The Beautiful Stepmother from the Eighties: Marrying a Factory Director to Raise Kids

Chapter 450

Before Si Nian could speak, Second Child immediately swallowed the cake in his mouth, grabbed Si Nian's hand, glared at Xiao Bowen, and said, "No way." Hearing this, Xiao Bowen actually looked a bit regretful. He sighed and then said very reluctantly, "Alright then, you guys have to treat Teacher Si well in the future."His little expression left people not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Only then did Second Child let go of her hand. He stiffened his neck and snorted, "Of course." His small face tilted up with an expression of absolute certainty.

She rubbed the child's head, the corners of her mouth uncontrollably curving upward.

In the end, an entire cake was eaten completely clean by the children.

Normally, this kind of thing could be a bit too sweet and rich.

But the way Second Child ate it in big mouthfuls made it look incredibly appetizing.

Everyone was already full, but seeing him eat with such relish, they couldn't help but join in.

As a result, even the cream on the plates was scraped completely clean.

Si Nian thought to herself that if she took this child to a buffet in the future, they would definitely get their money's worth.

Thinking about this, she actually started to look forward to it.

The other children had eaten until their bellies were perfectly round. Seeing Second Child still stuffing snacks into his mouth, they could only look at him with envy.

"Oh my, this child is eating so much. Be careful not to burst your belly," Grandma Xiao said with some concern.

Second Child poured a handful of small cookies into his mouth and said, "I won't. I'm only seventy percent full. Mom said I can eat until I'm eighty percent full."

Grandma Xiao: "..."

Hearing this, Si Nian found it a bit amusing. Second Child's appetite was indeed twice that of other children. Because he was growing fast, running around everywhere every day, and getting a lot of exercise, his food intake was very large.

She was used to it herself, but outsiders probably found it a bit hard to accept.

Feeling a little embarrassed, she said, "Alright, Xiao Han, eat a little less. If you eat too much, your tummy will hurt."

Remembering the time his tummy hurt before, Second Child was scared and immediately pulled back the hand that was reaching for more snacks.

After the gift-giving and cake-eating were over, Second Child actually started helping to clear the plates.

Xiao Bowen looked at him in confusion, "Xiao... Zhou Zehan, what are you doing?"

"Helping clear the table. Don't you help with chores at home?"

Xiao Bowen was a bit dazed, "Y-yeah, I never clear things away at home. Grandma says I don't need to."

"If I don't clear them, then my mom has to do one more thing, and that's too hard on her. Clearing plates isn't even as tiring as practicing boxing, so of course I have to do it."

Second Child didn't even lift his head as he clattered away, carrying the plates to the kitchen, and then ran back out to wipe the table.

He did these things so often at home that it had become a natural reflex for Second Child.

Seeing that no one was clearing the table after they finished the cake, he immediately took it upon himself to do it.

Hearing this, Xiao Bowen felt it made a lot of sense. In the past, his mother never let him do this kind of thing, nor did she let him enter the kitchen.

After coming to his grandma's house, there were many nannies, so they let him do it even less.

Every day, he just read books, did his homework, and played by himself.

He scratched his head and said, "But my house has nannies."

Second Child suddenly realized, "Ah, right, your house has nannies. Why am I clearing things for you?"

He then remembered Grandma Liu, whom his dad had found for them before; she was mean and her cooking was terrible.

And yet, Xiao Bowen's family had several people like that.

He immediately cast a very pitiful look at Xiao Bowen.

Si Nian: "..."

Help, how did this child bring his diligence to someone else's house?

Seeing it was getting late, Si Nian hurried to lead the children home.

Grandma Xiao offered to have them driven back, but Si Nian declined, wanting to take the children for a stroll.

Jiang Wenqing had dropped her child off and hurriedly left again, saying she was letting Jiang Jiu go play at Si Nian's house.

So Si Nian took him along too.

After leaving the Xiao family's house, Si Nian finally said to Second Child, "Xiao Han, in the future, don't touch other people's things when you're at their house, understand?"

Second Child looked up at her, a bit nervous. "Mom, did I do something wrong?"

Jiang Jiu said, "I know! Auntie is definitely afraid that Second Brother will sneak into the kitchen to eat things."

Every time Second Brother got greedy for food, he would sneak into the kitchen to find something to eat.

He had even taken him along to look before.

Zhou Zehan: "..."

Si Nian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "No, Mom is worried that you might accidentally break their plates, which wouldn't be good. Although wanting to help is a great thought, when we are at an outsider's home, we still need to maintain a little bit of boundaries, understand?"

Second Child nodded and said obediently, "Mom, I understand!"

