The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 184: Let’s Talk in Bed

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Let’s Talk in Bed

Although Shen Mingzhu knew that the man was deliberately playing the martyr, she still couldn’t help but soften and compromise.

"Alright, then you talk, I’m listening."

"Let’s talk on the bed."

Shen Mingzhu: ???

Meeting Shen Mingzhu’s cool gaze that seemed to say "What are you talking about, are you seeking death?", Pei Yang hurriedly explained: "I mean, let’s lie on the bed and talk, just talk. I promise I won’t do anything else."

Seeing that Shen Mingzhu still looked skeptical, as if thinking "Do you really think I’m that easy to deceive?", Pei Yang simply lifted his shirt.

"Look at my body. Even if I wanted to do something, I’m all will, but no strength."

Shen Mingzhu stared at the man’s flat and emaciated abdomen, which was skin and bones, with only one thought in her head: Where did my six-pack abs go?

Standing at the door of Pei Ziheng’s room and looking at the bare bed, Shen Mingzhu turned back and complained to the man, "There’s not even a pillow."

"I’ll go get one!"

Watching the man tiptoe, turn the knob of the master bedroom door, and sneak in with a crouched, guilty figure, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help but chuckle silently.

To avoid waking Pei Ziheng in bed, Pei Yang moved more cautiously than crossing a minefield in a war zone. He didn’t turn on the light, instead, using the moonlight from the window to first wrap up his wife’s quilt and pillow, then went around to the other side of the bed to grab a pillow but deliberately didn’t take a quilt.

After getting what he needed, Pei Yang turned and tiptoed out of the room, closed the door, and sighed with relief.

The moment the door clicked shut, Pei Ziheng on the bed rolled over heavily.

In the second bedroom, Shen Mingzhu saw the unpacked luggage by the wardrobe and began to tidy it up.

It wasn’t so much tidying up, since the clothes were already folded—she just needed to sort them into the closet.

Pei Yang came in with the pillow and quilt and saw his wife organizing his luggage, feeling utterly delighted.

After Shen Mingzhu finished with the luggage, Pei Yang also spread the pillow and quilt on the bed.

Seeing that there was only her own quilt on the bed, Shen Mingzhu looked at the man, "Where’s your quilt?"

"It’s pinned under our son. I was afraid of waking him, so I didn’t bring it over."

This explanation made sense, but Shen Mingzhu turned around and took a new thin quilt from the closet, "You can use this."

Pei Yang’s eyes widened as big as cow’s eyes, "Where did that come from?"

"Your sister gave it to me. It’s an employee benefit from the cotton mill. It’s two yuan cheaper than outside. She bought one for me."

"..."

Two yuan! Does he lack those two yuan?

...

After the dream of sharing a quilt with his wife shattered, Pei Yang didn’t play any more tricks and dutifully covered himself with the new quilt, chatting with his wife about his sea rescue experience.

Pei Yang didn’t go into detail about the dangers he encountered, merely glossing over them with a few light strokes.

But even without his elaboration, Shen Mingzhu could guess that his experience must have been extremely perilous. The injuries on his body, his frail figure, and pale complexion said it all.

However, now that he had returned safely, if he didn’t wish to discuss it, she didn’t want to pry too much either.

"So the search and rescue for the Tai’an ended just like that?"

"Yeah."

An expression of regret and sadness crossed Pei Yang’s deep features, "We searched the seas within nearly a thousand miles of the accident site. Continuing the search would have been futile."

It even almost cost him and the entire search and rescue team their lives.

If it hadn’t been for a sudden storm that came down from heaven, if a cargo ship hadn’t happened to pass by, he might really have been left on the Pacific Ocean.

"Mingzhu, I’ve applied for a transfer."

Lin Guofu’s exact words were to discuss it with his wife before deciding, but it would be strange if Pei Yang actually heeded that advice.

Having faced life and death, he now wanted nothing to do with career prospects— all he desired was his tender and soft wife. He wanted to spend his days in peace with her, and go nowhere else.

Shen Mingzhu looked at him, surprised, "When?"

