The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 81: Having helped the second brother, naturally I must also help the elder brother.

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Having helped the second brother, naturally I must also help the elder brother.

Shen Mingzhu, although she did not name names, everyone present could tell she was referring to Yang Xuezhen.

Yang Xuezhen’s face turned bright red, and she wanted to storm off in a huff, but she was worried about jeopardizing her brother’s job arrangement, so she had to endure the humiliation and stay.

"As for how to divide the house, Dad, you and Mom discuss it yourselves, or ask the uncles to help. If that doesn’t work, ask the village. How hard can it be to split a household?"

Qin Jinlian was so angry she could have bored two holes in her face, "What exactly are you making a fuss about? A good family, and you won’t be happy until you tear it apart, will you?"

"A good family? What’s good about it?"

Qin Jinlian choked up.

She couldn’t immediately articulate the benefits of not dividing the house, but deep down she thought things were fine as is, with the eldest daughter-in-law being diligent and managing everything at home in perfect order. She was just looking forward to the second daughter-in-law giving birth to a big, healthy grandson.

Once the family was split, both sons would keep to themselves, living their own little lives—then who would care for her, the old woman?

"No way! I don’t agree to divide the house!" Qin Jinlian glared at Shen Mingzhu, "A married daughter is like spilled water. Go out and look, which married woman still interferes with her natal family’s business like you? Aren’t you ashamed?"

"Now you realize I’m a married daughter? When you duped me out of my gold bracelet, when you had me chip in money for the second sister-in-law’s gold necklace, and when you had Pei Yang arrange a job for the second sister-in-law’s brother, you weren’t courteous at all, you didn’t treat me like an outsider, did you?"

The entire family, including Yang Xuezhen, was shocked to look at Qin Jinlian.

Although she coveted gold jewelry, she didn’t have the audacity to target the younger sister-in-law’s gold bracelet.

In front of Pei Yang, Shen Jianguo immediately lashed out at Qin Jinlian, "Has your brain been kicked by a donkey or what? Are you mad with poverty? Have you no shame? A disgraceful thing you are!"

Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan also reproached Qin Jinlian for her improper conduct.

Qin Jinlian felt wronged and also blamed Shen Mingzhu for bringing up the matter.

"I just mentioned it casually; since Mingzhu didn’t agree, I dropped it."

"So what did you want then? Did you want to rob it by force?" Shen Jianguo retorted angrily.

Shen Mingzhu spoke up again at this point, "Actually, Mom and the second sister-in-law are right, it’s true that a married woman shouldn’t meddle in her natal family’s affairs. I’m only getting involved now because you’ve all forced me."

"Second sister-in-law, you’re satisfied with the marriage to my second brother, aren’t you? A bride price of two hundred, three rings on the first try, a new house, a wedding banquet—nothing was missed. The 500.5 in bride price money Pei Yang gave to my parents, it all went into yours and my second brother’s marriage. When I joined the Pei Family, I came with nothing, except a few old clothes and not even a piece of cloth. The house I lived in was even redecorated for your bridal chamber. As a sister-in-law, I’ve been pretty decent, haven’t I?"

Yang Xuezhen said nothing, but she was inwardly unconvinced.

In her view, wasn’t this how it was in the countryside? The bride price she received would also be used for her brother Yang Bo to marry a wife in the future.

As for Pei Yang arranging a job for Yang Bo, it was originally promised by Qin Jinlian herself, which was also part of the bride price.

If the Shen Family dared to go back on their word, even if she could endure it, her family would not swallow the insult.

Shen Mingzhu was clear in her heart that the crux of the matter mainly lay with the Shen Family people, especially Qin Jinlian.

To marry her son Shen Xiangnan to a wife, to let Shen Xiangnan become a father, Qin Jinlian would dare to do anything and promise anything.

But she wasn’t the original mistress and didn’t want to be the "boosting brother fiend" that always gives and asks for nothing.

"Mom, I’ll accept the job arrangement for the second sister-in-law’s brother, but this is the last time. If you dare do anything again without informing me or go behind my back to ask Pei Yang or someone from the Pei Family to do something, I’ll immediately disassociate myself from this family. I mean what I say."

