The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 462 - 461: Family Reunion

After asking about Pei Ke’s preferences, Shen Mingzhu made a list of ingredients and had Sister Yu go shopping; she tied on her apron, soaked the rice, and took out cured meats, preparing to make cured-flavor rice.

In the living room, Guoguo was playing happily.

Although it was her first time meeting Pei Ke, she didn’t act shy at all. One moment she was asking Pei Ke to admire the braids she had made for her doll, the next she was showing off the lantern she had crafted.

Upon learning that Pei Ke didn’t know how to make a lantern, she immediately dragged him to the second floor to teach him.

"Mom?"

Pei Ziheng stood at the kitchen doorway and was very surprised to see the person cooking was Shen Mingzhu.

Shen Mingzhu smiled at her son, "Your great-uncle is back, playing upstairs with Guoguo. You should go too, but remember to call others."

Hearing that Pei Ke was back, Pei Ziheng was quite surprised and promptly went to the second floor.

Standing outside the study, Pei Ziheng paused slightly as he saw the familiar-looking middle-aged man inside.

To be fair, in his last life, Pei Ke had been good to him, taking him to Hong City, providing for his food and lodging, and after his death, leaving him his entire fortune.

If Pei Ke hadn’t returned, he had been planning to find a way to bring him back.

In his previous life, Pei Ke had died of liver cancer, which was discovered too late. If it had been found earlier and treated sooner, there was a great chance of recovery.

"Brother!"

Guoguo seemed to have a sixth sense, and even though she was facing away from the door, she still felt Pei Ziheng’s presence, stood up, and happily ran towards him.

Pei Ziheng bent down to scoop his sister into his arms and entered the study, "Great-uncle."

Pei Ke looked him up and down with a smile covering his face, "You are Ziheng, right?"

"Mhm."

"You look very good, very much like your mom."

What Pei Ke meant was that Pei Ziheng was as beautiful as Shen Mingzhu.

Pei Ziheng seemed very happy; he liked it when people said he resembled Shen Mingzhu.

"I heard from your mom that you’re also doing well in school, not only ranking first every year but also skipping a grade to enter junior high."

"Mhm."

"Truly, our ancestor’s grave must be emitting a green smoke to have produced such a promising child like you. If it were the ancient times, you could probably have been a top scholar. In our Pei Family, no one for generations could study."

Shen Mingzhu brought a fruit plate and snacks to the trio of grandfather and grandchildren. Seeing Pei Ziheng lower his head silently upon hearing Pei Ke’s words, she felt a dull ache in her heart.

"Little uncle, lunch isn’t ready yet; have some pastries to fill your stomach."

"Eh, don’t make too much, just a couple of simple home dishes will do."

"It’s not much, just the usual dishes we eat. I’ll come up to call you when it’s ready."

At half-past twelve, four dishes and a soup were finally on the table.

Pei Ke picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and as he ate it, nostalgia and satisfaction were written all over his face, his eyes even slightly brimming with warmth.

"I can’t remember how many years it’s been since I’ve had this dish. Back when I was young, we were poor and could only eat this during the New Year. Even then, we couldn’t have much, just two pieces per person. I’d be so reluctant to eat it all, I’d wrap one piece in wax paper and put it in my pocket to eat during the next meal."

Seeing Pei Ke emotionally stirred, Shen Mingzhu used the serving chopsticks to place two more pieces into his bowl.

"Life is better now, you can eat whatever you want whenever you want."

Pei Ke nodded.

"Is meat easy to buy now? Do you still need ration coupons?"

"State-run stores still require them, but private ones don’t. You can buy with money without the need for coupons, and you can buy anything. Policies are more open now, encouraging private entrepreneurship, not like the past when commerce was strictly regulated."

"That’s good, that’s very good."

The meal wasn’t even finished when Pei Wenping arrived.

Seeing Pei Ke, Pei Wenping was very excited.

It had been only ten years since Pei Ke left, and in the blink of an eye, more than twenty years had passed.

