The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 575 - 574: Meeting the Parents

Chapter 575: Chapter 574: Meeting the Parents

Shen Hongmei’s cheeks turned scarlet at the joke about "getting a marriage license," "No, it’s just that my dad’s birthday is next Tuesday, and Zhao wants to go back with me to meet my parents."

"Did Zhao bring it up himself?"

"Mhm."

The charm of an older man lies precisely in this, the sense of propriety is just right, advancing the relationship while not making others feel uncomfortable.

In front of a sly fox like Zhao Dafa, Shen Hongmei was nothing but a little white rabbit.

Still, Mingzhu felt it necessary to offer a bit of advice.

"Though it’s a bit soon, you and Zhao have known each other for a while, you’re both familiar through and through, so it’s not a bad thing to settle down sooner, it saves your parents the worry about your future," she said.

Shen Hongmei nodded with a blushing face.

...

Having received a call from Shen Hongmei in advance, Yu Jin’e had been waiting eagerly at the entrance of the village, looking forward to her daughter’s and son-in-law’s return.

It was the slack farming season, and Yu Jin’e was surrounded by lots of aunties and grandmas, all having heard that Shen Hongmei was bringing home a new son-in-law today, waiting to see something rare.

Shen Hongmei was considered a "tough nut to crack" among the unmarried girls of Shenjiagou.

Over the years, villagers had gossiped plenty about Shen Hongmei’s inability to get married—she was even used as a cautionary tale when advising their own daughters.

For the villagers, Shen Hongmei suddenly bringing home a son-in-law was as astonishing as the sun rising in the west.

"Jin’e, what’s your daughter’s son-in-law like?"

"He does big business in the city!"

"Oh, your Hongmei even found you a wealthy son-in-law, that’s really impressive."

Everyone verbally went along with it, but they were making faces at each other, laughing behind their backs, thinking that Yu Jin’e was boasting.

Shen Hongmei, an old maid, and not exactly a spring chicken, should be glad to have any man interested at all, let alone dream of a wealthy husband—she should look at herself in the mirror!

Someone cued Qin Jinlian, who was joining in the fun with her little granddaughter, "Jinlian, you often go to the city, have you seen Hongmei’s man? What does he look like?"

Qin Jinlian gave that person a disdainful look, "Won’t we know once we see him later?"

"So you haven’t seen him either?"

Indeed, Qin Jinlian had never met him, and she didn’t even know about Shen Hongmei having a partner.

The secretive girl, keeping it so tightly under wraps.

In her heart, Qin Jinlian complained about Mingzhu, but she held her own in the conversation, "What does it matter if I’ve seen him? As long as Jin’e’s daughter is satisfied with her son-in-law, that’s all that counts."

"That’s true..."

When three women get together, it’s a full-on drama— with over a dozen women gathered, their incessant chatter would make even a passing dog shake off the spit flying around.

An hour quickly passed.

"Hisss, it’s almost eleven o’clock, why hasn’t your Hongmei come back yet?"

"If Jin’e isn’t worried, why are you in a hurry? It’s like an eunuch being more anxious than the emperor," someone joked.

Laughter erupted among those gathered.

"Look, there’s a sedan up ahead."

Following the direction of the noise, everyone looked towards the road leading into the village and indeed saw a black sedan bumping along towards them.

Many looked at Qin Jinlian, "Jinlian, is Mingzhu coming back today as well?"

The only one in the village with a car was Qin Jinlian’s daughter.

"Isn’t Mingzhu’s car white? Did she get a new one? Wow, she must’ve made a bundle!"

Qin Jinlian was unsure; her daughter’s car was still white when she went into the city a few days ago.

Even Yu Jin’e didn’t dare to associate the sedan with her daughter and son-in-law, just watching the approaching Santana with envy and jealousy in her eyes.

The Santana soon stopped at the village entrance.

"Mom."

Seeing her daughter emerge from the car, Yu Jin’e was utterly astonished.

"Oh, it’s Hongmei!"

