The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 419 - 418 Picking Faults

"Get a bit closer, bride and groom, on a count of three, smile!"

Click.

As the camera’s flash faded, the crowd that had gathered for the photo dispersed, clearing space for others waiting to take their turn with the bride and groom.

Shen Mingzhu, being a makeup artist, stood by with Yan Su, ready to touch up Zhong Qing’s makeup and adjust her dress as necessary.

Before long, Zhuang Xueqi and Ning Yuan walked over, one after the other.

Shen Mingzhu spotted Zhuang Xueqi’s evidently pregnant belly and smiled in congratulations, "Mrs. Ning, congratulations."

Zhuang Xueqi touched her belly, appearing to be in quite a good mood, "Thank you."

Ning Yuan snorted and walked straight over to Yan Yi to pose for the photo.

Seeing this, Zhuang Xueqi also walked over and took her place beside Zhong Qing.

After the photo, Zhong Qing smiled and grasped Zhuang Xueqi’s hand, speaking to her with concern.

Ning Yuan scowled at Zhuang Xueqi’s noticeable belly as if harboring some deep resentment.

Shen Mingzhu, gossiping, whispered to Yan Su, "What’s with Ning? Isn’t he happy to be a dad?"

"Maybe it’s because the child isn’t his?"

Shen Mingzhu was utterly shocked, silently giving Zhuang Xueqi a thumbs up in her mind—an exemplary model indeed!

Looking back at Ning Yuan, she couldn’t help but feel there was something green about him.

...

After the group photos, Shen Mingzhu accompanied Zhong Qing back to the bridal room to change into her wedding dress for the reception.

Once dressed, a succession of relatives, friends, and ladies and daughters from high society started coming into the lounge to offer gifts and pleasantries.

The status of being Miss Zhong of the Zhong Family or Mrs. Yan was enough to attract the ladies of Fengcheng’s high society flock to her.

While Zhong Qing responded to the congratulations from the various ladies, she also took the opportunity to introduce Shen Mingzhu to a few of them.

Not far off, several young ladies from wealthy families whispered about Shen Mingzhu’s identity beside Zhong Ying.

"Zhong Ying, who is she? I don’t think I’ve seen her before..."

Zhong Ying snorted, "Just a brown-noser..."

"Your cousin is really good to her, even introducing her to big shots like Mrs. Qi..."

"I heard Mrs. Qi is currently scouting a suitable match for her brother-in-law. The second Master Qi retired from the military due to an injury last year and is now the director at the transportation bureau, apparently due for promotion soon. If she can catch Mrs. Qi’s eye and marry into the Qi Family, she’ll be set for life as an official’s wife."

Hearing the discussion, Zhong Ying’s expression soured, "I just don’t have her talent for charming my cousin into giving her a Crown car!"

She too had coveted that Crown car and had hinted at it to Zhong Qing openly and covertly several times, yet Zhong Qing refused to give it to her but casually gifted it to an outsider instead.

On hearing this, the expressions of several wealthy young ladies turned disdainful and scornful when they looked at Shen Mingzhu.

...

Shen Mingzhu had barely left the restroom when she suddenly felt a chill on her chest.

Looking down, she saw a large dark purple stain from red wine soaking into the white fabric at her neckline.

"Oops, Miss Ma, don’t you watch where you’re going? Bumping into people despite seeing them, you couldn’t be trying to scam me, could you?"

Shen Mingzhu looked up at the other person, "You’ve got the wrong person; my surname isn’t Ma."

Ouyang Xiaoyan covered her mouth and giggled, "How could I get it wrong? Aren’t you surnamed Ma, called Brown-nose? Don’t tell me you don’t even know your own nickname?"

Shen Mingzhu understood immediately; the other party was picking a fight on purpose.

But she couldn’t recall having offended such an important figure.

The attire and jewelry of the group made it clear they were wealthy young ladies of notable families; Shen Mingzhu didn’t want to cause trouble and planned to walk around them.

However, they were persistent and blocked her path in a line.

Shen Mingzhu’s expression cooled, "Excuse me, please let me pass."

"What’s the rush? I heard you excel at flattering people; why not give us a demonstration? If you please us, we might even tip you ten or eight bucks."

