The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 733 - 732 New Year’s Eve Dinner

Chapter 733: Chapter 732 New Year’s Eve Dinner

The grandson had become Qin Jinlian’s deepest obsession and fear in the latter half of her life.

She had waited eagerly and finally, the eldest in the family had given birth to a grandson for her, yet she hadn’t seen him for five whole years.

Because of this, relatives, friends, and neighbors often mocked her behind her back.

Now that her eldest grandson had returned, she couldn’t wait to show him off and restore her pride and place in society.

"Dandan, come, go out with grandma for a while, grandma will buy you candy."

Shen Zilong twisted his head and completely ignored Qin Jinlian’s gesture of goodwill.

Qin Jinlian, undeterred, reached out to grab Shen Zilong’s hand, trying to get closer to him.

Shen Zilong tried to dodge but couldn’t escape, and suddenly shouted, "Let go of me!"

"Dandan, I’m your grandma, grandma loves you..."

Qin Jinlian tried to appease her grandson, but how could a five-year-old heed her words, when the strange old woman claiming to be his grandmother only made him feel repelled and scared.

"Let go of me, let go of me..."

Seeing her son frightened, Du Juan hurriedly intervened, "Mom, don’t scare Dandan."

Qin Jinlian was stubborn and refused to let go, "How am I scaring him? I’m his grandma, he’s my biological grandson, can’t I even hold my own grandson’s hand?"

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were about to argue, Shen Chaobei had no choice but to step in, "Mom, please let go first."

Meeting Qin Jinlian’s reddish, aggrieved eyes, Shen Chaobei had to explain, "It’s cold outside, Dandan could easily get cold."

"What cold? Kids from Shenjiagou are never afraid of the cold! In the village, you see kids running around bare-bottomed in the dead of winter all the time, and none of them catch a cold!"

That was indeed true.

But rural kids are raised roughly, while city kids are brought up delicately, and there is simply a difference between the two.

Moreover, since birth, Shen Zilong had lived in the warmth of the city, so it was perfectly normal for him not to be used to the cold in Fengcheng.

But Qin Jinlian was determined to take her precious eldest grandson out to show off, and she said nothing while pulling him out the door, causing Shen Zilong to burst into loud cries.

Both brothers and Pei Yang took turns trying to persuade her but to no avail, and for a time, the house was in turmoil.

"Mom."

Shen Mingzhu had not wanted to get involved, but seeing her daughter terribly upset, she had to speak up to stop the commotion.

"Mom, this is the first time big brother and sister-in-law have brought Dandan back for the New Year. If you don’t want this to be the last time, let go."

Hearing her words, Qin Jinlian stiffened like a robot that had been switched off.

She looked around at everyone else, and eventually let go of her grandson’s hand without saying a word and started picking up the bowls and chopsticks on the table.

Although the drama was over, the atmosphere had also become tense.

Apart from Shen Zilong’s sobbing and the clinking of the dishes, nobody in the room spoke.

Pei Yang suggested, "Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, let’s go to the temple fair after breakfast with the kids."

Hearing this, Du Juan bent down to ask her son, "Do you want to go to the temple fair tomorrow?"

Shen Zilong hesitated for a moment before nodding.

The whole family felt relieved, and Qin Jinlian turned her worries into joy, her movements becoming more agile.

After resting for a while, Daya, Erya, and Pei Tang, the three sisters, put on their coats and went out to the yard to throw sandbags.

Shen Zilong, feeling bored, clung to Pei Ziheng begging him to play.

Pei Ziheng casually threw him a handheld Tetris game console, and he was quiet for the entire afternoon.

While the children were busy playing, the adults busied themselves with preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Shen Family’s two brothers, along with Pei Yang, helped Qin Jinlian fry fish, meatballs, and tofu in the kitchen.

Shen Mingzhu and Du Juan were picking vegetables in the living room, discussing work matters.

She planned to transfer Du Juan back to Fengcheng next year to oversee the food factory, leaving Shen Chaobei in charge of Jiangcheng.

However, that was merely her unilateral idea; if Du Juan was unwilling, she would not insist.

Du Juan readily agreed.

For Du Juan, being away these past few years meant she was like a general expanding territories, and returning next year to manage the food factory was a true empowerment and also Shen Mingzhu’s acknowledgment of her years of hard work.

She was full of fighting spirit.

After a concerted effort from the whole family, a sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner was fragrantly served on the table.

On New Year’s Eve, besides enjoying the lavish dinner and watching the splendid Spring Festival Gala, another important activity was giving out red envelopes.

Starting with Qin Jinlian and Shen Jianguo seated at the head of the table, the five children took turns to wish the old couple Happy New Year and received their red envelopes.

After paying respects to grandma and grandpa, they then wished their uncle and aunt.

By the end of the line, the children’s hands were soft from receiving so many red envelopes, even the unborn child in Jia Yuemei’s belly got a hefty one, delighting her immensely.

With the New Year’s money received, they then took the children to set off fireworks in the backyard.

The vibrant sparks reflected the children’s smiling faces, and laughter filled the entire yard.

Qin Jinlian and her husband stood under the eaves, happily wiping away tears.

"Hubby, our lives have truly been worthwhile."

"Why are you crying during the New Year?"

After scolding, he felt his tone might have been too harsh and then persuaded, "Alright, stop crying. Look how happy the kids are. Tomorrow morning after we eat dumplings and rice cake, let’s take the kids out to the temple fair and visit some friends."

Hearing this, Qin Jinlian immediately said, "Then I’ll go prepare the dough and fillings now, to save some hassle tomorrow morning."

"Okay, let’s go; I’ll help you."

"No need for your help."

"Hey, a good deed taken for granted. I’m saving my energy then."

Looking at Qin Jinlian’s hurriedly retreating back, Shen Jianguo muttered to himself and turned around to continue watching the grandchildren happily playing.

Moments later, sensing something, he turned back only to see an empty corridor under the light.

...

As it approached 8 o’clock, all the fireworks had been set off, and the kids, still craving for more, forced the adults to go out and buy two more large boxes.

They played until 9 o’clock before they contentedly returned to the house to drink water, eat sweets, and watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Shen Jianguo went into the kitchen, hoping to get Qin Jinlian to heat some water for everyone to wash up, but she wasn’t there.

Lifting the pot lid, he found the dough already kneaded and placed there, with large bowls containing different flavors of dumpling fillings arranged next to it.

That wife of mine, always so capable.

Shen Jianguo muttered to himself, covered the pot again, and went to the room he shared with Qin Jinlian.

Seeing Qin Jinlian already asleep on the kang, he didn’t wake her and returned to the kitchen to boil a large pot of water himself, to wash the children’s faces and feet.

...

After cleaning up, except for the older Pei Ziheng and Daya, the other three children were feeling sleepy.

Having been busy all day, Shen Mingzhu was tired too and decided to take her daughter upstairs to sleep.

Half asleep, she heard Pei Yang calling her by her ear.

She slowly opened her eyes, meeting his eyes filled with shock and panic, her heart skipping a beat.