The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 270 - 269: Settling Accounts!

Chapter 270: Chapter 269: Settling Accounts!

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Originally, when everyone saw Ou Liya cry, they all felt that Shen Mingzhu was being too aggressive and unrelenting even though she was right.

But after the mother and son spoke up, everyone started to feel that Ou Liya’s tears were somewhat artificial.

The most embarrassed was Ou Liya, who was in a dilemma whether to cry or not, her face turning from red to pale and then red again, which was quite a scene.

At that moment, Zhao Yun’s homeroom teacher came over with Zhao Yun and Zhao Dafa.

"Ms. Ou, I’m sorry, I am Zhao Yun’s parent, and my son accidentally injured your student Qi Gang. It’s my fault for not disciplining him enough, I will definitely teach this little brat a lesson when we get home!"

Zhao Dafa’s admission of fault and apology undoubtedly made Ou Liya’s tears seem even more ridiculous.

You wrong your own student, scold a parent without clarifying the facts, and you still have the face to cry!?

Zhao Dafa’s attitude in admitting his mistake was positive, and he readily agreed to compensate for medical expenses and reached a settlement with the injured student’s parents, leaving Ou Liya with little to say.

The matter came to a close.

"Ms. Ou, I would like to request a one-week extended leave for Ziheng."

Ou Liya frowned, "Taking such a long leave will delay his academic progress."

"That’s not a problem. For my son, I do not ask for him to be exceptional or perfect, all I want is for him to be healthy and safe, to be happy and worry-free, and to grow up to be an upright person."

These words touched several parents of underperforming students in the office.

They always felt ashamed in front of teachers and friends and relatives because of their children’s poor academic performance, feeling they had lost face. Now, Shen Mingzhu’s words suddenly broadened their perspective.

Zhao Dafa was even more moved and eagerly grabbed Shen Mingzhu’s hand, barely able to contain his enthusiasm, "Well said, a kindred spirit!"

Shen Mingzhu did not care whether Ou Liya agreed or not, and took Pei Ziheng to the classroom to collect his things.

Not long after they left the office, Ou Liya followed them out.

"Mother of Pei Ziheng, although it was not Pei Ziheng who hurt Qi Gang, he is still implicated in this matter."

Shen Mingzhu looked at her, "Ms. Ou, have I offended you in some way? Why must you insist on pinning the blame for a classmate’s injury on Ziheng?"

Ou Liya spoke with conviction, "I know there are some things you parents don’t like to hear, but as the homeroom teacher, I have to do my duty. I warned you last year to restrain Ziheng and not let him hang around underachievers all the time."

"Your Ziheng might have good grades now, but if you continue to indulge him in mixing with underachievers, he will become one eventually, and in the future a scourge to society."

Shen Mingzhu countered, hand on hip, "Ms. Ou, as a teacher, isn’t it too arbitrary for you to determine a student’s future and destiny solely based on their grades? You’ll be a mother someday; can you guarantee that your child will always be at the top of his class? Would you also deem your child as scum if his grades are poor?"

"I have said my piece, whether or not you listen is up to the parents. I hope you won’t have regrets in the future."

"Wait."

Shen Mingzhu stopped Ou Liya, who was about to leave, and said with a quasi-smile, "Ms. Ou, please settle the accounts for this period."

Ou Liya’s expression momentarily stiffened, but she quickly returned to normal, "How much?"

"One hundred and two, but since we all know each other, let’s forget the change, and just make it an even hundred."

Ou Liya was so stunned that her features stiffened, "That much?"

Shen Mingzhu smiled, "Our snack shop is quite expensive. I have to thank you, your mother, and your future mother-in-law and sister-in-law for their frequent patronage. I’ve kept all the invoices for their preorders and pickups. Would you like to come pay yourself, or should my assistant bring them to your office tomorrow?"

Ou Liya clenched her fists, dropped a "I will go myself," and hurried off.

Shen Mingzhu scoffed coldly and continued toward the classroom with Pei Ziheng.

Pei Ziheng occasionally looked up at his mother, his small head filled with big curiosities.

Today, his mother actually didn’t put up with Ms. Ou.

Shen Mingzhu has never been one to suffer in silence. This past year, she tolerated Ou Liya many times for the sake of her son.

