The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 329 - 328: Yan Su’s Past

Chapter 329: Chapter 328: Yan Su’s Past

Shen Mingzhu glanced at Zhong Qing on her left and then turned to look at Yan Su on her right. She then raised her arms, embracing both in a left hug right cradle gesture.

Having beauties in one’s arms is just like this.

Perhaps it was a spur of the moment or maybe it was the influence of alcohol, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but burst into song—

Life is just a few autumns long, ah

I won’t rest until I’m drunk

My beauty lies in the east, eh

The Yellow River flows in the west

Come, bring some wine, ah

I won’t rest until I’m drunk

Leave worries and troubles out of your heart

...

Shen Mingzhu’s voice was sweet and soft, yet carried a sense of open-mindedness and optimism, making Zhong Qing and Yan Su lean on her like little birds, entranced by her singing.

When the song ended, Zhong Qing was the first to clap her hands.

Yan Su followed right after.

"What’s this song called?"

Shen Mingzhu thought for a moment and then flashed a smile, "I forgot, I just sang whatever came to mind."

Of course, she hadn’t forgotten that this song was the theme song of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," "The River’s Love Is Even More Beautiful", but in this era, the song didn’t exist yet, and revealing its name would give her away.

"It’s beautiful, Mingzhu, I didn’t realize you could sing. Sing a couple more, I haven’t heard enough yet," Zhong Qing said with a beaming smile.

This time Shen Mingzhu dared not sing randomly and chose Deng Lijun’s "Little Town’s Story".

Although she was not a professional singer, she had been part of a youth palace choir as a child, so she had a good sense of music and a decent voice.

After finishing the song, it was getting late.

Having played all day, and having had some drinks, Shen Mingzhu was feeling sleepy.

But Zhong Qing and Yan Su didn’t want to sleep and insisted she continue singing.

Shen Mingzhu pleaded, "I’m tired, I can’t sing anymore. Why don’t you sing, and I’ll listen?"

Zhong Qing said, "I can’t sing, I can only play the piano."

Yan Su said the same, "I can’t sing either, I can play the violin."

Alright, alright, fine, you are all noble, and I’m the only poor sod who couldn’t afford to learn an instrument.

Shen Mingzhu pretended to be angry, and Yan Su, like an older sister comforting a younger one, patted her on the head, "Want to listen to a story?"

"Yes!"

Shen Mingzhu and Zhong Qing said in unison.

Yan Su took a deep breath and began to recount why she had come here.

When Yan Su was nineteen, she came here with her family for a vacation. She got upset over a trivial matter and ran up the mountain by herself, only to accidentally fall to the bottom of a deserted cliff, breaking her leg.

She lay at the bottom of the cliff for two whole days and nights, so weak from blood loss and the cold that she couldn’t even cry out for help.

Just when she thought she would die in the wilderness, a man saved her.

"...His name was Zhou Musheng, a police officer involved in my rescue. Perhaps because he appeared when I needed him most, I felt attracted to a man for the first time. I boldly expressed my feelings to him, but he rejected me due to the vast difference in our family backgrounds. Later, after my relentless pursuit, we finally got together."

As Yan Su paused, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but turn her head to look and saw that Yan Su’s eyes were already full of tears, her expression reflecting immense nostalgia and sorrow.

Throughout their acquaintance, Yan Su had always been dignified and composed.

This was the first time Shen Mingzhu had seen Yan Su reveal such a vulnerable side.

Instinctively, she lifted her sleeve to wipe Yan Su’s tears.

Meeting Yan Su’s surprised gaze, Shen Mingzhu, feeling embarrassed, drew back her sleeve, "I’ll go get you a handkerchief."

With that, she was about to get up.

Yan Su pulled her back onto the sofa, grasping her sleeves to wipe away the tears, completely ignoring the image expected of a refined lady.

Shen Mingzhu: As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.

Once her emotions had settled, Yan Su continued, "Not long after my 20th birthday, we held our wedding. He had also planned to step back into a secondary role to provide me with a stable home."

