The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 53 - This man is dirty, I don’t want him anymore
Chapter 53: Chapter 53 This man is dirty, I don’t want him anymore
Chapter 53 -53 This man is dirty, I don’t want him anymore
Seeing Pei Ziheng puff up like a little pufferfish, Shen Mingzhu’s first reaction was that she had annoyed Wang Xiuzhu away, preventing him from boarding the ship to play, and that’s why he was upset.
As she walked over to console him, she heard Pei Ziheng ask her, “If she agreed to give you a million, would you really sell Dad?”
Shen Mingzhu froze for a moment, realizing that this was what he was upset about, and couldn’t help but feel a little playful.
She nodded earnestly, “Sell, why not sell?”
Pei Ziheng was so angry that he was about to explode.
Shen Mingzhu dreamily described the life they’d have with money, “Once we have a million, we can buy a big Western-style house, plant large seeds in a huge garden, grow enormous flowers, and then we’ll hire two, no, three maids to serve us.
Whatever you want to do, think, buy, or eat, you can.
Wouldn’t such a fairy-tale life be wonderful?”
Pei Ziheng stared at her blankly, his anger shattered by her use of “we.”
So, even if they lived a good life later on, she was planning to take him with her?
“I know you don’t want to part with your dad, but you could change your perspective.
Pretend he’s just gone to work, working on a ship is still work, selling himself is still work.
That one million would be his earnings, and it’s perfectly normal for his work to support us, isn’t it?
The only difference is that his workplace has changed, but he is still your dad.
You can go see him whenever you miss him.
Don’t you think that sounds reasonable?”
Pei Ziheng was at a loss for a comeback.
Shen Mingzhu then asked, “What style of Western-style house do you like?
Chinese-style?
European?
Or perhaps American?”
Pei Ziheng realized in horror that when the woman asked, he actually started to picture what the Western-style house would look like.
This woman was simply toxic, and she had poisoned him deeply!
“I would never sell my dad for a million, no matter how much money was offered.
You stupid woman, willing to sell Dad for just a million.
Do you not understand that I…”
I will be able to make many, many millions in the future, and I can buy you ten sets of the Western-style houses you like.
Shen Mingzhu didn’t know her stepson’s thoughts and kept asking curiously and expectantly, “Understand what about you?”
Pei Ziheng’s emotions slowly calmed down, and he restored his usual arrogance, “I will buy a Western-style house with my own ability.”
“Then…
alright, we won’t sell your dad.
No matter how much money is offered, I’ll wait for you to grow up and earn enough to buy a Western-style house.
Let’s agree on that, promise, pinky swear for a hundred years no take backs.”
Such a big person, and still as childish as a little kid.
Looking at the little finger Shen Mingzhu had hooked, Pei Ziheng felt an extreme aversion, yet he didn’t reject it with his hand.
Shen Mingzhu grinned like the big bad wolf, unaware that the most sophisticated hunters often exist in the guise of their prey.
—-
Perhaps scared away by the “million,” Wang Xiuzhu didn’t come looking for trouble for a while, but Wang Huizhen kept sending food and other goods to her and Pei Ziheng every few days, making Shen Mingzhu feel grateful and less repulsed by Wang Xiuzhu.
As the Spring Festival approached, news finally came from Pei Yang’s fleet—they would dock in two days.
Shen Mingzhu and Pei Ziheng were both very happy.
Especially Pei Ziheng, who even ate half a bowl more than usual, walked lighter, and even talked more.
Shen Mingzhu noticed all this, but her feelings were exceptionally complicated.
She couldn’t deny her fondness for Pei Yang; otherwise, she wouldn’t have impulsively followed him to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get married.
But to say her feelings for Pei Yang ran deep wouldn’t necessarily be true.
Thus, regarding Pei Yang’s death, she might be upset for a while and then move on.
But Pei Ziheng was different.
Pei Yang was his only relative in the world and his father.
