<h4>Chapter 596: Chapter 595 Intercepting the Consort</h4><h4></h4>


    Zhou family.


    Upon seeing their son and daughter-inw return home, Ma Sufen and the old couple immediately approached with concern.


    "So, did they sign the contract?"


    "They did!" Shen Ban replied quickly and straightforwardly.


    Ma Sufen’s face immediately brightened with joy, and Zhou Quanxiong also revealed a relieved and satisfied smile.


    After carefully reading the agreement terms, Zhou Quanxiong’s heart settled back in his stomach.


    "Xiaopei is still somewhat sentimental and principled, giving back the shares of the electronics factory to you."


    Ma Sufen frowned with dissatisfaction, "If he were really so kind and just, he shouldn’t have taken that five hundred thousand. He sure had the nerve to ask for it!"


    "Don’t be greedy, after all, Xiaopei did put up real money to help Shuhuan start the factory. Now that the electronics factory is thriving, he’s willing to take the initiative to give up his share. What else do you want?"


    "Even so, we shouldn’t have given out so much. In my opinion, a hundred thousand or eighty thousand would have been enough to satisfy them!"


    "The money is already given, what’s the use of saying this now."


    "I think that couple is worthless!"


    Seeing the two old folks about to start quarreling, Shen Ban quickly intervened to mediate, "Dad, Mom, getting back the shares is a great joy, and we should celebrate properly. Let’s go to a fancy restaurant for a good meal, and then visit the new house in Ruifeng Garden, what do you think?"


    "I want seafood! Mom, I want to eat big crabs and big lobsters!"


    Zhou Fu immediately shouted at the top of his voice upon hearing about going out to eat.


    Although Shen Ban was indulgent toward her son, seafood was expensive, and she was reluctant to spend that money.


    "I can’t decide on this. Go ask your dad!"


    Zhou Fu was clever and ran to Zhou Shuhuan, hugging his leg and acting coquettishly, "Dad, brother ate lots of delicious food in the Capital, including big crabs and big lobsters, and I want to eat them too! I want to eat them!"


    Zhou Shuhuan didn’t have much affection for his son, Zhou Fu.


    From the time Zhou Fu was born, he had hardly held him a few times and had not witnessed his growth.


    However, Zhou Fu was after all his bloodline, and the request wasn’t excessive, so Zhou Shuhuan readily agreed.


    So the whole family happily boarded Zhou Shuhuan’s Santana and first went to Jinzhao Seafood Restaurant for a seafood feast, then visited the houses in Ruifeng Garden.


    When the salesdy heard Shen Ban’sst name, she smiled and tried to make a connection, "It’s really a coincidence, there was also a Mrs. Shen who looked at this house a while ago."


    Shen Ban didn’t pay much attention to it, there were many people with the surname Shen, and there were dozens of households with that surname in her parental family alone.


    It was Ma Sufen who eagerly continued with the gossip, "Also surnamed Shen? What does she do?"


    "She said she owns a food factory."


    As soon as Shen Ban heard ’food factory’, she became interested, "She wouldn’t happen to be called Shen Mingzhu, would she?"


    The salesdy was a bit surprised, "You know her?"


    "It really is Shen Mingzhu?!"


    Kowledge that Shen Mingzhu had also shown interest in the house surprised even Zhou Quanxiong and father and son Zhou Shuhuan.


    "Mrs. Shen really liked this house, she’s looked at it several times, back and forth. Just yesterday, she called to schedule a time with me, saying she woulde by today to have another look and possibly finalize things. If you like it, you’d better hurry."


    Shen Mingzhu indeed had called to schedule a time to view the house, but she called again at noon to cancel.


    Intent on creating the illusion of a high-demand housing market, the salesdy deliberately withheld this information.


    In the sales industry, this is amon tactic.


    Upon hearing that Shen Mingzhu wasing to buy the house in the afternoon, Shen Ban became unsettled.


    "Dad, Mom, Shuhuan, let’s buy this one, the house is big and well-ventted, with many rooms and a good location."


    Most importantly, Shen Mingzhu had her eye on the house.


    If she knew the house was taken by her, Shen Mingzhu would probably die of anger, wouldn’t she?