Shen Mingzhu gave a faint smile, "It’s rare for young misses like yourselves to be in such a leisurely mood. Why not do something worthwhile and donate that money to those in need? You might even gain a good reputation."

"What, is the tip not enough for you? Name your price then, let’s see how much you think you’re worth."

"So how much do you think you’re worth?"

A cold voice sounded from behind the group.

Ouyang Xiaoyan and the others turned their heads and saw it was Zhuang Xueqi, hastily stepping aside to let her through.

"Mrs. Ning, are you also here to use the restroom?"

Zhuang Xueqi crossed her arms, her expression arrogant, "What else, to watch you guys monkey around?"

Shen Mingzhu: ???

Who’s the monkey?

"Mrs. Ning, please,"

Ouyang Xiaoyan said obsequiously, noticing that Shen Mingzhu was still standing without moving, she reached out and pushed Shen Mingzhu aside, "Blind as a bat, not making way for Mrs. Ning."

Shen Mingzhu glanced at Zhuang Xueqi’s protruding belly and silently stood to the side, leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing here?"

Seeing Zhuang Xueqi’s curiosity, Ouyang Xiaoyan immediately pointed at Shen Mingzhu and said, "She’s so clumsy she knocked over my wine, and then tried to blackmail me. They can all testify."

The others got her hint and began to assert that Shen Mingzhu was careless.

Zhuang Xueqi glanced at them and casually pointed at someone, "Go fetch a bottle of red wine."

The person did not understand why, but still immediately ran to get a whole bottle of red wine and eagerly handed it to Zhuang Xueqi with both hands.

Zhuang Xueqi flipped the red wine bottle in her hand, strolled over to Ouyang Xiaoyan, "She spilled your red wine, so I’ll compensate you."

No sooner had she spoken than she poured the red wine over the other’s head.

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

Ouyang Xiaoyan screamed, trying to dodge, but was paralyzed by Zhuang Xueqi’s words—

"Don’t move, if you dirty my gown, I’ll strip the clothes off your back."

Ouyang Xiaoyan indeed didn’t dare to move, letting the chilly red wine pour down her head, her carefully styled curls became a disheveled mess, and her face changed to a myriad of colors, looking like a chicken bathed in wine soup.

Zhuang Xueqi handed the empty wine bottle back to the person who had fetched it, not forgetting to say thank you.

That person, holding the wine bottle, didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, fearing they might be the next target.

"Mrs. Ning, where have I offended you?" Ouyang Xiaoyan wanted to cry but didn’t dare.

Zhuang Xueqi held her waist, walked back and forth in front of the group.

"What do you think this is? Daring to make a scene on my uncle and aunt’s big day, who gave you the audacity? She is my aunt’s guest, bullying her, are you not putting the Zhong Family and the Yan Family in your eyes?"

Ouyang Xiaoyan and the others panicked, hastily apologizing and making amends.

After the group slinked away, Zhuang Xueqi turned her head and looked at Shen Mingzhu, not hiding the disdain in her eyes.

"Why are you so spineless? They splash you with red wine, and you don’t even dare to fart."

Shen Mingzhu looked skywards, speechless, "Mrs. Ning, if I had half, no, one-tenth of your strength and background, I would have slapped her dead, okay?"

Zhuang Xueqi scoffed lightly, "You have no background, but can’t even bluff? Your aunt, your little aunt, if nothing else, there’s me. Just drop any of our names, are you still afraid they would dare to bully you?"

"Definitely next time."

To say she wasn’t moved would be a lie.

Especially the part where Zhuang Xueqi poured wine on someone, her image in Shen Mingzhu’s heart was as tall as two meters eighty.

Shen Mingzhu sincerely said, "Mrs. Ning, thank you."

...

"What happened? How did you end up like this?"

Zhong Ying was stunned at the sight of Ouyang Xiaoyan drenched in wine, looking disheveled.

Ouyang Xiaoyan and several others babbled and recounted the recent events.

Upon learning it was Zhuang Xueqi who stood up for Shen Mingzhu, Zhong Ying felt both shock and jealousy, "The sycophant, I really underestimated her. Zhuang Xueqi is known for her bad temper, and yet she has been sweet-talked by her."

"I know how to deal with her."

A voice suddenly intervened. Zhong Ying and the others turned around, finding a young woman they didn’t recognize.