The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 39 - Disaster Strikes!
Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Disaster Strikes!
Chapter 39 -39 Disaster Strikes!
After realizing this, Shen Baolan’s mindset expanded in an instant.
Not only did she proactively admit her faults to her in-laws, but she also promised her husband that she would no longer compare herself to Shen Mingzhu, would focus on her job with peace of mind, and would properly guide her stepson, Zhou Hao, to become successful.
Shen Baolan was not lacking in looks, she was young, and her tender attentions greatly satisfied Zhou Shuhuan’s masculine pride.
The couple, for once, experienced a rare affection for each other and their relationship was stronger than before.
After they were done, Zhou Shuhuan got up to wash up in the bathroom, while Shen Baolan lay in bed, unable to conceal her disappointment.
She had been so focused on making money lately that it had been half a month since she had been intimate with Zhou Shuhuan.
She had thought that with the mood being so good tonight, she would have a different experience, but…
After a while, an idea crossed Shen Baolan’s mind—her period seemed to be delayed by several days.
——
The next day, Shen Baolan was still up before dawn, preparing breakfast for the whole family.
The Zhou family loved to eat wheat flour products, so for breakfast, Shen Baolan usually made noodle dumplings or steamed buns, but today she just made a pot of mixed-grain porridge, planning to serve it with egg cakes and Chongyang cakes, also to avoid waste.
But there were too many egg cakes and Chongyang cakes; far too many to finish, they simply couldn’t eat them all.
Seeing her stepson, Zhou Hao, Shen Baolan had an idea.
She packed the leftover egg cakes and Chongyang cakes into bags and had her mother-in-law, Ma Sufen, take them to the kindergarten to share with the children.
That way, nothing would go to waste, it could help Zhou Hao make a good impression, and it would showcase her own virtuous qualities as a stepmother—an all-around win.
The entire family wholeheartedly agreed with Shen Baolan’s idea.
For half a month, they had been eating egg cakes and Chongyang cakes nearly every day; they were so sick of them they could vomit at the sight and wished they could feed them to the dogs.
Early in the morning, just as Shen Mingzhu and Pei Ziheng were coming downstairs, they saw Ma Sufen holding a big bag of something, standing by the flower bed and talking to someone from the residential compound.
Upon seeing her, Ma Sufen raised her voice, “My Baolan is so kind and virtuous.
She specifically asked me to take these egg cakes and Chongyang cakes to the kindergarten and share them with Xiaohao’s classmates.
Not like some people who are so money-minded, hoarding the food they make, as if they’re afraid someone might take advantage of them.”
Shen Mingzhu didn’t want to bother with her, but Ma Sufen directly blocked her path.
“Pei Yang’s family, you’re so good at cooking, why don’t you share your culinary skills with our residential compound sometime?”
“Sure, on the 32nd of this month.”
Ma Sufen’s mind didn’t snap to it at first, and she turned to ask others, “Is there a 32nd day this month?”
“There’s no 32nd day in any month!”
Only then did Ma Sufen realize that Shen Mingzhu had been teasing her, but by the time she did, Shen Mingzhu had already walked away with Pei Ziheng.
Ma Sufen couldn’t catch up even if she wanted to argue, and was left staring in dismay.
At lunchtime in the kindergarten, the teachers carried the egg cakes and Chongyang cakes around, delivering one to each child.
“These egg cakes and Chongyang cakes were specially sent to the school by Zhou Hao’s mom and grandma for the teacher to share with everyone.
Let’s all say thank you to Zhou Hao together.”
“Thank you, Zhou Hao!!!” All the kids obediently shouted in unison.
Zhou Hao, being thanked by all his classmates, was both excited and bashful, and he couldn’t help but look at Pei Ziheng with a sense of pride.
However, Pei Ziheng disappointed him; he didn’t eat his egg cake, nor did he offer Zhou Hao an envious or grateful glance.
Instead, he was as indifferent as usual, eating his meal and ignoring everyone and everything.
Zhou Hao stood up and went over to Pei Ziheng, “Why aren’t you eating the egg cake I brought?”
Pei Ziheng glanced at him and uttered two cold words, “It’s bad.”
Zhou Hao’s face turned red with anger.
Everyone else had eaten it and thanked him.
What right did Pei Ziheng have to call his egg cake bad?
