The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 91: If apologies were useful, what would we need the police for?

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: If apologies were useful, what would we need the police for?

Although Sun Feifei cued Shen Mingzhu in a rather baffling way, the reason given was impeccable.

"I’m sitting next to you, and if I keep getting up it would likely affect you more, so..."

Shen Mingzhu rudely interrupted, "Since you know your actions affect others, then settle down. We’re all adults here, who needs to teach you the basic decency of being a person?"

Sun Feifei didn’t expect Shen Mingzhu to be so blunt, her face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly responded with an apologetic explanation that she had failed one of her last exams, felt a lot of pressure, and was eager to understand the knowledge points she didn’t grasp to pass the next exam smoothly.

In the study group, there were quite a few who had failed the last exam, and they all empathized with Sun Feifei’s feelings, thus their dissatisfaction and complaints were considerably lessened.

"Shen Mingzhu, to be honest, I’m really envious of you. Not only did you pass both exams, you even scored full marks. Why don’t you share your study experience and methods with all of us?"

Sun Feifei’s words received unanimous support from the entire study group.

They also wanted to know what secret Shen Mingzhu had that allowed her to score full marks in both subjects.

Even Yan Yi agreed with a smile, "The purpose of forming a study group is to exchange and discuss with each other, so as to make progress and improvement. The next bit of time is for everyone to speak freely, talk about their own learning situations, and the difficulties encountered. Shen Mingzhu, since your grades are the best, why don’t you lead the way for everyone?"

As he finished speaking, the entire study group burst into enthusiastic applause.

With the atmosphere built up to this point, Shen Mingzhu didn’t affect any false modesty and stood up generously to share some of her regular study insights and methods.

After she had finished, Sun Feifei added with a smile, "No wonder Shen Mingzhu could score full marks. She doesn’t need to work, her husband isn’t at home, and she only has to take care of one child. She has loads of time to study every day, unlike me. I have to work during the day and can only study at night and on weekends."

The tone revealed envy and instantly garnered agreement from many of the female learners.

Most of them, like Shen Mingzhu, were married women who not only had to work during the day but also had household chores to do when they returned home, leaving them even less time for study.

Under Sun Feifei’s subtle and not so subtle influence, the admiration for Shen Mingzhu among these people turned into envy, and even jealousy.

If they could live like Shen Mingzhu, not having to work or serve their in-laws, enjoying leisurely days with ample time to study, they certainly could also achieve good results.

And those who were unmarried looked down on Shen Mingzhu for being a housewife, thinking she lacked independence and ambition, and that even with a diploma, it would be useless and make no contribution to society.

At this moment, Sun Feifei spoke again, "However, it’s still very admirable that Shen Mingzhu could score full marks, especially since she only holds a junior high school diploma and managed to outperform those of us with technical secondary school and junior college diplomas through self-study. Years of painstaking study aren’t worth as much as a junior high student."

The tree that stands out in the forest is the one that gets torn down by the wind.

With Sun Feifei setting the tone like this, she successfully sparked everyone’s skepticism towards Shen Mingzhu.

"Shen Mingzhu, where are you from?"

"Do you really only have a junior high school diploma?"

Before Shen Mingzhu could respond, Sun Feifei was half-joking, half-serious when she said, "It must be true. She wouldn’t need to lie to us, right, Shen Mingzhu?"

Shen Mingzhu was furious.

"Sun Feifei, you’re wrong about me," she retorted.

"You failed the exam not because you had less study time, but because you invested your energy in scheming and backstabbing."

"Did I desecrate your ancestors’ graves, or am I your father’s killer? Why must you keep mentioning me, acting as if we’re familiar? What’s it to you if I don’t work, did I eat your family’s rice? What does it matter if I only have a junior high school diploma? Are you living such an empty, lonely, and cold life that you need gossip about others to fill the void in your heart?"

