The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 293 - 292 Wang Xiuzhu, I Wish You Success

Chapter 293: Chapter 292 Wang Xiuzhu, I Wish You Success

The rest room had limited seating and couldn’t accommodate too many people, so Shen Mingzhu led Zhong Qing and a few others to sit outside.

After making sure they were settled, Shen Mingzhu was on her way back to the rest room to attend to Lin Guofu and the others when Wang Xiuzhu blocked her path.

"You’re in such a rush to come back. Worried I’ll steal your man?"

"If you’re sick, get treated."

Shen Mingzhu snorted lightly and was about to walk around her, but the other woman grabbed her arm.

"Shen Mingzhu, rest assured, I won’t be fighting with you over Pei Yang anymore."

Seeing Shen Mingzhu glance over, Wang Xiuzhu raised her hand, on her middle finger was a ruby ring about the size of a green bean.

"I already have someone."

Shen Mingzhu felt a bit intrigued, curious about what kind of man could catch the fancy of someone as peculiar as Wang Xiuzhu.

Wang Xiuzhu was ready to satisfy her curiosity. "He’s also a sailor, two years younger than Pei Yang, but in terms of ability and capacity he doesn’t lose to Pei Yang at all. He’s already a third officer. After we get married at the end of the year, with my uncle and aunt’s support, he will certainly become the youngest and most outstanding navigator."

To this, Shen Mingzhu had a hard time commenting. As long as they didn’t disturb her family, she was easy to talk to.

"Wang Xiuzhu, I wish you success."

Wang Xiuzhu hummed proudly, "Shen Mingzhu, I’m not like you, selfish and narrow-minded in love. To love someone you shouldn’t trap him by your side, you should let him free to do what he loves, to let him shine in the field he loves. That’s true love!"

"Yes, you’re absolutely right, you’re noble and great, and I am petty and small."

Wang Xiuzhu became even more complacent. "Shen Mingzhu, if you regret it now, I can help you. I can make Pei Yang go back to the distant seas..."

"Thanks for the offer; no need."

Shen Mingzhu flatly refused and did not give the other person a chance to speak, directly pushing the door and entering the rest room.

Wang Xiuzhu glared at her retreating figure, thinking to herself: She doesn’t know what’s good for her, someday she will regret this!

...

With the help of Yan Su, the four extra tables of food were easily managed, and the baby’s one-month celebration was a complete and lively success.

Perhaps hurt by her attitude, Qin Jinlian left in distress after the meal and didn’t even come to say goodbye.

Relatives from her maternal family didn’t dare to bother her either. Shen Mingzhu was glad to have some peace and quiet.

After sending off the guests and tidying up, it was already evening by the time she got ready to head home.

In those times, people were economical; leftovers from the feast were all packed to take home and savored slowly. Shen Mingzhu declined, letting relatives take it away.

It wasn’t that she was picky, but the restaurant food was too oily and salty, and she was breastfeeding, so eating a lot of it wasn’t good for her health.

For dinner, she simply boiled a pot of radish and pork strip porridge and stir-fried a couple of home-cooked dishes.

That night, after feeding and lulling her daughter to sleep, Shen Mingzhu sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, opening the gifts they had received that day.

Compared to the full moon gifts from other relatives and friends, those from the Yan family siblings and Zhong Qing were particularly valuable.

Yan Yi and Zhong Qing sent a pair of gold bracelets and a Mutton Fat Jade Pendant the size of a matchbox.

Yan Su gave a solid gold lock, heavy and at least a hundred grams in weight.

Given the current price of gold, that lock was worth over two thousand yuan.

For the Yan family, this was nothing, but for her it was quite a burden.

But since she had already received it, she couldn’t give it back; she would just have to note it down and look for an opportunity to return the favor in the future.

Just as she was noting down Yan Su’s gift in a small notebook, Pei Ziheng knocked and came in.

"Mom."

Shen Mingzhu closed the notebook, "Son, come here, let mom give you a hug."

She had been busy all day with her daughter’s one-month celebration and hadn’t had a chance to speak properly with her son. She was concerned that he might feel neglected or aggrieved.

Pei Ziheng obediently let her hug him for a while, then pulled out a red string bracelet from his pocket, on one end hung a gold bull the size of a little finger, along with two tiny bells the size of peas.

