The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 457 - 456: Cunning Older Brother

After being forcibly picked up by Zhao Yun, Guoguo was initially dumbfounded, then subconsciously struggled.

Although Zhao Yun was also her brother, she didn’t like being held by Zhao Yun, because he didn’t have the brotherly fragrance and his embrace wasn’t as comfortable as her brother’s.

And, she had promised her brother...

"Sister Guoguo, look at how many candied hawthorns brother bought for you."

Seeing a whole bunch of bright red candied hawthorns, Guoguo instantly threw her concerns to the back of her mind, her black eyes shining as they fixed on the sugar-coated hawthorns. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Candy Guoguo!"

Seeing her laughing happily in Zhao Yun’s arms, Pei Ziheng’s already dark face grew even darker, his whole body down to the strands of hair emanating cold air, like a frozen pear from the Northeast, dark, cold, and hard.

He could have snatched her away at the very first moment.

He didn’t take her back, because he wanted to test whether his little sister would remember his words, to not allow any male species other than him and his father to hold her.

And what happened? She was bribed away by a few skewers of candied hawthorns.

This worthless little thing, he could not stand to watch for even a second longer.

Pei Ziheng stepped into the house.

Guoguo, who was busily trying to fit a whole string of candied hawthorns into her two little hands, had no idea that her brother was angry.

As soon as Pei Ziheng entered, the relatives in the living room all turned their gaze towards him.

Although each of their faces bore a smile, their thoughts were very different.

The fact that Pei Ziheng was not Pei Yang’s biological son was no longer a secret, and now that the couple had earned a considerable estate, they were fully capable of having another biological son.

At that time, Pei Ziheng’s situation would inevitably be awkward.

Such a pity, such a fine boy, smart and sensible too. If only he were the biological child of the couple, that would be perfect.

Pei Ziheng pretended not to notice the peculiarity in the relatives’ gazes, politely greeted everyone one by one, and finally approached Shen Mingzhu.

"Mom."

Shen Mingzhu reached out her hand to undo the buttons of his jacket—it was warm inside, wearing just the inner clothing was enough.

Pei Ziheng stood upright, like a stout little poplar, with beautiful brows and eyes calm and well-behaved.

"Where’s Guoguo? Didn’t she go out to meet you?"

"Hmm. Zhao Yun bought her a lot of candied hawthorns, she was so happy."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhu hurriedly went outside.

Guoguo was teething, and Shen Mingzhu was usually very strict about her sugar intake, no more than two pieces per day.

And today’s sugar quota had already been used up at the birthday feast.

Seeing Shen Mingzhu confiscating all the candied hawthorns without mercy, Pei Ziheng didn’t show it on his face, but felt much better in his heart.

When Shen Mingzhu scolded Guoguo to the point of tears, he stepped forward and picked her up.

"Mom, it’s my fault for not taking good care of my sister. She’s still young, I will teach her well in the future."

Unable to eat the candied hawthorns and scolded on top of it, Guoguo felt an injustice greater than the sea.

Hearing her own brother pleading for her, she instantly felt that her brother was so, so good, and subconsciously buried her little head into his chest to act spoiled.

"Brother~"

"Be good, don’t cry."

"You just spoil her."

Shen Mingzhu looked at the siblings irritably and handed out the candied hawthorns to the other children.

But someone let it slip, saying that on their return trip everyone had already eaten two skewers, prompting Shen Mingzhu to quickly take back the distributed candied hawthorns and asked Zhao Yun to lead the group inside to drink water.

Hawthorn is acidic, eating too much can easily irritate the stomach lining, and only drinking more water can alleviate it.

Pei Ziheng carried Guoguo up to the study on the second floor.

Children are forgetful. Guoguo was still sniffling as they went upstairs, but the moment she entered the study, her playful nature returned.

She hopped down from his arms on her short legs and excitedly found the lantern paper they bought yesterday.

"Brother, let’s make lanterns."

"We’re not making lanterns today, because you didn’t listen."

Guoguo opened her grape-like big black eyes, filled with confusion and a pinch of grievance.

Where hadn’t she been obedient?

He had clearly promised to make lanterns with her, such a liar, Brother Ziheng!

"You promised me that apart from me and Dad, no other boys could hold you."

"But you let Brother Zhao Yun hold you."

"You didn’t keep our secret agreement, and that makes me unhappy, heartbroken, sad."

As Guoguo watched her brother’s eyes turn red, she became anxious and stretched out her little hand to wipe his tears away.

"Brother, don’t cry."

Pei Ziheng grabbed her little hand, his voice low and deep, "Then do you know what you did wrong?"

Guoguo pouted, her milky voice tinged with the whine of grievance, "Mmm, I won’t let them anymore."

Pei Ziheng lowered his gaze, hooking his own little finger around hers, "Pinky swear, a promise that mustn’t be broken, else you’ll turn into a little puppy."

Guoguo followed his lead, mimicking the words in her babyish voice.

A faint smile appeared on Pei Ziheng’s lips.

The childish tricks he used to disdain had now become his greatest pleasures.

Soon after, Zhao Yun led the other kids who had finished drinking water back to the study.

Seeing the siblings making lanterns at the big desk, Zhao Yun plopped down next to Guoguo, intending to help her, but as soon as he sat down, he was glared at with her big eyes.

"Go away, don’t sit here."

Zhao Yun, thinking she was mad about missing out on candied haws, coaxed softly, "You want to eat candied haws? Tomorrow, I’ll secretly buy some for you, how about that?"

"I don’t want them, you go away."

As she spoke, she stretched out her little paw to push him.

Though perplexed, Zhao Yun still got up and moved to sit beside Pei Ziheng.

And complained to Pei Ziheng in a low voice, "Your sister has quite the temper, and she’s so unreasonable. It’s not my fault that your mom won’t let her eat candied haws, why is she mad at me?"

Pei Ziheng was noncommittal, "I don’t think so."

"Of course you wouldn’t, anything Guoguo does smells like roses to you."

Pei Ziheng turned to his little sister, "Guoguo, Zhao Yun said your farts stink."

Zhao Yun turned his head only to see the little one glaring at him indignantly, "You’re the stinky one, a stinky poop!"

Zhao Yun: "..."

Zhao Yun had yet to mention another point; Guoguo could really hold a grudge.

For that single comment about her farts smelling, Guoguo had refused to acknowledge him for a whole month, no matter how hard he tried to apologize or made up to her, it was of no use.

...

Downstairs, Shen Hongmei brought Yu Jin’e over to apologize to Shen Mingzhu.

"... Mingzhu, it’s my bad for babbling nonsense in front of you. You’re a magnanimous person, don’t be angry with me, okay?"

Shen Mingzhu wanted to teach Yu Jin’e a lesson, so she didn’t even let them into the house.

Standing in the chilly breeze in the yard, she said, "Aunt Jin’e, every generation has its own luck, and at your age, it would be best to live peacefully and enjoy your days at home, don’t you think?"

Between the lines, she meant: From now on, stay put in your hometown, come to the city less often, don’t bother me, don’t annoy me.

Yu Jin’e, smiling apologetically, didn’t dare say no.

She had come to the sober realization that the well-being of her family hinged on the whims of Shen Mingzhu.

...

"That’s it, you guys play."

After a few consecutive losses, Pei Yang stood up, yielding his spot to others, and went off to relieve himself.

After rom using the bathroom, he saw Zhou Shuhuan leaning on the railing in the corridor and walked over with a smile.

"Why did you stop playing?"

Zhou Shuhuan looked at him, "Yang, I have something to tell you."