She couldn’t imagine how Pei Yang’s death would impact Pei Ziheng, possibly inflicting a wound that couldn’t heal in a lifetime.
—-
On the vast expanse of the deep blue sea, a massive red cargo ship sailed steadily forward, its sharp bow cutting through the water, raising white foam along the sides of the hull, leaving a long white wake behind.
Many off-duty crew members stood on deck, gazing toward their destination, their faces tanned by the sun and sea, filled with an eager longing and joy to return home.
“Finally here.
I can make it home for the Spring Festival.
It’s been two years since I’ve had New Year’s Eve dinner with the family.”
“Hey, look at you.
Missing your wife, aren’t you?”
“Cut it out.
Don’t you miss yours?”
“Miss what?
I don’t even have a wife to miss.
With our job, spending all year adrift at sea, when do I get the chance to find a woman?”
The guys joked and teased for a bit before someone noticed Pei Yang, silent and not joining in.
“Yang, what’s on your mind?
You’re not thinking about your wife too, are you?”
“Yeah, Yang, we haven’t even seen your missus.
You gotta let us know in advance when you throw the wedding feast.
We’ll all show up to back you up and take a peek to see if she’s pretty.”
“What’s it to you whether she’s pretty or not.” freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Pei Yang laughed it off with a curse, but the image of that delicate, egg-shaped, fair face surfaced in his mind.
She was indeed very beautiful.
She was at home alone with the child, and he didn’t know how she was getting by.
Although the voyage had gone smoothly, it had arrived five days later than expected, which meant his holiday was cut down to four days.
Two days would be spent traveling to and from Fengcheng, so he could stay at home for at most one day before he had to leave.
He wondered if she would be angry.
But that was the nature of his work.
He really wanted to spend more time at home with his child and her, but his duties were scheduled in advance, and he could neither refuse nor change them.
However, after the next voyage, he would have a two-month break.
Then, he could spend quality time with her and their child.
Pei Yang silently made plans in his heart.
The cargo ship was expected to dock at 4 p.m., but right after lunch, Pei Ziheng couldn’t wait to get to Dock 2 with Shen Mingzhu waiting for its arrival.
The weather at Xicheng Port was lovely today—clear skies, warm sunshine, and though the temperature wasn’t low, the wind was strong on the docks, making it feel quite chilly if one stood for too long.
Worried that Pei Ziheng might catch a cold from staying in the wind too long, Shen Mingzhu made the excuse of getting something to eat and took him for a long walk outside.
By the time they returned to Dock 2, she could see from afar a red cargo ship slowly making its way towards them.
Pei Ziheng threw away the hot soy milk in his hand and ran as fast as his short little legs could carry him towards the direction of the ship.
Shen Mingzhu picked up the hot soy milk from the ground and jogged to keep up.
Woo——
With a long blast from its horn, the behemoth of a ship finally docked.
Pei Ziheng, his hands gripping the railing that was taller than he, watched the ship expectantly, eagerness written all over his little face.
Shen Mingzhu patted his head reassuringly, “Don’t worry.
The ship has docked.
You’ll see your dad soon.”
She had hardly finished speaking when the ship’s watertight door opened.
One by one, the crew members exited through the watertight door and descended the gangway onto the dock.
Besides Shen Mingzhu and her son, there were also a few other families there to meet the crew, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.
“Daddy!”
Just as Shen Mingzhu’s attention was diverted by a young couple sharing a tender moment, she suddenly heard Pei Ziheng’s loud call.
She turned instinctively and saw a tall man standing at the top of the gangway, his gaze locked on her and Pei Ziheng, his handsome and resolute face filled with astonishment and joy.
Just as Shen Mingzhu was about to take Pei Ziheng over, a red blur flashed by her side and dashed into Pei Yang’s arms.
Shen Mingzhu: “…”
Her first thought was: This man is dirty now, she didn’t want him anymore.
