The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 281 - 280 Buying a Big House

Chapter 281: Chapter 280 Buying a Big House

"What’re you daydreaming about? Did that old bastard Wang Hongcheng bully you?"

Pei Yang had just returned to the factory when he heard about Wang Hongcheng’s visit. Seeing Shen Mingzhu looking somewhat distracted, he couldn’t help approaching her with concern.

Looking at the man’s familiar and handsome face, Shen Mingzhu suppressed her chaotic thoughts and simply explained the purpose of Wang Hongcheng’s visit to him.

The reason Shen Mingzhu could think of, Pei Yang could naturally think of as well.

After silent for two seconds, he said to Shen Mingzhu, "I’ll talk to Wang Hongcheng about this matter. You stay out of it."

Shen Mingzhu looked at him curiously, "How do you plan to talk to him?"

Pei Yang picked up an enamel cup and took several gulps before speaking, "It’s better to offend a gentleman than a villain. If we sabotage his deal with Hengxing, we’ll make a deadly enemy, and life will probably be difficult from then on. But we’re not going to let him make this money easily either."

Shen Mingzhu actually had the same thought, but considering the deal with Hengxing involved a favor from Yan Yi, she felt conflicted.

Since Pei Yang had taken on the matter, she simply decided to let go and not worry about it.

That evening, Shen Mingzhu called Zhong Qing and arranged to meet the next day.

Considering Shen Mingzhu had difficulty getting around, the meeting place was set at a new restaurant near the food factory.

When Zhong Qing arrived, she saw that dishes had already been ordered and a few traces of apology appeared on her gentle face.

"I’m late."

"Not at all, I came early."

Shen Mingzhu was about to get up to greet her, but Zhong Qing walked over and stopped her, "Please, sit. No need to stand on ceremony with me."

Once Zhong Qing was seated, they ate and chatted about their recent lives.

When the conversation was almost over, Shen Mingzhu changed the subject and brought up the cooperation between Fushun and Hengxing.

She didn’t care to figure out what Yan Yi’s intentions were towards her, nor did she want to ask. But she didn’t want this matter to lead to misunderstandings or barriers between her and Zhong Qing.

"I didn’t know Hengxing was a company belonging to Ning Yuan’s family. Yesterday, Fushun’s Boss Wang showed up and said Hengxing specifically wanted the Ronghua brand. Qingqing, it seems I owe your family another favor."

She said "you," not "Yan Yi," indicating her stance.

I accept this favor, not from Yan Yi, but from you all.

How could Zhong Qing, so perceptive and astute, not hear the concerns and worries in her words?

"Mingzhu, don’t be in a hurry to feel indebted. Actually, the mooncake deal has little to do with Yan Yi."

Zhong Qing simply told Shen Mingzhu about Yan Yi asking Ning Yuan to help buy the mooncakes, "Yan Yi didn’t buy the mooncakes just to help you; it was because they really tasted great. Ning Yuan had the same reasons for instructing Hengxing to purchase Ronghua mooncakes. It was for the taste, not because he knows you."

"Mingzhu, you shouldn’t feel burdened. Yan Yi, Ning Yuan, and even I—we’ve all been carefully nurtured from a young age as the scions of prominent families. We don’t act blindly charitable without considering the consequences, and our families won’t allow us to be reckless."

Shen Mingzhu had to admit that Zhong Qing’s words significantly eased her mental pressure.

Especially after learning that Hengxing’s purchase of Ronghua mooncakes was not at Yan Yi’s instigation, she felt a huge relief wash over her.

"Qingqing, thank you. Being able to know you all and receive your recognition and help is my good fortune," she said with sincere gratitude.

Zhong Qing smiled, "Mingzhu, it’s not that we have helped you, but that you conquered us with your strength and charm."

If you’re going to compliment someone, keep it coming.

...

Pei Yang signaled Shen Chaobei to stuff the counted money into a handbag, then raised his eyes to glance at Wang Hongcheng, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and asked knowingly, "Manager Wang, you’ve snagged such a big order from Hengxing and are making a fortune. Why do you still look so unhappy?"

Without your swooping in to play the robber halfway through, I would have made even more!

Wang Hongcheng gritted his teeth with irritation, "Factory Manager Pei is really something, living the high life off a woman, enviable indeed."

Being mocked for living off a woman, Pei Yang wasn’t angry at all, but rather quite pleased with himself.

"Can’t help it, who made me have such good taste and marry a virtuous and family-fortune-boosting wife?"

Shen Chaobei counted the money while keeping a wary eye on the two men, afraid they might come to blows.

Wang Hongcheng would never fight Pei Yang.

It’s hilarious, he simply couldn’t win.

After a verbal spar, Pei Yang turned serious, "President Wang, don’t feel bad about it. I haven’t overcharged you for these five thousand. According to our original agreement, just for the Hengxing deal alone, you’d have to give my wife a bonus of four thousand. Taking into account the other bits and pieces of sales, surely it’s worth more than just a thousand, right?"

Wang Hongcheng was left speechless.

Although this money indeed should have been allocated to Shen Mingzhu, people are always greedy; and it was this reluctance to give away the money for nothing that had caused him to try everything to fall out with Shen Mingzhu.

As a result, after all the twists and turns, he still had to pay up, which was incredibly frustrating.

Wang Hongcheng was so vexed he could spit blood, while Shen Chaobei was ecstatic.

He slung the bag holding the five thousand in cash around his neck and clutched it with both hands, "Goodness, I’ve never seen so much money my whole life."

Pei Yang’s mood was also good, "This is just the start. In the future, the money earned from the food factory will be much more than this."

Shen Chaobei nodded continuously, almost splitting his face with joy.

He finally understood why his little sister insisted on dragging him into business.

It was only through business that one could make big money! Like their previous snack stall, exposed to the wind, sun, and rain, they’d barely make over a hundred in a month, nothing compared to the quicker and larger earnings from business.

...

In the evening, the family of three sat around the dining table.

The five thousand yuan provided by Wang Hongcheng and the brand usage agreement were laid out on the table.

The agreement specified that Shen Mingzhu granted Ronghua brand’s authorization to Fushun Cake Factory for one year.

Having shed her psychological burden, these five thousand yuan were like an enormous surprise gift from heaven for Shen Mingzhu.

"Should we use this money to repay the bank loan?"

But Pei Yang already had an idea, "Let’s buy a house."

The couple turned their gaze simultaneously to Pei Ziheng.

Pei Ziheng looked from one to the other, for the first time not siding with Shen Mingzhu.

"Mom, let’s buy a big house."

There were no elders at home and, once Shen Mingzhu gave birth, she would surely need to hire a nanny for assistance. But their current home didn’t have a spare room for a nanny, let alone a room for the baby.

"Alright, let’s buy a house!"

Once the consensus to purchase a house was reached, the family of three discussed potential locations.

Shen Mingzhu wanted to buy in the south of the city because among the four districts, the south was the economically developed area, having the best public safety, transportation, healthcare, and education.

However, Pei Yang found the south too far from both the food factory and Pei Ziheng’s school.

After a whole evening of discussion, they couldn’t reach a conclusion. But there was no rush; after all, buying a house was a major decision, not as simple as buying vegetables.

In that era, there were no formal real estate agencies, but there were "housing worms," similar to middlemen, though not cheap, with some charging as high as 5%.

Thinking Zhao Dafa was a contractor and certainly knew of many good housing sources, Shen Mingzhu decided to ask for his help.

"Sister Shen, you came to the right person!"

When Zhao Dafa learned that Shen Mingzhu wanted to buy a big house, he slapped his thigh and took on the task. In just a couple of days, he had scouted out a place for the couple.