The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 286 - 285: Discharge, New Home

Chapter 286: Chapter 285: Discharge, New Home

After having dinner with Zhong Qing, Yan Yi returned to the Yan Mansion.

The Yan Family’s dinner was always later, and when Yan Yi arrived, they were still eating.

Seeing Yan Yi come back, Yan Su immediately asked the nanny to add a set of clean utensils, and Yan Yi did not refuse and sat down to join his grandfather and parents for a meal.

Old Master Yan was over 80 years old this year and had been suffering from dementia for several years. His aged eyes stared at Yan Yi for a long time, but he called out his father’s name instead, which no one found unusual anymore.

The old master’s health was not good, and his appetite was poor. Yan Yi coaxed him into drinking half a bowl of soup before he clamored to go out and see the moon.

The nanny moved to attend to him but was waved off by Yan Yi, who stood up to personally push the old master’s wheelchair for a walk in the garden.

After dinner, Yan Su found Yan Yi in the backyard, keeping the old master company.

"Why did you come back today?" she asked.

Yan Yi had gone abroad for his studies at an early age and had set up his residence outside after returning to the country, usually only coming back to the Yan Mansion on weekends.

"Sister, she gave birth to a daughter."

Yan Su was somewhat stunned.

She was not unaware that "she" referred to Shen Mingzhu, but she was surprised that Shen Mingzhu had given birth to a daughter.

"Sister, when you have time, could you help me choose a full moon gift? You are more experienced with this kind of thing."

Yan Su looked at him, "Did you come back specifically for this?"

"Not specifically, just wanted to come back and have a look."

Feeling the loneliness and isolation emanating from her brother, Yan Su couldn’t help but urge him to marry, "You’re not getting any younger. Settle down soon. Zhong Qing is quite a good person, intelligent, gentle, and generous. If you delay for another two years, you’ll turn her into an old maid."

Yan Yi retorted, "What about you?"

Yan Su paused, then said, "I am different from you."

"It’s been seven years, it’s time to let go."

Yan Yi reached out his hand and held Yan Su’s. "Brother-in-law has been gone for seven years now. I am sure he would want you to let go more than anyone else and to start a new life."

"Has it really been seven years already?"

Yan Su murmured as if talking to herself, or perhaps sighing, with tears welling up in her eyes.

How could she let go of the man she dearly loved who left her at the time they loved each other most?

"Su Su, don’t cry."

The old master, who had been gazing up at the night sky, turned his head at some point and shakily pulled out a handkerchief, intending to wipe away Yan Su’s tears.

Yan Su crouched down, tilting her face upward like a child.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

"Good girl."

Just when the siblings thought the old master had temporarily regained his lucidity, they heard him call Yan Yi by their father’s name again and point at Yan Su to ask if she was their father’s girlfriend.

The siblings were resigned as they comforted the old man.

...

In the blink of an eye, Little Guoguo had already been born three days ago.

With the help and guidance of Nurse Yu, the family of three had become adept at feeding, changing diapers, and burping the baby.

During the day, it was mainly Nurse Yu and Pei Ziheng who helped look after Little Guoguo, and apart from breastfeeding, she mostly rested.

But she could not rest well, for relatives and friends came to visit from time to time.

At night, after Pei Ziheng and Nurse Yu left, she and Pei Yang took turns watching the child.

Pei Yang was the most exhausted, busy with the work at the food factory during the day and tidying up their new home, unable to rest properly even at night.

Fortunately, Little Guoguo was quite well-behaved, and aside from eating, she just slept and didn’t cry much.

"The wound is healing nicely, no more bleeding. If you want to go home early, you can go through the discharge procedures this afternoon," the doctor said.

Hearing the doctor’s words, Shen Mingzhu was ecstatic.

She didn’t want to stay in the hospital room for even one more day, poor environment and air quality aside, especially the child in the next bed who would cry loudly every night for an hour or two, giving her a headache and affecting Little Guoguo’s rest.

After the nurse left, she immediately asked Sister Yu to call Pei Yang and have him take time out in the afternoon to pick them up from the hospital.

Thinking of being discharged, Shen Mingzhu felt indescribably happy, and with her health largely recovered, she began to slowly pack up after lunch.

"Why aren’t you resting properly?"

As she was packing, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind her.

Turning around, she saw Yan Su and was not very surprised.

"Second Miss, what brings you here?"

Yan Su looked at the clothes on the bed and the luggage on the floor, "Are you being discharged?"

"Yes, the doctor said I could go home to recuperate, so I wanted to leave the hospital early."

Seeing Yan Su’s distinguished status, Sister Yu eagerly brought over a stool.

"I heard that you’ve given birth and just stopped by since it was on my way."

"Thank you, Second Miss, Guoguo and I are doing very well."

While they were talking, Little Guoguo began to fuss with whining sounds, drawing Yan Su’s gaze towards the baby crib.

Sister Yu bent down to pick up Little Guoguo and, after checking, realized the baby had wet itself. Pei Ziheng immediately found a clean diaper, helped Sister Yu change it, and took the soiled diaper to the bathroom for washing.

Yan Su watched Little Guoguo for a while, then turned to Shen Mingzhu and said, "The child does look a lot like you."

Shen Mingzhu smiled and nodded.

Once the diaper was changed, Little Guoguo, unusually awake, kept his large dark eyes open, looking here and there curiously.

Seeing Yan Su continually watching the child, Shen Mingzhu offered, "Second Miss, would you like to hold Little Guoguo?"

Without waiting for Yan Su’s response, Sister Yu had already passed Little Guoguo into her arms.

From the awkwardness with which Yan Su took the baby and her rigid posture holding him, it was clear she lacked experience.

Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but speak up on how to properly hold the baby.

Once back in the car, Yan Su, in a markedly good mood, instructed the driver to head to Friendship Mall.

Upon entering the mall, Yan Su directly approached the jewelry counter, selecting a pair of gold bracelets for infants and a gold lock.

When it came time to pay, the cashier handed Yan Su the bill to sign, but Yan Su waved her hand, "No need to charge this to my account, I’ll pay in cash."

"Certainly, Second Miss."

...

"Oh my, this house is really nice, so quiet and spacious, it’s a tranquil haven in the midst of chaos."

The moment Sister Yu stepped into the new house’s yard, she praised it cheerily.

Shen Mingzhu also looked around the courtyard curiously. The last time she came, the weeds had just been cleared, revealing bare soil.

Now the soil was planted with various flowers and trees, organically partitioned with brick edges, and the central walkway was paved with new bluestone slabs, providing a stable walk that wouldn’t dirty shoes.

The bluestone path continued all the way to the front door steps. Stepping onto the porch and through the door, they entered the living room.

The interior of the house had been completely renovated, the walls painted a soft white, the rosewood furniture all refurbished with shiny new lacquer, and the floor tiles laid in beige with natural patterns; combined with the red lacquered furniture, the overall style was both classic and generous.

"I haven’t found the right crystal chandelier you wanted; I just installed a temporary one until I can look for more at the lighting market when I have time," Pei Yang said.

Hearing his words, Shen Mingzhu unconsciously looked up.

The living room’s main light fixture was a vintage chandelier with six arms, each ending in a white magnolia-flower lampshade.

"It’s fine, this one is pretty too."

Seeing her pleased, Pei Yang visibly relaxed and then took her to the master bedroom on the first floor.

Off-white wallpaper, light green floral curtains, a walnut bed, wardrobe, tallboy, and bed stool; it was the pastoral style she had imagined.

"How about it, do you like it?"