The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 297 - 296 Another Mid-Autumn Festival

Chapter 297: Chapter 296 Another Mid-Autumn Festival

In order to make liquor-filled chocolates, Shen Mingzhu specially stocked up on two cases of Maotai liquor.

In this era, Maotai liquor was really cheap, the low-priced ones were only twelve yuan per bottle, and the most expensive Feitian Maotai was only fifty-eight yuan. If only she had money, she would have stocked up ten or eight cases of Feitian Maotai and made a fortune in twenty or thirty years, right?

But on second thought, a small western-style house only cost a little over ten thousand yuan. Wouldn’t it be even better to invest in real estate if she had the money?

Unfortunately, she was broke.

With Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Shen Mingzhu made five kilograms of liquor-filled chocolates, packed them in beautiful boxes, and gave them away as Mid-Autumn Festival gifts along with mooncakes.

After giving away the chocolates, the next day, she received numerous phone calls from relatives and friends wanting to order liquor-filled chocolates, so Shen Mingzhu took the opportunity to officially sell them at Mingzhu Restaurant.

However, to avoid business disputes, she didn’t advertise using the Maotai brand name; instead, she promoted them as being made with ten-year-old soy sauce-flavored liquor.

Zhuang Xueqi ordered liquor-filled chocolates to enjoy with friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival. To ensure the best taste, Shen Mingzhu made them the day before the festival and personally delivered them to the Zhuang Family.

After the chocolates were delivered, Zhuang Xueqi casually picked one to taste and then asked Shen Mingzhu to find the housekeeper to settle the bill.

"Miss Zhuang, the liquor-filled chocolates this time are made with Feitian Maotai, so they are more expensive," Shen Mingzhu mentioned.

Zhuang Xueqi nodded indifferently, "I understand."

Shen Mingzhu then placed two more boxes containing mooncakes before Zhuang Xueqi. "Tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival. I wish you and your family a happy and harmonious celebration."

Zhuang Xueqi glanced at the mooncakes without much interest, thanked her unenthusiastically, and stood up to return to her room.

After settling the account with the housekeeper, Shen Mingzhu left.

The Zhuang Family also lived in Mingyuan, though not at the top of the mountain like Ning Yuan. They resided halfway up the slope.

Even that halfway spot boasted scenery too exquisite to be wielded in words—it was the kind of view that could leave every photo shot looking like a landscape masterpiece.

Especially the Riyue Lake right in front, its surface so gentle and still, like a vast mirror. When a breeze brushed by, ripples danced across the water.

The scenery surrounding the lake was equally delightful, with willow trees softly swaying, and birdsong and fragrant flowers intertwining. It was nothing short of a fairyland on earth.

Cursed capitalism! The breathtaking vistas that ordinary people struggled to catch even a glimpse of were mere front-yard scenery for some. Where would one even begin to complain?

"Beep beep."

As Shen Mingzhu walked down the mountain road, enjoying the view, she heard a car horn behind her and instinctively moved a bit toward the side of the road.

A moment later, a black car slowly stopped beside her.

Shen Mingzhu turned her head to see a somewhat familiar face in the rolled-down rear window.

It was the mother of Zhong Qing, with whom she had a brief encounter at the engagement banquet.

"You’re Qingqing’s friend, right? It’s still some distance to the base of the mountain. Let me give you a ride," suggested Zhong Qing’s well-maintained mother, her face adorned with a warm smile that seemed very approachable.

She didn’t at all resemble the strict parent Zhong Qing described, one who held her children to austere standards.

But compared to Zhong Qing’s mother, whom she had only met for the second time, Shen Mingzhu naturally trusted Zhong Qing more.

"Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Zhong, but I can walk down on my own. I’d like to enjoy the scenery along the way," replied Shen Mingzhu.

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhong did not insist. She made a few polite offers to visit her home before instructing the driver to leave.

As she watched Mrs. Zhong’s car disappear on the mountain road, Shen Mingzhu inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at her watch, and quickened her steps, eager to return home and hug her sweet-smelling, soft daughter.

...

The next day was Mid-Autumn Festival, and Shen Mingzhu, as usual, gave her factory staff a day off.

