Chapter 55

Wang Hongmian finally lowered her proud head. “Lu Nong, I know it’s rude to come to you now, but I really have no choice. Can you please ask Pei Ji’an to stop? The Shen family is Pei Zheng’s maternal family after all. Ruining the Shen family won’t do him any good.”

These past few days had been tough for Father Shen. First, Mother Shen reported her husband, and then she divorced him. Father Shen thought the investigation would be a mere formality, but someone worked in the shadows, and every detail about him was revealed. Evidence even reached the investigative team directly.

Father Shen was known for his domineering ways, and he had made many enemies throughout his life. Plenty of people wanted to see him fall. However, as Shen Yiming said, only Pei Ji’an could orchestrate such a precise and organized attack. He showed no intention of hiding his actions.

Pei Ji’an wanted to watch the Shen family and Father Shen descend into the abyss, feeling helpless, just as he had once felt.

Shen Yiming also mentioned that everything was in Pei Ji’an’s favor. If Mother Shen hadn’t volunteered the information as a close companion, the organization wouldn’t have taken it so seriously. If Pei Ji’an hadn’t had so much evidence, Father Shen might have escaped this disaster.

No one expected Pei Ji’an to have so many incriminating details about Father Shen. These pieces of evidence weren’t gathered overnight. Pei Ji’an must have spent years collecting them to find the right moment to bring down the Shen family.

It’s not that vengeance isn’t served. It’s just that the time hasn’t come yet.

So, Father Shen fell. No old comrades or superiors could save him. Without Father Shen, the Shen family collapsed halfway, with the remaining half upheld by Shen Yiming.

The only question now was how far Pei Ji’an would go in taking advantage of the Shen family’s weakness. Would he eliminate Shen Yiming as well?

Wang Hongmian felt afraid. Although she knew her husband was innocent and not worried about being investigated, she still feared that Pei Ji’an would strike while they were down. Thus, she sought out Lu Nong without her husband’s knowledge.

Wang Hongmian grasped Lu Nong’s hand and said, “Over the years, Yiming and Pei Ji’an have been competing with each other, but they were all minor fights. The Shen family has never really gone after Pei Ji’an. Please ask Pei Ji’an to stop this now. There’s no need for it to continue.”

“…”

Lu Nong was shocked and shook off Wang Hongmian’s hand. “How can you say such shameless things? What else does the Shen family want to do to Pei Ji’an?”

Wang Hongmian was left speechless. “I didn’t mean it that way. I meant, can’t we let bygones be bygones? Let’s all live in peace from now on. I promise Shen Yimei will never disturb you again, and Yiming won’t go against Pei Ji’an anymore…”

Lu Nong felt that they had given too much face to the Shen family that day, making them feel that they still had the nerve to ask for “peace and tranquility”. She asked directly, “Isn’t it because the Shen family can’t deal with Pei Ji’an that they don’t deal with him?”

“And why did Shen Yimei deceive Mother and Father Pei for so many years without you stopping her? Why wait until now, after the incident, to say we should let the past go?”

Even now, they couldn’t forget to paint themselves in a good light. Wasn’t this just treating others as fools?

Lu Nong wasn’t foolish. Since Pei Ji’an had decided to go after the Shen family, it would end with either the East wind overpowering the West wind or vice versa. If she urged Pei Ji’an to stop now, the Shen father and son could escape disaster, only to turn around and retaliate against Pei Ji’an. If Pei Ji’an fell, how could they possibly be safe? Would Pei Zheng be alright?

Wang Hongmian felt embarrassed by Lu Nong’s words. She had realized at the tea party that Lu Nong was sharp-tongued. Facing her now, feeling speechless made her understand just how difficult this was. Wang Hongmian wished she could turn and leave immediately, but she couldn’t.

She took a deep breath and swallowed her pride, saying, “You’re right. We were wrong. Please, I beg you to let Ji’an show mercy and spare Yiming. My father-in-law has already been taken into custody, but Yiming is innocent. Aside from wronging Pei Ji’an, he has always been diligent and has never engaged in any corrupt or illegal behavior.”

