The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 502 - 501 Pei Ke’s Physical Examination Results

Chapter 502: Chapter 501 Pei Ke’s Physical Examination Results

Thinking of getting home early to let her daughter lie in bed and have a more comfortable sleep, Shen Mingzhu bid farewell to Zhao Dafa and drove off first.

Zhao Yun was also extremely sleepy, and he bolted for home like a shot.

Zhao Dafa stared at the tailpipe of the car spewing exhaust for two seconds, then turned to look at his son, who had already disappeared from sight. With a turn he, too, headed home.

"Xiaoyun, wake up."

Zhao Yun had just fallen asleep when his father kicked him awake, his entire body, down to his hair, oozed with annoyance and gloom.

"What is it?"

Zhao Dafa looked down at him from above, "Did Aunt Hongmei really go on a blind date?"

"Mhm."

After grunting, Zhao Yun closed his eyes and continued to sleep.

Zhao Dafa kicked him on the butt again, "How did it go?"

Zhao Yun rolled over and sat up from the bed, angrily retorted, "Turtle sees green bean, they took a liking to each other!"

Zhao Dafa was stunned by his son’s shout, "Alright, you continue to sleep."

After saying that, he waved his hand and left.

Zhao Yun rolled his eyes and laid down to continue sleeping.

Zhao Dafa went to the living room on the first floor, sat on the couch and took out a cigarette, squinting as he smoked.

He still had a good impression of Shen Hongmei, a pretty and dignified girl, earnest and honest, hardworking and ambitious, and his son liked her too. He had considered the possibility with Shen Hongmei.

Just as he hadn’t made up his mind yet, Shen Hongmei had already gone to meet someone for a blind date.

So be it, it seemed it was not to be with him.

Zhao Dafa crushed the cigarette in the ashtray, took his bag and car keys, and went out.

...

Once Zhao Yun woke up, he ran over to the Pei family’s house.

Pei Ziheng and Guoguo had also woken up and were eating yogurt fruit salad prepared by Shen Mingzhu.

"Arriving early can’t beat arriving at exactly the right time, Aunt Mingzhu, could you make a bowl for me too?"

Zhao Yun’s familiarity made Shen Mingzhu laugh, "Alright, wait a moment."

Taking advantage of Shen Mingzhu heading to the kitchen to cut fruit, Zhao Yun pulled Pei Ziheng aside for a whisper, "Ziheng, if Aunt Hongmei and that Uncle Liang hit it off, what’s going to happen with our Boss Zhao? You gotta think of something fast."

Guoguo saw the two of them whispering together and crowded in, her beautiful, cat-like eyes blinking at them.

In a childish voice, she said, "What are you guys talking about? I want to listen too."

After saying that, she puffed up her cheeks, looking irresistibly cute.

Pei Ziheng pulled her onto his lap and scooped up half a strawberry from the yogurt bowl to feed her.

"Ah, open wide."

Guoguo obediently ate the strawberry, her pale cheeks puffing out slightly, and a few dots of milky white yogurt around her mouth made her look like an adorable little hamster.

Pei Ziheng, with tender dark eyes, took a handkerchief to wipe his sister’s mouth, while nonchalantly responding to Zhao Yun, "Why the rush? Aunt Hongmei and that Liang guy won’t end up together."

Zhao Yun’s eyes immediately brightened.

As a close brother, he knew all too well Pei Ziheng’s uncanny ability to predict and ensure outcomes.

If Pei Ziheng said it wouldn’t happen, then it surely wouldn’t.

When Shen Mingzhu brought out the prepared yogurt fruit bowls and saw Zhao Yun looking so happy by himself, she couldn’t help but tease, "What’s making you so happy? Did you find some money?"

"Hehe."

Zhao Yun took the yogurt and gulped down a big spoonful, continuing to speak while eating, "My dad’s buying me a new motorcycle."