But obviously, the other party took her tolerance as a capital to be shameless.

So she no longer needed to tolerate.

Once they reached the classroom and began packing up, many classmates came over to show their concern. Learning that Pei Ziheng was just asking for leave and not being expelled for fighting, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially a few female students, who enthusiastically offered to take notes and do Pei Ziheng’s homework, and also said they would go to his house to give him supplemental lessons.

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Shen Mingzhu felt a pang of emotion over her son’s flourishing luck with girls, her eyes going back and forth among several female classmates, silently gossiping about which one might become her future daughter-in-law.

After packing the school bag, the mother and son held hands and walked toward the school gate.

"Son, are you happy? You don’t have to go to school for a week."

Pei Ziheng nodded, "Yeah, just a tiny bit."

"Only a tiny bit? If I didn’t have to go to school for a week, I’d be over the moon."

Pei Ziheng suddenly became curious and started asking her about her school days.

Talking about her own childhood excited Shen Mingzhu, but she hadn’t even finished talking about kindergarten when the shouting and scolding outside the school gate interrupted them.

"You little rascal, itching for a beating every three days, aren’t you? How dare you break someone’s arm? I think you want to fly to the heavens. Let’s see if I don’t whip you to death!"

Zhao Dafa was brandishing a belt, creating menacing swooshes as he struck Zhao Yun’s buttocks and legs.

Zhao Yun hopped about dodging while talking back, "It’s not three days, it’s been seven days since you last hit me..."

"You’ve got the nerve to dodge."

"I’m not stupid. You hit me and I shouldn’t dodge..."

Watching the chaotic scene between father and son, Shen Mingzhu didn’t know whether to intervene, especially since Zhao Yun had gotten into trouble while standing up for her son.

It was Zhao Yun who spotted them first, waving happily, "Pei Ziheng, godmother!"

Zhao Dafa turned his head, saw the mother and son, and stopped what he was doing.

"Brother Zhao, when it comes to disciplining kids, it’s better to talk it out. Just hitting won’t solve the problem."

Zhao Dafa nodded hurriedly, "What Shen Family’s sister says makes sense. This little rascal is all yours then; you help me discipline him properly. I’m off to the hospital to check on the injured classmate."

Without giving Shen Mingzhu a chance to refuse, he mounted his motorcycle and took off.

"Godmother!"

Shen Mingzhu sighed, "All right, head back to class at school."

"The class teacher told my dad to take me home; they won’t let me attend classes."

Looking at Zhao Yun’s face, brimming with indifferent wildness, Shen Mingzhu had no choice but to let him follow her back to the food factory.

Zhao Yun happily moved next to Pei Ziheng, wanting to carry his backpack for him. After being coldly rejected, there wasn’t a hint of dismay on his face.

"Pei Ziheng, don’t be mad at me. Look, without me being your friend, even Qi Gang, that hooligan, dares to bully you."

"Don’t worry; I’ll have your back from now on. If he dares to bully you again, I’ll kick him."

Hearing this, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but chime in to educate Zhao Yun, "You can’t fight. If something happens, you should seek out a teacher or a parent."

"Ok, godmother!" Zhao Yun agreed enthusiastically.

Back at the food factory, Shen Mingzhu let the two kids play on their own while she returned to the office to continue work.

Pei Ziheng took Zhao Yun to a secluded spot to talk, "If you want us to make up, from now on, you’re not allowed to call my mom ’godmother’."

"Why?" Zhao Yun asked, puzzled.

Pei Ziheng responded with a cold expression, "No one is allowed to compete with me for my mom, not even good friends."

Zhao Yun thought for a long while before he agreed.

"So are we made up now?"

As soon as Pei Ziheng nodded, Zhao Yun scooped him up and started spinning around in circles, which annoyed Pei Ziheng so much that he flailed his little legs and kept yelling, "Put me down!"

...

As soon as Ou Liya got home, she threw her purse onto the chair with a thud.

Seeing her venting, Ou’s mother quickly approached to show concern, "What’s wrong, did you run into some annoying issues at school?"

"Isn’t it because of that stepmother Pei Ziheng? She not only put me down in public, she actually had the nerve to make me pay politically correct money, it infuriated me!"