The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 149: Chance Encounter with Zhong Qing and Small Talk

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Chance Encounter with Zhong Qing and Small Talk

Shen Mingzhu’s invitation was undoubtedly a difficult choice for the couple.

After some time of operation, their small food stand had developed a good reputation and popularity, and now they could easily earn five or six yuan a day.

Asking them to give up their current stability and well-being to take a risk with Shen Mingzhu was really asking too much of them.

Shen Mingzhu herself knew that it wasn’t an easy decision to make, and she didn’t expect the couple to give her an immediate answer.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, take your time to think about it, it’s ok if you don’t want to, I can understand..."

"Mingzhu, there’s no need to think about it. Chaobei and I are willing to work with you," Du Juan said, making a definitive statement that surprised both siblings.

Shen Mingzhu looked at Du Juan, "Sister-in-law, you don’t need to rush your answer to me, I’m still handling some procedures, and I estimate everything will be ready by August."

With a slight smile, Du Juan replied, "Mingzhu, I believe you won’t do any harm to Chaobei and me. Coming to us is a sign of trust, and we are willing to take a chance with you. It couldn’t possibly be worse than the hardship of farming in the countryside, right?"

When asked why she was willing to help Shen Chaobei and his wife, this sister-in-law was truly a wise and clear-headed person.

Shen Chaobei was still hesitant at first, but after listening to his wife, he suddenly saw things more clearly.

They would give it a try, and if worst came to worst, they could always return to farming! They were not likely to starve.

The problem of finding help was basically half resolved, and as for other workers, it wouldn’t be too late to recruit them after securing a good location for the business.

Next, Shen Mingzhu still had to secure the location, funding, and handle procedural matters, a myriad of tasks that couldn’t possibly be finished in less than ten days to half a month.

So, she asked the couple to continue running their food stand for now, and once everything on her end was ready, they would come together to work.

The next day, Shen Mingzhu went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank to inquire about loan policies.

Bank storefronts of that era were not only scarce in number but also had few service windows and didn’t provide seats for customers to rest, leading to long queues and slow waits.

Fortunately, Pei Ziheng had come with her, providing company and conversation to alleviate the monotony.

As Zhong Qing stepped into the bank, she was heading towards the VIP room on the second floor but stopped abruptly when she caught sight of a familiar figure in the queue.

"Miss Zhong..."

Zhong Qing waved off the welcoming receptionist who had come downstairs especially for her, and, with a calm and unhurried pace, approached Shen Mingzhu and her son.

From the moment Zhong Qing entered the bank, many had turned their gaze towards her, and Shen Mingzhu had also looked at Zhong Qing several times.

There was a reason for that, with Zhong Qing’s attire, bearing, and looks, she was unquestionably a lady from high society, the type of elegant woman who could make you feel inferior like a dirt dog standing in her presence.

A stunning and peculiar woman.

"Is this your son? He’s really pretty."

Confused by Zhong Qing’s initiative to strike up a conversation, Shen Mingzhu managed a courteous, albeit somewhat perplexed, ’thank you’ in reply.

Zhong Qing looked at her, her light tea-colored pupils shimmering with a friendly softness, "Do you believe in fate?"

Shen Mingzhu thought that this well-born lady must be a bit off her rocker.

Zhong Qing smiled, "I saw you a few days ago. You were talking to a woman at the entrance of the Adult Education; I found you quite interesting. I thought to myself if I ever saw you again, I definitely had to say hello to you, and here we are today."

So, she was a part of the spectators at her and Sun Feifei’s argument.

What, got a taste for gossip now?

While Shen Mingzhu inwardly sneered, her face maintained a polite yet awkward smile.

Perhaps sensing Shen Mingzhu’s reserve and wariness, Zhong Qing glanced at her watch and spoke with a beaming smile, "I have something else to take care of, let’s chat next time. My surname is Zhong, as in the word not related to ’love at first sight,’ it’s the one with the ’grass’ radical above and ’qing’ below."

As she spoke, Zhong Qing glanced at the skirt Shen Mingzhu was wearing and laughed, "I don’t know if it’s because you always wear skirts in the color of my name, but seeing you, I always feel a sense of familiarity."

"Next time we meet, you tell me your name, okay? Goodbye."

Having said that, Zhong Qing turned and walked away with her elegant strides towards the second floor of the bank.

"Mommy, that auntie is weird."

Watching Zhong Qing disappear around the staircase corner, Pei Ziheng said to Shen Mingzhu with his pretty little face upturned.

Shen Mingzhu agreed, thinking to herself that this woman must be crazy.

----

Half an hour later.

Shen Mingzhu, who was still miserably queuing in the lobby on the first floor, while Zhong Qing, with the help of a personal attendant, had elegantly completed all her transactions.

"The lady downstairs in the green skirt is my friend. No matter what business she is doing later, please make it convenient for her. I will personally call your bank president to explain."

Upon hearing this, the attendant serving Zhong Qing hurriedly nodded, "Rest assured, Miss Zhong, I will inform the counter."

Seeing Zhong Qing politely escorted out of the bank by the attendant, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t help thinking to herself that capitalism sure is great.

Another half hour passed by, and Shen Mingzhu’s turn finally came.

"Hello, I’d like to inquire about loans for individual businesses..."

When she finished speaking, the person at the counter asked her to wait and then picked up the phone to dial an internal extension.

Soon after, someone came down from the second floor and motioned for Shen Mingzhu to follow him upstairs.

Shen Mingzhu recognized him as the attendant who had greeted the socialites earlier.

Once upstairs, even Shen Mingzhu, a modern person, couldn’t help but be astonished at the disparity between the commoners and the privileged.

The lobby downstairs was so bare and plain that there wasn’t even a wooden stool, while upstairs there were mahogany desks all around, paired with single leather armchairs, a lounge area by the window, and a coffee table spread with exquisite and delicious refreshments and fruits, extravagantly luxurious to an inhuman degree.

After learning that Shen Mingzhu wanted to apply for a loan for an individual business, the attendant informed her in detail about the necessary documents and materials, and at the end, gave her a business card.

"Miss Shen, if you have your materials ready, just call me to schedule an appointment," he said.

The process was so smooth that Shen Mingzhu could hardly believe it, "Is there no need for credit reviews or background checks? I can just come and get a loan?"

"Yes, just bring the documents and materials I mentioned earlier, and I can process the loan for you," the attendant replied with a smile.

As she walked out of the bank, Shen Mingzhu was still in disbelief.

Is borrowing money this easy nowadays?

But having smoothly resolved her financial issues, Shen Mingzhu was in quite a good mood.

She just awaited the issuance of her business license so she could come to the bank for the loan.

----

"...I never thought Shen Mingzhu could be so venomous and cunning, to actually use such despicable means to frame me..."

Although Sun Feifei successfully drove a wedge between Xiangying and Shen Mingzhu, she still couldn’t swallow the bitterness of being banned from taking exams for three years and wanted to teach Shen Mingzhu a lesson by other means.

But she racked her brains for several days and couldn’t come up with a plan, and instead was annoyed from time to time by Chen Jianqiang’s harassment, which infuriated her to no end.

After much thought, she sought out Zhao Fang, hoping to use her to deal with Shen Mingzhu.

So, as soon as they met, Sun Feifei began to distort the truth about the incident in the examination room to Zhao Fang, tearfully complaining.