Shen Mingzhu casually reminded him, "There are many cars and people on the road. When you ride a motorcycle, you must pay attention to safety. It’s better to be a minute slow than to rush a second, got it?"

"Okay, Aunt Mingzhu, rest assured, my driving skills are top-notch!"

...

As August approached, Guoguo’s third birthday was just around the corner.

Pei Ke also had a birthday in August, three days after Guoguo’s.

This year Pei Ke would turn fifty. Mingzhu originally wanted to plan a celebration, but Pei Ke himself didn’t want one, so she had to respect his wishes. They simply postponed Guoguo’s birthday celebration for three days to coincide with Pei Ke’s.

Even though it wasn’t a large affair, Mingzhu still invited some relatives and friends, filling three tables at the new Shenji restaurant.

Mingzhu specially made a three-layer birthday cake; the lavish meal, combined with the blessings from relatives and friends, made the simple birthday party lively and warm.

After returning home from the meal, Mingzhu and her son both brought out gifts they had prepared for the two birthday stars.

It was Ziheng’s turn.

Ziheng’s gift for Guoguo’s third birthday was a set of 96 color watercolor palettes, including brushes and a drawing board.

Guoguo had shown a love for painting since the age of two. If no one played with her, she could entertain herself for half a day just holding her drawing book.

Although she had many different drawing books, this was the first time she received a proper set of painting supplies and tools; she was so happy that her eyes almost sparkled with stars.

Ziheng’s gift for Pei Ke was a full body health checkup package.

"Uncle, I wish you a happy birthday and good health forever."

"Alright, alright."

Although this gift was somewhat unconventional, Pei Ke was so pleased that he couldn’t stop smiling and agreed repeatedly, then gave each of the kids a big red envelope.

Mingzhu was smiling on the outside, but inside she couldn’t help thinking about the plot in the book.

The book mentioned that Pei Ke died from illness, but it did not specify what kind; after all, the Pei Ke in the book, just like Pei Yang, were both minor characters with little presence, merely tools to advance the plot.

Many serious illnesses show signs years in advance; if they could be detected early through checkups and treated preventively, perhaps Pei Ke could live several more years.

Thinking of this, Mingzhu suggested to Pei Ke, who was helping his daughter open the paint set, "Uncle, I was also planning to take Ziheng and Guoguo for a checkup. How about we all go together tomorrow?"

Pei Ke, unaware of her intentions, agreed with a cheerful laugh.

Ziheng glanced at Mingzhu thoughtfully.

Mingzhu did indeed have the habit of taking the family for annual health checkups, usually at the start of spring—this year, he and his sister had already gone through a health check in early March.

He could sense that his mother seemed to be encouraging Uncle to undergo the health check.

It seemed like his mother also foresaw that Uncle might fall ill.

He had a very capable mother, stronger than all other mothers in the world.

...

The next morning, after freshening up and dressing appropriately, Mingzhu drove Pei Ke and the two children to the hospital.

In the car, Guoguo was held in Ziheng’s arms, pouting with a small mouth and red eyes, complaining about being hungry.

The tests required fasting, so nobody had eaten breakfast or even had water that morning.

While the adults could bear it, Guoguo was only three years old, and a child that age is not willing to suffer any discomfort.

Ziheng and Pei Ke took turns soothing her with patience, telling stories, and promising to buy toys, finally managing to calm her down.

But at the hospital, when it came to drawing blood, Guoguo began to cry again and refused to let the nurse give her an injection.

Despite the efforts of all three, they were ineffective; in the end, it was Li Bing who intervened.

Li Bing had been a nurse for more than a decade and had her own way to handle uncooperative patients; she effortlessly comforted Guoguo, who then obediently let her blood be drawn.

Three days later, the checkup results were ready; Li Bing, who had just finished her morning shift, brought the reports to the factory for her.

"Your and the kids’ reports are fine, but there’s a bit of trouble with your uncle’s."

Mingzhu’s heart tightened, "What kind of problem is it?"

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