The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 314 - 313: Reunion of Husband and Wife

Chapter 314: Chapter 313: Reunion of Husband and Wife

The shrill and piercing ring of the telephone drew both Pei Ziheng and Shen Hongmei over.

Shen Mingzhu steadied her heart and answered, "Hello?"

"It’s me."

Upon hearing the familiar, warm voice on the other end of the line, Shen Mingzhu’s heart skipped a beat, "Have you found it?"

"Yes. I’m driving over to pick you up, wait for me at the entrance in twenty minutes."

"Okay."

"Mom, are you going out?"

As soon as Shen Mingzhu hung up the phone, Pei Ziheng couldn’t wait to speak, "I’ll come with you."

Shen Hongmei immediately voiced out, "Did they find the counterfeit workshop that’s impersonating us?"

"It seems so."

Shen Mingzhu nodded and said to both of them, "Hongmei, bring your coat and come with me."

After saying this, seeing Pei Ziheng’s face fall, Shen Mingzhu got up and went over to gently soothe him by squatting down, "Son, can you stay at home and take care of your sister?"

"Got it."

Seeing her son’s reluctance, Shen Mingzhu touched his cheek, "You’re still young, it’s safer at home. When you’re a little older, you can help Mom with her work."

He wasn’t small anymore, he would be seven soon.

Pei Ziheng grumbled in his heart, but turned to help Shen Mingzhu with her coat, scarf, and handbag.

It was already mid-November, and it became bitterly cold at night, especially with the north wind blowing these past few days, the wind carried a bone-chilling cold that seemed to seep into one’s bones.

Yan Yi had timed Shen Mingzhu’s departure to avoid her getting cold, but how could Shen Mingzhu sit still at home? She was desperate to expose the mastermind behind this and give them a good transformation, to rescue Pei Yang and bring him home.

After waiting in the cold wind for over ten minutes, Yan Yi finally arrived.

"Did you find the location where they’re making the fakes? Where is it?"

As soon as she got in the car, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t wait to ask.

Yan Yi looked back at her face, which had turned pale from the cold, started the car, and briefly explained the situation.

The area was an urban village, not only was the environment filthy, chaotic, and poor, but the housing structures were also complex with shanties and illegal constructions everywhere, reeking to high heaven and rendering the police dogs useless.

In the end, it was through the village committee and cooperating with the local police station responsible for the security of that area that they conducted a covert investigation and found a total of three illegal workshops.

"... All three illegal workshops have been sealed off, and the responsible parties have been taken to the police station for investigation," he continued.

Shen Mingzhu hadn’t expected the situation to be far more complex than she had imagined.

Such shady workshops hidden in the dark, if not for the police dogs and Yan Yi’s help, she might never have found them in her lifetime.

"That’s great, does that mean Brother Yang can be released now?"

In the silent car, Shen Hongmei’s voice rang out joyfully.

Shen Mingzhu turned to look at Yan Yi, who was driving, her voice filled with sincerity, "Thank you, we really appreciate your help this time."

Yan Yi smiled back at her through the rearview mirror, "It’s a small matter, don’t worry about it too much."

To her, it wasn’t a small matter, but a major issue concerning the safety of her husband.

Shen Mingzhu looked out at the deep night through the car window, clenching her fists with that thought.

...

Watching the jeep disappear into the night, Pei Ziheng’s pale face flashed with annoyance.

When he gloomily returned to the living room on the first floor, the phone suddenly rang.

It was Shi Yizheng calling, "Xiaopei, I’ve got an address from Hong Jinbao. Get a pen and write it down."

Pei Ziheng’s lips tightened unhappily, "There’s no need. A friend of my mom’s has already found the place."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yizheng on the other end of the phone breathed a sigh of relief, "That’s good then. So we’ll leave Hong Jinbao alone for now?"

Pei Ziheng’s dark eyes stared out the window, a cold light flickering deep within, "Uncle Shi, help me with one more thing..."