Pei Yang also looked at her, his eyes gentle, "I’m not going anywhere after I come back this time. I will work here from now on."

Shen Mingzhu was happy about the man’s job transfer, but she didn’t forget to tease him with her comments, "Didn’t you say you loved being a sailor and enjoyed the feeling of being at sea? Why have you suddenly given up on it now?"

"Because I was immature before and didn’t understand your worries and reluctance to let go."

"Who’s worried and reluctant to let you go? Without you around, my son and I have a great time every day. With my husband away, Yueyue earns money for me to spend; it’s the life many women dream of."

While Shen Mingzhu spoke, she shot him a glance, her eyes brimming with coquettish charm that ignited a flame in Pei Yang’s heart, lighting it with a single touch.

He flipped over, looming above Shen Mingzhu, his deep eyes looking as if they wanted to absorb her into them.

Shen Mingzhu became tense and nervous at his actions, "What are you doing?"

Pei Yang lowered his head to capture her lips, showing her through actions what he intended to do.

——No bedroom division line——

At the dining table.

Pei Ziheng, still sleepy-eyed, rubbed his eyes and looked toward his own room, "Where’s Mom?"

Pei Yang placed the egg custard, mixed with sesame oil and scallions, in front of him, "Your mom’s still sleeping, hurry up and eat, then I’ll take you to school."

Pei Ziheng stared at the egg custard in the bowl, his small, pale face forlorn, "I don’t want scallions, and Mom always mixes it with lard."

"...It’s fragrant with the scallions and sesame oil, don’t believe me? Try a bite."

"I don’t want it, I only want it mixed with lard."

"..."

Pei Yang handed him a steamed bun, "Eat the steamed bun then."

Pei Ziheng glared at him despondently, his cheeks puffed out like a little puffer fish.

Seeing him like this, Pei Yang quickly raised his hand to rub his fluffy head and coaxed him gently, "Daddy won’t add scallions anymore. I’ll mix it with lard for you."

Only then did Pei Ziheng happily start gnawing on the steamed bun.

After breakfast, seeing Pei Ziheng’s sleepy demeanor, Pei Yang simply carried him out the door.

As soon as they left, they ran into Feng Huiying, who was also heading out.

Seeing Pei Ziheng slumped against Pei Yang’s shoulder, Feng Huiying teased with a smile, "Oh, Ziheng’s still not awake? Kids this age love to sleep, just like little piglets."

Pei Ziheng lifted his little head indignantly, "I’m not a sleepyhead. It was my mom and dad’s fault, they kept moving from room to room all night, making noises, uhhh uhhh..."

Pei Yang’s large hand covered Pei Ziheng’s face like a cloth, muffling him tightly.

"The kid doesn’t know what he’s talking about, just babbling nonsense."

Feng Huiying mocked, "Pei Yang, you better take care of yourself."

Pei Yang nodded politely but awkwardly and quickly descended the stairs with his son.

Once they left the residential compound, Pei Yang intended to teach his son not to speak recklessly in the future, but when he turned around, he found his son had already fallen asleep on his shoulder.

His eyes softened, and he instinctively hugged his son a little tighter.

Nearing the school, father and son encountered Pei Ziheng’s homeroom teacher, Ou Liya.

After learning Pei Yang’s identity, Ou Liya chatted briefly with him about Pei Ziheng’s school performance and then took the initiative to take on the task of walking Pei Ziheng to school.

Ou Liya didn’t hold Pei Ziheng’s hand as they walked. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to; it was that Ziheng was unwilling.

Pei Ziheng would only hold hands with his own mother.

As they approached the school gate, Ou Liya couldn’t help but look back twice at Pei Yang’s tall and straight figure.

"Ziheng, what does your dad do for work?"

"A sailor."

"And your birth mother?"

Pei Ziheng tilted back his beautiful pale face and said earnestly, "Ms. Ou, I only have one mother, and she’s even closer to me than a birth mother."

Ou Liya smiled and didn’t say anything more, but inside she sneered: This country woman sure has a way with kids.