Si Nian patted his head and said to Zhou Zedong, "Xiao Dong, let me hold your sister's hand. We will take the bus back in a bit."

After speaking, she heard no response. She turned her head in confusion, only to find Zhou Zedong following behind mechanically, seemingly unresponsive to her words.

Si Nian then realized something was wrong. Zhou Zedong usually didn't talk much at home. Today at Xiao Bowen's house, he had been very active in making the cake with everyone at first, and nothing seemed amiss. Later, while eating the meal and the cake, he hadn't spoken at all. Si Nian had assumed he was just too shy to sing the birthday song.

And that was why he had remained silent.

Now, seeing him spacing out, she became a little worried. "Xiao Dong? What's wrong?"

"Brother, Brother, Mom is calling you!"

Second Child also shouted loudly.

Zhou Zedong suddenly snapped back to reality and stopped in his tracks, startled. He looked up at his confused mother and brother, his eyes shifting before he said, "Mom, what is it?"

Si Nian frowned and instinctively reached out to feel his forehead, then touched her own. It didn't seem like anything was wrong. She couldn't help but look at him in confusion. "Xiao Dong, what's the matter? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Zhou Zedong paused, then shook his head. "Mom, I'm fine."

"Brother, were you spacing out just now? Mom called you several times and you didn't react."

Second Child asked curiously.

"Brother is ignoring Yaoyao. I don't want Brother, I want Mom." Yaoyao reached out for Si Nian to hold her hand.

She had been talking to her brother just now, but he hadn't answered her.

She looked at her brother aggrievedly.

Zhou Zedong said apologetically, "Sorry, Yaoyao, Brother didn't mean to."

"Xiao Dong, is there really nothing wrong?"

Zhou Zedong shook his head. "Mom, I'm fine."

Si Nian sensitively realized that something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it for the moment. Seeing that he was unwilling to speak, she didn't force him.

The two children's business continued, but after the incident that happened before, even if the teacher allowed it at school, Zhou Zedong insisted on not doing it at school.

He even did business under the guise of helping bring things in for others from outside the school.

Not only that, when it was time to pay for study materials and various other fees, the teacher actually said that they didn't need to pay.

Saying that someone had already paid for them.

Second Child was very confused. When his dad drove to pick him up, he climbed into the passenger seat, pulled on his seatbelt, and asked Zhou Yueshen, "Dad, today the teacher said we needed to pay the materials fee, but told us we didn't have to pay. Did you and Mom already pay for me and my brother in advance?"

Zhou Yueshen froze for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Not yet. Could it be that your mom paid it? Let's ask her when we get back."

Because he was mostly busy, it was Si Nian who took care of the children, so she handled a lot of these matters.

Zhou Yueshen truly didn't know about this matter.

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‍he finished speaking, he noticed that his eldest son hadn't gotten in the car. He turned his head to look at him, "Xiaodong, what's wrong?"

"Dad, I'm going to the library. You guys go back first."

Zhou Zedong said as he closed the car door for his younger sister.

Zhou Yueshen paused for a moment, then nodded. "Do you want Dad to come pick you up later?"

He shook his head. "I can go back by myself."

Zhou Yueshen nodded and handed him some money. "Buy whatever books you want and read them at home. Don't stay out too late."

Zhou Zedong gave a sound of agreement.

The Second Child's eyes turned red with envy as he watched his brother accept the bill expressionlessly.

He immediately grabbed his seatbelt and said, "Dad, I suddenly want to go read books too."

Zhou Yueshen tapped him on the head. "Sit properly."

The Second Child immediately behaved.

In his heart, however, he couldn't help but secretly criticize his brother. Hypocrite! When Mom offered him money, he never took it.

But when Dad gave him money, he accepted it right away.

His brother was too cunning.

Watching the car drive away, Zhou Zedong turned and walked to the school gate.

He deliberately stood in a specific spot.

Sure enough, Grandma Xiao got out of a car and spotted him immediately.

Her eyes lit up at once, and she approached with a smile. "If it isn't Xiaodong! What are you doing here? Hurry and get in the car, Grandma will take you home."

Zhou Zedong's little face grew even colder, and his voice carried a hostile edge. "You don't need to pretend anymore. I know who you are."

Grandma Xiao froze for a moment. "Wh-what?"

Previously, Zhou Zedong hadn't understood why Xiao Bowen's grandmother was so enthusiastic toward them. At the time, he just assumed it was because they had helped Xiao Bowen.

So, whenever she saw them, spoke to them warmly, and offered to buy snacks for his younger brother and sister, he hadn't said anything.

Later on, their act of selling things at school was reported by the tuck shop owner, who tried to stop them from continuing their business.