Wang Hongcheng, that bastard, had harmed his family time and again, and he certainly would not let him off easily.

...

The jeep quickly arrived at the police station that was dealing with the black workshop.

They got out of the car and followed Yan Yi into the station, where a person who looked like a leader personally received the three of them.

The interrogation was ongoing, so they could only wait.

In a blink of an eye, it was eleven o’clock. Yan Yi went out for a bit and returned with Ning Yuan, who was carrying some late-night snacks in his hand.

"Have some porridge to warm up. We don’t know how long we’ll be waiting."

Yan Yi, the gentleman, placed two bowls of shredded chicken porridge in front of her and Shen Hongmei.

Shen Mingzhu hadn’t eaten much for dinner, and with the cold weather, the steaming fragrant porridge truly made her feel hungry.

"Thank you."

Shen Hongmei bowed her head and took a sip of the porridge, then raised her head as if she had discovered a new continent. "My god, this porridge is so fragrant!"

Yan Yi and Ning Yuan across from them were amused and laughed, while Shen Mingzhu slapped Shen Hongmei without looking. "Don’t talk while eating."

"Oh."

Shen Hongmei continued to eat heartily with her head down.

Shen Mingzhu, as a food blogger, was always picky about food, but she had to admit that the porridge indeed tasted very good.

"Mingzhu, what is this? It’s fragrant and smooth; it feels even better than meat."

"Matsutake."

"What’s matsutake?"

"A kind of mushroom."

"Oh."

Although the two of them were speaking softly, the break room was only as big as the palm of a hand, so it was impossible for Yan Yi and Ning Yuan not to hear.

Ning Yuan joked, "Wow, Shen Mingzhu, you really know your food."

Shen Mingzhu thought to herself that she not only knew how to eat, but she also knew how to cook. However, she simply explained, "I had it once before with Qingqing at Shanzhen Pavilion."

"Shanzhen Pavilion, huh? That’s my friend’s place. Next time you go, just let me know in advance and I’ll have him reserve some good stuff for you."

Shen Mingzhu responded with a smile but didn’t take the casual remark to heart.

After they finished their porridge, they waited for almost another hour before the door to the break room was finally opened.

One of the owners of the three black workshops identified Hong Jinbao, saying he had counterfeited a batch of Mingzhu spicy strips and dried tofu for him a few days ago.

The police responsible for the case found unused packaging bags with the Mingzhu trademark in his workshop.

With the evidence of both testimonies and physical objects, the police station had already set out to make an arrest.

By the time Shen Mingzhu arrived at the police station where Pei Yang was being held, ready to take Pei Yang home, she learned that Pei Yang had already been released half an hour ago.

Yan Yi continued to drive Shen Mingzhu home.

As they neared the Pei Family home, they encountered Pei Yang, who was striding eagerly towards home.

The moment the car came to a stop, Shen Mingzhu jumped out and ran towards Pei Yang, her silhouette brimming with joy and exhilaration.

"Pei Yang!"

Pei Yang turned around, his expression a mix of surprise and delight.

Yan Yi watched the closely embraced pair on the sidewalk for a good while before he withdrew his gaze and drove the jeep away.

Shen Mingzhu rested on Pei Yang’s broad shoulders, glanced at the direction where the jeep disappeared, and slightly lowered her lashes.

She was not a dull woman; it’s just that some feelings were doomed never to be reciprocated.

In the jeep, Ning Yuan casually glanced at Yan Yi, "Sending her right to her man and watching their family reunion, all lovey-dovey, how do you feel?"

Yan Yi, eyes on the road, spoke indifferently, "If you don’t want to be kicked out of the car, talk less."

Ning Yuan wisely made a zipping motion across his lips.

...

At Shi Yizheng’s home.

Shi Yizheng, with an air of secrecy, asked Hong Jinbao, "Little brother Jinbao, want to get rich?"