The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 365 - 364 The Shameless People of the Tian Family

Chapter 365: Chapter 364 The Shameless People of the Tian Family

Shen Mingzhu felt something strange in her chest and looked down, instantly becoming furious.

She violently grasped the finger of the person who had touched her breast and twisted it backward.

"Ah—"

A scream like that of a pig being slaughtered rose into the air.

The chaotic scene suddenly fell silent.

"What happened? Hei Houhou, what’s wrong with you?"

The farmhand known as Hei Houhou, holding up his right hand with the twisted middle finger, was sweating profusely from the pain, pointing at Shen Mingzhu with his other hand, "She, she broke my finger!"

Shen Mingzhu glared coldly at him, "Why don’t you tell everyone why I twisted your finger?"

Hei Houhou stubbornly shouted, "You’ve injured someone, and you still think you’re in the right?"

Shen Mingzhu sneered loudly, "Fine, why don’t we go to the police station and talk it over properly? Do you know how hooliganism is sentenced?"

At that moment, someone noticed Shen Mingzhu’s shirt.

Her white cotton shirt sported a distinct black handprint on the left side of her chest.

Hei Houhou operated a tractor, and in those days, tractors were started by hand cranking. He often got covered in black soot, thus earning the nickname Hei Houhou.

On his way to the city that morning, the tractor had stalled halfway, and Hei Houhou had gotten off to repair the front of the vehicle, which is why both of his hands were covered with the oily black grime.

Looking at the black handprint on Shen Mingzhu’s chest, the crowd understood what had happened.

"Disgusting! A bunch of bandits turning to hooliganism in broad daylight!"

"I’ve already called the police, we’ll have you all arrested and reformed!"

The workers exclaimed one after the other, indignant and angry.

The Tian Family was suddenly apprehensive.

Though they were uneducated, they knew that being accused of being bandits or hooligans meant serious trouble was in store.

Tian Dayong didn’t want to escalate the situation either, nor did he dare to offend Shen Mingzhu.

He was counting on Shen Hongmei to make money for his family in the future.

Right away, he dragged Hei Houhou over to apologize to Shen Mingzhu, "My brother didn’t mean it, Boss Shen, you’re a magnanimous person, don’t lower yourself to his level."

Shen Mingzhu remained silent with a cold expression.

Tian Dayong pointed to Hei Houhou’s broken finger, continuing, "Boss Shen, look, you broke his hand..."

Shen Mingzhu smiled coldly, "I can afford the medical expenses, but I wonder if he can afford the consequences of a hooliganism charge!"

Tian Dayong’s face changed, and after hesitating, he raised his hand and slapped Hei Houhou across the face.

Hei Houhou took a solid hit, his face alternating between red and white, but he didn’t dare to utter a word.

"Boss Shen, I’ve already disciplined him," Tian Dayong said, trying to ingratiate himself.

Shen Mingzhu responded with a smile that was not quite a smile, "What kind of discipline is this? A few years back, a hooliganism charge meant at least reeducation through labor. Do you think a slap could offset that?"

Hearing this, Hei Houhou, no longer caring about his injured hand, became panicked and pulled on Tian Dayong’s arm, "Dayong, it was you who asked me to come help. You can’t just leave me to deal with this."

Tian Dayong was also furious, "Did I ask you to come and act like a hooligan?"

Hei Houhou’s face showed his guilt, yet he still argued, "It was just an accidental touch. Yes, just an accident, I was not being a hooligan, don’t wrong me!"

"The police are here!"

Someone shouted.

As everyone turned their heads, they saw two officers riding bicycles towards them.

Looking at Hei Houhou’s pale face, Shen Mingzhu spoke in a cool tone, "You can go tell that to the police, see if they believe you."

"Dayong, what do we do? You have to help me," Hei Houhou pleaded.

As the police officers got closer, Hei Houhou became as agitated as an ant on a hot pan.

Tian Dayong was equally at a loss.