The factory had done well that year, and the Mid-Autumn Festival benefits were even better than the previous year.

In addition to a box of Ronghua mooncakes for each employee, there were also a kilogram of assorted soft candies, and a mixed box of flower pastries and egg yolk pastries.

These things added up to nearly twenty bucks, and every employee was overjoyed.

Shen Mingzhu had also given Sister Yu the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, and her holiday bonus was the same as that of the factory workers.

It was a rare holiday, and with Little Guoguo still young, it was inconvenient to go out with her, so the family of four celebrated at home.

Shen Mingzhu was in charge of cooking delicious food, Pei Ziheng helped watch his sister, and Pei Yang wrapped all the furniture, table corners, and stool corners in the house with sponge bars to cushion the edges, preventing any accidents when Little Guoguo would start crawling or walking.

After wrapping the furniture corners, Pei Yang took out nails and created a photo wall on the right side of the living room.

The photo wall included pictures from their wedding day, casual moments, and a family portrait from the day of the full moon celebration.

Pei Yang specially left plenty of space on both sides of the photo wall, intending to add a new family portrait every Mid-Autumn Festival and hang it there.

After finishing the photo wall in the living room, Pei Yang also hung enlarged wedding pictures on the wall of the bedroom with nails.

Looking at the progressively decorated, cozy home, Shen Mingzhu’s heart was filled with an indescribable sense of happiness and sweetness.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the fragrance of osmanthus filled the air, marking another annual Mid-Autumn Festival.

Last year today, Pei Yang returned from the sea covered in injuries.

This year, not only did they have a sweet and adorable daughter, but they also moved into a bigger house.

Hopefully, next year would be even better.

...

On the first day back at work after the holiday, Shen Mingzhu held a small executive meeting with attendees including Shen Chaobei, Du Juan, Pei Yang, and Shen Hongmei.

When she wrote the profit on the small blackboard, cheers erupted in the office.

In less than three months, the total sales volume of mooncakes reached four thousand five hundred and sixty-seven boxes, with a total profit of two thousand seven hundred and forty dollars.

Using chalk, Shen Mingzhu wrote next year’s target on the small blackboard, "Next year, we aim to break the sale of twenty thousand boxes, with a total profit of over ten thousand dollars. Does everyone have confidence?"

"Yes!"

After setting the goal, Shen Mingzhu announced the new rules and salary benefits.

"From last year to this year, in just one year’s time, the number of staff has expanded from five people to thirty. As we develop further, our product variety will increase, and so will the scale of production and the number of employees. Before this, we must establish a complete set of management rules to ensure the orderly and standardized operation of the enterprise."

"Good salary and benefits can not only mobilize the enthusiasm and initiative of the workers but can also attract excellent talent."

To this, everyone expressed no objections.

After discussing the rules and salary, Shen Mingzhu mentioned the subject of their management studying and training.

"I’ve enrolled all of us, including myself, in training classes for human resources and business management. Starting from the 10th of next month, there will be two-hour sessions every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evening, lasting for a month."

Upon hearing this, Shen Chaobei caught his slip of the tongue, "Daya and her mother and I might as well not go. We haven’t studied much, and we wouldn’t understand it, so it would be a waste of money."

Unexpectedly, he immediately received a disapproving glance from Du Juan, "President Shen, I’ll go. I’m willing to learn more."

Then Shen Chaobei kept quiet.

Looking at Shen Chaobei with a serious and earnest look, Shen Mingzhu said, "Technology is advancing, and the era is progressing. If you stay in place, you will eventually be left behind and eliminated."

Shen Chaobei sheepishly replied, "Well, I’ll go and learn as well."

"It’s not just about learning; you also need to understand, comprehend, and apply it to work. That’s the purpose of going for advancement."

All present nodded in unison, with Du Juan and Shen Hongmei being particularly excited.

As rural girls, it seemed their destiny was set from birth: to do farm work, grow up, get married, have children, and take care of children.

But now, Shen Mingzhu laid out a completely different path in front of them, giving them the opportunity to learn more knowledge and change their fate.