The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 485 - 484: Zhong Qing is Pregnant

Chapter 485: Chapter 484: Zhong Qing is Pregnant

"Qingqing, you are..."

Seeing Shen Mingzhu staring at her stomach, Zhong Qing gently smiled, "You discovered it."

Shen Mingzhu was both surprised and delighted, "You’re having a baby? How many months now?"

Zhong Qing caressed her slightly showing belly, "Just over three months."

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

Shen Mingzhu, supporting Zhong Qing, motioned for her to get into the car, "Let’s talk in the car, don’t tire yourself."

"Mhm."

From the moment she got into the car, Shen Mingzhu talked nonstop, as if she wanted to pack all of her pregnancy knowledge into Zhong Qing’s head.

It wasn’t until she finished that Zhong Qing explained the reason for the secrecy, "My pregnancy signs weren’t very good, and the elders said to keep it a secret for the first three months, so I didn’t tell you in advance."

Shen Mingzhu nodded in total understanding, "I have heard of this tradition, it’s alright, as long as you and the baby are healthy."

Zhong Qing smiled, "It has stabilized now."

"That’s good, do you want a boy or a girl?"

Zhong Qing smiled, "Why choose?"

Shen Mingzhu hesitated for a moment, then realized, "Are you having twins? Did you do IVF?"

Zhong Qing openly admitted it.

Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but be envious, "That’s great, getting pregnant with two at once, you can avoid going through the pregnancy and childbirth pain twice."

Zhong Qing didn’t feel that pregnancy was that painful, compared to her past when she lived through hellish days, she now felt very happy and fortunate.

"Mingzhu, would you like to be the godmother of the children?"

Shen Mingzhu was flattered, "Let’s not, you all are from a proper, prominent family, I, an ordinary person, am not suitable."

Zhong Qing didn’t insist, "If one day you change your mind, you’re always welcome."

Moved, Shen Mingzhu said, "Then I’ll work hard to earn a respectable family business to be worthy of the title of godmother to your children."

Zhong Qing smiled, "I believe you can."

That evening, when she got home, Shen Mingzhu began to rummage through her cabinets.

"What are you looking for?"

Pei Yang, who had finished an early shift, saw her searching and casually asked out of concern.

"I’m looking for the baby clothes Guoguo wore before turning one year old; I remember I kept them in the wardrobe, but I can’t find them."

"Why do you need those?"

Shen Mingzhu wiped the thin sweat from her forehead, "Qingqing is pregnant, and I plan to give her Guoguo’s old clothes to use."

Old clothes are soft, clingy, and breathable, very suitable for newborns.

There’s also a saying that a newborn wearing ’clothes from a hundred families’ is easy to raise and less likely to fall sick.

For Shen Mingzhu, her daughter’s used clothes were a form of memory and longing. When other relatives had asked in the past, she had not been able to part with them.

"Zhong Qing is pregnant?"

Looking at the man whose mouth almost reached his ears, Shen Mingzhu was puzzled, "Why are you so happy about Qingqing’s pregnancy?"

Of course, he was happy.

Yan Yi and Zhong Qing had even made a child together; hopefully, that meant he wouldn’t focus on his wife as much anymore.

He naturally wouldn’t share these secret thoughts with Shen Mingzhu.

"I’ll help you look."

Pei Yang was exceptionally proactive, turning the bedroom upside down, and finally found those old clothes in Pei Ke’s wardrobe.

Previously, Shen Mingzhu had cleaned out the wardrobe and put her daughter’s old clothes there, forgetting about it for a moment.

Back then, Pei Ke hadn’t returned, and that room was a guestroom, usually unoccupied, so the wardrobe had remained empty.

...

Yan Mansion.

On the living room sofa, Yan’s mother warmly held Zhong Qing’s hand, expressing warmth and care.

Yan Father’s face lacked its usual severity, revealing a touch of pleasantness.

After inquiring about Yan Yi’s baby’s due date, he expressed concern about the whereabouts of Zhong Father and Zhong Mother, "...You’ve been looking for so long, and there’s still no news?"

Yan Mother and Zhong Qing ceased their conversation, both looking towards the father and son.

"No."

Hearing this, Yan Mother immediately patted Zhong Qing’s hand comfortingly, "Don’t worry too much, we will continue to help look for them. If your parents knew that you and Xiaoyi are having a child, they would be consoled."

Zhong Qing’s eyes revealed a faint sadness, but within that sadness was strength, "Mom, rest assured, I know what’s important. I won’t let anything happen to the children."

Yan Mother praised her, "You’re thinking correctly."

Admiration was evident in Yan Father’s eyes too, "Qingqing, regarding your parents, I will have Xiaoyi dedicate himself to the search. No matter how many connections and resources it takes, we will spare no effort."

"Thank you, Dad."

Upon exiting the Yan Mansion, the butler had already parked the car at the entrance in advance.

The two got into the car and drove away from the Yan Mansion.

"I’m sorry for dragging you into my family’s affairs, making you help me deceive Uncle and Auntie."

"When I agreed to help you, I was prepared to face the consequences."

Zhong Qing said, "I will resolve this matter as soon as possible."

Yan Yi pondered for a moment, then said, "There’s no need to rush. With Uncle Zhong and Aunt Zhong around, they act as a deterrent to your uncles. Once that deterrence disappears, the three of you siblings may not be a match for them."

Zhong Qing scoffed lightly, "I don’t care about those things. If it comes down to it, I’ll just give it to them."

Yan Yi said, "With the status of the Yan Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, they wouldn’t dare to easily harm you."

Zhong Qing remained silent.

This was also the reason she chose to collaborate with Yan Yi in the beginning.

She didn’t need a man, nor did she need love, so she didn’t mind that Yan Yi had another woman in his heart.

What she valued from the outset was Yan Yi’s status and background.

This, Yan Yi was very aware of as well.

He needed a wife who would satisfy his parents and the family, and Zhong Qing fit the bill.

It wasn’t a matter of who was using whom, but rather a mutually beneficial and cooperative relationship.

As they pulled up to the Zhong Family’s gate, before Zhong Qing got out of the car, Yan Yi handed her a bank card.

Facing Zhong Qing’s puzzled gaze, Yan Yi explained, "Pregnancy and childbirth are not easy for a woman, and there’s not much I can do to help. This is the only thing I can offer."

"I’ve deposited some money in the card, for your expenses during the pregnancy. In the future, I will deposit a sum each year for the living expenses of you and the child."

Zhong Qing smiled back, "It’s okay, I should be the one thanking you for allowing me to fulfill my wish of being a mother."

Although she had no expectations for love and men, she very much wanted a child of her own.

Yan Yi placed the bank card in her hand, "Here, as the biological father of the child, it’s my responsibility and duty to do this."

Zhong Qing no longer demurred.

"When is your next prenatal checkup?"

"Next Wednesday."

"I’ll pick you up then."

"Okay, goodbye."

Watching her enter the Zhong Family’s gate, Yan Yi started the car and left.

...

"President Shen, Sister Hui is here to see you, saying she has something to discuss."

Shen Mingzhu was reviewing recruitment documents for the new staff at the restaurant’s branches, and it took a moment for Pei Qiuxia’s report to register.

"Which Sister Hui?"

Pei Qiuxia said softly, "The one from Brother Zhao’s family."

Shen Mingzhu rubbed her temples, "Please ask her to wait in the reception room."

After Pei Qiuxia left, Shen Mingzhu finished up her work before going to meet Zhou Hui in the reception

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