He snatched the egg cake from in front of Pei Ziheng, “You’re not allowed to eat it, I won’t let you!”
Pei Ziheng curled his lips coldly, a look of disgust on his face, “Such dreadful stuff, not fit for a dog.”
Zhou Hao couldn’t outswear him and burst into loud sobs with a “waah.”
The teacher hurried over to ask what was the matter, Zhou Hao crying and pointing at Pei Ziheng, “He said the egg cake my stepmom made was nasty, waaaah…”
The teacher immediately sternly asked Pei Ziheng if he had said such a thing.
Pei Ziheng: “It was just disgustingly awful.”
Thus, Pei Ziheng gloriously achieved the “Please call your parents” milestone.
“Ziheng’s mom, Zhou Hao brought egg cakes and Double Ninth cakes to school, sharing them with his classmates.
Such virtue deserves everyone’s praise and emulation.
But your Pei Ziheng, not only is he ungrateful, he even complains about the egg cakes being tastless.
This is extremely rude behavior, and as a parent, you should take it seriously and educate your child more strictly,” the teacher said.
Shen Mingzhu’s expression was very serious and sincere, “Teacher Sun, you’re right.
I’ll take Ziheng home right now and give him a good scolding.
He’ll deeply realize his mistake.”
The teacher was very satisfied with Shen Mingzhu’s attitude.
After leaving the kindergarten, Shen Mingzhu raised her hand and hailed a tricycle.
Just as Pei Ziheng was inwardly criticizing Shen Mingzhu for being too lazy, not willing to walk a short distance home and insisting on taking a tricycle, he heard Shen Mingzhu give the driver an address, “To the cinema.”
Facing Pei Ziheng’s astonished and shocked gaze, Shen Mingzhu smiled gleefully.
“What’s the matter, are you disappointed that I didn’t immediately take you home and give you a hard scolding?”
“If I hadn’t said so, do you think Teacher Sun would have agreed to let me take you away early?
Idiot.”
You’re the idiot!
Pei Ziheng silently criticized in his heart, yet he didn’t realize that he no longer subconsciously compared the Shen Mingzhu before him with the vile stepmother from his last life.
“Consider it a half-day off.
Let’s go to the movies, and afterward, we’ll go eat donkey burgers.”
Pei Ziheng hesitated, but ultimately couldn’t hold back the doubt in his heart, “Aren’t you angry?”
Shen Mingzhu appeared puzzled, “Why should I be angry?
Teacher Sun talked about you, not me.
If anyone should be angry, it should be you, not me.
What do I have to be angry about?”
There’s a bit of logic, but not much.
If a child is naughty and causes trouble, leading to a teacher asking for a parent-teacher meeting, shouldn’t the parent feel ashamed and angry?
“Besides, you didn’t say anything wrong.
Anyone could tell just by looking that the stuff Shen Baolan makes would taste bad.
Your refusal to eat it shows that you have taste and discernment,” Shen Mingzhu added.
Pei Ziheng found the woman beside him outrageous, yet felt her words were very much to his liking.
Not only her words, but the food she cooked was also to his liking.
The only downside was that it had spoiled his palate.
If she were to leave this household in the future, he feared he might not be able to eat properly anymore.
After watching the movie, Shen Mingzhu kept her word and took Pei Ziheng for donkey burgers.
After eating, they strolled through the night market until 9 p.m., when they returned home contentedly.
Upon entering the residential complex, they saw a crowd gathered, chattering as if something big had happened.
Curious, Shen Mingzhu walked over to catch up on the gossip.
Before she could get close, someone exclaimed in surprise at her.
“Oh my, Pei Yang’s wife, you’re finally back.
Where have you been all afternoon?
We looked for you several times and you weren’t at home.”
Shen Mingzhu quickly reviewed her recent activities and asked, “What’s the matter?
What happened?”
“Oh dear, a big incident!
Where’s Pei Ziheng?”
“Here, with me,” she replied.
Shen Mingzhu looked back and gestured towards Pei Ziheng, who was standing not far away.
When they saw that Pei Ziheng was safe and sound, the crowd immediately began to tell Shen Mingzhu what had happened.
Many children from Pei Ziheng’s kindergarten class had been taken to the hospital with food poisoning in the afternoon.
Concerned about Pei Ziheng, the teacher had asked other mothers to inform Shen Mingzhu to take him to the hospital for a check-up.
