The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 28 - The Showdown at the Zhou Family - Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Battle It Out for Three Hundred Rounds
Chapter 28: Chapter 28: The Showdown at the Zhou Family – Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Battle It Out for Three Hundred Rounds
Chapter 28 -28: The Showdown at the Zhou Family – Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Battle It Out for Three Hundred Rounds
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It wasn’t long before they reached the Zhou family’s apartment, with Pei Wenping pounding furiously on their door.
The iron door clanged loudly, quickly drawing the upstairs and downstairs neighbors out to see the commotion.
The Zhou family had just finished dinner, Shen Baolan was washing dishes, Zhou Quanxiong had gone downstairs for a stroll, Ma Sufen was in the living room with the child, and Zhou Shuhuan was watching TV.
Startled by the loud banging on the door, the Zhou family thought something major had happened.
When Zhou Shuhuan opened the door and saw Pei Wenping and Shen Mingzhu standing outside, he couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Wenping sister, what brings you here?
Please come in and take a seat.”
“No need to sit, I’m not here for a casual visit today.”
Zhou Shuhuan had always had a good relationship with Pei Yang since childhood, often visiting the Pei family, and Pei Wenping had always treated Zhou Shuhuan with courtesy, never having used such a cold tone with him before.
Sensing trouble, Zhou Shuhuan asked, “Wenping sister, what’s the matter?”
Ma Sufen, with her grandson Zhou Hao in tow, also came to the door, and her expression darkened at Pei Wenping’s aggressive approach.
“Wenping, why aren’t you at home taking care of your child this late at night?
Why come here and make a scene?”
Pei Wenping sneered, “Oh, Auntie Ma, you put it so well.
How could I dare make a scene in front of you?
I’m here to have a few words with your Shuhuan.”
Being Pei Yang’s elder sister, Zhou Shuhuan always respected her as one.
Hearing her speak, he immediately said, “Wenping sister, please speak your mind, I’ll help however I can.”
“Alright, Shuhuan, I won’t beat around the bush – call your wife out.”
Shen Baolan had heard the noise at the door from the beginning and had been eavesdropping from the kitchen entrance.
When Pei Wenping called her name, she quickly tidied her hair, took off her apron and sleeve protectors, and then stepped behind Zhou Shuhuan.
“Accountant Pei, what can I do for you?”
Pei Wenping glanced at Shen Baolan, then turned to Zhou Shuhuan, “Shuhuan, your wife might be new to the city and not quite understand the rules here.
When you have time, you should teach her more so she doesn’t go around gossiping and stirring up trouble like some busybody.”
The words hit Shen Baolan like a public slap in the face.
Her face flushed, alternating between red and white.
The eyes of her husband, mother-in-law, and the other onlookers felt like sharp swords piercing her.
She was on the verge of mortification, “Accountant Pei, what have I done to offend you?
Just because I’m from the countryside, do I deserve to be bullied by you?”
Ma Sufen also snapped back to reality and immediately came to her daughter-in-law’s defense without hesitation.
“Wenping, make yourself clear today.
What exactly has Baolan done?”
Zhou Shuhuan also spoke up for his wife, “Wenping sister, could there be some misunderstanding?
Why don’t you come inside and we can sit down and talk things through?”
Pei Wenping snorted coldly, “Shuhuan, it’s not that I don’t want to give you face, but your wife has gone too far!
She constantly comes to me to badmouth, complaining about my brother’s wife—this and that.
I’d like to know what she’s up to.
What has my sister-in-law ever done to offend her?
Is she so well-fed that she has nothing better to do?”
At that, both Ma Sufen and Zhou Shuhuan looked at Shen Baolan in astonishment.
“Baolan, is what Wenping sister is saying true?”
“Baolan, have you really done such a thing?”
Faced with questioning from her husband and mother-in-law, Shen Baolan knew she absolutely could not admit to it – she would deny it to the death.
“No, I haven’t done anything!
Sister Wenping, I thought you were an educated person.
How can you spit blood and slander me like this?
You must produce evidence when you make accusations.”
Pei Wenping sneered, “Shen Baolan, surely you don’t think no one else heard you when you were talking behind people’s backs to me?
My colleague from work was just downstairs; should I call her up to confront you to your face?”
That remark indeed took Shen Baolan aback.
When she spoke ill of Shen Mingzhu to Pei Wenping, there indeed was someone waiting for Pei Wenping, but she thought that person was too far away to hear her.
But what if that person heard it?
Seeing Shen Baolan’s face turn red without uttering a word, everyone else understood what was going on.