The tuck shop owner despised them so much and was the kind of person who would snatch away even a single dollar; it was impossible for him to suddenly change his tune and say they could get along peacefully.

Growing up, he had encountered too many people. He could tell what kind of person someone was with a single glance. He knew as clear as a mirror whether the owner would actually let them run their business.

Harboring doubts, he deliberately visited the tuck shop a few times, only to find that the original owner was gone.

This surprised him greatly. He didn't believe the school would kick the owner out just so the two brothers could do business.

And it was even more impossible for the owner to give up his business just because of them.

Not only had the owner been replaced, but the teachers also told them they could do whatever they wanted, which was already very strange.

Today, they were specifically kept behind and told that they didn't need to pay the material fees.

If he hadn't seen that photograph, Zhou Zedong might not have thought too deeply about it.

But now, he instantly understood exactly what was going on.

Zhou Zedong said expressionlessly, "I saw it, that photograph. I've seen him before. When he came to our house, my mom would treat us well. My mom said he is my dad, but I don't want to acknowledge him."

Grandma Xiao's eyes widened in shock!

"You, you went into your grandfather's room?"

Zhou Zedong immediately retorted, "That's not my grandfather. I don't have a grandfather!"

His dad is Zhou Yueshen, and his mom is Si Nian.

He has no other relatives!

Grandma Xiao's face paled. "Xiao, Xiaodong, listen to Grandma. I can explain this."

Zhou Zedong took a step back and said coldly, "There's nothing to explain, and I don't want to listen. Right now, I only want to stay with my mom and dad. I don't want to acknowledge anyone else. I sought you out today to tell you not to target me and my younger brother and sister. We will never leave our mom and dad. And don't interfere in my and my brother's affairs anymore. We don't need your help or your pity."

Hearing this, Grandma Xiao's heart trembled. He had actually discovered that she was helping them behind the scenes?

This child was far too observant and sharp!

I-if he returned to the Xiao family, then...

Before her thought could settle, she met Zhou Zedong's resolute and cold eyes.

That fierce gaze, preferring to break rather than yield, frightened her.

It was exactly the same as the look her eldest son had when he wanted to leave for that woman all those years ago.

And because of that one time, she had forever lost her son and her husband.

This child was truly too much like his father.

Grandma Xiao's eyes reddened, and she choked up, "Child, it was us who let you down back then."

Zhou Zedong didn't care at all. Looking at the tearful person in front of him, his attitude remained incredibly cold. He was very happy now with his younger brother and sister. He loved his current life, and he loved his mom and dad.

He didn't want anyone to come and destroy their family.

He knew Xiao Bowen's family was very rich, lived in a big house, and his grandmother was very powerful, able to have someone expelled from school with a single word.

Therefore, he was afraid, afraid that this person would snatch his younger siblings away and force them to separate.

Zhou Zedong didn't want such a thing to happen, so he had specially waited for Grandma Xiao today. No matter what she wanted to do, he had to tell her to give up on the idea completely.

She must not target them.

He had seen Xiao Bowen; ever since Xiao Bowen came back, he had never seen his mother.

After finishing his piece, Zhou Zedong, ignoring Grandma Fang, turned around with his schoolbag on his back and walked away.

Now that he knew about this, he would never interact with the Xiao family again. He even wanted to leave the capital, but relying solely on his current self, he couldn't do anything.

He also couldn't tell his mom and dad. He was terrified that if they found out their biological father was from the Xiao family, they would send them away.

Just thinking about this possibility drove Zhou Zedong crazy.

He would absolutely never leave.

He wanted to be with his family forever.

Grandma Xiao's face was filled with desolation. Looking at Zhou Zedong's resolute back, the sliver of hope she had kept hidden in her heart completely vanished.

She turned around, brimming with sorrow, only to suddenly meet her grandson's disappointed gaze.

Grandma Xiao froze, and in an instant, a chill ran through her heart.

C-could it be that all of this was orchestrated by little Bowen?

Indirectly telling her that the two brothers were being bullied, prompting her to step in and help.

Then, using his birthday as an excuse, inviting the children to the house so that Zhou Zedong would discover his grandfather.

That group photo was only kept in his grandfather's room.

Zhou Zedong was the person most likely to know what his biological father looked like. If someone suddenly helped him behind the scenes, with his personality, he would definitely get suspicious.

If that was truly the case, then this child was far too terrifying.

No, no, no, little Bowen didn't know about the two children's background.

Her son couldn't possibly have told him such a thing, right?

Thinking this, Grandma Xiao breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

It seemed she was overthinking things.

Her grandson had just celebrated his ninth birthday; how could he possibly understand such complicated matters?