The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 669 - 668 Qiao Ya’s Plot

Chapter 669: Chapter 668 Qiao Ya’s Plot

"Auntie, please don’t be angry anymore. It’s not worth harming your health over this. Money is a minor issue, and as soon as the bank opens tomorrow morning, I’ll transfer the money to you."

"Is two thousand enough? If not, I can add another thousand and transfer three thousand to you. You can use the money to eat and drink well and live a good life with Uncle. If Lan sister asks you for money again, just give it to her. It’s not worth getting upset with her over a little money."

Qiao Ya coaxed Ma Sufen for a while and finally calmed her down, ending the call happily.

Zhou Shuhuan heaved a sigh of relief.

Every time his mother and wife had a quarrel, Ma Sufen would call him to nag, and the nagging would last for nearly half an hour, never-ending. Consequently, he now had a psychological resistance and irritation whenever he received a call from Ma Sufen.

Fortunately, Qiao Ya had a way with the elderly, saving him a lot of trouble.

Compared to Shen Baolan, who kept causing trouble from thousands of miles away, Qiao Ya was young, beautiful, competent in both the living room and kitchen, and could help him with his career. She was simply the perfect wife.

The Qiao family wasn’t pushing, but he wanted to marry Qiao Ya as soon as possible. Alas, Shen Baolan firmly refused to divorce.

The last time he discussed this with Shen Baolan, she went berserk on the spot, crying, making a scene, smashing things, and even threatened to hang herself at the Zhou family’s doorstep so he would have to carry her corpse back to her parents’ home.

Even though he didn’t think Shen Baolan would really seek death, he also didn’t want to be a laughingstock, and he worried that if he pushed Shen Baolan too hard, she might go to court and sue for divorce. Then, he would have to give her half of the assets he had worked so hard to build up.

He wasn’t without conscience.

As long as Shen Baolan was willing to divorce, he would give her the old house in the family compound, plus another hundred thousand yuan. Together, this should be more than enough for Shen Baolan to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

As someone who had shared a blanket with him for years, Qiao Ya could see what was troubling Zhou Shuhuan.

"Brother Zhou, since she is being ungrateful, there’s no need for you to show her sympathy anymore. She lives off of you and can’t even show the basic filial piety to your parents. Why keep her around?"

Zhou Shuhuan felt the same; Shen Baolan had gone too far.

"Xiao Ya, why don’t you help me figure out a way? I’ve tried to talk nicely, but she won’t listen. I’m really out of options."

"Leave it to me, Brother Zhou, I’ll make her come to you asking for a divorce."

Qiao Ya was full of confidence, "Give me at most three months. Now it’s August; let’s set our wedding date for next January, how about that?"

Qiao Ya taking the initiative to handle the situation was exactly what Zhou Shuhuan wanted.

He pinched her chin in high spirits, "Are you that eager to marry me?"

"Stop it~"

Qiao Ya removed his hand and snuggled into his embrace, "Even though you don’t come from a good background, I like a man who relies on himself and has real skills. Brother Zhou, I don’t care what others think. In my heart, you are the best man in the world, and I am determined to marry you and bear your children."

Every word of her heartfelt declaration struck a chord with Zhou Shuhuan.

Every step he took, every decision he made, was about seeking approval and affirmation from others, proving that he was no worse than Pei Yang.

It had become an obsession deep in his bones.

And Qiao Ya always fulfilled his emotional and sentimental needs.

...

Just a few days after Pei Tang’s birthday, Shen Xiangnan called to say Jia Yuemei was craving sour grapes.

Shen Mingzhu’s home had two old grapevines, which were currently bearing grapes that were sour enough to set one’s teeth on edge. Shen Xiangnan wanted to bring Jia Yuemei over to pick a few bunches.

Shen Mingzhu agreed.

However, she didn’t let Shen Xiangnan come to pick them but instead picked them herself to deliver.

It wasn’t that she was considerate of Jia Yuemei; she simply didn’t want to see her nor have her come to her house.

If a couple that valued their second child so much had an accident at her place, she would have no way to clear her name even if she was innocent.

After picking a basket of grapes and tomatoes and finding two boxes of nutritional supplements from home, Shen Mingzhu drove to deliver everything to the couple.

Last year, the couple bought a house, moved in early this year after renovating it, and even managed to transfer their household registration to the city with some connections. Now, they were truly considered city dwellers.

Arriving at the couple’s neighborhood, Shen Mingzhu didn’t go in but called Shen Xiangnan to come down and collect the items.

