The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 668 - 667: Shen Baolan’s Slacker Life

Chapter 668: Chapter 667: Shen Baolan’s Slacker Life

Qin Jinlian counted on her fingers, "Your big brother and second brother have four children, plus two from your family, isn’t it exactly six if we give one to each? I can still do basic math."

While saying that, she gave her a white look, "You always accused me of favoritism, but now I’ve been fair, giving something to each one. You’ve got nothing to complain about now, do you?"

"The fact that you favor your second son is undeniable."

Shen Mingzhu casually retorted, quickly realizing something was amiss.

"Where did big brother and second brother get four children from?"

"Your sister-in-law is pregnant again."

Qin Jinlian was quite proud, "She’s already over three months along, she’ll give birth in half a year."

Shen Mingzhu wasn’t surprised at all.

Jia Yuemei had always wanted a second child, but unfortunately, her previous induced labor had damaged her, and she hadn’t been pregnant for years.

"Your second brother said that this time, no matter if it’s a boy or a girl, he wants to keep the baby. Hopefully, it’s a little boy so that your second brother can have a successor."

Shen Mingzhu was noncommittal, anyhow it was all unrelated to her.

After finishing the conversation about the second son’s family affairs, Qin Jinlian started urging Shen Mingzhu to have another child.

"When do you plan on having a second child? You’re not getting any younger, if you want to have one, you better hurry up."

"Next lifetime."

Qin Jinlian was choked up by her response, but quickly, she joyfully started gossiping with her about another matter.

"Cuihua’s daughter is getting a divorce, isn’t she?"

Shen Mingzhu glanced at Qin Jinlian, "Who did you hear that from?"

"The whole village is talking about it. They say that Zhou Shuhuan wants the divorce, Cuihua’s daughter refuses to agree - this is true, isn’t it?"

Qin Jinlian’s face showed a rich mix of emotions - curiosity, excitement, and schadenfreude.

"I don’t know; you should mind your own business regarding the affairs of others."

Whether it was Shen Baolan or the Zhou family, or Zhou Shuhuan’s new love interest, not one of them was trouble-free. Shen Mingzhu didn’t want to bother with any of them.

Unable to pry the information she wanted from Shen Mingzhu, Qin Jinlian felt a bit regretful, but it didn’t stop her from taking pleasure in their misfortune.

"This must be true!"

"Just like the old saying goes, what’s yours is yours and no one can take it away. She caused you to fall into the water back then, trying to take your engagement away. And in the end? It all came to nothing. She deserves it!"

After reveling in their misfortune, Qin Jinlian reminded Shen Mingzhu again, "You better keep a close eye on your son-in-law, don’t let him end up like Cuihua’s daughter’s husband..."

"Mom."

Startled by the call, Qin Jinlian turned to look and saw Pei Yang standing outside the arbor. Her expression immediately became fascinating.

It was a mix of embarrassment and the guilt of being caught talking behind someone’s back.

"Guoguo’s dad, why don’t you come in and sit? Why stand outside?"

Pei Yang stepped into the arbor and sat next to Qin Jinlian.

Qin Jinlian conveniently took a slice of watermelon from the table and handed it to him, with a touch of ingratiating intent.

Pei Yang caught the watermelon and said, "Mom, I happened to overhear a few things you said to Mingzhu."

Qin Jinlian immediately forced a laugh, "We were just chatting nonsense, don’t take it to heart..."

"Mom."

Pei Yang interrupted her, "I might have pretended I didn’t hear it if that were true, but since I did hear it, I can’t just turn a deaf ear."

Before Qin Jinlian could respond, she saw Pei Yang raise his right hand solemnly as if swearing an oath—

"With heaven above and the thick earth below as my witness, I, Pei Yang, in this lifetime, will not fail Shen Mingzhu. She is and will be my one and only wife. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and not die a good death."

"Mom, does that put your mind at ease?"

Qin Jinlian looked at her son-in-law, who was utterly earnest, and for a long time, she couldn’t find the words to speak. Eventually, she made an excuse about cooking and walked away with her tail between her legs.

As soon as Qin Jinlian left, Pei Yang took her place, getting closer to Shen Mingzhu.

