The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 797 - 796: Henpecked Husband

Listening to his colleagues lavish praise on Pei Ziheng, Pei Yang responded with a modest "Nonsense, nonsense" while he perked up his ears and listened more intently than anyone else, filled with amazement and pride.

If the other party hadn’t specifically mentioned his son by name, he would have doubted they were talking about someone else’s child.

In the end, they even broke the mold and flattered Pei Yang, the father, with a few words.

Pei Yang, humbly (and with a bit of an imposter syndrome), said, "This child has been bright and likes to stir things up since he was young. I haven’t really disciplined him much; it’s my wife who has been teaching the child. She’s more patient and better educated. The achievements of the child today, she has been indispensable."

Hearing him speak in such a way, Engineer Xu took the opportunity to praise him for his good fortune in marrying a virtuous wife and loving mother.

When it came to his own wife, Pei Yang became even more animated, spending eight out of ten sentences complimenting Shen Mingzhu’s virtues.

Not only that, but even when the conversation shifted to other topics, he would somehow steer it back to Shen Mingzhu.

Many years later, even though Pei Yang became a successful entrepreneur worth billions, everyone behind his back would joke: "Yeah, he’s utterly whipped by his wife."

...

Upon arriving in London that day, without even having unpacked his luggage, Pei Tang couldn’t wait to get together with his buddies bearing gifts.

"This is the unique Red Star apple from our Fengcheng. You wash it, slice it thinly, freeze it at a low temperature, and then vacuum-dry it; it turns into these crispy and sweet freeze-dried apple chips."

Listening to Pei Tang’s introduction, Elsa and Kona tasted the apple chips and nodded with surprise and delight.

"It’s very tasty, I like it."

"I like it, too!"

After tasting the snacks Pei Tang had brought from China for them, Elsa and Kona also took out small gifts they had prepared for Pei Tang.

Elsa’s gift was a hand-designed and sewn canvas backpack with shining sequins embroidered in the shape of Pei Tang’s favorite rabbit on the front, while the back had her English name Alice embroidered with colored silk threads.

Kona’s gift to Pei Tang was a set of mugs she made herself, a total of six colors.

"Elsa, Kona, thank you for your gifts. I really like them, and I’ll take good care of them."

"Don’t mention it, we also really like the delicious food you brought from your hometown."

"Alice, I would really love to visit your hometown sometime!"

Pei Tang nodded eagerly with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents, "Of course, of course, you’re welcome to come! I’ll take you to my mom’s food factory when you do; there’s a lot of tasty snacks inside, including the ones I brought you. All of them were created by my mom."

On Elsa and Kona’s faces appeared admiration, surprise, and awe.

"Alice, your mom is really incredible."

Pei Tang wasn’t the least bit modest, "Of course, my mom is amazing."

Shen Mingzhu had just finished packing when she walked out of her room and couldn’t help but chuckle upon hearing her daughter’s praises.

In Pei Ziheng’s room.

Zhuang Xu looked at Pei Ziheng, who was methodically arranging his personal belongings, and hesitantly said, "I want to start a business. What do you think I should do?"

Without even looking up, Pei Ziheng asked, "What’s your primary motivation for starting a business?"

Whether he was stumped by the question or unsure how to respond, Zhuang Xu fell silent for a moment.

"If you just want to have a business that can support you and your family, then you can do anything. But if, your goal is to restore your family’s past glory and splendor, I might be interested in giving you a piece of advice or two."

After all, he was a young master who had been raised in luxury, so listening to Pei Ziheng’s condescending tone did rub him the wrong way somewhat.

But then he recalled Pei Ziheng’s abilities and strategies, and silently checked his temper.

"Then tell me, I’m listening."

Pei Ziheng turned around, his dark pupils seemingly bottomless, like a deep and silent black hole capable of devouring a person:

"Zhuang Xu, I’m not one for early rises without benefit, nor do I have any interest in helping the poor and doing charitable deeds. I’ve helped you, what can you offer me?"

Zhuang Xu, having grown up amidst high society, seldom felt nervous except when facing certain tycoons of the business and political world.

Yet the gaze of the youth before him, who was five or six years younger, somehow imposed a sense of oppression and tension on him.

"What do you want?"

Pei Ziheng walked over with his long, slender legs and tapped his finger on Zhuang Xu’s chest.

Zhuang Xu could clearly sense his heartbeat skipping in time with Pei Ziheng’s tapping.

"I want you, to stand by my side, in Pei Ziheng’s camp, forever."

In other words, I can help you, but you must be my ally and never stand against me.

As the scion of a wealthy family, Zhuang Xu also had a rebellious streak.

"Even if I agree now, aren’t you afraid I’ll go back on my word later?"

"You can try."

Pei Ziheng appeared nonchalant, yet Zhuang Xu inexplicably felt a chill creeping up his spine.

"Has anyone ever told you that you’re frightening?"

Pei Ziheng’s response was non-committal, "What bad intentions could I possibly have? I do everything just to protect those around me, nothing more."

Moved by his frankness, Zhuang Xu reached out without further hesitation.

"I agree."

Pei Ziheng’s lips curled into a smile as he shook Zhuang Xu’s hand, "Pleasure doing business with you."

Having confirmed the alliance, Zhuang Xu couldn’t wait to find out where he should start his entrepreneurship.

Pei Ziheng responded with a question instead, "What do you think your strengths are? Or, what are you good at?"

The question made Zhuang Xu’s face show a hint of embarrassment.

Even before Pei Ziheng arrived in London, he had seriously pondered this question.

But after much thought, he realized he was good for nothing. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Although he had been groomed as a successor since childhood and had received top-notch education, he had yet to be involved with the family business. Starting a business was utterly foreign to him; otherwise, he wouldn’t have eagerly come seeking advice from Pei Ziheng.

However, his pride wouldn’t allow him to admit he was useless: "My academic performance was quite good, all A’s or higher. I know four languages including English, French, and German. My sister is Mrs. Ning, and my brother-in-law is the heir of the Ning Family’s third branch..."

Under Pei Ziheng’s calm gaze, his voice gradually softened and eventually faded away.

"You missed the most important point—you know a bunch of wealthy heirs from the upper echelons of society, just like yourself."

Zhuang Xu obviously didn’t understand what Pei Ziheng was getting at, "What does that have to do with starting my business? All those people do is eat, drink, and be merry. They’re good for nothing."

"It’s precisely because they are good for nothing that they are more desperate to achieve something and prove themselves to their families and the world that they aren’t nobodies."

Zhuang Xu appeared thoughtful.

"Zhuang Xu, what do you think is the hottest industry in London right now?"

"Finance?"

At the moment, due to the Y Country government’s aggressive implementation of financial liberalization reforms and the loosening of financial controls, a significant influx of international capital had poured into London, prompting the prosperity of the financial sector and spawning a demand for high-end services.