"How come it’s just you? Where’s your sister? Why didn’t she come up for a visit?"

Seeing Shen Xiangnan struggling to carry all the bags and packages, Jia Yuemei asked curiously.

"Little sister has other matters."

Jia Yuemei picked a grape from the basket, tasted it, and nodded, "Yeah, this is the flavor. It was just about to drive me crazy with craving."

Continuing to hold a bunch of grapes, she ate with relish while examining the nutritional supplements brought by Shen Mingzhu. Upon realizing it was just common protein powder, she felt somewhat disdainful.

They’re so rich yet stingy to even give a box of bird’s nest.

Shen Xiangnan watched her eat with relish and picked a grape for himself, only to be jolted by its sourness.

"Oh my, this is so sour!"

"Look at you!"

Shen Xiangnan regained his composure and turned to shout into the room, "Erya, come out and eat some grapes."

"Daddy, why did you buy so many grapes?"

Erya was both excited and curious as she looked at the half-basket of plump grapes.

Shen Xiangnan picked a large bunch and stuffed it into her hand, "Your aunt just brought them over, eat up."

"Aren’t auntie’s grapes supposed to be waiting until fall before we can eat them?"

After the couple bought a house, they had also moved Erya to the city to attend kindergarten.

Erya was about the same age as Pei Tang and often went to the Pei family to play with her, having long coveted the bunches of grapes in their yard.

But Cousin Pei Tang told her they would have to wait until school started in the fall before they could eat them.

"How could we not eat them? Look at your mom, she’s enjoying them so much."

Watching Jia Yuemei pop grapes into her mouth one after another, Erya didn’t give it much thought and happily picked a large grape to taste.

"Ah, it’s so sour!!"

Seeing his daughter scrunch up her face from the sourness, Shen Xiangnan couldn’t help but laugh and slap his thigh in amusement.

"Silly girl, these grape skins are still green, how could they not be sour."

"Daddy, you’re so annoying!"

Erya frowned, spat out the grape, and looked up at Jia Yuemei still eating; undaunted, she ran to pick another grape to taste.

"Ack, ptooey!"

Jia Yuemei chuckled, "Silly girl!"

Feeling dejected, she glared at Jia Yuemei who was teasing her, "Mom, isn’t it sour for you?"

"Sour? Of course, it’s sour."

"Then why are you still eating it? Stop eating."

"Do you think I want to eat this awfully sour thing? It’s because your brother wants it."

Hearing that, Erya’s gaze fell on her mother’s belly.

"Erya, come here."

Shen Xiangnan called his eldest daughter over to sit on his lap and spoke affectionately, "Don’t bother your mom, let her eat."

With both anticipation and excitement, Erya blinked her eyes, "Daddy, is mommy’s belly carrying a little brother?"

"Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl. Your mom loves sour so much, there’s a good chance it is."

Jia Yuemei looked at him, her tone somewhat reproachful, "You should have called your little sister up to sit for a while, it would be good to ask her to help out, to take time to go to the hospital for a check-up."

What Jia Yuemei meant by checking wasn’t a prenatal check-up, but rather to determine the gender of the baby.

Shen Xiangnan replied without enthusiasm, "You think little sister doesn’t come to our place because she’s avoiding you bringing up this subject! After doing the check and not paying, you really have the nerve!"

Jia Yuemei knew she was in the wrong but couldn’t help being stubborn, "How long ago was that? Is there any point in bringing that up now? What I’m carrying is the Shen family’s child, whom am I doing this for?"

Shen Xiangnan snorted coldly, "In any case, don’t blame little sister for not helping you. If I were her, I wouldn’t bother with you either. If you want to check, find your own way and stop bothering little sister. She said she would increase my shares next year, and if you ruin this for me, I won’t forgive you."

When it came to money, Jia Yuemei also deflated.

She had found managing the baozi shop too exhausting, and since Erya was now attending school in the city, she had conveniently sold the shop and settled down as a full-time housewife.

Fortunately, the Shenji restaurant had been thriving for the past two years, and Shen Xiangnan’s income had been climbing steadily.

Accustomed now to the good life, she didn’t dare to irk Shen Mingzhu for fear of losing this comfortable and prosperous existence.

...

"Little Shen, do you see that young newbie at table 3?"

Hearing her friend ask, Shen Baolan turned to look toward table 3.

The mahjong parlor had been in operation in this area for quite a few years, and the clientele usually consisted of familiar faces. However, today, table 3 had a new face.

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