The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 23 - Stirring Trouble!
Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Stirring Trouble!
Exposing Shen Mingzhu’s False Facade by Bringing People to Her Door
Chapter 23 -23 Stirring Trouble!
Exposing Shen Mingzhu’s False Facade by Bringing People to Her Door
Ultimately, Shen Baolan still couldn’t resist her curiosity and huffed and puffed as she helped Shen Mingzhu carry two buckets of coal ash downstairs.
Shen Mingzhu followed her, walking behind and carrying the rest of the garbage.
Pei Ziheng stood at the door, watching the two leave one after another, his dark eyes flashing with confusion.
This woman had not only improved her culinary skills, but her mind had become sharper as well.
Could it be she had been reborn just like him?
That shouldn’t be right, if Shen Mingzhu had also been reborn, she definitely would not have married his dad but would have chosen Zhou Hao’s dad instead.
In the previous life, Shen Mingzhu often lamented to his ears that her biggest regret was marrying Pei Yang, which ruined her life.
If she could do it all over again, she would definitely marry Zhou Shuhuan.
Even after Zhou Shuhuan became successful, Shen Mingzhu fancied the idea of seducing him, only to end up unsuccessful.
Shen Mingzhu had no idea that her little cover was on the verge of being blown.
The moment she descended the stairs, she was surrounded by a group of enthusiastic aunties.
“Pei Yang’s family, who would have thought you could make egg cakes, the compound smelled so good all day.
My grandson came back and started fussing for it, nothing could calm him down.”
“With so many egg cakes, you must have made a good sum of money, right?”
“No wonder you’ve been buying this and that, I had no idea you had such skill, you’re really capable, Pei Yang really struck gold when he married you!”
Just one dinner’s time, and Shen Mingzhu’s reputation in the residential compound had taken a dramatic turn for the better.
The way people had fiercely criticized Shen Mingzhu for squandering before, was now equally intense in their praise.
“Zhou family’s daughter-in-law, you’re from the same village as Shen Mingzhu, can you also make egg cakes?”
Seeing everyone praising Shen Mingzhu’s abilities, Shen Baolan felt jealous.
Suddenly asked this question, she thought if she replied she couldn’t, everyone would say she was inferior to Shen Mingzhu, so she smiled and said, “Making egg cakes is similar to steaming buns, I used to make them all the time at home.”
Hearing Shen Baolan say that, everyone also began to shower her with compliments on her capabilities.
Shen Mingzhu watched Shen Baolan, who couldn’t even differentiate between steaming and baking, and chose not to burst her bubble.
After dumping the trash, Shen Baolan, not even stopping to wipe her sweat, eagerly questioned Shen Mingzhu about how much money she had made from selling the egg cakes.
And when Baolan learned that Mingzhu had made ten yuan, Baolan’s mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an egg.
Making ten yuan in a day, what kind of concept was that?
She worked as a cook in the cotton mill’s canteen, a ten-hour day earning her less than two yuan, while Shen Mingzhu casually made the equivalent of five or six days of her income from home. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Sour!
She was so jealous!
It was as if she had drunk a jar of aged vinegar!
Once back at home, Shen Baolan became emo again, lying in bed motionless.
Ma Sufen was puzzled, before leaving, Baolan was as proud as a rooster strutting around, why was she wilted upon her return?
She kept signaling her son with her eyes: What’s up with your wife again?
Zhou Shuhuan: Who knows.
Ma Sufen had no choice but to go ask herself, “Baolan, what’s wrong now?”
“Mom, I want to be alone.”
“Alone?
Is that a friend of yours?”
“…Don’t ask.”
“Ok.” Ma Sufen thought for a moment, “Then you’re not teaching Xiaohao the multiplication table tonight?
You didn’t study last night, and if you don’t study tonight, he might forget by tomorrow.”
Shen Baolan’s eyes snapped open.
Right, with Shen Mingzhu so busy making money these past few days, she certainly wouldn’t have the time to oversee Pei Ziheng’s studies.
