The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 565 - 564: A Woman with Cunning and Brains

Chapter 565: Chapter 564: A Woman with Cunning and Brains

Zhao Yun subconsciously protected his cousin, showing that he had already fallen into the "gentle trap" set by his biological mother, He Liyi.

Seeing this, Pei Ziheng couldn’t be bothered to waste more words, knowing that Zhao Yun wouldn’t listen anyway.

"Tomorrow after school, take me to see Aunt He. We’re good brothers, and it’s only right for me to visit your mom since she’s sick."

Zhao Yun liked hearing that and happily agreed on the spot, repeatedly reminding Pei Ziheng not to mention it to Shen Mingzhu.

"This is also what my mom wants, she’s mainly back for me and doesn’t want to cause any misunderstandings."

Idiot, how else am I supposed to brainwash you?

Pei Ziheng rolled his eyes and formed a preliminary judgment of He Liyi in his mind.

She’s a woman with schemes and some smarts.

The next day.

After school, Pei Ziheng went to buy some pastries and fruits, holding bags big and small in his hands, looking very sincere. Zhao Yun was deeply moved, saying that Pei Ziheng was a truly loyal brother.

He Liyi lived in a state-owned enterprise’s family housing complex.

Pei Ziheng asked with curiosity, "Does your mom live here alone?"

"Yeah."

"Then the rent must not be cheap, right? I heard she isn’t in great financial shape?"

"She used to live in a slum area. Not only was the environment bad, but the public security was also poor, so I helped her rent an apartment here."

After saying that and seeing Pei Ziheng staring at him without blinking, Zhao Yun asked in confusion, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Wondering if you have "Sucker with cash to burn" written on your forehead.

Pei Ziheng then said, "Auntie doesn’t have much time left, you can take her out for some good food sometimes."

Zhao Yun couldn’t detect the probing in Pei Ziheng’s words and thought Pei Ziheng truly cared about his biological mother, feeling very happy inside.

"Don’t worry, I understand. I even hired a nanny to take care of her, ensuring that all her meals are nutritionally balanced every day. I’ve also brought a lot of ginseng, deer antlers, bird’s nests, and other things from home to help her regain her strength."

Pei Ziheng smiled mysteriously, "You’re really such a good son."

Zhao Yun felt pride instead of shame, "Of course, I am."

...

He Liyi was not tall, somewhat plump, dressed in a knit cardigan that was neither new nor worn out, coffee-colored trousers, and her hair pinned up behind her head with a claw clip.

A very typical middle-aged mother’s image.

"Ziheng, come, have some fruit. I’ve always heard about you from Xiaoyun, saying that you’ve been of great help to him. It’s a three-lifetime’s fortune for our Xiaoyun to have a friend like you."

He Liyi was very enthusiastic, not only personally preparing a fruit platter but also lavishing Pei Ziheng with praise.

If it were any ordinary ten-year-old kid, they might have been so charmed by her words that they would have forgotten their own last name.

"Thank you, Aunt He. I heard from Xiaoyun that you’re about to die, so I came specially to see you."

He Liyi’s smile froze for a moment as she scolded, "That Xiaoyun really, I told him not to talk about it."

Pei Ziheng smiled, "Don’t be offended, Aunt He. Xiaoyun and I are good brothers, his matters are my matters."

Zhao Yun hastily nodded, "Mom, Ziheng and I are brothers through thick and thin! Don’t worry, he promised me, he won’t tell anyone else about you coming back and being sick."

He Liyi’s face showed a trace of sorrow, about to start her sob story, but Pei Ziheng interrupted her—

"Auntie He, actually I came today with some good news for you."

"There’s a new drug for treating lung cancer that’s come out overseas, it only needs one injection to clear all the cancer cells in the body, with a cure rate of over ninety percent."

"Really? How can I get this medicine?" Zhao Yun was so excited she nearly jumped up.

Yet He Liyi, the person in question, reacted a bit slowly.

"Is there really such a miracle drug now?"

