The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 252 - 251 New Year’s Eve

Chapter 252: Chapter 251 New Year’s Eve

Today is New Year’s Eve, and after eating breakfast, Shen Baolan started preparing for the evening’s New Year’s dinner, with no time to step out for a chat. It wasn’t until an old sister with a good relationship with Ma Sufen came to her that she learned Shen Mingzhu had run into trouble.

Shen Mingzhu’s bustle was something she naturally did not want to miss, so she hurriedly left the house.

However, Shen Baolan had only heard the beginning of the story, not the follow-up, thinking to herself that Shen Mingzhu had caused harm to someone’s son and daughter-in-law—could it be she would now have to eat prison rice?

Therefore, seeing the public security officers, her first reaction was that Shen Mingzhu had been taken away by them.

Upon receiving a negative response, Shen Baolan couldn’t help but feel greatly disappointed.

Learning that the drama had already dispersed and there was no excitement left to watch, she had no choice but to gloomily make her way back home.

Being visited by troublemakers during such a festive time, Pei Yang must be furious, she thought; maybe the couple is even having a fierce argument right now.

Thinking of this possibility, Shen Baolan couldn’t help but laugh with schadenfreude.

...

"Have they left?"

Pei Yang returned to the living room, seeing mother and son sitting side by side on the sofa, eagerly looking up at him, and he couldn’t help but smile.

"It’s all right, they won’t come again."

Shen Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, but her mood was still greatly affected, feeling suffocated and uncomfortable.

Seeing her in a bad mood, Pei Yang stopped cleaning and stayed with her to comfort her.

"Don’t think too much; Hu Guifen brought it upon herself. The Fu Family came to make trouble simply wanting to reap some benefits."

Shen Mingzhu felt dejected: "Although Hu Guifen is certainly unforgivable, I too was negligent. In the end, it was my complacency that gave her the opportunity."

At this, Pei Yang took the opportunity to discuss the security issues of the food factory with her.

Pei Ziheng sat quietly and obediently, appearing to be listening attentively to the adults, but beneath his gaze, there was an undercurrent in his eyes.

He had originally intended to temporarily distract the Fu Family with Shi Guangsheng, to prevent Shi Guangsheng from having crooked thoughts about the food factory. He didn’t expect Shi Guangsheng to be more ruthless and heartless than he had imagined.

It seemed his plan needed to be brought forward.

...

Pei Yang had been a soldier, been on the battlefield, and had worked as a sailor for several years. He had more experience and insight into safety protection than she did, and the ideas and suggestions he put forward were all very good.

After their talk, Shen Mingzhu’s mood also improved considerably.

Lunch was simple: sour soup wontons. Since falling pregnant, Shen Mingzhu developed a taste for sour foods, and Pei Yang indulged her, ensuring every meal had some dish with a sour flavor.

Shen Mingzhu was happy while eating, but afterward, she began to worry again.

They say eating sour indicates a boy, and eating spicy a girl, but in her heart, she hoped for a daughter, and Pei Ziheng also dearly wished for a baby sister.

Pei Yang, on the other hand, wasn’t picky and, in his own words, even if Shen Mingzhu gave birth to an egg, he would love it.

...

After lunch, Pei Yang started kneading and rolling out dough.

After the dough was ready, Shen Mingzhu sat with Pei Ziheng on the sofa, wrapping dumplings while watching TV. Meanwhile, Pei Yang prepared for the evening’s New Year’s dinner by slaughtering chickens and fish.

Night fell, and the sound of fireworks and crackers reverberated continuously outside, while the family of four sat around the dining table, enjoying a blissful and delicious New Year’s dinner.

Shen Mingzhu raised her glass first, "Happy New Year! With water in place of wine, I wish the two big and small men of our family health and success in the coming year."

Pei Yang held up his wine glass in response, his handsome face beaming with a deep smile, "I wish my wife happiness every day, and may you grow ever more beautiful."

After speaking, he turned to Pei Ziheng, "I wish my son health and safety."

Pei Ziheng held up his juice, a rare joyful smile appearing on his fair and lovely little face.

"Dad, Mom, and my baby sister, Happy New Year. May our family of four always be together."

Ding~

The glasses clinked together, with fireworks blazing outside the window, as the wheels of fate quietly began to turn.

...

After the New Year’s dinner, Shen Mingzhu took out the red envelopes she had prepared for New Year’s money.

One for each father and son.

"Thank you, wife!"

Looking at her husband’s face beaming with smiles, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but recall last year’s New Year’s Eve.