Upon hearing that Father Shen had been detained, Lu Nong felt relieved. However, the more she listened to Wang Hongmian’s subsequent words, the more she felt something was off. Why did it sound like in Wang Hongmian’s narrative, Shen Yiming was the righteous party and Pei Ji’an was the villain?

“If Shen Yiming has never done anything wrong, then what are you afraid of?”

This question hits the nail on the head for Wang Hongmian. What is she afraid of? She is afraid that Pei Ji’an will do whatever it takes to get revenge on Shen Yiming.

Lu Nong observed Wang Hongmian’s expression, realizing what was happening. She finally understood what it meant to gauge a gentleman’s heart with the mind of a villain.

“If you’re worried that Pei Ji’an might use underhanded tactics against the ‘innocent’ Shen Yiming, you can rest easy. Pei Ji’an is not that kind of person. He doesn’t stoop to such levels.”

Lu Nong could guarantee this without hesitation. After spending so much time with Pei Ji’an, she recognized that he acted with principles and integrity. He was always upright and straightforward. Even when dealing with minor matters, he had Xiao Zhou follow legal procedures. There was no way he would resort to underhanded methods in significant situations.

Wang Hongmian underestimated Pei Ji’an.

After receiving a clear answer, Wang Hongmian initially felt relieved. However, as she looked into Lu Nong’s clear and determined eyes, her feelings grew complex. Was it Pei Ji’an’s method or the Shen family that he disdained?

Is it true that in his and Lu Nong’s eyes, the Shen family is like a puddle of mud that cannot be shaken off?

She recalled the comments she had made after the dance, where she had looked down on Lu Nong’s background and education. Then, her son casually remarked, “Lu Nong got into Peking University when she was only fourteen.”

The proud Wang Hongmian now felt ten times more embarrassed than before and could not bring herself to meet Lu Nong’s clear, knowing gaze, which seemed to reveal every thought in her mind.

When she returned home, Pei Zheng was lounging on a deck chair in the garden, while Huaihuai and Xiao Bai chased each other around. Today was the weekend, a day off for Pei Zheng.

In a cheerful mood, Lu Nong kissed Huaihuai on the cheek and gently ruffled Xiao Bai’s fur. She picked up a watering can and started watering the flowers. When she reached a corner where a tree stood, Lu Nong exclaimed, “When did we get a osmanthus tree? Did you plant it?”

“No, Brother Zhou planted it,” Pei Zheng casually replied. He recalled how Xiao Zhou had seemed mysteriously secretive about it, and he wondered why planting a tree warranted such behavior.

“Oh, I see.” Lu Nong nodded, not thinking much of it, as she pondered how many years it would take for the osmanthus tree to grow into a towering giant.

“What does my aunt want to see you about?” Pei Zheng asked.

Lu Nong turned to him but instead of answering, she asked, “Has Shen Jiming looked for you?”

“Shen Jiming? He looks for me every day,” Pei Zheng replied, confused. “But he hasn’t contacted me much these past few days. Did something happen in his family?”

With the school year starting, Pei Zheng had been busy adapting to Lu Nong’s rigorous study schedule. He shut himself away at home, focusing on his studies and had no time to hang out with his friends.

Lu Nong felt that whether it was brotherly friendship or pure intelligence, Shen Jiming was commendable. With the Shen family in crisis, even Wang Hongmian had come to Lu Nong to plead for them, yet Shen Jiming hadn’t sought out Pei Zheng.

He knew it would be pointless. Pei Zheng wasn’t particularly close to his birth mother or the Shen family, and there was no way he could stop Pei Ji’an from doing what he needed to do.

Moreover, the troubles with the Shen family had been dug up by Pei Zheng’s maternal grandmother, and Pei Ji’an was merely filling in the hole. At this point, nobody could intervene. Wang Hongmian’s plea to Lu Nong was simply a hope that Pei Ji’an wouldn’t add insult to injury.

If Pei Zheng were foolish enough to blame Pei Ji’an, it would only ruin their father-son relationship and make Shen Jiming look like he had malicious intentions. In retrospect, would Pei Zheng harbor resentment towards Shen Jiming?

So Shen Jiming chose not to come.

