The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 456 - 455: Letting Go of the Savior Complex, Respecting Others’ Destinies

Chapter 456: Chapter 455: Letting Go of the Savior Complex, Respecting Others’ Destinies

With the intrusive guests gone, the birthday banquet was both a success and a joyful occasion.

As the end of the year approached, Shen Mingzhu also prepared New Year gifts for all the guests.

In addition to the candies and cakes produced by her own food factory, there were also the newly cured bacon and sausages from this year.

She bought grain and free-range pork from rural farmers and cured them with Moutai liquor and a secret blend of spices. Whether steamed, stir-fried, or used in braised rice, the unique aroma of the bacon was enough to make children from the next street cry with envy.

The cured meats were also the first takeout items offered by the restaurant.

Shen Mingzhu had registered the trademark "Shenji Xiangwei" two months earlier, and starting from the next year, she would begin mass production and sales.

After the meals were finished, some guests took their New Year gifts and left early, while others stayed on to relax.

Those who stayed were taken by Pei Yang to a teahouse next door for leisure.

Shen Mingzhu had booked the entire third floor of the three-story teahouse for the male guests to drink tea and play cards. She also gave Pei Yang a thousand cash for gambling.

When Shen Mingzhu gave Pei Yang the money, Zhou Shuhuan, He Tao, and several other childhood friends who had grown up in the same family compound looked on with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Who wouldn’t want a capable and beautiful wife?

For the female guests, Shen Mingzhu had reserved an entire karaoke parlour for their entertainment.

In that era, the karaoke parlour was of a hall style with a TV and a VCR set up in the front and high-powered speakers in all four corners of the hall.

For women who had little entertainment in their lives, getting to visit a karaoke hall was as exciting as a grandma wearing fashionable embroidered shoes.

Besides singing and dancing, Shen Mingzhu also prepared various snacks, fruit platters, and drinks.

She made sure everyone had a good time and was well-fed.

For the older women who didn’t enjoy the noisy atmosphere, Shen Mingzhu brought them to her home for tea and a chat.

"This house is so well arranged, you can tell she’s good at managing a household."

The relatives praised while visiting the Pei Family home.

Wang Huizhen was also there.

She came all the way from Xicheng Port to celebrate Pei Yang’s birthday.

They say time is a butcher’s knife, but it seemed to have no effect on Shen Mingzhu.

Compared to her innocent and delicate beauty four years ago, now she did not show the slightest sign of weariness or fatigue common among traditional housewives; instead, she flourished like a well-tended flower in a garden, radiant and prosperous.

She was clearly a woman living a happy life.

Thinking of her own niece Wang Xiuzhu, Wang Huizhen couldn’t help feeling a myriad of emotions.

Her niece was superior to Shen Mingzhu in terms of background, family history, and education, yet when it came to managing a marriage, she fell far short of Shen Mingzhu.

"...Yuandong’s hardly ever home, and Xiuzhu can’t get along with the two elders, living under one roof leads to constant quarrel. She moved back to her mother’s home for nearly a year now, and she’s still arguing about divorcing Yuandong, complaining about not being able to stand the loneliness throughout the year."

"This child is as stubborn as an ox. No matter how much we advised her before, she wouldn’t listen, and now she regrets it after just two years. I should have brought her here to learn from you how to live life properly."

Please don’t, if Wang Xiuzhu latches onto Pei Yang again, she really can’t be bothered to deal with it.

"Madam, everyone has their own path, we should leave behind our savior complex and respect others’ fates."

Noticing the lack of affection Shen Mingzhu had for her niece, Wang Huizhen tactfully changed the subject to something else.

...

Around two o’clock, Yan Yi drove over to the Pei Family’s house to pick up Zhong Qing.

Shen Mingzhu saw Zhong Qing out.

Guoguo also enthusiastically followed Shen Mingzhu to see off their guest.

Today was a big day, and she was dressed in a bright red cotton-padded jacket with her hair tied up in small buns, running round and plumply to the door and crisply calling out, "Uncle Yan," to Yan Yi by the car door.

"Come here."

Yan Yi smiled and waved her over.

Unfazed, Guoguo trotted over with her buns bobbing and asked, looking up with her pale round cheeks, "What for?"

Yan Yi leaned down, lightly touched her tiny buns with his index finger, and said with a tender smile, "Tan Guoguo, Happy New Year in advance."

