The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 40 - Investigation Results Revealed
Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Investigation Results Revealed
Chapter 40 -40: Investigation Results Revealed
Food poisoning is no trivial matter, and although Pei Ziheng appeared healthy and lively with no apparent issues, Shen Mingzhu immediately took him to the nearest hospital—the Maternal and Child Health Hospital.
As they stepped through the doors of the hospital, they were met with the cries of many children, mixed with some familiar, piercing shouts and scoldings.
Shen Mingzhu followed the sound of the shouting and recognized that it was Shen Baolan’s mother-in-law.
Ma Sufen was berating Teacher Sun, who had just been visited by the parents at noon, spitting and cursing with such vigor it seemed as if she wanted to devour the teacher.
“…I handed my grandson over to you in good health this morning, and in the blink of an eye, he’s lying in there.
What are you good for?
People like you, irresponsible, shouldn’t even be teachers.
You harm others, and you harm yourself—it would be against all reason not to fire a menace like you!”
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.
I really didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry…”
Teacher Sun was crying tears like pear blossoms in the rain, bowing and apologizing nonstop to Ma Sufen, her daughter-in-law, and the other parents.
Most parents were worried about their children and had no time to blame Teacher Sun, nor did they pay any attention to her apologies.
Slap!
The more Teacher Sun admitted her mistakes, the more agitated Ma Sufen became, and she slapped a big hand across Teacher Sun’s face.
“My grandson’s life is at stake; do you think a simple ‘sorry’ is enough?
If anything serious happens to my grandson, I’ll demand your life in return!”
Teacher Sun covered her slapped face, crying and nothing else.
A few young mothers couldn’t stand to watch and spoke out to persuade Ma Sufen not to hit people.
They all got cursed out in return.
After cursing them, Ma Sufen, still not satisfied, grabbed hold of Teacher Sun’s hair and continued to hit and curse her.
Perhaps out of guilt, Teacher Sun didn’t fight back, but kept crying and dodging in a very pitiable state.
Shen Mingzhu originally didn’t want to involve herself in the Zhou family’s private affairs, but seeing Ma Sufen’s aggressive and unruly behavior, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
She stepped forward and grabbed Ma Sufen’s wrist, “Auntie Ma, you should stop.
Even if Teacher Sun is guilty, the law should punish her, not you.”
Ma Sufen was furious, and when she saw that the person stopping her was Shen Mingzhu, her rage intensified.
“This has nothing to do with you, Pei Yang’s family.
Step aside, or I’ll deal with you too!”
Shen Mingzhu scoffed, “Fine, Auntie Ma, if you dare to touch me today, I’ll lie down immediately, and if you don’t compensate me a hundred or eighty yuan for medical expenses, we’ll see if I get up!”
Ma Sufen, who had been domineering all her life, had never seen someone as shameless as Shen Mingzhu and, for a moment, was left speechless with rage.
Taking advantage of the situation, Shen Mingzhu pulled Teacher Sun behind her and said to the other parents, “It’s natural to have grievances against Teacher Sun because of what’s happened with the children, but the situation has not been investigated clearly.
I hope everyone can remain rational, and if indeed Teacher Sun is found negligent, I believe the school will give us parents a fair and just resolution.”
Shen Mingzhu’s words were logical and gained the recognition of most parents, but not including Shen Baolan and her daughter-in-law.
“Mingzhu, you stand there talking without back pain.
Since your son Ziheng hasn’t suffered any harm, of course, you’re not in a hurry.”
Shen Mingzhu retorted directly, “Does being anxious justify your arbitrary humiliation and beating of Teacher Sun?
Teacher Sun is responsible for dozens of children in one class.
Even if she has no merit, she has toiled.
Last month, when your Zhou Hao caught a cold and had a fever, if Teacher Sun hadn’t noticed in time and sent him to the hospital for a fever-reducing injection, who knows what would have become of Zhou Hao!”
“Ziheng’s mother is right, Grandma Zhou Hao, Mom Zhou Hao, please calm down.
Wait until the investigation is clear, and if it is indeed Teacher Sun’s fault, it won’t be too late for you to hit and scold then.”
