The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 879 - 878: Justice

"Sister-in-law, you also think that the miserable state I’ve ended up in today is all because of that bitch Qiao Ya, don’t you?"

Hearing Shen Baolan ask this, Tian Wenfang sighed again, "What’s the use of saying all this now? Zhou Shuhuan said to let you go back, or else he won’t be polite to you in the future. He’s rich and powerful here; he has plenty of ways to deal with you."

Shen Baolan sneered, "I’ve already ended up like this; what else is there to be afraid of? He and Qiao Ya owe me; I will get it all back."

Tian Wenfang curled her lip, "How are you going to demand it? Ten of you put together still wouldn’t be a match for them."

"That’s none of your business, sister-in-law. You and Brother Hu take good care of my brother’s ashes and let him rest in peace as soon as possible. I’ll return after handling things here."

"Do whatever you want; I’m not dealing with you anymore."

Tian Wenfang spoke irritably and walked away with her husband’s ashes.

...

On the train.

Holding the urn wrapped in black cloth, Tian Wenfang murmured worriedly to her elder brother, "I’ve had a bad feeling the whole trip; Baolan won’t do anything foolish, will she?"

Tian Hu was indifferent, "What can she do? Even if she did, it wouldn’t concern us. In my opinion, it would be best if she died out there. One less person to feed at home, you’d save some food."

"Brother, your heart is really cold!"

Touching the pocket holding the IOUs, Tian Wenfang said, "I’m not heartless. As long as she really gives me and Niudan all the money, I wouldn’t mind feeding her an extra mouth in the future."

Tian Hu glanced sideways at her, "You really want to remain a widow in the Shen family? Think it through, you’re not even forty yet; there’s still a long life ahead of you."

Tian Wenfang smoothed the bangs blocking her eyes and chided, "She only said I can’t remarry, not that I can’t find a man."

Tian Hu reminded, "Your brother-in-law has only been gone a few days; be careful not to give anyone a hold to gossip about."

"Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."

...

"Really gone?"

At the dining table, upon hearing Qiao Ya say that Shen Baolan and her natal family had already checked out and left, Zhou Shuhuan asked again without thinking.

Qiao Ya smiled and chided, "Rest assured, they’re really gone this time. I had a guy help me keep an eye on them; after they got Shen Hao’s ashes, they went to the train station in the afternoon."

"Great! Finally, they’re gone!"

Zhou Fu’s face beamed with happiness, showing no sign of sadness for his uncle’s death.

Zhou Shuhuan glanced at his son and took a serving spoon to scoop some crab yellow tofu into Qiao Ya’s bowl, considerately saying, "You’ve been working hard these days; eat more."

Qiao Ya smiled blissfully, mentioning that it was Ma Sufen’s birthday in a couple of days and wanted to go out to a restaurant to celebrate properly.

Zhou Shuhuan said there was no need, "There have been a lot of troubles recently. Better to keep it low-key. Just a simple meal with our own family is fine."

Qiao Ya asked, "Should we do it here or go over to your parents’?"

"Let’s go to my parents’. My mother has trouble with her legs; better to save her the trouble."

Zhou Shuhuan and Qiao Ya chatted away happily, blissfully unaware that in a deserted corner across from their villa, a pair of eyes was staring intently at them.

It was Shen Baolan.

She held a small bag of bun that had grown cold, shoving the dry cold buns into her mouth while staring fixedly at the villa.

Having been fooled once, she had learned her lesson. Knowing that Zhou Shuhuan would surely find a way to get rid of her if he knew she stayed, she pretended to go home with Tian Wenfang to the train station.

She didn’t board the train but hid in the restroom instead, only leaving the train station when it was almost dark.

Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, she could clearly see the family of five from the Zhou family, enjoying their meal together.

Seeing Zhou Shuhuan intermittently serving food to Qiao Ya touched a nerve of resentment and bitterness in her.

She had been married to Zhou Shuhuan for so many years, and he had never once served her food, yet just in this meal, he had served Qiao Ya several times.

