The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 345 - 344: Reported

Chapter 345: Chapter 344: Reported

"So I’ve been talking my head off, and you haven’t listened to a word, you blockhead. No wonder you’re always overshadowed by your older brother."

Shen Xiangnan wasn’t sure which of his words had upset Jia Yuemei, so he made an excuse to help Qin Jinlian prepare dinner and slipped away.

Jia Yuemei glared at her husband’s retreating back, seething inwardly.

She was also clear that it was hopeless to count on Shen Xiangnan any longer; she had to figure something out herself.

...

Before they knew it, the fourth day of the lunar month arrived.

The food factory was starting work on the sixth, and Du Juan planned to return to the city after the fifth.

After lunch, she began packing her luggage for the trip back to the city tomorrow. Before she had even finished, someone from the Family Planning Office suddenly turned up at their home.

The person from the Family Planning Office had come to talk to Du Juan and Shen Chaobei, to conduct ideological education.

The deputy director of the Family Planning Office responsible for the talk was a Mr. Wang named Wang Feng.

Wang Feng was in his thirties, dressed in a blue padded jacket, and had a very serious expression.

"We have received feedback from the public saying that you’re planning to have a second child. Is there such a thing?"

Having spent a fair amount of time in the city, Du Juan was not easily rattled.

She signaled to her husband with her eyes not to speak rashly and calmly denied it, "No, there’s no such thing."

"Good, we are advocating fewer and healthier births. A couple should only have one child. This is also for your own good. Raising only one child can also reduce your burden..."

Wang Feng lectured the couple about the policy and did some ideological work with them, talking non-stop for more than half an hour.

"... Fewer and healthier births are stipulated by the policy, no one can violate it, otherwise it’s not just a fine that’s simple; there will also be public security punishments."

"Yes, yes, yes, Director Wang, rest assured, we will definitely abide by the law and not cause you any trouble."

While agreeing verbally, Du Juan felt heavy as if a great stone weighed upon her heart.

Families like hers, which had been spoken to by the Family Planning Office, were essentially marked for special attention.

If they dared to defy the policy and gave birth to a child, they would face extremely severe punishment.

The attitude of the couple satisfied Wang Feng, who drank sweetened water before getting ready to leave.

As he stepped out, Wang Feng suddenly clutched his stomach and said to an accompanying officer, "Ouch, my stomach feels a bit off. Xiao Li, you wait outside for me, I need to use the latrine."

"Okay."

Du Juan led Wang Feng to the toilet. "Director Wang, just go straight in, the toilet paper is on the stone pillar by the pigsty."

After reminding him, Du Juan was about to leave when Wang Feng unexpectedly grabbed her arm.

Wang Feng’s demeanor changed from stern to casual. While peering toward the door, he whispered something to Du Juan that only the two of them could hear.

Under Du Juan’s surprised gaze, Wang Feng smiled and said, "I understand your feelings; who doesn’t want a son? But don’t make things difficult for us either, right?"

Unsure whether Wang Feng was genuinely kind-hearted or had ulterior motives, Du Juan hesitated and did not respond.

Wang Feng continued, "Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. There’s no grudge between us. Why would I, right?"

"Ah, right, is that food factory your sister-in-law works at still hiring? I have a sister who’s a capable worker. It’s just her bad luck—her husband fell ill, and her child is young. She’s a woman supporting a whole family, and it’s really hard. I’m thinking of finding her a job to earn a bit so she can feed her family."

Du Juan immediately understood that Wang Feng was doing her a favor in exchange for finding his sister a job.

"Can she read?"

Wang Feng sighed, "We were too poor to lift the lid off the pot back then; she never had the chance to go to school. But she’s strong and can do any dirty, tiring job. She alone can farm seven or eight acres. Feel free to assign her to whatever task you have."

The primary requirement for recruitment at the food factory was literacy.

But Du Juan couldn’t directly refuse without risking offending Wang Feng, so she excused herself, saying she needed to ask Shen Mingzhu before she could give a response.

No sooner had the JSB personnel left than Qin Jinlian and Jia Yuemei successively stepped through the door.

As soon as the JSB people came, Qin Jinlian knew, but she was too timid to come over.

Du Juan briefly explained how someone had reported that they were having a second child and how the JSB came to criticize and educate them about it.

After hearing this, Qin Jinlian immediately became shocked, anxious, and angry, "Who is the conscienceless rat that reported this?"

"I don’t know, the JSB people didn’t say," Du Juan replied.

Before Qin Jinlian arrived, Du Juan had indeed suspected her.

Qin Jinlian had always favored her second son’s family, and Du Juan had only discussed her plans for a second child with Qin Jinlian.

But seeing Qin Jinlian’s reaction, Du Juan thought maybe she was being paranoid.

Qin Jinlian herself wanted a grandson more than Du Juan did; it wouldn’t make sense for her to do something that hurt others without benefiting herself.

Du Juan was more suspicious of another person.

She glanced at Jia Yuemei, who stood to the side with her hands on her waist, not letting on anything.

"Mom, have you mentioned the second child to outsiders?"

Qin Jinlian hemmed and hawed, clearly indicating she had spoken to others.

Du Juan sighed, "It seems someone is green with envy, not wanting the Shen family to have a grandson."

This statement lit a fire under Qin Jinlian’s fury; whoever dared to disrupt the Shen family’s lineage hadn’t seen the end of this.

With a stern face, Qin Jinlian turned and ran outside.

Jia Yuemei, secretly delighted inside, feigned shared indignation, "That person is just too vile, why can’t they stand to see others do well? Sister-in-law, you probably can’t have the second child now, can you?"

Before Qin Jinlian could answer, Qin Jinlian’s cursing suddenly carried in from outside—

"Who reported it? Have the guts to step forward? Pah! Just knows how to play dirty tricks behind people’s backs, shameless scum, I curse her to never bear a son in her life!"

The cursing quickly drew the villagers over to spectate.

Noticing Jia Yuemei’s displeasure, Du Juan commented nonchalantly, "The person who reported me is doomed."

"Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?"

Du Juan chuckled, "You married into the family later; there are things you don’t know about. Once, mom’s chickens were stolen, and she cursed that person to a bad end. The next year, Shen Laowu from the village drowned in a cesspool after getting drunk one night."

"It wasn’t until Shen Laowu’s funeral that someone quietly told mom it was Shen Laowu who had stolen her chickens."

After citing several examples, Du Juan concluded, "...Mom’s curses are powerful, they always come true."

Watching as Jia Yuemei’s face turned from pale to flush, Du Juan sneered inwardly while feigning concern, "Yuemei, you’re looking quite pale. Are you not feeling well?"

With a smile more pitiful than crying, Jia Yuemei replied, "Sister-in-law, we should still try to persuade mom. Cursing like this could lead to serious offense, and who knows what tactics they might use in the future."

"She’s already reported me, what’s there to fear about offending or not offending."

Seeing that Du Juan was unwilling to go, Jia Yuemei had no choice but to go herself.

But as soon as she stepped out, she heard the villagers, one after another, denouncing the informer.

Then and now, those who secretly report others have always been despised, poked in the spine as a mark of disgrace.

Jia Yuemei no longer dared to persuade Qin Jinlian and slunk back to her own room.