"Pei Yang, you listen to me too. If you dare to agree to anything privately without asking me, we’re through! Divorce!"

Shen Mingzhu’s words truly stunned the Shen Family.

Especially Qin Jinlian—the very mention of divorce nearly scared her soul out of her body.

With great effort, she married her daughter off to enjoy a better life in the city, hoping that her daughter would support her two sons. If her son-in-law were really to divorce her daughter, whom could she count on then?

"Mom, I’m not like you; you can unprincipledly favor my second brother without any principles, but I can’t do that. In my heart, my eldest and second brothers have the same weight; they are both my dear brothers. If I helped the second brother, naturally, I must also help the eldest."

"Sister-in-law, I don’t have the ability to arrange a job for your family in the city, but I can give you a craft to make a living. Do you want it?"

Du Juan nodded her head eagerly.

Qin Jinlian asked, "What craft?"

Shen Mingzhu gave Qin Jinlian a disparaging look, "I will only teach this craft to my sister-in-law."

Qin Jinlian pursed her lips, feeling unsatisfied but not daring to say anything.

Shen Mingzhu then looked at Yang Xuezhen, "Second sister-in-law, Pei Yang has arranged a job for your younger brother, and I’m going to give my sister-in-law a craft to make a living. You don’t have any objections, right?"

Yang Xuezhen’s lips moved, but she didn’t make a sound for a long time, apparently weighing the pros and cons between the two options.

A job in the city is rare, but having a craft is a guarantee for a lifetime’s livelihood.

"Can I ask first what the craft is?"

After struggling and hesitating for a long time, Yang Xuezhen finally asked.

"Making egg cakes. I looked around the market today and didn’t see anyone selling egg cakes. If my sister-in-law learns this craft, she could go to the market to sell them and earn some extra income."

Immediately, Du Juan’s gaze towards Shen Mingzhu was filled with gratitude and emotion.

She had already heard about how her sister-in-law made a good amount of money in the city with her skill at making egg cakes.

Yang Xuezhen was also tempted—who wouldn’t want to earn money? But feeling embarrassed to ask for herself, she nudged Shen Xiangnan beside her.

Shen Xiangnan immediately said, "Mingzhu, when you teach my sister-in-law, could you also teach Xuezhen as well? We’re all family, after all. We can all earn money together."

Shen Mingzhu laughed, "We’re all family, huh? When mom bought a gold necklace for my second sister-in-law, why didn’t she think of buying one for my sister-in-law as well?"

Shen Xiangnan was sheepish.

"Never mind, I won’t learn. Just let my sister-in-law learn it. She can earn the money all by herself." Yang Xuezhen said sarcastically.

Shen Mingzhu looked at her with a mocking smile, "Second sister-in-law, you should learn to be content. You can’t want everything. To put it bluntly, I wasn’t the one who promised to arrange a job for your younger brother. I’m not acknowledging it now, and what can you do to me? You’re not with my second brother anymore, what does that have to do with me?"

"When asking for a favor, show the attitude of requesting help. Don’t try to impose on me here; I, Shen Mingzhu, am not having any of that."

Yang Xuezhen was so angry her face turned red, but she didn’t say anything more. As for what she was thinking, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t care less.

"When the family division is settled, that’s when your brother’s job arrangement will be finalized."

After dropping such a line, Shen Mingzhu left her parents’ home without heeding the Shen family’s pleas, taking her family with her.

When she arrived, she had carried large and small bags, but she left with ease, as she hadn’t planned on staying long and thus had not brought clothes with her, just some toiletries. Everything fit into one backpack.

"Mingzhu, Pei Yang, wait up..."

As they were about to leave Shenjiagou, Qin Jinlian, calling out loudly, chased after them.

Seeing the wild rabbit and other things that Qin Jinlian was carrying, Pei Yang turned to Shen Mingzhu and said, "Mom is still concerned about you."

Shen Mingzhu scoffed.

She was indeed concerned, but the concern was for someone else, too—not that it was good to say so out loud.