The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 612 - 611: The Child’s Trick

Chapter 612: Chapter 611: The Child’s Trick

"Pei Tang, open the door."

Pei Tang was sulking on her bed when she heard Pei Ziheng calling from outside the door, she got up and unlocked her room.

Brother must have come to coax her.

Brother is the best~

Thinking so, feeling wronged, she leaned her body into the young man’s embrace, seeking comfort.

"Brother?"

Gazing at Pei Ziheng, who pushed her away, Pei Tang’s tear-streaked face was filled with confusion and astonishment.

"You know what? Mom and I dislike you too. You’re spoiled, willful, and naughty. If this family didn’t have you, we’d all feel so relieved."

Facing Pei Ziheng’s unprecedented coldness, Pei Tang burst into loud wails.

"Wuu wuu wuu..."

Looking down at his sister, crouching on the ground and crying her heart out, Pei Ziheng felt an unbearable pain in his heart, as if it were bleeding.

This was the sister he had cherished and pampered since she was little—hurting her a little bit caused him tenfold pain.

Even if the sister made enemies with the whole world, he would still dote on her, but she must not act that way toward their mother.

Mother was his bottom line, untouchable by anyone, including himself.

Hearing the crying from upstairs, Shen Mingzhu’s heart tightened. She wanted to go up and check several times, but recalling her son’s firm request for her to leave this matter to him, she restrained herself with effort.

Deciding it was better not to hear and not to be troubled, she picked up the watering can and went into the yard to water the flowers and fruits.

Even though she had remarried a wealthy man, Cui Lianying was still frugal at heart. She built trellises in the yard for various melons and tomatoes and even planted two old grapevines for Pei Tang, who loved grapes.

Upstairs.

It was only after Pei Tang cried herself out that Pei Ziheng bent down to squat beside her and asked softly, "Did it hurt you when I said I disliked you?"

"Mom feels the same way. When you yell at her and say you hate her, it hurts her a hundred times more than you’re feeling now."

Pei Ziheng used this fact to teach Pei Tang a lesson — being stabbed with a knife is very painful.

"Tell me, do you really hate Mom?"

Under his insistence, Pei Tang shook her head while sobbing.

The girl’s mouth was turned down, her eyes and nose red, a spitting image of misery.

Pei Ziheng pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears and snot.

Midway through, Pei Tang grabbed his hand, "Brother, what you said just now, was it true? Do you and Mom really hate me?"

"Of course not, I was lying to you."

Pei Ziheng affectionately pinched her nose and then picked her up, taking her to the study room across the hall. He searched out old photos and told her about how difficult it was for Shen Mingzhu when she was pregnant with her, how painful the birth had been, and how hard it was to raise her to this point.

"...Every time you got sick, Mom would stay up all night by your side, afraid to sleep, worried you’d get cold in winter and too hot in summer, scared you’d get kidnapped by bad people outside, and anxious about you getting into trouble and hurting yourself at home. She’s always concerned about you."

"Even a little cut on your finger hurts a lot, but your life was exchanged for a piece of flesh from Mom’s body. Your healthy growth is the fruit of Mom’s blood, sweat, and tears."

"You might not like doing chores, but you must never speak harshly to Mom or make her upset. Because she’s the only person in this world who loves you the most without expecting anything in return."

Flipping through the old photos in the album, and seeing the process from her mother’s pregnancy to her own birth, Pei Tang couldn’t help but cry.

But this time, it wasn’t because she felt aggrieved, but because of shame and regret.

"Mom, I’m sorry."

"I know I was wrong, I won’t make you angry anymore."

Watching her daughter bravely admitting her mistakes in her arms, Shen Mingzhu felt all the negative emotions that had built up in her heart vanish instantly.

"My baby, your courage surprises and makes Mom proud, I believe you can do it."

Pei Tang lifted her little head from her embrace, her wet, deer-like eyes clear and pure, filled with admiration for her.

"Mom, I was lying to you earlier, I don’t hate you at all, I love you, I really, really love you~"

"Mom feels the same~"

"Mom, would you be willing to do anything for me?"

"Of course."

"Then, Mom, you should help me clean up with me. You said you love me and that you’re willing to do anything for me. You wouldn’t lie to me, right?"

"..."

Seeing Shen Mingzhu unable to speak, Pei Tang laughed with great joy.

Shen Mingzhu just smiled without a word.

She had eaten more salt than her daughter had eaten rice, so how could she not see that her daughter was setting a trap for her?

If she were to just help out, the child would only take it for granted.

...

With breaks in between, they were busy until five in the afternoon, and they finally finished cleaning inside and out.

But looking at their home, now sparkling and fresh, the three family members all felt an extra sense of accomplishment.

After catching their breath, Shen Mingzhu took out twenty yuan and handed it to her daughter, "This is your pay for your work today. Grandma Yu and Aunt Cui earn two hundred a month, and based on working days, it’s eight yuan and three a day, so I rounded it up for you."

"Thank you, Mom!"

Pei Tang was very happy.

Although twenty yuan was nothing compared to her New Year’s money, it felt extremely precious and fulfilling because it was the first time she had earned money through her own labor.

Shen Mingzhu took the opportunity to tell her daughter that people can choose to enjoy the lifestyle they like, but the prerequisite to enjoyment is to first put in the effort.

Twenty yuan was enough for McDonald’s, but Pei Tang was reluctant to spend it.

Having profoundly experienced the difficulty of earning money, she wanted to save it.

Shen Mingzhu, however, did not agree with her daughter’s idea.

While saving money is necessary, people should learn to enjoy the present, to live each day well, and not leave regrets.

"When you’re 30 and you buy what you wanted at 18, or visit the places you wanted to go at 20, you’ll find that the thrill is already gone."

"There is no such thing as ’plenty of time’ in this world, only unpredictability."

After Shen Mingzhu explained this, Pei Tang decided to stick to the original plan and go to McDonald’s, which she had been looking forward to for several days.

Pei Tang also made a point of inviting Zhao Yun.

When the siblings arrived at McDonald’s, Zhao Yun was already there, listlessly twirling a basketball on his finger.

He had been practicing basketball outside today and had come straight over upon receiving a call.

Now nearly 1.8 meters tall, he wore a red and black tracksuit and brand-name basketball shoes, towering and cool, attracting the attention of young girls around him.

"Brother Hei Xiong!"

Seeing the siblings walking over, Zhao Yun immediately put away the basketball and walked over.

"Guoguo, when Sister is around, you mustn’t call me Brother Hei Xiong, you know?"

Looking at Zhao Yun who was eager to please with his instructions, Pei Tang blinked, "Did you also call Sister Yang?"

Zhao Yun recently got a girlfriend named Yang Yan, and she was a female academic prodigy.

Zhao Yun was non-committal, "Anyway, don’t call me Brother Hei Xiong outside in the future."

"Then what should I call you?"

"Whatever, just don’t call me dad."

Before his words had finished, Pei Ziheng’s foot came flying over.

Zhao Yun agilely dodged, while pleading, "I’m just kidding, kidding!"

Pei Tang crossed her arms, looking annoyed, "I think ’Brother Hei Xiong’ suits you best!"

"No, no, Guoguo, I was wrong, how about I treat you tonight, okay?"

"I don’t care, I have money!"

"How about I treat you to a movie? Or buy you a new box of paints?"

Pei Tang was about to respond, but her attention was caught by something behind Zhao Yun.