know why the second young miss bought candy from this brand?"

Wang Chunxiang took the candy from her hand, tore open the package, and popped a piece into her mouth.

While chewing, she said, "She says it’s a friend’s factory."

"Friend?! The second young miss is friends with Shen Mingzhu?" Wu Mei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Shen Mingzhu: I advise you not to make friends indiscriminately.

"How could it be, how could the second young miss be friends with Shen Mingzhu?"

Wang Chunxiang, facing Wu Mei’s astonishment, said indifferently, "How would I know, that’s just what Little Su said."

Of course, Yan Su would say that. Otherwise, what could she say? She couldn’t exactly say that this was the food factory belonging to the woman her brother had a secret crush on, who was already married.

Watching Wang Chunxiang eat one candy after another with relish, Wu Mei was tempted and couldn’t help but pick one up to try herself.

Once she started eating, she couldn’t stop.

...

After leaving Wang Chunxiang’s house, Wu Mei took her son to visit Ou Liya’s home.

"Teacher Ou, thanks to your care for my Junyou, he was able to receive the title of a triple-A student. This is a little token of appreciation from his dad and me, and I hope you won’t find it insufficient."

Ou Liya tried to decline but eventually accepted it after Wu Mei’s insistence.

Mother Ou warmly served Wu Mei and her son tea along with sugary cakes and pastries.

"There’s Mingzhu candy here too!"

Since he had eaten quite a few at Wang Chunxiang’s house, Cui Junyou was surprised to shout upon seeing the apple gummies on the candy plate at Ou’s house.

"What, you also bought Pei Ziheng’s apple candy?"

Hearing Ou Liya’s question, Wu Mei’s heart skipped a beat.

Three triple-A students were selected this term. One was the principal’s niece, another the bureau chief’s son, and only her Junyou was favored by Ou Liya.

Pei Ziheng’s grades were already better than her Junyou’s. If Ou Liya knew about Shen Mingzhu’s close relationship with the Yan Family, the triple-A student title would definitely go to Pei Ziheng in the future.

"Tch, I had some at a friend’s before, not tasty at all. Such cheap candy, who knows how much flavoring and additives are in there. It’s surprising she could even bring herself to give it away. Teacher Ou, you should eat less of this stuff, it’s bad for your health."

Ou Liya agreed with that statement.

You get what you pay for, and good things are never cheap.

Shen Mingzhu, a rural woman, could only fiddle with these sorts of inferior goods.

Mingzhu had sent her several pounds of the candy, and she hadn’t eaten any. Most of it was handed off to poor relatives in the countryside. The little she kept was just to diversify the selection of candies on the plate; she hadn’t planned to eat it.

Although she looked down on Shen Mingzhu internally, her words maintained an air of righteousness, "It’s not easy for her, doing a small business."

Wu Mei flattered, "Teacher Ou, you are too kind-hearted."

After Wu Mei and her son left, Ou Liya opened a jewelry box which contained a pair of gold hoop earrings the size of little fingers.

"They’re pure gold," Mother Ou said admiringly as she weighed the earrings in her palm, "About three grams."

Ou Liya took off her old earrings and put on the shiny gold ones, then stood up and went to look in the mirror.

She admired the reflection from side to side, her face showing satisfaction.

Mother Ou also came over, examined her daughter’s new earrings, and advised, "Although the Cui Family is just a small business, that godmother of Wu Mei’s is quite influential. It’s all benefit and no harm for you to stay on good terms with her."

"Mmm, I know," Ou Liya acknowledged.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given the triple-A student title, which belonged to Pei Ziheng, to Cui Junyou instead.