He was a purebred farmer, and he had never dealt with the public security in his life.

His sister had only asked him to bring some people to take Shen Hongmei back, but she never mentioned how to deal with the public security.

Two public security officers stopped their bicycles and sternly questioned the crowd, "What are so many people doing here?"

Not giving the Tian Family a chance to speak, Shen Mingzhu took the lead, "This group wants to forcibly take away a female worker from our factory and has also harassed me."

Shen Mingzhu was not a conservative woman from the old era who would feel ashamed to speak out after being wronged.

Perhaps surprised by her courage, both public security officers couldn’t help but take a second look at her.

Tian Dayong quickly explained that it was a misunderstanding, "Her family has taken our betrothal gifts, she is my wife-to-be, and I am here to take her back to get married."

"You’re talking nonsense!"

Shen Hongmei was so angry that she stomped her foot, "We have already returned the betrothal money to you, we have already called off the engagement!"

"I never agreed to call off the engagement."

"If you didn’t agree to call it off then why did you take my father’s money?"

"I thought that was your dowry. I gave five hundred for the betrothal gifts, and your family made it as your dowry. You are my wife-to-be, so there’s nothing wrong with me taking the money for you, right?"

Tian Dayong was shameless to an extreme, and Shen Hongmei couldn’t reason with him, so she had no choice but to seek help from the public security.

"We’ve already called off the marriage at home, and we’ve returned the betrothal gifts. I have nothing to do with him."

Shen Mingzhu chimed in, "Comrade public security, the Marriage Law clearly stipulates that arranged and mercenary marriages are prohibited. Marriage must be entirely voluntary for both the man and the woman, and no party is allowed to force the other party or any third party to interfere. They are breaking the law, aren’t they?"

The public security nodded, "Correct."

The Tian Family people clearly did not know there was such a law, and they were somewhat panicked at the moment.

With the public security present, Tian Dayong didn’t dare to cause any more trouble. After being reprimanded by the public security, he left in disgrace.

As for Hei Houhou, Shen Mingzhu adamantly refused to reconcile.

Adding up her two lives, this was the first time she had encountered such an incident, and the disgust in her heart was so strong she almost vomited, feeling no need to easily forgive the perpetrator.

Hei Houhou was taken away by the public security.

Groping a breast was not a serious crime, but he couldn’t escape administrative punishment.

...

As soon as the Tian Family left, Shen Hongmei could no longer hold back and collapsed on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

She had nearly been taken away by the Tian Family people.

Shen Mingzhu signaled for the others to return to work at the factory, and squatted down to comfort Shen Hongmei, "It’s okay now; nothing’s going to happen. You’ll stay with me at my home for a while. With me around, no one will be able to touch you."

Under the comfort of Shen Mingzhu, Shen Hongmei’s emotions gradually calmed down.

When she noticed the conspicuous black palm print on Shen Mingzhu’s chest, tears welled up again, "Mingzhu, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault for dragging you into this."

"Don’t worry, he won’t get off easily."

The fingers are connected to the heart; she didn’t hold back at all when she hit back.

Moreover, the village places importance on reputation, and once the news of Hei Houhou’s harassment spreads, he will be pointed at and talked about by the villagers for the rest of his life.

Though she might also be the subject of mockery behind her back, so what?

Life is only a few decades long, instead of caring about this and that, it’s better to care more about oneself.

Seemingly influenced by Shen Mingzhu’s stable mood, Shen Hongmei quickly wiped her tears.

"Mingzhu, thank you. If it wasn’t for you this time, I’m afraid..."

Shen Hongmei’s tears nearly fell again, "Anyway, I’ll repay your kindness for the rest of my life, even if it means working like an ox or a horse."

Shen Mingzhu laughed, "There’s no need to work like an ox or a horse, just do your job well."

"Yes, I will," Shen Hongmei nodded vigorously.

...

Just a few days after the Tian Family caused a scene, news came from the old home that Jia Yuemei had given birth.

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