Pei Ziheng stared straight at her, "There is, Aunt He. Let’s go to the hospital for a check-up. We’ll figure out the diagnosis first, and then look for ways to buy the medicine abroad. Don’t worry, we will definitely find a way to cure you."

Zhao Yun hurriedly nodded her head in agreement.

But He Liyi asked, "How much is this medicine?"

"It costs about two million. You don’t have to worry about the money. Since you’re Xiaoyun’s biological mother, Uncle Zhao will help out for Xiaoyun’s sake and find a way to save you."

Zhao Yun said honestly, "But what if my dad doesn’t have that much money on hand?"

Pei Ziheng smiled, "You can sell the house and the car. If that’s not enough, borrow from a bank. Money can be earned back, but life only comes once. We absolutely cannot just watch Aunt He die."

Zhao Yun felt this made sense.

"No, no, you mustn’t buy the medicine."

He Liyi’s heart was pounding in fear that the two fools would really take out two million to buy the medicine.

Wasn’t that the same as throwing money into water? She hadn’t really been diagnosed with lung cancer!

Thinking this, she showed a guilty expression, "Xiaoyun, you mustn’t buy any special medicine. Your dad doesn’t earn money easily. I’m the one to blame for throwing you at him out of spite. Getting this illness is my punishment from Heaven; I deserve it."

Zhao Yun’s eyes reddened as she listened, "Mom, dad is so capable now; two million is nothing to him. He can make it back in two years at most."

He Liyi thought to herself: If it weren’t for knowing that he is now wealthy, I wouldn’t have come back.

Let’s deal with the younger one first; then I’ll handle the older one.

She knew Zhao Dafa too well - he was all about loyalty and righteousness. As long as she showed genuine repentance and tried hard to please him, Zhao Dafa would surely forgive and accept her again.

"Xiaoyun, listen to your mom, don’t ask your dad for money to buy any miracle drug, or I’ll leave Fengcheng immediately and find a place to live and die on my own."

Zhao Yun became anxious, "Mom, don’t be mad. Even if I ask him for it, he won’t give it to me. He doesn’t even know you’re back, nor that you’re sick. He’s busy looking for a stepmother for me."

On hearing this, He Liyi’s face showed a touch of sorrow, "Don’t blame your dad. He’s had a hard time these years, being both a father and a mother. It hasn’t been easy."

Speaking of which, she looked at Pei Ziheng, "I heard from Xiaoyun that Miss Shen is an employee in your mother’s factory, and that your mother introduced them?"

Pei Ziheng nodded, "Yes, Aunt Hongmei is a bit younger than you, Aunt He, and has a slimmer figure. She’s gentle and generous, has strong work capabilities, and is proactive and ambitious, a truly outstanding person. She’s quite a match for Uncle Zhao."

You little brat, if you don’t know how to speak, then shut up!

The smile on He Liyi’s face nearly cracked, "Is that so? Then I’m relieved. I was afraid Xiaoyun would be at a disadvantage."

"Don’t worry, Aunt He, I’m watching over her. No one will be able to take advantage of Xiaoyun."

Looking into the handsome youth’s deep black eyes, He Liyi inexplicably felt as if she was being seen through, an odd sensation of unease.

But when she looked closely again, the youth had a harmless and beautiful face.

"Aunt He, do you have anything to eat? I didn’t eat much at noon and am a bit hungry."

Zhao Yun also patted her stomach, claiming to be hungry, and specifically requested wontons.

The housekeeper had already finished her shift, so He Liyi could only personally go to the kitchen to cook wontons for the two of them.

After He Liyi went to the kitchen, Pei Ziheng, under the pretense of taking a tour of the house, had Zhao Yun lead him into He Liyi’s bedroom.

After eating the wontons, the two went home.

He Liyi personally escorted them downstairs, repeatedly cautioning them not to tell anyone else about her return and her illness.

Pei Ziheng obediently promised on the surface but, once home, handed over the covertly taken photos of He Liyi, her ID card, and the medicine she was taking to Shi Yizheng, asking him to hire a private detective to investigate.