Chapter 59 - 59 59 You Want to Divorce Me
The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 59: Chapter 59: You Want to Divorce Me?
Chapter 59: Chapter 59: You Want to Divorce Me?
Unaware that his seamanâs certificate had been deliberately discarded by Pei Yang, he fervently denied Lin Guofuâs speculation.
Lin Guofu still trusted his apprentice, Pei Yang, and immediately set out to help him find a way to rectify the situation.
The seamanâs certificate had to be reissued at the Maritime Safety Administration of the holderâs registered residence, but since today was New Yearâs Eve, even if Pei Yang rushed back to Fengcheng immediately, the Maritime Safety Administration would be closed for the holiday.
As master and apprentice were discussing countermeasures on the balcony, Wang Xiuzhu, who had been eavesdropping in the living room, came up with a scheme of her own.
With Pei Yangâs seamanâs certificate lost, Shen Mingzhu was in no mood to take Pei Ziheng out to play.
The mother and son stayed in their dormitory, one reading and the other playing with toys, to pass the time while waiting for Pei Yang.
When Shen Mingzhu heard a knock at the door, she thought Pei Yang had returned, but was surprised to find Wang Xiuzhu when she opened it.
Shen Mingzhu immediately smiled, âAre you here to give me a watch?â
Wang Xiuzhu did not engage with her banter but made herself at home by walking into the dormitory.
Shen Mingzhu didnât stop her.
Many seamen who had returned from their voyages were living on this floor, and she didnât want to become a spectacle for others.
âYou know about Pei Yang losing his seamanâs certificate, right?â
Pei Ziheng, who had been engrossed in his checkers game, suddenly looked up with intense black eyes fixed on Wang Xiuzhu.
However, both the combative Wang Xiuzhu and Shen Mingzhu ignored him.
Shen Mingzhu looked at Wang Xiuzhu with cold eyes, âSpit it out if you have something to say, let it out if you need to fart!â
Wang Xiuzhu frowned in disgust, âShen Mingzhu, I know youâre not well-educated, but youâre still a woman.
Canât you speak more civilly?â
Shen Mingzhu laughed, âOh, someone like you who has no shame and no moral bottom line actually wants to talk about civility?
Donât insult the word âcivilizedâ.â
Wang Xiuzhuâs face blanched with anger as she scoffed, âShen Mingzhu, Iâm not going to waste words with you.
Do you know how serious it is for a seaman to lose his seamanâs certificate?â
âI donât know.â
Wang Xiuzhu choked briefly, but with rare patience, recited the internal disciplinary regulations of the Ocean Shipping Company verbatim to Shen Mingzhu.
On learning that Pei Yang could face demotion, a salary cut, or even dismissal, Shen Mingzhuâs face remained unchanged, but she became serious at heart.
âOnly I can help Pei Yang now.â
Wang Xiuzhu was smug with her triumph, unaware that Pei Ziheng by her side looked at her as if he wanted to devour her.
âShen Mingzhu, with just one phone call, I can resolve Pei Yangâs crisis in an instant, but I have a condition.
I want you to agree to divorce Pei Yang,â Wang Xiuzhu said.
âWang Xiuzhu, youâre supposed to be an educated person who has received higher education, yet the things you do are so shameless!
Everyone elseâs dog crap smells sweet to you, and you want to snatch it away to taste it, donât you?
Have some self-awareness, even if I divorce Pei Yang, he wouldnât give you a second glance.
If he was interested in you, he would have shown it long ago, what does it have to do with me?â Shen Mingzhu shot back.
Wang Xiuzhu was left with a face that fluctuated from white to red with frustration.
âShen Mingzhu, youâre too selfish.
Can you really bear to watch Pei Yang lose his job with your own eyes?
Do you know how hard it was for him to get where he is today?
He loves the ocean, he loves his profession, he is exceptionally talented.
He has the opportunity to become the youngest first-class navigator in the country.
Youâre ruining his future!â she said scathingly.
âSo what?
