The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 464 - 463: Some People Live, Yet He Is Already Dead

Chapter 464: Chapter 463: Some People Live, Yet He Is Already Dead

"The real murderer is the one who eats the bullet, and in my heart, you’re no different from the dead,"

Some people are alive, but they are already dead inside.

Chen Yi gave a bitter smile, "You really know how to kill with words."

He stood up, exhaling a long breath, "Alright then, as you wish. If getting a divorce will make you happier, let’s divorce."

...

When they reached the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Chen Yi suddenly stopped.

"Wenping,"

Pei Wenping turned back to look at him, "What is it?"

Chen Yi gestured for her to look up.

The sky was cloudless, a pristine blue as if it had been washed clean, the first good weather since the New Year.

"Today’s sky is the same as the day we came here to get our marriage certificate."

Chen Yi cast a nostalgic gaze towards her, "You were wearing a white dress with small blue flowers that day. You walked so fast that the hem of your dress rolled like the surf, making you look so fresh and tender, like a water hyacinth, extremely pretty."

"At that moment, I thought to myself that I must treat you well for the rest of my life, that we would grow old together, surrounded by our children and grandchildren."

Pei Wenping turned her face away, "Cut the crap and let’s get on with the formalities; I have to go to work in a bit."

Chen Yi followed her into the Civil Affairs Bureau without another word.

Half an hour later.

They walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Pei Wenping expressionlessly put the green booklet back into her bag, "Don’t tell Xiaolu and Xiaochao about this for now, I’m leaving."

After saying that, she walked away.

Chen Yi stood there watching her leave.

"Mom, look, she’s crying,"

As a mother and daughter passed by, the little girl pointed at Pei Wenping’s red-rimmed eyes and said.

The woman glanced at Pei Wenping, then at the Civil Affairs Bureau up ahead, and at Chen Yi standing outside the bureau, her face showing sympathy.

Sigh.

Another poor woman abandoned by a "Chen Shiming."

Men are so despicable, casting aside their loyal wives when they make it big, pah!

Chen Yi, watching the woman spit on the ground as she passed him, wore a look of confusion.

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"You really got a divorce?"

Shen Mingzhu looked at the green booklet in her hand. Her question was rhetorical, expressing her feeling of wonder.

She had thought there was a chance for the two to reconcile.

Pei Wenping blew her nose, "I, Pei Wenping, may not have many skills, but I am tough. I don’t like to be looked down upon. Since they see me as a burden, then I’ll just leave. Who says I can’t live without them?"

The words of Chen’s mother were like a thorn in her throat.

She could understand and empathize with the Chen Family’s point of view, but deep down she felt stifled.

People change easily; in just two short years, past debts of gratitude turned into complaints.

If she stayed any longer, she feared she would make an enemy.

It was better to leave early, so as to retain some semblance of affection if they met in the future.

Shen Mingzhu put the green booklet on the table and took Pei Wenping’s hand in comfort, "Forget about the past, let’s look forward. Are you moving out immediately? Are you going to stay with us or in the staff housing?"

Pei Wenping looked at her and said, "I want to live in the staff housing for a while; I have some money, enough to buy a small two-bedroom apartment, but the factory’s performance is not good right now. Who knows when I might get laid off, so I won’t buy a house for the time being. But don’t worry, I won’t live for free. I’ll pay you rent at the market rate."

"What are you talking about? We are family after all. That place is your home; you can live there as long as you want."

Shen Mingzhu paused before adding, "Big sister, why don’t you come and live with us? There’s an empty room, and it would be good to have someone to look after."

The world is especially harsh on women, and those who are divorced face even tougher circumstances. With the gossipy mouths at the family compound, I’m afraid their saliva could raise fish.

Pei Wenping knew Shen Mingzhu was looking out for her, "Others might be afraid, but I’m not. As for those who badmouth me behind my back, if I didn’t hear it, it might as well not have happened. If they have the guts to say it to my face, watch me curse them out."

Shen Mingzhu was aware of Pei Wenping’s fighting spirit and thus didn’t try to persuade her further. Instead, she took Pei Qiuxia and together they went to help Pei Wenping tidy up her house.

Chen Family.

"I get custody of the two kids. The money I’ve earned in the past two years, we’ll split it in half. I didn’t take her share. As a woman alone, with poor health, it’s better for her to have a bit more money at hand in case of emergencies."

"Dad, Mom, I’m planning to transfer Xiaolu and Xiaochao’s school registration to Shanghai City. You’re both retired anyway, so come and live with me."

Chen’s father pointed at him vacantly and cursed, "You deserve it," before getting up and going back to his room.

Chen’s mother felt dispirited and downhearted as well.

Even though she had her grievances against Pei Wenping, after living together as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for fifteen years, she had come to accept and like her daughter-in-law.

Now that they had abruptly separated, she couldn’t help feeling many pangs of reluctance and melancholy.

...

Shen Hongmei finished work and also came to help clean.

By the time everything was done, it was already dark.

Pei Wenping, with a grand gesture, extravagantly invited the three of them to Baina Restaurant for steak.

The manager of Baina Restaurant recognized Shen Mingzhu, knowing she was a friend of Ning Yuan, and gave them a 20% discount, plus a free bottle of red wine.

After the steak, Pei Wenping, feeling unsatisfied, pulled the three of them to go sing karaoke.

In those days, karaoke was done in a common hall where you had to queue to select a song, with each song costing one yuan.

The karaoke place was packed, and it took an hour for the four of them to finally get their turn to sing a song.

Seeing the three of them still not content, Shen Mingzhu found a payphone and called Yan Su.

Half an hour later.

The three followed Shen Mingzhu into the Ning Family’s residence, each of them stunned by the castle-like, grand and luxurious architecture.

"Oh my, we actually have such a beautiful place in Fengcheng. I feel like I’ve lived twenty years for nothing," Pei Qiuxia lamented.

She was a born and bred Fengcheng native.

In fact, not just Pei Qiuxia, but the majority of Fengcheng’s residents only heard of Mingyuan and visited Riyue Lake at the base of the hill; they couldn’t enter the top of Mingyuan Hill where the Ning Family lived.

The Ning Family had a private audio-visual room where they could watch movies or sing karaoke.

The Ning Family was currently in Hong City and wouldn’t be back anytime soon, so their visit wouldn’t disturb them.

Now, Pei Wenping and the others could sing to their heart’s content.

Shen Mingzhu and Yan Su nestled on the couch, drinking and chatting.

The two hadn’t seen each other for a while and had endless topics to discuss.

Yan Su told her about the progress in setting up a charity school. In one year, Yan Su had built five rural primary schools named after her husband, providing free education to more than fifteen hundred children.

Shen Mingzhu also spoke to Yan Su about sponsoring poor children from her hometown to go to school.

Carried away by the topic, they clinked glasses in toast.

Kindness brings joy.

Doing good deeds gives one a sense of satisfaction and happiness.

"Mingzhu, thank you. I’m living a very fulfilling life now. I’m happy every day and feel a great sense of achievement," said Yan Su.

Ding.

Shen Mingzhu raised her glass to meet Yan Su’s, "To tomorrow."

"Okay."

After finishing her drink, Shen Mingzhu set down her glass and staggered to her feet, approaching Pei Wenping, who was singing her heart out in a wail, seized the microphone from her—

"Big sister, has anyone ever told you that you sing so horribly it’s out of this world terrible? My ears have been assaulted all night! Stop singing and listen to me—"