"Look, isn’t that Hongmei’s beau that she brought back?"

More than a dozen pairs of eyes stared at him in unison, and even Dafa, who had seen a lot, couldn’t help feeling embarrassed.

It was awkward for Hongmei too; she was nervously digging her toes into the ground, unsure of what to do, when Yu Jin’e hurried over with her tiny steps.

"Hongmei, you finally came back!"

While greeting Hongmei, her eyes fixed unerringly on Dafa.

That shining gaze was like looking at a big gold ingot.

"This is my mom, this is Zhao..."

Hongmei instinctively wanted to call him Brother Zhao but felt it was inappropriate, about to correct herself, Dafa took the initiative and said, "Zhao Dafa, auntie, you can call me Xiaozhao or Dafa."

Yu Jin’e’s smile blossomed like a chrysanthemum; she grabbed hold of Dafa as if afraid he would run away.

"Xiaozhao, come on, let’s go back. The meal is almost ready."

"Auntie, I brought some things for you and uncle."

Dafa opened the rear door and trunk of the car, and took out the gifts one by one.

Cigarettes, liquor, candy, tea, fruit, health products—all sorts of things were laid out on the ground.

Not to mention Yu Jin’e and the others, whose mouths gaped in astonishment, even Qin Jinlian, who had seen grand events, was filled with envy.

Jin’e and her husband Shen Zhong ran back and forth three times before they managed to carry all the things back home.

Others offered to help, but Jin’e refused them all.

These were not just formal gifts from a son-in-law visiting, but also a matter of face for her and her husband.

Dafa’s generous actions indeed caused a sensation throughout Shenjiagou.

At lunchtime, Hongmei and Dafa became the talk of every household meal.

Even Qin Jinlian couldn’t help but feel sour, "Jin’e has really held her head high this time. Her son-in-law is much more capable than Pei Yang."

Jinlian was acquainted with Dafa, having seen him several times in the city before; she also knew his background.

Jianguo retorted irritably, "There are plenty of capable people out there; do you need to compare each and every one of them? Be content for once."

Jinlian was discontent, "Mingzhu really, Hongmei and Dafa have gotten along, and she didn’t even tell me."

"Why should she tell you? What does Hongmei have to do with you?"

After being rebuffed by her husband several times, Jinlian lost her appetite and ran to her own doorstep, where she sat on the threshold, brooding over Hongmei’s house.

Erya, who didn’t understand anything, ran out with her enamel rice bowl and sat on the threshold beside her grandmother, quietly eating her meal.

...

At Hongmei’s dining table, Dafa was treated as an honored guest.

Jin’e and Shen Zhong, one poured Dafa a drink, the other was offering him food, their attentiveness was undeniable.

Hongmei covered her cup with her hand, "Dad, I can’t drink while driving, it’s not safe."

Zhong stopped pouring instantly, his expression showing his concern, "Can’t drink, right, then how about some tea? Your mother, quickly brew a cup of tea for Xiaozhao."

Jin’e was about to get up to boil water when Hongmei held her back, "No need, let’s have a soft drink. I’ll go get it."

Shen Jiagen immediately shouted, "Sis, I want Coke!"

He’d spotted the Coke among the gifts from his brother-in-law; had it not been for Jin’e’s watchful eye, he would’ve snuck one to satisfy his craving earlier.

Hongmei replied and asked Shen Hongju, "What do you want to drink?"

Hongju was a bit shy, "Anything’s fine."

Hongmei got up to get the soda, and Dafa took the opportunity to inquire about the siblings’ schooling.

Jiagen, twelve years old and in the fifth grade, had average marks, while Hongju did well, placing twentieth in the entire school on her midterms.

Seizing the moment, Dafa offered to help transfer Hongju to a school in the city.

The difference between the teaching staff in city schools and town schools was immense; if Hongju could spend the last half-year in a city school, her college entrance exam scores would surely see a significant increase.

Jin’e and Zhong were overjoyed by the offer.

But Hongju was somewhat silent, seemingly not too eager about the idea of studying in the city.