"If you’re so envious and jealous, why don’t you get yourself a man and let him provide for you? Can’t you find a man? Want me to find you a husband right here?"

Shen Mingzhu played her cards unconventionally, delivering a barrage of sharp remarks, leaving Sun Feifei blushing as red as a rooster’s comb.

"Shen Mingzhu, I meant no malice. If I’ve upset you, I can apologize to you..."

"Apologies, apologies, all you know is to apologize. What’s the use of an apology if we still need police? If I stab you and then say sorry ten times, would you accept it?"

"Sorry, I really didn’t mean to..."

Sun Feifei hadn’t finished speaking when her tears started to fall in large drops.

Sun Feifei had that delicate and pretty look about her, with her long hair parted in the middle, smoothly draped over her shoulders, and wearing a plaid hairpin on the top of her head. When she cried, she looked quite pitiful, which in contrast, made Shen Mingzhu seem like an overbearing shrew.

Some male students, moved by a desire to protect a beauty in distress, spoke up to alleviate the tension between the two women.

"It’s just a small matter, no need to argue like this. Shen Mingzhu, don’t take it too seriously, everyone didn’t mean anything by it, they were just curious and asked a few more questions. If you don’t like it, we’ll stop asking."

Shen Mingzhu looked at the man, "What’s your mother’s last name?"

"What?"

"Oh, I’m just curious. Just asking a couple of questions, don’t be so sensitive. If it upsets you, I’ll stop asking."

The male student’s face went from red to white, and he sat down quietly, not saying a word.

Shen Mingzhu glanced around the entire study group, indiscriminately venting, "Every single one of you has nothing better to do. Wouldn’t it be better to spend that idle time reading more books instead of prying into other people’s private affairs?"

After the rant, Shen Mingzhu prepared to pack up her things and leave, but Yan Yi suddenly stood up and announced a break.

The tense and awkward atmosphere instantly eased up.

Many members stood up to go outside for some fresh air, use the restroom, and the like, while some of the female members went over to comfort Sun Feifei, who was quietly crying.

Shen Mingzhu went straight to Yan Yi to say she wanted to drop out of the study group.

The study group was located in a classroom at the Adult Education Center, and the classroom wasn’t very large, so everyone could basically hear each other speak.

When Shen Mingzhu said she wanted to drop out, the other members in the classroom all looked over.

Yan Yi’s somewhat thin but beautifully shaped single eyelids smiled at her, "Do you think you did something wrong?"

"I don’t think so."

"Then why do you want to leave?"

Shen Mingzhu frowned, about to say that she wanted to leave simply to distance herself from some people and things that made her unhappy, when she heard Yan Yi say, "You joined the self-study exams to improve yourself, but if you think the purpose of studying is only to get a diploma, then that’s too narrow-minded. Education isn’t just about learning academic knowledge; it includes social conduct and interpersonal communication. Or do you think interpersonal relations aren’t important?"

It had to be said, Yan Yi was very perceptive.

She had initially agreed to join the study group with the intention of expanding her social circle.

"Shen Mingzhu, everyone has different personalities, experiences, and levels of education. Conflicts and disagreements are bound to happen when interacting. Do you plan to escape each time like you did today?"

Shen Mingzhu was thus persuaded and decided to stay and continue participating in the study group.

Aside from Sun Feifei, who stirred up trouble, the atmosphere in the study group was actually quite good, with members from various professions, which might prove helpful for her future entrepreneurship.

Perhaps because they realized Shen Mingzhu was not one to be trifled with, Sun Feifei didn’t dare to cause any more trouble afterward.

Instead, some female students from the same major as Shen Mingzhu took the initiative to seek her advice, and Shen Mingzhu was generous with her knowledge. After several interactions, she made the acquaintance of a few students, exchanged names and contact information with them, and that too was a small gain.

After the meeting, Shen Mingzhu packed her bag and was ready to go home.

She had just stepped out of the classroom when Yan Yi called out to her—