“Yeah, let’s wait for the investigation.
If it turns out not to be Teacher Sun’s fault, wouldn’t you have wrongly blamed a good person?”
“I entrusted Xiaohao to her care, and now something has happened to Xiaohao.
Who else should I look for if not her?
Are you going to take responsibility?”
Seeing Ma Sufen attacking like a mad dog, the parents hastily retreated to the side to avoid being “bitten.”
Shen Mingzhu used the excuse of asking Ms.
Sun to lead the way to take her away, provoking Ma Sufen to glare at her retreating figure for a long time.
“Mrs.
Ziheng, thank you.”
At the emergency room door, Ms.
Sun said tearfully as she thanked Shen Mingzhu.
Shen Mingzhu noticed the finger marks on Ms.
Sun’s face and asked her, “Do you want to have an injury examination?”
Seeing Ms.
Sun’s puzzled look, Shen Mingzhu briefly explained the process and purpose of an injury examination to her.
After listening, Ms.
Sun shook her head with a bitter smile, “Forget it, I’m fine.
Grandma Zhou Hao wasn’t wrong to scold me.
As the class teacher, I indeed neglected my duty.
It’s a relief the children are unharmed, otherwise, I really wouldn’t know how to make amends.”
Actually, Shen Mingzhu had a suspicion about the food poisoning incident involving the children, but without solid evidence, she didn’t want to speak rashly, lest it cause unnecessary complications.
Soon, the doctor finished examining Pei Ziheng and confirmed he showed no signs of food poisoning.
Shen Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, and the suspicion in her mind became even clearer.
After the day’s turmoil, not only did Pei Ziheng look tired, but Shen Mingzhu was also exhausted.
As she was about to take Pei Ziheng home, Shen Baolan blocked them at the entrance of the healthcare center.
“All the kids are from the same class.
Other children are vomiting and diarrhea, so why is your Ziheng fine?”
Faced with Shen Baolan’s questioning, Shen Mingzhu replied with a meaningful and deep response.
“Guess.”
Shen Baolan, not taking it well, mocked her, “Mingzhu, I heard from Ms.
Sun that your Ziheng was called in by the kindergarten today.
Look at you, fussing over this and that all day, earning so little money, what’s the use?
Look at what kind of child you’ve raised, without manners or politeness.”
“Shen Baolan, why don’t you spend some time looking at yourself in the mirror?
Your jealousy of me is truly ugly.
I work hard and earn my money, not like you, toiling for days without earning a cent and even losing out.
You sure did teach your Zhou Hao well, so why is he lying in a hospital bed then?”
“Is that my fault?
Zhou Hao got sick from something he ate at the kindergarten.
It’s all that damned Sun Lu’s fault, not even able to take care of a child, wasted all the tuition I’ve paid!”
“Don’t be so sure of yourself.
Who the ‘damned’ one is may not be so clear.”
Just as Shen Baolan was about to ask Shen Mingzhu what she meant, a noisy clatter of footsteps came from behind her.
Turning her head, she saw police officers in uniform and the kindergarten’s senior leaders marching into the healthcare center towards the parents.
Seeing Shen Baolan still standing there in a daze, Shen Mingzhu’s lips curved up slightly, “It looks like the investigation results are out.
Aren’t you going to hurry over and listen?”
Shen Baolan came to her senses and quickly followed them.
Shen Mingzhu looked down at Pei Ziheng and said, “I bet you really want to know the results of the investigation, let’s go, I’ll satisfy your curiosity.”
Pei Ziheng: “…”
You’re being too ridiculous, who is the one with an excessive curiosity to know the results?
On the parents’ side, upon hearing that the results of the investigation were out, they promptly surrounded the police officers and the senior leaders of the kindergarten.
Ma Sufen was the most agitated, “Officer, was it Sun Lu who caused this?”
The senior leader said, “Regarding this matter, Ms.
Sun certainly bears responsibility…”
“I knew it, it had to be that wretch Sun Lu, she should be arrested and sentenced to re-education through labor!”