And her dear son, who discarded her, his biological mother, like a pair of worn-out shoes, was fawning and ingratiating himself with Qiao Ya, the homewrecker.

Shen Baolan stuffed half a bun into her mouth and chewed viciously, as if what she was eating wasn’t bun but human flesh.

```

...

Shen Hao’s funeral was not attended by Shen Mingzhu; she only entrusted Shen Hongmei to send the silk and money for the mourning rituals.

"Aunt Cuihua is bedridden again, and I’m afraid she won’t last the year. She hasn’t eaten or drunk for several days now. Uncle Dashan has also aged a lot, his hair has turned mostly white."

"I heard that Shen Baolan is still in Fucheng, and God knows what she’s thinking. She probably feels too ashamed to come back. People really can’t choose the wrong path; one misstep leads to another."

Worried that Shen Baolan might come to pester her, Shen Mingzhu moved to a villa in Ruifeng Garden right after cleaning the tomb on the first day of the new year. After staying there for a while and finding it comfortable and convenient, she decided to settle down there.

Last month, Shen Hongmei and Zhao Dafa also moved over.

The two families became neighbors; whenever she had free time, Shen Hongmei would come over to chat with Shen Mingzhu.

As for the situation Shen Baolan ended up in, Shen Hongmei felt pity, but at the same time, she was extremely grateful.

She too had almost gone astray, but fortunately, she turned back in time.

...

"Mom, happy birthday. This jade bracelet is a little token of Shuhuan’s and my affections, wishing you peace and health year after year, living a long life."

Looking at the icy and creamy green jade bracelet on her wrist, Ma Sufen’s eyes narrowed into slits with a smile.

But she chided, "This thing can’t be eaten or drunk, why spend the unjust money?"

"Without you and Dad’s careful upbringing and guidance, Shuhuan wouldn’t be where he is today. No amount of money we spend on you and Dad could ever be enough."

"Shuhuan marrying such a virtuous and capable daughter-in-law like you is indeed a stroke of fortune for the Zhou family."

Although Qiao Ya was reluctant to live with them, her sweet talk and regular gifts of food, drink, and clothing kept Ma Sufen extremely satisfied.

"As long as you like it, Mom."

"Grandma, can we start eating? I’m starving to death."

While the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were praising each other, Zhou Fu, at the other end of the table, became impatient and started calling out loudly.

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, right in his growing years, couldn’t wait in front of a table full of sumptuous food.

Ma Sufen scolded her grandson for his lack of manners while cheerfully inviting the whole family to sit down for dinner.

Today’s birthday banquet was a family affair with no outsiders. Other than the elderly couple, Ma Sufen and Zhou Quanxiong, there were Zhou Shuhuan, Qiao Ya, and their three children, seven people in total.

Although it’s just a family dinner, the dishes were arranged to be very lavish.

There was a variety of food, from the air, sea, and land, all ordered from high-end restaurants and delivered to the door.

"Mom, try this crab and see how it tastes."

"Wow, why is this crab leg so big? It’s thicker than my fingers."

"That’s an Alaskan King Crab, one this big!" Zhou Fu answered eagerly, gesturing with his hands.

Since he was a kid, he always loved eating shrimp and crab, and Alaskan King Crab was his favorite.

"This child, when it comes to eating, you get so excited. I’ve never seen you work this hard at your studies," Ma Sufen chided.

Qiao Ya spoke up for her stepson with a smile, "Ah Fu is now very focused on his studies, and his grades have improved."

Zhou Fu proudly declared, "I scored third in the class in math last week!"

Ma Sufen immediately smiled broadly and even rewarded Zhou Fu with a crab leg in his bowl.

"Eat, eat more, and strive to be the first next time."

"Definitely!"

"Hahaha, that’s the spirit."

Outside.

Shen Baolan pressed her ear tightly against the door panel, listening to the laughter and joy coming from inside, tears in her eyes, but her face, full of dust and grime, revealed a strange smile that was unsettling.

Such a happy and contented family indeed.

```