The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 589 - 588: Zhou Shuhuan Returns Home in Glory

Chapter 589: Chapter 588: Zhou Shuhuan Returns Home in Glory

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Looking at the two children in the living room, Shen Mingzhu wiped away the cold sweat with lingering fear.

"In the middle of the night, what are you doing up instead of sleeping?"

Knowing that Shen Mingzhu was frightened, Pei Ziheng hurriedly explained with guilt, "I was worried Fugui would disturb you and Dad, so Guoguo and I planned to carry it upstairs to sleep."

The German Shepherd puppy, which had been released from its cage, was now circling around Shen Mingzhu’s feet, making a whining sound incessantly.

It seemed very happy.

Shen Mingzhu kicked it with the tip of her foot, annoyed, "Little thing, can’t you be a bit more behaved?"

The German Shepherd thought Shen Mingzhu was playing with it, wagging its tail even more joyfully and rubbing its fluffy head against her slippers.

Pei Tang bent down and struggled to pick up the German Shepherd, coaxing it in a baby voice, "Fugui, you have to be good and listen, don’t disturb Mom and make her angry, understand?"

"Whine~"

"Mom, Fugui has promised it won’t make noise and disturb you and Dad’s sleep anymore."

Looking at her daughter’s earnest, white little face, Shen Mingzhu nodded with a smile, "Alright, Mom will trust it this time."

Shen Mingzhu didn’t let her daughter carry Fugui upstairs, worried it might have an accident on the bed and she’d be too lazy to clean up afterward.

She played with the children and the German Shepherd in the living room for a while and then cooked some supper.

The German Shepherd got its share too, eaten the crushed boiled wontons mixed with the soup from cooking them, making appreciative noises.

After supper, when they put the German Shepherd back in its cage, it neither struggled nor made any loud barking sounds.

It wagged its tail gently, its black eyes watching the family through the cage, looking extremely docile.

Shen Mingzhu reached out to pet its head, "Be good, and I’ll let you out to play again tomorrow."

"Whine~"

As if responding, the German Shepherd licked her hand with its tongue.

Two days before Chinese New Year, Shen Mingzhu received some good news.

The judgment for Hong Tai and Tang Jinshui had been delivered.

Hong Tai was sentenced to life imprisonment, Tang Jinshui to fifteen years.

As the head of a criminal organization who had committed numerous crimes, Hong Tai’s life sentence was well-deserved.

Tang Jinshui receiving fifteen years was beyond Shen Mingzhu’s expectations; although he had committed many misdeeds, they were all minor offenses and fell short of murder or arson.

However, Shen Mingzhu naturally welcomed this outcome for Tang Jinshui.

Fifteen years later, times would change, governance would improve, and the people would live in harmony. If Tang Jinshui could keep out of trouble, there would be a way out for him; otherwise, he would surely end up back inside sooner or later.

...

"The judgment for Hong Tai and Tang Jinshui is out..."

After listening to the report from his assistant, Zhang Zhong, Yan Yi took out a letter from a drawer and handed it to him.

"Find a postman, and deliver this letter personally to Chief Justice Teng."

Zhang Zhong received the letter and glimpsed the stamp in the top right corner of the envelope, his gaze freezing.

"Isn’t this the Black..."

Meeting Yan Yi’s serene gaze, Zhang Zhong changed his tune, "Black Pineapple, burning double-eye chili..."

After singing, Zhang Zhong forced a laugh, "I learned it a couple of days ago, how did I do?"

"Don’t sing next time."

"...Okay."

Zhang Zhong carried the envelope out with both hands.

Don’t ask why he held it with both hands, given a choice, he would have enshrined it.

The Black Penny, the world’s first postage stamp, had sold last year in Hong City for a staggering one million.

...

As it got colder and becoming a street vendor wasn’t viable, Shen Baolan found some odd jobs, like pasting lanterns.

Pasting one lantern earned her three cents, which could add up to three to five dollars in a day.