This is the perfect opportunity for her Zhou Hao to catch up!
How could she just lie there!
Seeing her daughter-in-law get up from the bed like a shot of adrenaline and start making her grandson recite multiplication tables, Ma Sufen’s hanging heart finally settled back into her stomach.
In order not to disturb her grandson’s studies, Ma Sufen turned off the TV and even chased her son out of the house.
She didn’t stay at home either, but went downstairs to chat with people.
As soon as she reached downstairs, she saw a crowd passionately discussing something, and she could hear mention of the Pei Family here and there.
It must be that spendthrift wife Pei Yang had married wasting money again!
Her own son had better taste, choosing a virtuous, diligent, and capable woman like Shen Baolan.
Not only did she not waste money, but she also earned it for the family.
Ma Sufen happily joined the group, wanting to hear what Shen Mingzhu had wasted money on this time.
But what she heard left her stunned.
What?
Shen Mingzhu hadn’t spent money today but actually made money?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
She must have misheard.
After listening some more, Ma Sufen confirmed that she hadn’t misheard.
Shen Mingzhu had indeed made money—she baked four baskets of egg cakes and earned ten bucks.
No wonder the family quarters smelled of egg cake all day.
It turns out that it was that spendthrift Shen Mingzhu who had made them.
Ma Sufen no longer felt like chatting, and she hurried back upstairs to her home in a fluster.
“Baolan, I heard something very strange downstairs.
They said that Shen Mingzhu, that wasteful woman, baked egg cakes and made ten bucks selling them today.
Do you know about this?”
Just when Shen Baolan’s mood had finally calmed down, it surged with emotion again.
“Who knows if she’s just blowing smoke?
Money isn’t that easy to make.
There are so many people making egg cakes out there.
Why would anyone specifically buy from her?
The food Shen Mingzhu makes isn’t even fit for a dog.
Could she possibly make tasty egg cakes?
Maybe she bought them from somewhere else and is selling them off as her own!”
Ma Sufen thought her daughter-in-law made a good point, “Probably these past few days, she got scared by what everyone was saying and claimed to have made money from baking egg cakes to shut everyone up.
The woman has plenty of tricks, Baolan.
You should keep your distance from her and don’t fall for her schemes.”
“Mom, don’t worry, I won’t fall for her tricks.”
The talk of Shen Mingzhu bragging was meant to appease her mother-in-law, but the more Shen Baolan spoke, the more she convinced herself.
All this talk about making money from baking egg cakes must be Shen Mingzhu’s act.
She needed to find an opportunity to expose Shen Mingzhu’s hypocrisy.
It was Friday, and after having dinner, Shen Mingzhu started to look for clothes to wear to her eldest aunt’s house the next day.
Before she could find the right outfit, someone knocked on the door.
“Pei Ziheng, open the door, but first ask who it is.
Only open it if you recognize them.
If you don’t, don’t open it.”
Such a hassle.
Muttering under his breath, Pei Ziheng walked behind the door and asked the person outside.
It was late at night, and only he and Shen Mingzhu, the women and children, were at home—it would be terrible if they encountered a bad person.
“Hey, Mingzhu, what are you busy with?”
Watching Shen Baolan barge into her bedroom uninvited, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t muster a friendly face for her.
“Let’s talk outside.
I just mopped the floor.
It’d be unfortunate if our esteemed guest were to slip.”
Shen Baolan pursed her lips, her eyes scanning the bedroom’s wardrobes and dressing table, brimming with jealousy.
Although she had those pieces of furniture as well, they were hand-me-downs from Zhou Shuhuan’s former wife, while the wardrobe and dressing table in Shen Mingzhu’s bedroom were brand new, the red varnish gleaming brightly, clearly made of fine rosewood.
It wasn’t until Shen Mingzhu walked out of the room that she was surprised to find that Shen Baolan wasn’t the only uninvited visitor—there were also several familiar mothers from the family quarters.
