The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 343 - 342: Chen Yi Comes to Apologize

Chapter 343: Chapter 342: Chen Yi Comes to Apologize

Zhou Hui said this while carefully watching Zhao Dafa’s expression.

Seeing no reaction from Zhao Dafa, she pretended to joke, "If one didn’t know better, they might think you picked this time on purpose to wait for us to visit."

Zhao Dafa also laughed, "According to you, Mingzhu must be a master fortune teller who precisely predicted our visit on the first day of the new year."

Zhou Hui glanced back at Zhao Yun behind her, "Maybe Xiaoyun let something slip."

"Auntie Hui, you can’t wrong me like that. I went to bed early last night and only woke up when you guys were about to leave this morning."

"Besides, it’s just two red envelopes. My dad doesn’t lack this little bit; look how upset you are about it."

Zhao Yun directly called out Zhou Hui’s thoughts, not giving her any face.

Zhou Hui laughed awkwardly searching for an excuse, "You child, that’s not what I meant. It’s just strange to chat with your dad about it, just don’t go telling Ziheng about this."

Zhao Yun rolled her eyes, "I’m not as brainless as Liang Xiaowen. Plus, Ziheng is my sworn brother. I’d happily give all my New Year’s money to him."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hui internally cursed the stepson for being a brainless dummy, easily coaxed into splashing out money, and continued jokingly, "Then would you spend your New Year’s money on Xiaowen?"

"No way!"

Zhou Hui choked a bit and then turned to Zhao Dafa to seed some doubts, "Dafa, you hear that? Xiaoyun, this child is too straightforward."

Unspoken was the implication that Zhao Yun was naive and being manipulated by the Pei Family; if this continued, she’d definitely suffer a great loss.

Zhao Dafa, whether he understood or not, casually said, "I’m at ease with Xiaoyun playing with Ziheng."

Zhou Hui quietly fumed at the father and son’s imperviousness but was powerless to change it.

...

At the Pei Family’s place.

Not long after the Zhao Family left, the Chen Family arrived to offer New Year’s greetings.

Chen Yi’s father, mother, Chen Yi himself, as well as Chen Liang and Yi Ling, the whole family came in full array, bringing with them many gifts.

Guessing the Chen Family’s purpose, Shen Mingzhu asked Pei Ziheng to take the twins and play upstairs.

After everyone was seated, Chen Yi’s father took the lead in apologizing, reflecting on his inadequate parenting, and assured Pei Wenping and her brother Pei Yang that such an incident would not happen again.

There was no denying that Shen Mingzhu appreciated the Chen Family’s attitude in admitting their faults.

However, whether or not to go back with the Chen Family still depended on Pei Wenping’s own decision.

"Wenping, can we talk?"

Facing Chen Yi’s request, Pei Wenping didn’t make a sound, just calmly stood up and walked toward the guest room.

Chen Yi hurriedly followed.

...

In the living room, the Chen Family members seemed to have agreed on a strategy; they took turns putting their best foot forward, pleading on behalf of Chen Yi, with the underlying hope that the family would not be torn apart.

In this matter, Shen Mingzhu had no real say.

She was just a member of the family by marriage, listening silently as Pei Yang dealt with the Chen Family’s members.

She also couldn’t help wondering what she would choose if she were in this situation.

Not to divorce was troubling herself; to divorce was failing her children.

It seemed like either choice was a dilemma.

So indeed, men who can’t control their lower halves really ought to drop dead.

Pei Yang was speaking with Chen Yi’s father when he suddenly sensed something and turned his head, locking eyes with his wife’s chilly, murderous glance.

Pei Yang questioned with his eyes: What’s wrong?

Shen Mingzhu looked away, acting as if she didn’t want to bother with him.

Pei Yang could guess the reason and silently added another mark to Chen Yi’s account in his mind.

...

In the room.

Pei Wenping and Chen Yi sat facing each other, one on the edge of the bed, the other on a chair.

The atmosphere turned tense for a moment.

Chen Yi looked around the room and asked with concern how she and the children had slept the night before.

Pei Wenping didn’t appreciate it, "Cut the crap, just say what you have to say."

Chen Yi looked at her, his handsome face full of weariness and helplessness, "Do I not even have the right to care about you now?"

Pei Wenping sneered, her anger fully ignited, "If you really cared about me, if you cared about this family, you wouldn’t have gotten involved with another woman! Playing the whore and then playing the saint, what’s this act of consideration, isn’t it disgusting?"

Pei Wenping had always been forthright, but she used to restrain her nature in front of Chen Yi, trying hard to be a virtuous wife and good mother.

Now that Chen Yi dared to wrong her, the fact that she hadn’t cursed him dead was already magnanimous of her.

Chen Yi, chastised, hung his head and sighed, then spoke again with a voice heavy with self-reproach.

"Wenping, I am very sorry and regretful for my betrayal."

"I never intended to betray you and our family, I can’t even explain it, it’s like I wasn’t myself during that time, I had lost my mind."

"Looking back now, it all seems so incredible to me, like I was living a dream."

"But now that I’ve awakened from the dream, it’s over between her and me, she’s gone back to her hometown. The last time we met, I was just seeing her off, we will never meet again in this lifetime."

Pei Wenping scoffed coldly, "Yeah, what an inconsiderate shrew I am, practically tearing apart a pair of lovers."

Chen Yi shook his head, "Don’t say that, Wenping, you are my wife, my lover..."

"Shut up, the word ’lover’ coming from your mouth is only laughable."

Chen Yi lowered his head, falling silent for a long time before speaking dejectedly.

"I know you won’t believe anything I say now, but I am truly sorry and begging for your forgiveness."

"For a man who has made mistakes and wants to find his way back, would you be willing to give me another chance?"

This time it was Pei Wenping who fell silent.

Chen Yi got up and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to hold her hand, but she coldly avoided it.

"Don’t touch me."

"Wenping, can you give me a chance to make amends?"

Pei Wenping stood up, not looking at him, her tone cold, "I’ll go back with you, but it’s for Xiaolu and Xiaochao, not because I’ve forgiven you."

...

Shen Mingzhu wasn’t surprised when she learned of Pei Wenping’s decision.

"Older sister, there are some things I want to talk to you about alone."

Just as Pei Wenping was getting ready to leave with the Chen Family people and the twins, Shen Mingzhu suddenly called out to her.

Everyone looked at her.

Especially the Chen Family, who were extremely nervous, as if afraid that she would say something to influence Pei Wenping’s decision, making her change her mind.

Shen Mingzhu didn’t care what the Chen Family thought and took Pei Wenping straight to the bedroom.

"Older sister, the family compound house has been empty. If you need, you can move there with Xiaolu and Xiaochao anytime."

Pei Wenping nodded gratefully, "Mingzhu, you’ve been through a lot because of me these past days. You didn’t disdain me; I don’t know how to thank you."

"Sister, we are family, there’s no need for such talk. Besides, we are both women; we should support and help each other even more."

"Hmm."

Thinking of what her son said in the morning, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but carefully observe Pei Wenping’s complexion.

"Older sister, have you felt unwell anywhere lately? You’ve looked pale for some time now, and you’ve lost a lot of weight. You can’t fall ill, if you go down, what will happen to Xiaolu and Xiaochao?"

Pei Wenping hesitated, then put a hand to her chest, "Sometimes I feel chest tightness and nausea, I don’t know if it’s from anger."

Could it be a lung problem?

Shen Mingzhu thought to herself and then urged, "Sister, after the New Year’s celebration, I plan to go for a full medical check-up, and you should join me. It’s always good to get checked."

Pei Wenping agreed.