For a moment, the neighbors looked at Shen Baolan with disdain and condemnation in their eyes.
Zhou Shuhuan immediately apologized to Pei Wenping with shame.
Although Ma Sufen also felt embarrassed, she was even angrier that Pei Wenping was unrelenting despite being right.
Even if her daughter-in-law was at fault, couldn’t they have talked about it behind closed doors?
Was it necessary to make such a scene that everyone knew, causing the Zhou family to lose face completely?
It was downright dishonorable.
“Wenping, do you really have to make such a fuss and embarrass everyone?
We all live in the same compound.
On normal days, my Baolan meant well by giving a few reminders, all for the good of your Pei Family.
Don’t be ungrateful,” Ma Sufen said.
Pei Wenping’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she responded, “Auntie Ma, there’s no need for you to rush to save face for your daughter-in-law.
I’ve come here today with a few things I want to say to you, too.”
“You’re advanced in years, and it’s inevitable that you worry about your juniors.
However, Mingzhu is a daughter-in-law of the Pei Family, and as her elder sister, I’ll worry about her. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
There’s no need for you to meddle in our affairs.
You should focus more on your own family members when you have the time.”
Ma Sufen had never expected Pei Wenping to dare to confront her directly and was furious beyond measure.
“Wenping, don’t bite everyone like a mad dog.
When have I ever meddled in your family’s affairs?” she snapped.
“Auntie Ma, if you must ask, then I’ll be direct.
My brother Pei Yang can well afford to support his wife and children.
The money he earns, Mingzhu can spend however she likes.
Even if she spends it recklessly, it’s the Pei Family’s money she’s spending, not a dime from the Zhou family.
Please mind your own business in the future and save your gossip about Mingzhu.
I don’t like hearing it, and if I ever hear anyone bad-mouthing Mingzhu again, I will personally pay them a visit for an in-depth discussion.
Pei Yang might not be home, but I, as the elder sister, am still here.
Anyone who dares to bully a member of the Pei Family, I’ll make sure they have it coming!”
Furious, Ma Sufen trembled uncontrollably, unable to utter a word against Pei Wenping.
Shen Baolan tucked herself behind her husband Zhou Shuhuan like a turtle hiding its head, wishing she could make herself invisible.
Zhou Shuhuan’s face changed colors continuously, which was quite a spectacle.
The looks from the neighbors upstairs and downstairs toward the Zhou family varied, with some taking pleasure in their misfortune, and others feeling the residual fear.
They hadn’t been short on gossip about Shen Mingzhu themselves.
With her actions, Pei Wenping effectively intimidated everyone in the compound, ensuring that anyone who talked about Shen Mingzhu in the future would have to consider whether they could withstand Pei Wenping’s wrath.
As she walked out of the apartment building where the Zhou family lived, Shen Mingzhu felt as if she were waking from a dream.
Pei Yang might be tall, but at that moment, Pei Wenping seemed even taller and more formidable in her eyes.
“Big sister, take me as your disciple,” she requested.
Seeing Pei Wenping’s puzzled look, Shen Mingzhu flattered with starry eyes, “You were so cool just now when you debated with the Zhou family people.
I really want to be able to argue like you.”
Pei Wenping was amused by her remark.
“There’s nothing good about learning how to argue.
Don’t learn that.
Stay gentle as you are.
Otherwise, when Pei Yang returns, he’ll blame me for teaching you bad habits.”
“Let him dare.
I’ll take care of him.”
As she spoke, Shen Mingzhu suddenly realized that she might have gone too far.
Just as she was about to correct herself, Pei Wenping laughed.
“Right, you should think like that.
Men need to be managed well, or they’ll forget even their last name.”
How amazing is this fairy-like elder sister?
She absolutely adores her!
For the Zhou family, tonight was destined to be a restless night.
A mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo being scolded to their faces, they had lost face to the greatest extent imaginable.
Before tomorrow arrives, the story would spread throughout the entire compound, and who knows how many would relish in their misfortune behind their backs.
Ma Sufen, failing to realize her own mistakes, blamed it all on her daughter-in-law Shen Baolan, berating her incessantly.
“I went to so much trouble to get you into the cotton mill for you to make money, not to cause trouble.
A foolish wife brings misfortune to three generations.
You have disgraced our old Zhou family!
You’re making me furious…”
Shen Baolan, like a quail, didn’t dare utter a sound, secretly loathing Pei Wenping and Shen Mingzhu and even covertly wishing that Pei Yang would die soon.