Guoguo puffed up her cheeks, "It’s not New Year’s today!"

"Hmm, this is Uncle’s early blessing for you."

He spoke and then extended a red envelope in front of her.

"I don’t want it."

Guoguo crossed her tiny arms proudly behind her back, her refusal quite firm.

Yan Yi asked curiously, "Why not?"

"Brother said, I shouldn’t take it, it’s no good."

Being so young, their ability to express themselves wasn’t very clear, but it was enough for adults to understand.

When you’re outside, strangers who give children gifts for no reason aren’t nice people, so you shouldn’t accept them.

"This is lucky money from Uncle for you. You can ask Mommy."

Guoguo turned her head to look at Shen Mingzhu.

"Take it, and say thank you to Uncle."

After receiving Shen Mingzhu’s approval, Guoguo happily accepted the red envelope and said thank you in a childishly sweet voice.

Zhong Qing explained to Shen Mingzhu, "This year, Yan Yi and I are planning to take Yinyin and Xiaomin abroad for the Spring Festival and, by the way, look for some clues about my parents. We probably won’t be back until after March."

"Then I’ll wish you a Happy New Year in advance."

Zhong Qing held her hand, "Once I’m over there, I’ll get in touch with you. You can think about anything you want to buy, and I’ll bring it back for you."

"When are you leaving? I’ll come to see you off."

"No need. We are taking tonight’s flight, and you’re busy, so don’t trouble yourself. See you next year."

"Alright, have a safe trip."

Zhong Qing hugged her in farewell.

Yan Yi also exchanged a few warm words with her, then bent down to give Guoguo another red envelope, "Can you give this to your brother for Uncle Yan?"

Guoguo’s tiny pale hands accepted the red envelope, "Okay."

"Then thank you, Tan Guoguo."

"You’re welcome."

The serious little grown-up act made all three of them burst into laughter.

...

In the car, Zhong Qing looked at Yan Yi, who was driving, with curiosity on her face, "You seem to really like Guoguo."

The Yan Family was a vast and sprawling clan with numerous children, like dense fruit on trees, too numerous to count. She had never seen Yan Yi so gentle and patient with any child from the Yan Family like he was today.

"Yes, she’s very cute."

The affection in Yan Yi’s eyes was undeniable.

Zhong Qing nodded, "Is it Guoguo’s influence that’s making you want kids?"

Yan Yi didn’t answer directly, "If you have any concerns or regrets, we can cancel our arrangement at any time."

Zhong Qing shook her head, "Not at all, just curious."

"Her influence can’t be excluded, but another more important reason is that I need a child."

...

Checking the time on his wristwatch, Pei Ziheng stood up, "I’m done playing."

Zhao Yun hadn’t finished playing, but seeing Pei Ziheng walking out of the arcade, he had no choice but to give up the unfinished game and follow.

Seeing this, the other friends also hurriedly followed suit.

"Why stop playing? Weren’t we having a good time?"

Pei Ziheng replied concisely, "Going home to make lanterns with Guoguo."

Zhao Yun: "Can’t you do it tomorrow?"

"I promised I’d teach her today."

Knowing his brother’s obsession with spoiling his sister, Zhao Yun didn’t bother to argue further. Passing a hawker selling candied haws, he extravagantly bought out the whole stand.

This year, Zhao Dafa’s business had been booming, and his allowance had doubled.

The seven or eight friends each took two strings, and there was still a big bunch left over. Zhao Yun held them like a bouquet, planning to take them back for Guoguo.

They’d be nice to look at, even if they couldn’t eat them all.

Close to vermilion, one gets stained red; hanging out with Pei Ziheng every day had made him treat Guoguo as his own little sister, cherishing her in the same way.

...

A group of energetic older children, at the age of bustling energy, hadn’t even entered the house before their loud voices reached the Pei Family.

Guoguo, who was being held like a lucky doll by the adults, heard the commotion and immediately twisted around and jumped down to the ground, her little leather shoes tap-tapping as she ran towards the door.

"Big brother~"

Seeing the little sister coming out to greet him, Pei Ziheng’s cool and detached expression finally softened with a faint smile. He bent down out of habit to pick her up, but Zhao Yun beat him to it.

Pei Ziheng’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.