The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 158 Qin Jinlian Makes a Scene, Let’s Break Off Relations

Chapter 158: Chapter 158 Qin Jinlian Makes a Scene, Let’s Break Off Relations

A crowd was indignant, clamoring as if Shen Mingzhu had committed some unforgivable act.

Shen Chaobei and Du Juan took turns trying to reason with them, all to no avail, looking set on taking a firm stand against Shen Mingzhu.

Looking at these people, Shen Mingzhu could think of only one phrase: A harsh environment breeds a stubborn folk.

She watched them with a cold laugh, "I want to ask all of you, fellow villagers, do you target me because I am young and a woman, and you think I’m easy to bully?"

Upon hearing her words, the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

Shen Mingzhu continued her sharp rhetoric, "If it wasn’t me standing here today, but a stranger you didn’t know, would you still make such a ruckus like you are now?"

The crowd looked at each other in dismay.

"Mingzhu, you can’t say things like that..."

"Then how should I say it?!"

Shen Mingzhu suddenly raised her voice, startling one person and simultaneously intimidating the rest.

Her gaze was penetrating as she surveyed the crowd, her voice soft yet resonant, carrying a power that probed the heart.

"To start this factory, my elder brother, his wife, and I have put our entire fortune on the line. Now that the factory is up and running and needs workers, we thought first of the village, wanting to prosper together with everybody."

"I never imagined that my good intentions wouldn’t be met with gratitude, but instead have given you the opportunity to take advantage of your seniority and age to trouble a young woman like me! I dare not come back to the village to recruit workers in the future. How can I, a junior, cope with the difficulties posed by so many elders like you?"

Her speech left those who had been so boisterous just a moment ago now wearing a look of shame on their faces.

"Aunt Guihua, you just asked why those who can’t read and write can’t work. It’s simple, if I arrange for you to make deliveries, but you can’t write delivery notes or keep the accounts clear, how can you do the job?"

"Uncle Gensheng, your back injury, I sympathize with it as a junior, and am willing to help as much as I can. But this isn’t a nursing home; I’m running a factory and I need people who can work hard!"

"I can responsibly tell everyone that to start this factory, I have borrowed five thousand yuan from the bank. Today, out of sentiment, I’ve kept all of you, but if in two years when the loan matures and I can’t repay it, would everyone also chip in to help me repay it?"

As her words ended, everyone gasped in shock.

For the people of Shenjiagou, carrying a debt of three to five hundred yuan was enough to suffocate them for half a lifetime.

A debt of five thousand yuan, this girl must have the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard.

Perhaps shocked by the five thousand yuan loan, or worried that Shen Mingzhu might later ask them for money, those not qualified turned and walked towards the door, and before long the room was empty.

Shen Mingzhu turned to look at the people who did meet the criteria.

In total, there were seven of them, three men and four women.

At this time, the excitement on their faces had turned into hesitation and unease, probably also alarmed by the five thousand yuan loan.

Shen Mingzhu said, "Don’t worry, you are only working for me at the factory, and I will pay your wages monthly. If the factory were to shut down due to poor management, I assure you it will not implicate any of you."

Upon hearing her words, the seven people slowly relaxed.

However, they were reassured too soon, because Shen Mingzhu only wanted four workers.

"Those who know how to make tofu, step forward."

"Those who can ride a bicycle, step forward."

After successfully selecting two female workers, Shen Mingzhu picked two young men from the remaining five.

The three who were not chosen, along with the others who were eliminated outside, were all given fare by Shen Mingzhu and told to go home.

Once she had enough personnel, Shen Mingzhu began training, which mainly involved the workshop’s personnel rules and regulations, work content and production process, as well as knowledge on fire safety.

While Shen Mingzhu was busy preparing for the opening, the news about her borrowing five thousand to set up the factory spread like the wind throughout Shenjiagou.

Initially, when Qin Jinlian heard that Shen Mingzhu was setting up a factory with her eldest son and daughter-in-law, she was overjoyed, dreaming that the Shen Family would become prosperous and they would have good days ahead.

However, after hearing that Shen Mingzhu had daringly borrowed five thousand from the bank, Qin Jinlian was shocked, angry, and frightened. She couldn’t sleep at all that night, and as soon as dawn broke, she hurried into the city.

Shen Mingzhu was busy training the workers and Du Juan’s couple when Qin Jinlian rushed in with Shen Baolan.

Qin Jinlian first went to the family compound, failed to find Shen Mingzhu, and then ran to ask Shen Baolan.

Seeing Qin Jinlian looking furious and intent on settling accounts with Shen Mingzhu, Shen Baolan hastily led her over.

Qin Jinlian started berating Shen Mingzhu as soon as she arrived, "You foolish girl, are you trying to reach the heavens? Why did you take on such a huge debt without saying a word, living a peaceful life? Who are you trying to kill with anger?"

Shen Baolan, while looking around the factory, said mockingly, "Mingzhu, you sure have the guts. Borrowing five thousand and renting such a shabby place, then recruiting a few people at random, do you think you can make a fortune?"

"Do you think business is that easy? My family’s Shuhuan, an urbanite with a secondary specialized education, isn’t he much better than you? Yet he didn’t make his business work, and even ended up in jail. You, a country woman with no education or skill, foolishly dream of being a big boss— you’re dreaming!"

Qin Jinlian had always disliked Shen Baolan because she didn’t get along with her mother, but this time, she found herself on the same side as Shen Baolan.

"Listen to what Shen Baolan understands; why can’t you get it? Why do you insist on courting death? It’s not enough for you to ruin yourself; you even drag Chaobei down with you. How could I have given birth to such a good-for-nothing!"

Shen Chaobei couldn’t stand it anymore, "Mom, I wanted to do this together with my sister on my own volition. If you want to scold someone, scold me, don’t scold my sister."

Qin Jinlian was already furious, and Shen Chaobei’s defense of Shen Mingzhu added fuel to the fire. She raised her hand and started pounding on Shen Chaobei.

"You idiot! Instead of stopping her nonsense, you join in the folly. You had such a good business with the snack stand, and you gave it up just like that. How can you be so stupid, not knowing right from wrong?"

After scolding Shen Chaobei, she turned to berate Du Juan.

The couple were gentle folks and stayed quiet as Qin Jinlian vented her anger.

But Shen Mingzhu couldn’t tolerate it. She stepped forward and pulled Qin Jinlian away, "Have you made enough of a scene? The factory is mine and has nothing to do with the Shen Family. Even if there are problems later, it won’t affect you."

Qin Jinlian glared at her with red eyes, "You talk as if it’s so simple. ’Even with broken bones, the tendons are still connected.’ You’re a daughter of the Shen Family. If you can’t repay the money in the future, won’t it affect everyone in the family with a debt over them? Five thousand, how can you repay that?"

Shen Mingzhu looked at her, "Then let’s sever ties."

Qin Jinlian was taken aback, "What did you say?"

"I’m cutting ties with you and the Shen Family. I am no longer a daughter of the Shen Family, and naturally, any future problems won’t fall on you."