As they swayed, the bells made a clear and pleasant jingling sound.

"Son, did you weave this bracelet yourself?"

Pei Ziheng shyly nodded; it was his first attempt, and it had taken him a long time to make. He had to practice a lot and wasted many strings before he finally managed to make a presentable one.

Shen Mingzhu had actually noticed earlier. During the time she was at home in confinement, she would go upstairs to help tidy her son’s room and had inadvertently found many failed bracelets in the desk drawer.

"My son is really talented. Mom can’t weave this; will you teach me how to do it someday?"

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"Alright!"

Shen Mingzhu returned the cord to her son, asking him to put it on her daughter.

Little Guoguo was sleeping soundly and didn’t wake up at all, even when her brother slipped the cord onto her wrist.

After adjusting the loop to the right size, Pei Ziheng stared at the pink little baby in the crib, his beautiful lips curving into a slight smile.

"Mom, I also have a gift for you."

As Shen Mingzhu looked at the lilac flower pure gold earrings in the jewelry box, she was extremely surprised and took the earrings to have her son help her put them on.

Seemingly afraid of hurting her, Pei Ziheng took great care to do it, and by the time he was done, fine beads of sweat had dotted his forehead and the tip of his nose.

"Do they look good?"

"They look good."

Pei Ziheng nodded vigorously, his dark eyes unblinking as he gazed at her pale earlobes, where the golden lilac petals seemed to bloom.

Pei Yang came back to the bedroom after washing the diapers and saw Shen Mingzhu opening gifts. He casually closed the door behind him, plopping down beside her with a long arm draped behind her waist.

Just as he was about to speak, his gaze fell on her delicate earlobes.

He reached out to pinch them. "When did you buy these?"

"They’re from our son. Do they look good?"

Shen Mingzhu shook her head and boasted, completely oblivious to how endearingly lovely she looked or the change in the man’s expression.

By the time she realized what was happening, her earlobes had already been taken into the man’s mouth.

Her earlobes had always been a sensitive spot, and being captured by his hot lips sent shivers through her body like an electric current.

Shen Mingzhu instinctively shrank her neck, but the small of her back was firmly trapped by the man’s broad palm, leaving her immobile.

The next second, her world went dark as the scorching, domineering kiss moved from her earlobe to her lips.

Soon, she found herself laid down on the soft bed, and as the buttons of her clothing were undone, the coolness of the air on her exposed skin didn’t cool her emotions but instead created an infinite desire and anticipation.

"Can we now?"

Pei Yang asked from above her, his forehead sweaty and his eyes fiery like a blaze, as if to melt her.

Shen Mingzhu nodded with a hot face.

After sitting out her confinement period, she had gone for a thorough gynecological check-up, and her body was fully recovered.

Her answer made Pei Yang’s breath deepen, and just as he was about to make a move, Shen Mingzhu stopped him with a hand on his chest, "I haven’t taken a shower."

"We’ll shower after."

He was about to bend down again when Shen Mingzhu stopped him once more, "Little Guoguo is here."

Pei Yang turned to look at the crib and got up to pull the curtain between the large bed and the baby’s crib shut.

"Now can we?"

Confronted with the man’s laughter-filled face, Shen Mingzhu felt both speechless and amused.

No wonder the man had whimsically insisted on installing a curtain in the room not long ago, claiming it was to prevent the nighttime light from hurting their daughter’s eyes.

Pure nonsense, it was clearly with ulterior motives.

Just as Pei Yang was preparing for the next step, Shen Mingzhu called a halt again, "Wait."

Pei Yang clenched his molars, a bead of sweat the size of a bean dropping onto her chest, "What now?"

Shen Mingzhu suppressed her laughter and pointed at the nightstand drawer.

Pei Yang opened the drawer to discover a box of little umbrellas inside.

Although he had never used the gadget before, he had seen it while sailing and knew what it was for.

As he unwrapped it, he eyed Shen Mingzhu with a teasing look, "When did you buy these?"

Shen Mingzhu blinked her moist almond eyes and replied, "I went for a check-up a few days ago; I was going to ask the doctor for some medicine, but the doctor recommended these."

"Wife..."

Pei Yang said, leaning into her ear, "There’s something I want to tell you."

"Mmm," Shen Mingzhu responded sweetly.

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