A group of women crowded into a heated room, chatting and joking, laughing and giggling. They were provided lunch at noon, worked until six in the evening, and then went home content.

Shen Baolan looked enviously with the others at a new down jacket that one of the sisters had bought.

```

In the past, people used to buy cotton and fabric to make their own cotton-padded jackets for winter. Later, they started buying readymade cotton clothing, and now, down jackets have become the new trend and fashion statement.

Down jackets are light, warm, and look good, but they’re not cheap.

The cheaper ones cost a couple of hundred, the expensive ones several hundred, but Shen Baolan never could bring herself to buy one.

As she was looking intently, she was unexpectedly slapped on the back.

"What are you doing?"

Shen Baolan turned around, somewhat annoyed, and recognized someone from the family compound. Before she could ask, she heard them say, "Shuhuan’s wife, hurry back home, your Shuhuan has returned!"

Shen Baolan was stunned for two seconds before she understood, dropped everything, and ran.

"Ah, my down jacket, I’m gonna die, why are you in such a rush, like you’re racing to be reincarnated!"

The eldest sister, feeling sorry, picked up the down jacket that Shen Baolan had thrown on the ground, muttering to herself.

...

Shen Baolan sprinted all the way back to the family compound.

It was bitterly cold, the ground was frozen solid after a recent snowfall, and the cold air filled her lungs, making her gasp for breath.

But she didn’t care at all, panting hard and running desperately.

Her man had returned!

Zhou Shuhuan, that damned guy, had finally come back!

...

At the entrance of the family compound, Zhou Shuhuan, brimming with confidence, was surrounded by a cluster of aunties and uncles, all admiring him, as Ma Sufen held his hand, weeping with joy and continually asking if he was cold.

Behind Zhou Shuhuan was a shiny black Santana parked.

Shen Baolan couldn’t believe the scene before her eyes.

Had Zhou Shuhuan really made it big?

Had her dream of becoming a wealthy wife come true?

From the moment she saw Zhou Shuhuan, Shen Baolan was like a soul lost in enchantment, her eyes glued to him and unable to look away.

From the first sight at their blind date, Zhou Shuhuan wasn’t Shen Baolan’s ideal type.

Too short, weak, lacking any masculine vigor, and even their sex life wasn’t impressive, making Shen Baolan disdainful.

But the Zhou Shuhuan of today was completely different from before.

His hair was groomed and shiny, shirt, tie, slacks, leather shoes, from head to toe, even every strand of hair exuded the aura of a successful businessman.

Especially after removing his glasses, even his facial features seemed more pronounced and angular.

This version of Zhou Shuhuan, as if coated in a layer of gold, made Shen Baolan’s heart beat rapidly, non-stop.

She, Shen Baolan, had finally made it!!!

...

As Spring Festival approached, the food factory was on holiday, and Shen Mingzhu had a lot more free time.

During the day, she’d visit the Shen family to check in, and rest of the time was spent taking the children to visit relatives and friends, exchanging social courtesies.

Late in the afternoon, after visiting relatives, Shen Mingzhu returned home and was surprised to find that Pei Yang, who should have been busy in the shop, had come home early and was wearing an apron in the kitchen, cooking dinner.

"Is the shop not busy today?"

This time period was usually the busiest for pager stores.

"Wife, I have good news for you."

Pei Yang turned around, hugged her, and his smiling eyes creased joyously.

Shen Mingzhu asked, "Did you sell out all the goods in the store?"

Pei Yang shook his head, "Guess again."

"Did you win the lottery?"

During this era, welfare lotteries were already available, but they were instant lotteries—you’d buy it and scratch it on the spot.

"No."

After Shen Mingzhu guessed several times without success and started to get annoyed, Pei Yang hurriedly revealed the answer, "Shuhuan is back."

Shen Mingzhu was speechless. "Why are you so happy about his return? The way you’re acting, anyone would think he’s your wife!"

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