The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 750 - 749 Why Don’t You Get a Divorce

Chapter 750: Chapter 749 Why Don’t You Get a Divorce

"This ten thousand yuan is all my savings. Now that Jiang Xinsheng has disappeared, you must give me an explanation today, or I won’t leave!"

For several days in a row, Qian Rong had been pestering Pei Qiuxia.

Upon learning that Pei Qiuxia had overstepped her bounds by lending her ten thousand yuan to Jiang Xinsheng, Qian Rong immediately went to find Jiang Xinsheng with the IOU to get her money back.

Who would have thought Jiang Xinsheng had quietly resigned and fled to another province to hide from his debts?

His parents also moved to another place because they couldn’t stand the harassment from creditors.

Unwilling to let her money go down the drain, Qian Rong began to harass Pei Qiuxia, trying to get her to return the ten thousand yuan.

It was impossible for Pei Qiuxia to repay Jiang Xinsheng’s debt for him. "Xiao Rong, be patient. Give Jiang Xinsheng some time. Once he makes money, he will surely pay you back. Besides, with the IOU, he can’t deny the debt."

"The money isn’t yours, so of course you’re not the one feeling the pinch when standing and talking!"

Faced with Qian Rong’s anger, Pei Qiuxia wasn’t upset but felt disheartened.

Indeed, no one knows the pain until the hot coal falls onto their own feet.

What in the world was Qian Rong thinking when she urged her to lend the money to Jiang Xinsheng?

Seeing that Pei Qiuxia remained silent, Qian Rong changed her tone, "Qiuxia, I’m not lashing out at you. There’s a reason for this. My husband’s company is allocating housing, and we urgently need the money. If we miss this chance, who knows when the next one will come."

"How about this, you give me back the ten thousand yuan, and I’ll give you the IOU, then you can go find Jiang Xinsheng to collect. Besides, I loaned the ten thousand yuan to you, not to Jiang Xinsheng."

Pei Qiuxia said, "When I asked you for the money, I told you it was for Jiang Xinsheng, and you didn’t object."

Before Qian Rong could explain, Pei Qiuxia added, "I don’t have money."

"How can you possibly have no money? The Shen Family gave you a dowry of sixty-six thousand!"

"All the money at home is with Zheming."

Pei Qiuxia looked at her with a disconsolate face, "Speaking of this, it’s all thanks to you. You went to him and told him I was borrowing money recklessly. Now he’s keeping a tight rein on me, only giving me one hundred yuan a month for living expenses, and any spending over twenty yuan has to be accounted for."

Qian Rong never dreamed that the bullet she fired would hit herself.

Feeling frustrated and discontent, she stubbornly fumed, "Qiuxia, you’re too weak. Why on earth would you let him control your money? You should confront him and take back control of the finances. If worse comes to worst, just get a divorce!"

"Why do you always tell me to get a divorce? Why don’t you get a divorce?"

Rendered speechless by the retort, Qian Rong hastily tried to smooth things over with a forced laugh, "Ah, I meant you should use divorce as leverage, not that you should actually get divorced."

Pei Qiuxia remained noncommittal, "I don’t want to quarrel with Zheming over such trivial matters. It doesn’t matter who manages the money; he treats me well. I want to live a good life with him."

"What am I supposed to do?!"

Pei Qiuxia wore a look of helpless resignation, "I really can’t help you with the money issue. Try asking someone else."

Qian Rong’s face turned green.

...

It was a rare weekend, and Pei Yang took the siblings out for barbecue.

"The meat is too tough, I can’t chew it."

"The dipping sauce isn’t as tasty as Mom’s, it’s not fragrant at all, just too salty."

The siblings picked at their food while eating.

Though Pei Yang complained about the pickiness of the siblings’ tastes, he actually agreed that the barbecue wasn’t as good as what his wife made.

The meat wasn’t tender enough and it wasn’t marinated well.

Pei Yang looked at the siblings, "Miss Mom?"

Pei Ziheng gave him a "Are you stating the obvious?" look.

Pei Tang’s response was straightforward and enthusiastic, "Miss her!"

"Do you want to go to Y Country to see Mom?"

Pei Tang nodded vigorously, "Want to go!"

Pei Yang said, "You two, one has school and the other is about to take the college entrance exam. There’s no time. How about this, I’ll go to Y Country to see her on your behalf?"

Pei Ziheng said expressionlessly, "Your abacus beads have already hit my face."

Pei Tang puffed up with anger as well, "It’s clearly you who wants to go!"

Pei Yang argued righteously, "I also want to take you both, but time doesn’t allow it."

Pei Tang raised her hand, "I can ask for leave! Anyway, if you’re going to see mom, you have to take me with you."

Pei Ziheng said, "If we go, we go together. Otherwise, nobody goes."

Seeing both siblings so stubborn, Pei Yang had no choice but to give up, "Fine, we’ll wait until your summer vacation."

In the evening, in the study.

Pei Ziheng, tired from reading, took off his glasses and was about to rest when he looked up and saw Pei Tang lying on the windowsill, propping her cheeks with her hands and staring into the night sky, lost in thought.

He stood up and walked over.

"What are you looking at?"

Pei Tang pointed at Jupiter next to the moon, "Brother, is mom as far away from us as this star?"

Pei Ziheng affectionately rubbed her head with his palm, "Once the summer break starts, we’ll be able to see mom."

Pei Tang leaned her little head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist, "But I miss mom now, I want to see her. Do you think mom misses us too?"

"Of course."

"Then why doesn’t she come back to see us?"

"Because mom is busy studying and learning."

"She’s already so grown up, why does she still need to study? Other moms don’t study; they stay with their kids."

"Because mom also has her dreams and goals that she wants to achieve. We are her dearest ones, and we should support her, just like she will always love us the most."

Pei Tang blinked her bright eyes moistened with tears and nodded as she sniffled, "Mmm!"

After a moment, she asked, "Brother, what do you think mom is doing right now?"

"At this time, it’s noon in London. Mom is probably having lunch."

"What is she eating? Rice?"

Pei Ziheng looked down at her, "You can imagine what mom looks like eating lunch and draw it. Then, when we talk to mom on the phone, ask her if it’s what you drew."

"Okay!"

Pei Tang bounced back to the easel and, after pondering with her paintbrush in hand, began to outline on the paper.

Pei Ziheng lifted his eyes to the vast starry sky and couldn’t help but think of the other world where Shen Mingzhu once lived.

In that world, mobile phones had electronic displays, and you could not only hear the voice but also see each other’s faces during a call.

No matter how far apart, you could see each other on your phone anytime, anywhere.

He had to make such a mobile phone.

Early June.

Shen Mingzhu received a joyous phone call from Shen Hongmei, "Mingzhu, I gave birth yesterday, a girl."

"Congratulations, have you picked a name?"

"Yes, her full name is Zhao Yihuan. Brother Zhao and I hope she will be joyful all her life, and her nickname is Huanhuan."

"That’s a nice name, very festive."

"Mingzhu, would you be willing to be Huanhuan’s godmother? Her life was saved by you, and Brother Zhao and I are especially grateful to you."

She could sense that Shen Hongmei’s tone was a bit nervous, probably afraid of her refusal.

Shen Mingzhu smiled faintly, "No thanks, you should find another godmother for Huanhuan."

"Mingzhu, are you still not willing to forgive me?"

"Hongmei, me refusing to be Huanhuan’s godmother is not about holding onto the past. Rather, I personally believe that any relationship should maintain a proper distance, whether it’s family, friendship, or love. And the distance between us now is just right, there’s no need for any change."