    Thinking this, Shen Ban couldn’t help showing a gleeful grin.


    Zhou Shuhuan was well aware of Shen Ban’s intentions, which was nothing more than deliberately antagonizing Shen Mingzhu.


    Driven by some unspeakable psychology, he didn’t expose Shen Ban’s little scheme; instead, he decided to buy the ce and paid the deposit.


    After the deposit was paid, Zhou Shuhuan had to leave due to other business.


    Shen Ban, with Zhou Fu and the elderly Ma Sufen, used discussing the new home’s decor as an excuse not to leave.


    She was waiting for Shen Mingzhu toe, eager to see Shen Mingzhu fuming with rage.


    The mere thought was exhrating.


    But she waited and waited, from the afternoon until dusk, yet Shen Mingzhu never appeared.


    ...


    "Bang bang bang."


    Shen Mingzhu’s family had just finished preparing dinner and was setting the table.


    Hearing someone knocking at the door, Pei Tang was the first to leap from her stool, shouting "I’ll get the door" as she scurried out with her little short legs.


    Pei Ziheng stood up and followed her out.


    Shen Mingzhu watched the siblings with amusement and returned to the kitchen, reassured, to carry out the dishes.


    "Mommy, someone is looking for you––"


    Hearing her daughter calling from outside, Shen Mingzhu casually ced the dish on the table and crossed the living room to the yard.


    "Shen Mingzhu!"


    What was this madwoman here for?


    Seeing Shen Ban blocked outside the iron fence, Shen Mingzhu wondered to herself.


    Before the New Year, Pei Yang had reinforced the walls and gate of the courtyard. The old wooden gate had been reced with a double security door—an iron fence on the outside and a steel security door on the inside.


    "Shen Mingzhu, why didn’t you go to see the property at Ruifeng Garden this afternoon?"


    "It’s none of your...."


    Seeing her daughter eyeing Shen Ban with curious fascination through the iron bars, Shen Mingzhu swallowed the harsh words on the tip of her tongue and said, "....what’s it to you?"


    Shen Ban had no face to admit she had waited at Ruifeng Garden all afternoon. If she said it out loud, she’d be theughingstock of Shen Mingzhu.


    "Nothing much, just heard you wanted to buy a ce at Ruifeng Garden too. When do you n to make the purchase? Let’s do it together, I can give you some advice."


    "I’ll have a look some other time; I’m busy these days."


    Without another word, she shut the door.


    Not willing to ept the rejection, Shen Ban knocked again, her words still unfinished.


    She had specificallye to tell Shen Mingzhu that her family had bought the property at Ruifeng Garden, aiming to infuriate Shen Mingzhu!


    But after knocking for quite a while and getting no response, she could only leave in frustration.


    ...


    At home.


    Shen Mingzhu was on the phone, sitting on the sofa, while Pei Tang and Pei Ziheng waited for her at the dining table.


    Pei Tang whispered to Pei Ziheng, "Big brother, why didn’t Mommy pay attention to that auntie outside?"


    "That auntie is no good; she came to bother Mommy," exined Pei Ziheng.


    "Oh."


    Pei Tang, somewhat understanding but decidedly determined, said, "That auntie is bad, I won’t pay attention to her either!"


    "Good girl."


    Pei Tang’s face broke into a happy smile; she sat up straight, staring at the steamy dishes on the table, and swallowed hard.


    "Big brother, I’m hungry."


    With a face as exquisite and lovely as a doll’s, Pei Tang rested her soft, tender forehead against the edge of the table, her voice soft and sticky-sweet, utterly endearing.


    Pei Ziheng felt his heart melting, soothing her in a gentle tone, "Just hold on, we’ll eat when Mommyes."


    "Okay, wait for Mommy together!"


    Today, Pei Yang was not home due to a social engagement, so dinner would be just the three of them.


    On this end, after getting off the phone with the property seller, Shen Mingzhu finally understood Shen Ban’s purpose foring to the door.


    If this had happened a day earlier, having the house she fancied taken by Shen Ban would likely have upset her.


    But now, she had lost any interest in buying the house. Whomever wanted to sell the house could sell it.


    Shen Mingzhu stood up, ready to go to the dining room for dinner, when her phone rang just two steps out.