Itâs his bad luck for marrying me instead of you.
Even if he really loses his job,â Shen Mingzhu replied indifferently.
âYou!
Shen Mingzhu, Iâve never seen a woman more ignorant and foolish than you,â said Wang Xiuzhu, exasperated.
Wang Xiuzhu left in a huff.
Although Shen Mingzhu appeared to have the upper hand verbally, she was upset at heart.
She wasnât as indifferent to Wang Xiuzhuâs words as she had seemed.
âWhat are you thinking?â
Looking at her stepsonâs expressionless handsome face, Shen Mingzhu hadnât figured out what to say when Pei Ziheng suddenly questioned her angrily, âAre you thinking about agreeing to her, to divorce dad?â
Shen Mingzhu opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.
For a moment, she indeed had such a thought.
Although she wasnât a saint willing to sacrifice herself for a manâs career, she couldnât bear to see a man facing setbacks and blows in his career within his finite life.
Her silence, in Pei Zihengâs eyes, was consent, and he bellowed in fury, âDad is a towering figure of a man, he doesnât need a woman to keep his job for him, what youâre doing isnât helping, itâs humiliating!â
âHumiliating who?â
Seeing Pei Yang standing at the doorway for who knows when, Shen Mingzhu was at her witâs end.
Pei Yang stared at his son, seriously scolding Pei Ziheng without understanding the situation.
âZiheng, who taught you to speak to Aunt Mingzhu with that attitude?
Apologize to Mingzhu immediately, right now.â
Pei Zihengâs eyes welled up with tears, âSheâs about to divorce you, and youâre still defending her!â
Pei Yangâs fiery gaze suddenly turned towards Shen Mingzhu.
Shen Mingzhu denied it three times, âI didnât, thatâs not true, heâs talking nonsense.â
Pei Yang looked from his tearful son to his wifeâs innocent face and then closed the dormitory door.
âTell me, what exactly is going on?â
The usually reticent Pei Ziheng spilled everything Wang Xiuzhu had said, repeating it word for word.
If the timing and the atmosphere hadnât been so inappropriate, Shen Mingzhu would have wanted to give her stepson a thumbs up for his good memory.
After listening, Pei Yang signaled his son to go play on the balcony and then walked over to Shen Mingzhu, looking down at her dominantly.
âYou want to divorce me?â
âI havenât thought about it.â
Pei Yang locked his gaze on her, âReally havenât thought about it?
Not even considered it for a moment?â
Well, that wasnât exactly true.
Just that one second of hesitation was enough for Pei Yang to understand.
Anger surged through him inexplicably.
But looking at the womanâs round eyes and the palm-sized innocent face, his anger slowly ebbed away.
After all, she was just a young girl, it was understandable for her to be flustered when faced with problems.
Pei Yang managed to calm his anger by himself, bending over with a half-joking, half-serious look on his face, âItâs good you havenât thought about it, because if you dare think about it, I wonât let you off easily.â
Their faces were close, the manâs breath hitting her face as he spoke, Shen Mingzhu subtly shifted backward to increase the distance between them.
Pei Yang noticed her small movement and felt slight displeasure, but he couldnât be bothered with romantic issues at the moment.
He went on to explain the upcoming possible scenarios to Shen Mingzhu seriously.
They were husband and wife, for better or worse, and she had a right to know about his work issues.
âThen how about we ask Wang Xiuzhu for help?â
Even though Shen Mingzhu herself thought the idea was terrible, she couldnât come up with a better one at the moment.
Pei Yang, however, looked at her leisurely, âWorried about me, huh?â
Such a jerk, still in the mood to flirt when heâs in hot water.
Seeing her silence, Pei Yang suddenly stretched out his hand to pat her head, âDonât worry, whatever Wang Xiuzhu can think of, Master can think of too.â
On the balcony, Pei Ziheng was so angry upon hearing Pei Yangâs words that steam could have been coming out of his head.
That annoying woman Wang Xiuzhu, why doesnât she just go die!
And that stupid Master, always making things worse!