Lu Man was saddened when she saw such a small kid being treated like that.
“Xiao Chen, what do you want to eat?” She smiled her best smile at Pei Zichen. It was clear that she was trying to be close to him.
Pei Zichen sneered at her and turned away from her. He chose not to bother her.
“Pei Zichen.” Pei Xiuyuan warned with a deep voice. Who taught him to have no manners?
His father was angry at him. His father was angry at him for that wicked woman!
It was just like what his aunt had told him. His father cared for no one else now because of that wicked woman!
They would be disregarded by his father very soon because of that wicked woman.
Lu Man saw that he was almost bursting into tears. “Xiuyuan, don’t you treat him so sternly. Kids need time to get used to sudden changes.”
“You don’t have to pretend in front of me!” Pei Zichen stared at Lu Man. He felt that she was pretending to be nice in front of his father.
When he reached home, Wang Yunxi had made up various kinds of stories in front of him, claiming that his stepmom was a bad woman. She had even painted a picture of Lu Man as a wicked woman in front of him. That was why he treated her as his enemy.
When one person labelled another person as wicked, what she did was surely bad at the same time.
“Pei Zichen!” Pei Xiuyuan did not understand the reason why his son was so strongly against Lu Man. His son seemed to admire her very much when he introduced his father to her. He even addressed her as a beautiful aunt. He even introduced his beloved father to her.
His father was angry with him again.
Was it true that there would be a stepdad once someone had a stepmom?
He was indeed pitiful…
Suddenly, he remembered a song and he started singing, “Little vegetables, growing strongly in the ground. Two or three years of age, losing its mother so soon. Living with its father but it’s afraid of getting a stepmom…”
Both Pei Xiuyuan and Lu Man were speechless.
“After getting a stepmom, a younger brother comes soon after three and a half years. The younger brother gets the noodles while I get the soup. I hold the bowl of soup in my hands. My eyes are filled with tears very soon.”
It was a pitiful song and it was sung in Pei Zichen’s pitiful but childish voice. It was a sad scene. One’s eyes would become teary when they saw him like that.
Pei Xiuyuan was quiet for a short while. “Don’t sing anymore. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that you’ll have meat and a great feast every day from now on.”
Pei Zichen was stunned.
Was that the main point here?
He looked at Pei Xiuyuan with a pathetic facial expression.
“That’s enough. Don’t act anymore. You’re a man. You know that men could not cry that easily.” Pei Xiuyuan could not see him like that.
“Xiao Chen, don’t worry. I’ll treat you nicely just like you’re my son.” Lu Man promised him. She would never bully or abuse that kid.
Pei Xiuyuan was warmed by her actions. His wife was indeed the best. She chose to treat his son nicely even though his son was against her.
“Women love to pretend. Why do I have to believe in you?” Pei Zichen pouted. His father had adored his younger sister but he no longer acted like that because of her! What would happen to him then?
His father adored his younger sister very much. But, he no longer adored his younger sister now! His status in the family was indeed being threatened now.
It was filled with unexpected obstacles.
That child!
“Time will prove the truth to you! She’s not how you picture her to be!”
Pei Zichen snorted at that. Clearly, he did not trust her.
Lu Man said no more. It was true. Time would tell.
At Pei Old Manor.
An old lady was seen sitting at the main seat at the dining table. Her head was snowy white but she still appeared energetic and good. She was Pei Xiuyuan’s grandmother, Liu Ling.
Both Wang Yunxi and Mu Yunhai were sitting on each side of the dining table.
She was always afraid of her grandmother. It was indeed stressful to be eating with her grandmother!
“Grandma, where’s Xiao Chen?” She was looking for a topic to talk about.
“Why don’t you ask yourself that?” The old lady looked at her coldly. Luckily, Xiao Chen was fine. Otherwise, she would never forgive Wang Yunxi!
“What do you mean? I just wanted to know where he is. That’s why I asked you.” Wang Yunxi smiled sheepishly.
“Don’t assume that I know nothing about what you have done. You better stop whatever you’re plotting.” Liu Ling would not prohibit Wang Yunxi from talking bad about that woman. But, what Wang Yunxi did was just manipulative to her precious great-grandson. She would never allow that!
The old lady had reached Haicheng the day before. But, she did not head home straight. She ordered somebody to investigate Pei Xiuyuan’s wife before heading home.
Wang Yunxi felt that her grandmother was indeed an old and wise woman! You could hide nothing from her! She lowered her head and replied, “Fine.”
After a short while, she looked up. “Grandma, this is Yunhai, my husband.”
The old lady looked at Mu Yunhai coldly. “You’re just like your mother. You have hooked up with a man at such a young age.”
“I’m not messing around. I’m married now!” Wang Yunxi clenched her fists tightly. Her grandmother favored boys more than girls. Her grandmother never treated her nicely since she was born. But she could not talk like that to her no matter how she disliked her!
“Are you really married? Have you registered for your marriage?”
“Yes, we did that in the USA!” Wang Yunxi appeared smug in front of her grandmother. She was not old enough to marry in her homeland. But, she was also an American by law. That was why she could marry there.
The old lady glanced at her and said no more. Then, she started eating her meal.
Wang Yunxi did not dare to say anything more. But, she was delighted. She felt like she had won that conversation.
The old lady did not acknowledge Mu Yunhai’s presence throughout their meal. It was quite embarrassing for him.
His face darkened after they had finished their meal.
“You don’t have to be bothered by my grandma. She doesn’t even like me. Much less you!”
“Does she hate you? Why is that so?” Mu Yunhai did not understand that. Was she not a little princess in the Pei family?
“She favors boys more. Do you know why my surname is Wang instead of Pei?”
“Why?”
“It’s because my grandma hates me. She doesn’t want me to have their surname. She wants me to follow my mom’s surname.”
Mu Yunhai frowned. That old lady indeed favored boys more than girls.
***
Lu Man loved eating green peppers. She would always order dishes with green peppers when they dined out.
Pei Zichen saw the green peppers on the dining table. His eyes brightened. His father hated the green peppers the most. They had never seen green peppers when they ate their meals in the past. Since she had ordered the green peppers, his father would surely be outraged!
He was waiting for it but still his father did not show any anger.
Moreover…
That woman even gave him some green peppers during their meal and his father ate that!
His eyes widened in disbelief. He could not believe what he just saw!
How was it possible! How did it happen?
“Xiao Chen, what’s wrong?” Lu Man could not help but noticed his facial expression given how shocked he was.
Pei Zichen did not heed her. He turned to look at his father. “Dad, these are green peppers…”
“Yes.” Pei Xiuyuan seemed to know about it all along. He needed no reminder from his son.
Pei Zichen was shocked. That was true indeed.
His father adored Lu Man deeply. He had even endured the taste he hated the most!
Pei Zichen felt like the whole wide world had crashed down in front of him.
He appeared defeated in front of them. Lu Man could not help but say it, “Quickly go and console your son!”
“Fine.” Pei Xiuyuan obeyed his wife. He scooped a spoonful of corn with pine nuts for his son. “This is your favorite dish, Son. Let’s eat more of it.”
Pei Zichen looked at his father. He was touched but he could not feel any happiness. Still, he replied obediently, “Thank you, Daddy.”