The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 14 - Why are you so greedy
Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Why are you so greedy?
Chapter 14 -14 Why are you so greedy?
After being sassed by her stepson, Shen Mingzhu wasn’t angry; instead, she was somewhat surprised.
During this time, her stepson had always been quiet and uncommunicative, but his current temper tantrum made him seem more childishly innocent and lively.
“I’ve only moved in a few days ago.
Isn’t it normal that I’m not familiar with everything here?
They’ve been living here for several years, even over a decade, so of course they know the place better.”
This explanation was perfectly logical, leaving Pei Ziheng with no retort.
“Let’s go, it’s time to eat.
If we don’t hurry, all the dishes will be gone.”
Pei Ziheng very reluctantly placed his little hand in Shen Mingzhu’s extended one.
These days, banquets were casual affairs; everyone just found a spot to sit, and the feast began once the seats were filled.
The dishes were simple: a total of nine, including steamed buns—three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, two cold plates, plus one soup.
Of all the dishes, the most eye-catching and coveted were the stir-fried prawns, but there were few of them, only about ten or so on a plate, roughly one for each person.
Seeing everyone reaching for the prawn plate, Shen Mingzhu didn’t want to fall behind.
She grabbed the largest one with her chopsticks and put it in Pei Ziheng’s bowl.
By the time she turned back to get one for herself, the plate was empty.
Never mind, there were frozen prawns in the fridge at home.
Someday when she had time, she’d defrost a big batch and fry them up to eat her fill.
Just as she thought this, she saw the stepson toss the bright red prawn back into her bowl.
Well, well, he even knew to offer food back—she hadn’t spoiled this little brat for nothing.
Touched, Shen Mingzhu returned the prawn back to the stepson’s bowl, “You eat it.”
Pei Ziheng gave her a look, “I hate eating prawns.”
“Oh, then peel the shrimp for me, and I’ll eat it.”
Pei Ziheng had an appalled “what are you talking about” expression on his face, “You peel it if you want to eat it.
I’m not peeling it for you!”
Shen Mingzhu placed a piece of crispy sweet and sour pork in his bowl, “See, I’m helping you pick dishes.
If I get my hands dirty peeling prawns, how can I pick food for you?
You’re short and have little hands; you can’t reach the dishes I want.”
It was one thing to complain about his height, but to mock his short hands—that was too much!
Pei Ziheng didn’t even want to finish eating; he was full of anger!
“Hurry and peel it.
The prawn will taste fishy once it’s cold, not delicious at all.”
Pei Ziheng felt he had fallen into a trap set by a wicked woman, as he actually started peeling the shrimp.
The adults at the table praised Pei Ziheng for being sensible and filial, and they complimented Shen Mingzhu on her parenting skills.
Shen Mingzhu didn’t show any modesty, “Ziheng is indeed capable.
When he’s at home, he helps me with things; fetching a glass of water, sweeping the floor…”
Liar, when did he sweep the floor?
Fetching a glass of water was just her ordering him around, and he didn’t want to help her at all!
Unaware of her stepson’s inner thoughts, Shen Mingzhu continued to boast to the neighbors, “…He washes his face, brushes his teeth, bathes, and washes his hair all by himself; I don’t have to worry at all, such a sensible kid…”
People at the table agreed, whether genuinely or simply being polite, everyone showered praise on Pei Ziheng.
The shrimp was peeled quickly.
Pei Ziheng looked at the pink shrimp meat, unable to help swallowing saliva.
He didn’t really hate eating prawns; he simply didn’t want to eat the ones the wicked woman picked for him.
He didn’t want to be bought over so easily, but at that moment, Shen Mingzhu suddenly turned to him.
“It’s peeled, huh?
Feed me.”
Before Pei Ziheng could react, the shrimp was snatched from his hands.
“Mmm, delicious, very sweet, thank you, darling.”
Pei Ziheng’s face turned red in an instant.
Who’s her darling?
He was no darling of hers!
However, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t hear his heart’s protest; she could only see the blush on his face.
“Darling, try a fried meatball.”
How infuriating!
Don’t call him darling.
Pei Ziheng grumpily stuffed the meatball into his mouth, glaring at Shen Mingzhu as he ate.
“Darling, is the meatball tasty?
Want another one?”
Facing Shen Mingzhu’s smiling face, Pei Ziheng turned his face away without speaking.
He wasn’t actually that angry.
But the meatballs were hard to swallow, far inferior to the ones she made.