The man was smiling just like now, giving her a New Year’s red envelope with doting eyes and brows.

Back then, he was spirited, strong, and domineering, the youngest and most competent second mate.

Time and circumstances had changed, and he had acquired many more roles.

A husband who cooked soup for her, a capable assistant in her career, and the father of the little life in her womb.

He could have chosen not to give up his esteemed profession and glory, but between family and career, he chose her.

He never voiced his love, yet he did everything that showed he loved her.

Shen Mingzhu opened her arms and embraced the person before her.

"Pei Yang, thank you. And, I..." love you.

The sudden burst of fireworks outside the window drowned out Shen Mingzhu’s confession.

By the time the fireworks had ended, and Pei Yang asked her again, Shen Mingzhu was unwilling to repeat it.

"It’s nothing."

"There is something. You definitely said something, I couldn’t hear it clearly, say it again."

Pei Yang stubbornly persisted, insisting on understanding, intuitively feeling it was important.

Pei Ziheng watched his dad, as dumb as a pig, shake his head, and took out the gift he had prepared.

"Mom, this is your New Year’s gift."

Shen Mingzhu opened the box to find a pearl bracelet.

White pearls the size of red beans, two delicate strands, ending in a silver butterfly clasp, exquisite and gentle.

"Did you buy this? Where did you get the money?"

Though the size and quality of the pearls meant the price wouldn’t be too steep, it was still too expensive for a first-grade elementary school student.

"I bought it with the New Year’s money and pocket money I saved up," said Pei Ziheng, blinking.

What mother wouldn’t be overjoyed if her son secretly saved up money to buy her a gift?

Shen Mingzhu was happy in her heart, but she teased on purpose: "This gift wasn’t cheap, did it use up all your savings? Don’t you feel bad?"

Pei Ziheng’s dark eyes shone bright, "As long as mom likes it."

"Like it, I really really like it; here, can you put it on for me?"

"Okay."

Shen Mingzhu’s skin was fair, which complemented the lustrous pearls beautifully, and it looked very pretty on her.

Shen Mingzhu happily swung her wrist, her joy was evident.

Seeing his wife happy, Pei Yang felt joy in his heart, but couldn’t help a touch of sourness.

"You only give gifts to your mom, what about me?"

Pei Ziheng looked at him and said, "Dad, I have prepared two blessings for you."

"Let’s hear them."

"Wishing you wealth, now hand over the red envelope."

"..."

The rascal!

Pei Yang cursed as he took out the New Year’s red envelopes he had prepared in advance.

The next day, New Year’s Day.

After breakfast, Shen Mingzhu and her son and husband dressed neatly and left the house to pay a New Year’s visit to the Chen Family.

"Sister, happy New Year, we’ve come to pay a New Year visit."

Seeing the neat and complete family of four, Pei Wenping was ecstatic, hurriedly inviting them inside.

She chided Pei Yang, "It’s so cold, why did you bring Mingzhu out? Aren’t you afraid of her and the baby getting cold?"

Shen Mingzhu smiled and spoke in Pei Yang’s defense: "It’s fine, I’m dressed warmly and won’t catch a cold."

Pei Wenping pinched her hand, feeling that it wasn’t cold and finally felt relieved, then asked with concern if she had felt any morning sickness these past few days.

Shen Mingzhu, though having a somewhat unstable pregnancy due to overexertion, didn’t experience morning sickness and her appetite was good, which was a silver lining amidst misfortune.

Visiting the Chen Family on New Year’s Day served not only as a tradition but also as a gesture of gratitude.

Whether it was the food factory issue or Shen Mingzhu’s pregnancy, Pei Wenping and the Chen Family had always been supportive.

This kindness, both she and Pei Yang would forever hold in their hearts.

Apart from visiting the Chen Family, Shen Mingzhu did not personally visit other relatives and friends for New Year’s, as she needed more rest and care for her pregnancy and should avoid tiring herself out.

Also, with the roads being slippery from the snow, staying indoors was safer.

Though Shen Mingzhu wasn’t physically present, the New Year’s gifts were prepared abundantly.

Besides tobacco and alcohol, there were candy boxes and pastries she made herself.

The candy box contained not only apple gummies but also hawthorn, orange, and banana-flavored gummies.

In the pastry box, there were flower cakes, egg yolk pastries, snowflake pastries, and walnut pastries.

Shen Mingzhu’s hand-crafted pastry gift boxes were meant to compensate for her absence, and she never expected they would be met with such an unexpectedly delightful response.