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

Yang Lizhen returned home and saw her mother-in-law on the couch with a cold look in her eyes; her face immediately broke into a smile.

"Mom, I’m back."

Meng Huifang called her grandson Lin Xiaobao over and gave him a thorough once-over, making sure there were no bumps or bruises, before she started scolding Yang Lizhen with disdain—

"Going out to buy groceries and taking so long... Look at the way you’re dressed, with your neckline open and your face made-up—whom are you trying to seduce?"

Yang Lizhen put down the groceries in her hands and explained, "Mom, you’ve misunderstood me. I just want to look good when I go out so I don’t embarrass you and Zhichong. Everyone laughs at me for being a country girl, but I’m determined to spruce myself up, so people know I’m living the good life since I got married here, right?"

Her kind of sophistry somehow pacified Meng Huifang a bit, "Alright, go cook, and be quick about it. Look at the time. Move faster next time you go out, don’t dawdle just to buy some groceries."

"Okay, I’m going!"

Yang Lizhen immediately bustled into the kitchen, tied on an apron, and got to work.

Once the meal was ready, Meng Huifang took Lin Xiaobao to eat first, while she went to attend to her husband Lin Zhichong.

"The rice is too mushy."