The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era

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"...The couple kept quarreling until the wee hours, disturbing the entire building’s sleep. You didn’t see it, Zhou Shuhuan slapped Shen Baolan twice, puffing her face up like a steamed bun,"

"It’s surprising, considering how meek and introverted Zhou Shuhuan usually is, a real honest man, but when it comes to hitting a woman, he doesn’t hold back at all."

"Crying, Shen Baolan said she miscarried, but Zhou Shuhuan didn’t even glance at her; he just turned around and went home. Early in the morning, as if nothing had happened, he left for work."

"Old Mr. Zhou wasn’t home either, so the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are probably at it again. It’s just pitiful for Zhou Hao, he was so frightened last night that he cried his eyes out. As a mother, there’s nothing more painful than hearing your child cry; it’s like your heart is being wrung out. That’s why I brought Wa Shiting over to your place for some peace and to chat with you. You don’t find me annoying, do you?"

Early in the morning, Wa Shiting’s mother brought her daughter over to Shen Mingzhu’s to play and to share the gossip about the Zhou family.

Shen Mingzhu smiled, "Of course not, your Wa Shiting is so well-behaved and adorable, I really like her. My Ziheng is just too reserved; I wish there were children his age to visit, to help bring him out of his shell."

Glancing at the two children crouching by the coffee table, Wa Shiting’s mother said enviously, "Be content, your Ziheng is so sensible, obedient, and smart. You don’t know how many mothers in the residential compound are envious of you, and I’m one of them, green with envy."

"Your Wa Shiting is not shabby either, at such a young age she can sing and dance..."

As they mutually flattered each other, the door to Ziheng’s room opened, and Pei Yang, sleepy-eyed, came out, looking somewhat startled to see guests.