No, Pei Ziheng, can you be a bit more ambitious?
Bought off by a few meals?
Have you forgotten her evil deeds in her past life?
The corner of Pei Ziheng’s heart, which had initially shown signs of melting, was once again encased in ice.
Shen Mingzhu didn’t tease her stepchild anymore because the bride and groom had come over to toast.
Everyone at the table was holding their glasses, offering auspicious words to the newlyweds.
Shen Mingzhu looked at the groom and felt he looked familiar, then remembered she had seen him before in the family courtyard.
Zhou Shuhuan was seeing Shen Mingzhu up close for the first time.
Today, she was even more radiant than usual, her skin pale and lips red, with kind eyes that shone brilliantly—more beautiful than the actresses on the pictorials.
Then, in a flash of thought, he suddenly remembered that his bride could have been her.
Shen Baolan had been paying close attention to Zhou Shuhuan and Shen Mingzhu—after all, in her dreams, they were the real married couple.
Seeing Zhou Shuhuan staring at Shen Mingzhu, she immediately stepped between them under the guise of toasting, and purposefully said, “Mingzhu, you’d better hurry up, we are all waiting to drink at your wedding with Pei Yang.”
Shen Mingzhu joked half-seriously, “Why are you so greedy?
If you want to eat wedding food, just eat more today.”
Shen Baolan’s face turned a bit sour, angry that Shen Mingzhu wasn’t giving her face on her wedding day.
Seeing this, Zhou Shuhuan raised his glass to toast the others, smoothing over the atmosphere.
It was hot, and she didn’t have much appetite, especially since the dishes were so-so.
Shen Mingzhu had only eaten a few bites before she lost her appetite.
But since no one else had left, it wouldn’t be good for her to leave the table.
So she simply began to peel sunflower seeds, listening to the older folks at the table chat away, casually placing the shelled seeds in front of her stepchild.
When the first sunflower seed kernel was placed before him, Pei Ziheng was surprised.
It wasn’t until Shen Mingzhu put the second and third kernels before him that he dared to confirm that the wicked woman was really peeling seeds for him.
To eat, or not to eat?
Have one, give her some face.
Delicious.
She’s peeling too slowly.
Could she peel faster?
All she does is listen to people gossip—why are women so nosy?
After the banquet, she felt sweaty all over, sticky and uncomfortable.
Shen Mingzhu blew on the fan, longing for the hot water heaters of the future world for two minutes, then resigned herself to go to the kitchen to heat water for a bath.
“Dinglingling…”
“Pei Ziheng, answer the phone!”
Everything is his job—what’s the use of her?
Pei Ziheng came out of his room irritably and picked up the phone in the living room, “Hello?”
After turning on the gas stove, Shen Mingzhu turned around to leave but saw her stepchild hesitating at the kitchen door.
“Dad is calling you to take the phone.”
Knowing the call was from Pei Yang, Shen Mingzhu wasn’t too surprised; it was Zhou Shuhuan’s wedding day, and he, being a good friend,
As expected, Pei Yang expressed concern about Zhou Shuhuan’s wedding, then started talking about work, “I have to go to sea tomorrow.
If all goes well, I should be back before the Spring Festival.”
If things don’t go smoothly, doesn’t that mean he won’t be back for the Spring Festival?
No wonder the shrewd Shen Baolan didn’t choose Pei Yang.
A man who leaves for a year and a half—marrying him would mean living like a widow.
But it’s his job as a man, and no matter how much she complains or is displeased, it won’t change the result.
She might as well play her part as the virtuous wife now and worry about the future later.
If it really doesn’t work out, she could just give him the boot and find someone else who knows how to care and share life with her.
So, Shen Mingzhu, seemingly at ease, tenderly reminded him, “Don’t worry about home; I’ll take care of everything.
Be careful out there, and Xiaohuan and I will wait for you to come back safely.”
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Pei Yang let out a long sigh of relief.
Before making the call, he had been nervous, worried that his delicate wife would be angry, would complain about him leaving right after getting their marriage certificate, and now going to sea for half a year, possibly not even returning for the Spring Festival.
But contrary to his expectations, she was very generous and understanding about his job.
She was kinder and gentler than he had imagined.
“What did Dad say?
Is he going out to sea?”
Looking at his anxious stepchild, Shen Mingzhu deliberately played coy, “Your dad said, you need to be good and listen to me at home, or else you’ll get a spanking.”
Pei Ziheng shouted in frustration, “I’m asking if he’s going out to sea!”