"Unfortunately, fate is often envious of the talented. He encountered an accident on his last mission, and at that time, we had been married for less than three months."

Having said that, Yan Su covered her face, weeping inconsolably.

Shen Mingzhu opened her arms to embrace her, whispering words of comfort, while Zhong Qing got up to pour water and brought over a clean towel.

After a good cry, Yan Su was noticeably calmer, but her swollen eyes were still brimming with memories of the past and longing for her lost love.

"Last night, I dreamt of him again, the scene where he carried me out from the bottom of the cliff. So, I really wanted to come and see this place."

No wonder, then. When Yan Su first entered the yurt, the chill in her bones was because she had just come down from the mountain.

"Susu sister, he’s gone now, and you must take care of your own safety at all times. Going into the mountains in this kind of weather is extremely dangerous."

Zhong Qing also chimed in with advice, "Yes, Second Sister, your husband wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger for his sake."

Yan Su, with red-rimmed eyes, looked at them both, appearing a bit aggrieved, "I just miss him too much."

Shen Mingzhu thought for a moment, "How about doing something meaningful in his memory that you can consider a joint achievement? It might make you feel better?"

"Like what meaningful thing?"

"For instance, you could build a school named after him in the place where he saved you, specifically for children who are too poor to afford books, or establish a charity foundation in his name."

After saying this and seeing Yan Su lower her gaze without any reaction, Shen Mingzhu hurriedly added, "I was just speaking off the cuff, Susu sister, please take it as if I was talking nonsense."

"No."

Yan Su lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes now exceptionally clear, reflecting a semblance of relief, "Mingzhu, I think your suggestion is very good. Let’s do that."

Shen Mingzhu was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t expected Yan Su to take her advice seriously.

"So, do you plan to build a school or establish a charity foundation?"

Yan Su countered, "Why choose?"

Wow, she wants to do both as an adult.

Shen Mingzhu silently gave her a thumbs up.

The three of them then focused their conversation on establishing the school and founding the charity foundation.

Shen Mingzhu imagined aloud, "...I think we could build a girls’ school, accepting only female students, and it would be best to provide lodging. Out in the wild, girls are more vulnerable to danger."

Under Shen Mingzhu’s enthusiastic discussion, Zhong Qing and Yan Su soon fell asleep, even emitting faint snores.

You won’t let me sleep, yet you want to dream yourselves, huh.

"Don’t sleep, get up and continue the fun!"

Shen Mingzhu playfully shook the two awake, quickly ran back to her room before they could gather their wits, and locked the door behind her.

Zhong Qing and Yan Su, with groggy eyes, looked at each other with confusion, clueless about what had just transpired.

...

The next day, the three of them slept in until late morning.

After having lunch at the mountain villa, they all returned to the city together, driving Yan Su’s Maybach. As for Ning Yuan’s sports car, it was driven back to the Ning Family residence by Yan Su’s driver.

On the way back, they continued the topic from the night before.

As the conversation progressed and they learned that Shen Mingzhu was studying for her degree through self-taught courses, Yan Su casually mentioned, "Mingzhu, when you have time, you could also learn to drive. Once you buy a car, it’ll be much more convenient to get around."

Shen Mingzhu agreed verbally but did not tell the two that she actually knew how to drive.

In her previous life, she often needed to travel for location shooting. After earning her first pot of gold, she had gotten her driver’s license and even upgraded to a B1 license, preparing to drive a motorhome for her travel vlogs.

It was just a pity that she transmigrated here before she had the chance to buy the motorhome.

Upon arriving home, Pei Ziheng was in the middle of feeding Little Guoguo.

While out playing, she hadn’t felt it, but once back home and seeing her soft, tender daughter, Shen Mingzhu suddenly realized how much she had missed her.

She quickly took off her coat and scarf, washed her hands in the bathroom, and then, unable to wait any longer, scooped up her daughter from the midst of feeding and pressed her own face against her daughter’s, showering her with affectionate kisses.

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