Shen Mingzhu had to return to work after lunch, so she left for the factory, while Pei Wenping stayed at home to chat with Pei Ke.

Arriving at the factory, Pei Yang had just returned as well.

"Did you go out this morning?"

Shen Mingzhu responded, looking at him, "Do you have other things to do this afternoon?"

Pei Yang said, "I’m free this afternoon, but I’ve got a dinner in the evening, I’m taking Chen Cheng and Guan Qiang to meet Boss Wang and his people." freewebnøvel.com

Shen Mingzhu then said, "Then you should come home, Ziheng is back."

Pei Yang was taken aback for a moment, obviously not immediately understanding who Shen Mingzhu was referring to as ’Ziheng’ in her statement.

After all, both the Chen Family and the Shen Family had a ’Ziheng’.

"My uncle?"

"Yes, I had lunch with Uncle Ziheng at home."

Pei Yang hadn’t seen Pei Ke for several years and immediately drove home.

Back in the office, Shen Mingzhu called to reserve a table for a dinner the next evening, planning to invite the Chen Family as well.

It was to welcome Pei Ke, and also to recognize family ties.

Pei Ke had spent over twenty years in Hong City, not even returning for Pei Wenping’s wedding.

In the evening, at the Ginkgo Building.

On Shen Mingzhu’s side there were five people, and the Chen Family had six, adding up to eleven people—just enough to fill a large round table.

During the meal, Pei Ke gave his nephew-in-law, Chen Yi, some cash as a token change of address gift.

Besides that, each of the four children also received a thick red envelope and an electronic watch.

These days, electronic watches were still quite a novelty, and the kids were ecstatic.

That evening, back at home.

Pei Ke watched TV with the two kids in the living room, while Shen Mingzhu and Pei Yang cleaned up the guest room together.

The rooms sanitation was always maintained by Aunt Yu, it was just a matter of changing the bed sheets, providing slippers and a hot water bottle, to ensure that Pei Ke had a comfortable stay.

"Yang, Mingzhu, sorry to put you to work," said Pei Ke as he stood at the doorstep of the guest room, watching them with a chuckle.

Shen Mingzhu said, "Uncle, come in and take a look, see if anything is missing."

Pei Ke walked into the room, looked around, and repeatedly said everything was fine. Then he opened one of the suitcases in the corner of the room and took out two boxes of different sizes, handing one to Pei Yang and the other to Shen Mingzhu.

"Open them and have a look."

Under Pei Ke’s urging, they each opened their respective boxes.

Shen Mingzhu’s contained a platinum necklace with a ruby pendant.

During this era in China, jewelry was typically just gold or silver, so platinum was considered quite chic and novel, especially with the pendant sporting an approximately one-carat ruby.

Under the light, the necklace glittered attractively.

Pei Yang’s was a Rolex watch, a very classic 18K gold piece. Such a watch would cost at least a few thousand US dollars abroad.

"Uncle, these are too valuable," said Pei Yang.

Pei Ke chuckled, "I don’t give gifts every year. It’s been more than twenty years, and this is the only time, so take it. Yang, consider the watch an Uncle’s birthday gift for you. Before you realize it, you’re already thirty. When I left, you were just in first grade, only reaching up to my chest, and now you stand a head taller than me. I just didn’t expect big brother and sister-in-law to leave us so soon, and I never got to see them one last time."

While talking, he lowered his head to wipe the corner of his eyes.

Being close uncle and nephew, Pei Yang was also touched by the emotion and his face showed his sadness.

"Uncle, mom and dad are gone, but this is your home now. Please come back more often when you have the time," said Pei Yang.

Pei Ke nodded repeatedly.

...

"What are you flipping, pancakes?"

Hearing the teasing from the man, Shen Mingzhu turned, "Do you want some then?"

"Yes."

Within the blanket, Shen Mingzhu kicked him, saying, "I’m thinking about something."

"Have I lost my charm? I’m lying right next to you, but you’re thinking of something else."

"Don’t be silly, I’m being serious with you."

Pei Yang hugged her waist with a smile, "Alright, tell me, what’s on your mind?"