"Wife, everything I said just now was from the heart."

"Smooth talker."

Shen Mingzhu rebuked with her mouth, but she couldn’t help smiling at the corners of her lips.

"By heaven and earth, I’m speaking the absolute truth, okay? I sincerely believe that marrying you is the best thing I’ve done in my life. I won’t judge Shuhuan’s thoughts and decisions, but as for me, from the day I married you, I’ve never thought about divorce. We are definitely meant to be together for a lifetime."

The man spoke very seriously, which allowed Shen Mingzhu to feel his sincerity.

At least at this very moment, this man was faithful and devoted to her, their relationship, and their family.

She smiled at the man, "Don’t worry, up to now, I haven’t thought about changing husbands either."

"What about later?"

"Later, it depends on how you perform~"

"So if I perform well, could you...?"

"No!"

"I haven’t even said what it is, and you’re already brushing me off."

"If you love it, you keep it; if you don’t, you divorce."

"..."

...

"Madam is back."

Seeing Shen Baolan entering, the nanny greeted her ingratiatingly, "You’re back just in time, wash up and let’s eat."

Shen Baolan casually tossed her bag onto the sofa, walked into the dining room, glanced at the dishes on the table, and upon seeing her favorite soy sauce pork bones, she grabbed one and started munching.

In the living room, Ma Sufen saw her behavior and immediately grimaced, her lips silently muttering, obviously cursing vilely.

By the time everyone else sat down for dinner, there were already three or four pork bone remains piled up in front of Shen Baolan.

It was a good thing that the Zhou family was now living comfortably; otherwise, with Shen Baolan’s eating habits, the whole family would have to go hungry.

After eating her fill, Shen Baolan wiped her mouth and outstretched her hand towards Ma Sufen.

"Give me two hundred."

Ma Sufen glared at her, "I just gave you two hundred at the beginning of the month, and it’s only been a few days, and you’re asking for money again!"

"Oh, I’ve had bad luck these past few days and lost it all."

Shen Baolan said it with an ease as though she had lost only twenty cents, not two hundred.

Unable to contain her anger any longer, Ma Sufen began scolding her for her gluttony, laziness, and lack of a proper occupation.

After being released from reform through labor, Shen Baolan was faced with a divorce proposal from Zhou Shuhuan on those grounds.

She begged for reconciliation, even kneeling and admitting her wrongs, but couldn’t make Zhou Shuhuan change his mind and thus began to give up and loaf.

She stopped going out to earn money and just lay at home watching TV, or stepped out to play small mahjong games with others.

Housework was a no-go; she made the nanny do it, and if the nanny wasn’t around, Ma Sufen was expected to handle it.

When she ran out of money, she would ask it from Ma Sufen.

"If you don’t give it to me, I’ll go to Fucheng tomorrow and get it from Shuhuan. I’m his wife; it’s only right that he earns money to spend on me!"

This statement instantly gripped Ma Sufen by the throat.

She huffed and puffed, with eyes that wished they could devour Shen Baolan, yet she had to go get money for her.

Because she knew her son had kept a mistress in Fucheng, and her son had repeatedly reminded her over the phone that she absolutely must not let Shen Baolan travel there.

Seeing Ma Sufen go to the room to get the money, Shen Baolan’s mood instantly lifted.

Each time she asked for money, Ma Sufen dared not refuse; this trick never failed.

However, Shen Baolan was unaware of the true reason the Zhou family feared her going to Fucheng; she assumed they just didn’t want her to disturb Shuhuan and affect his business.

She had come to terms with it.

She was living the high life in Fengcheng, with plenty of money to spend and no desire to put up with Shuhuan’s disdain in Fucheng.

As for the matter of Shuhuan proposing a divorce, she had never taken it to heart.

A divorce was out of the question—it would never happen in this lifetime!

With the money in hand, Shen Baolan dressed up pretty and went out to the dance hall to dance.

She had money and leisure now, living a carefree life.

No sooner had she left than Ma Sufen dialed Zhou Shuhuan’s number to complain about Shen Baolan’s arrogance and presumptuousness.