“It’s just some minor issues. You can ask your dad when he gets home,” Lu Nong said, pushing the responsibility onto Pei Ji’an. She also gave Pei Zheng a heads-up. He would eventually learn about the series of dramatic events surrounding the Shen family. The poor kid needed to be mentally prepared to avoid excessive sadness.

Pei Zheng thought it wasn’t a big deal and nodded, changing the topic.

Lu Nong, unable to resist being a little nicer to Pei Zheng, rummaged through the bag of ginkgo nuts they had picked at the farm. She said mysteriously to Pei Zheng and Huaihuai, “How about we roast some ginkgo nuts to eat?”

“Are you a child?” Pei Zheng replied with his usual disdain, pretending to complain but still helping Lu Nong gather firewood.

The ginkgo nuts, thrown beside the burning wood, soon began to pop and crackle. Lu Nong used a stick to retrieve the roasted ginkgo nuts and distributed them evenly—one for each person, including Xiao Bai.

“…” Pei Zheng looked at a ginkgo nut in disbelief and said, “Wouldn’t half a nut each be more economical?”

“What do you know?” Lu Nong teased Pei Zheng, confidently explaining, “I’m helping you create beautiful childhood memories. The tastiest things in childhood come from a sense of lack, so hurry up and eat. You should know you are eating the fruit from a century-old ginkgo tree. This is the first and last one for today.”

“Huaihuai, eat quickly,” Lu Nong peeled a ginkgo nut and placed it in Huaihuai’s hands. “Don’t let your brother trick you into giving it away.”

Pei Zheng: “…”

Huaihuai nodded earnestly, clutching the ginkgo nut. After thinking for a moment, he opened his palm and offered the nut to Pei Zheng. “Guo Guo.”

He thought his brother wanted to eat.

Pei Zheng’s heart melted, and he was instantly healed. He lifted Huaihuai into the air. “Brother has one himself, shall we eat it together?”

As he spoke, he showed Huaihuai the nut he had.

“Are you ready?” Lu Nong, full of ceremony, carefully pinched the precious ginkgo nut between her thumb and forefinger and brought it to her mouth as if it were a magical elixir.

Pei Zheng unconsciously mimicked Lu Nong’s actions. Huaihuai looked from his mother to his brother, copying their movements. “Ah!” He took a bite, and the three of them moved in surprising unison, which was unexpectedly… silly.

“Isn’t it tastier than you imagined? Do you want to eat a second one?” Lu Nong lowered her face, hiding her expression from Pei Zheng.

Pei Zheng pursed his lips, paused for a moment, and seriously recalled the taste. A look of nostalgia appeared on his face. “It really does seem tastier. I want to eat a second one.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha…” Lu Nong nearly burst out laughing. She had held it in for so long that she finally lifted her head and exclaimed, “Help! You really believe that, ha ha ha ha!”

Pei Zheng was left speechless, having fallen for her trick.

How infuriating! What was the name of that song Lu Nong sang?

Cunning Lu Nong! Cunning stepmother!

No, such a shameful thing must not be known to anyone, he quickly looked around.

“…”

…At the gate, his old father and his father’s bodyguard Comrade Xiao Zhou were both hesitant to speak, looking at him with complicated expressions.

At the door, Grandma Wu was also looking at him, her eyes more direct. Pei Zheng could even interpret messages like “Is there anything wrong with this kid’s brain?” and “He could be fooled by this.”

Pei Zheng: “…” Not only did it crack, it even wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

He picked up the little one in one hand and held the little white dog in the other, pretending not to see his old father, Xiao Zhou, Grandma Wu and the others. With stiff feet, he walked from the garden to the sunroom and quickly closed the door as soon as he entered.

Pei Ji’an: “…” I’m tired of seeing my wife teasing my son every day.

Xiao Zhou: “…” Should I pretend that I saw it or not?

**

The author has something to say:

At this moment, everyone’s inner os:

Lu Nong: I decided to be nicer to Pei Zheng.

Pei Zheng: Thank you.

Aunt Wu: I don’t understand.

Xiao Zhou: Ever since the leader got married, his son has become more and more stupid. How can I pretend that I don’t know about this?

Pei Ji’an: Frowning.