The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 305 - 304: Shen Mingzhu Humiliated

Chapter 305: Chapter 304: Shen Mingzhu Humiliated

"Oh, isn’t this Director Shen? So, Meihao Food Factory is also participating in the bidding?"

In the past, Shen Mingzhu wouldn’t even bother to deal with the other party, but now seeing Wang Hongcheng, her mood had improved quite a bit.

After all, half the money for the big house she now lived in was "contributed" by Wang Hongcheng.

She ought to thank him.

"Yes, isn’t President Wang here today for the bidding results as well?"

Wang Hongcheng smiled and said, "I’m just going through the motions here. Fushun has been working with Baihui Department Store for many years now, there’s absolutely no problem."

"Oh, then allow me to congratulate President Wang in advance."

Shen Mingzhu replied disinterestedly and turned to chat with Shen Hongmei about some matters in the factory, clearly showing no interest in continuing the pointless conversation with the other party.

Yet Wang Hongcheng seemed oblivious to the hint and wouldn’t budge, "Director Shen, you really didn’t need to come. It’s not that I’m looking down on you, but just look at the other participants in the bidding: which isn’t a well-established big factory? A small newcomer like yours would need to struggle for at least another four or five years if you want to stand out."

There were quite a few business owners around also waiting for the bid results, likely bored from waiting, they all turned their attention upon hearing Wang Hongcheng’s words.

"A woman should be at home taking care of children, not here making a needless fuss."

Some didn’t speak too politely to Shen Mingzhu, seeing that she was young.

Shen Mingzhu glanced at that person and ignored him.

If a dog bit her on the street, could she bite it back?

But Wang Hongcheng, eager to join the fun, struck up a conversation with that person, "Brother, what keen sight you have, to notice at a glance that Director Shen has just had a baby, not even three months old yet."

Most of those present were male. There were a few women too, but they were all middle-aged, over forty years of age. With Shen Mingzhu’s youth and beauty, she was the only one.

Shen Hongmei was also young, but she lacked the looks and presence, barely registering in people’s attention.

Hearing Wang Hongcheng’s words, many men started to size up Shen Mingzhu discreetly, and some even stared at her chest without any shame.

It was the beginning of November, and the temperature had dropped. Shen Mingzhu wore a knitted sweater inside, with a thin woolen coat outside, the kind with a belt.

After returning to work, her waist had gradually returned to its pre-pregnancy slimness, and tightened with a belt, her chest was particularly pronounced.

Shen Mingzhu, not wanting to cause a scene, had to endure the disgust and signalled Shen Hongmei to head to the restroom to avoid harassment.

"What’s wrong with being a woman, can’t a woman work? The great man himself said, ’Women hold up half the sky!’ What the hell is he! He also crawled out of a woman’s stomach, and he still looks down on women, pah!"

Listening to Shen Hongmei’s indignant rant, Shen Mingzhu didn’t say a word, but felt the same dissatisfaction inside.

The social and workplace prejudices and discrimination against women were always plentiful, and they still existed even more than thirty years later.

Arguing with these people was futile, the only way was to surpass them, to swell their faces with capability and achievement, and shut them up.

After using the restroom, Shen Mingzhu did not rush back, but waited until the time for the announcement was near before she and Shen Hongmei returned to the venue.

Upon entering the venue, she found it in an uproar, as it turned out the mall had posted the notices ahead of schedule, and every manufacturer was crowding around their respective category’s bulletin board to check.

Shen Mingzhu hurried to the bulletin board for the non-staple food category, scrutinizing every line.

Finally, she saw her own food factory’s name.

Great!

Just as she was excited, Shen Mingzhu felt a fierce bump on her back, so painful that stars shot before her eyes.

Turning around, she met Wang Hongcheng’s sullen, malevolent face.

Seeing her annoyance, Wang Hongcheng sneered, "Director Shen really has some skill!"

Hearing the jealousy and dissatisfaction in Wang Hongcheng’s tone, Shen Mingzhu guessed what was going on and smiled, "You flatter me, if a small factory like mine can make the list, a big factory like Fushun should have reached success even more easily, right?"

No sooner had the words fallen than she saw Wang Hongcheng’s face turning as ugly as if he had eaten shit.

Shen Mingzhu’s mood instantly improved.

Perhaps it was because he couldn’t save face, or out of sheer humiliation turning to anger, Wang Hongcheng suddenly raised his voice, "What do you have to be so smug about, you’re just a whore who climbed up the ranks through her looks..."

"Slap!"

Shen Mingzhu raised her hand and slapped Wang Hongcheng hard across the face.

She had been holding back her frustration from earlier incidents, and now that Wang Hongcheng publicly insulted her in front of everyone, she certainly wasn’t going to be polite.

Wang Hongcheng was caught off guard and didn’t expect Shen Mingzhu to strike him, he took a solid blow to his face. By the time he realized he wanted to strike back, he saw Shen Mingzhu shouting with joy behind him, "Husband, save me!"

Wang Hongcheng looked back instinctively but didn’t see Pei Yang. By the time he realized what was happening, Shen Mingzhu had already grabbed Shen Hongmei and run away.

It wasn’t until they got on the bus that Shen Mingzhu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Hongmei was still in shock, patting her chest and laughing with relief, "Mingzhu, the slap you gave him was so satisfying. That vile man deserves it for his filthy mouth; someone should smash it shut."

Hongmei had picked up the phrase "vile man" from Mingzhu.

Although Shen Mingzhu was somewhat frightened after the fact, since Wang Hongcheng was a man, she definitely would have been at a disadvantage in a real fight.

However, thinking that Wang Hongcheng failed to secure the tender and also received a slap, the pent-up frustration in her heart had mostly dissipated.

...

After getting home, when she related the incident to Pei Yang, she had expected him to empathize with her and comfort her, but to her surprise, the damn man actually lectured her, saying she was too impulsive and could easily bring trouble upon herself.

"Not only did he insult me verbally, but he also called me a whore. Are you saying I should just swallow that insult? Or do you think it doesn’t matter since it’s not you being cursed at?"

Shen Mingzhu was getting more and more upset, her eyes misting up with anger.

"That’s not what I meant..."

Pei Yang reached out to hold her, but she pushed his hand away, "Then what do you mean?"

Seeing her temper flare, Pei Yang’s face showed helplessness, "I spoke out of turn. Don’t be angry. It’s not worth damaging your health over such a scoundrel."

Bullshit, it’s you, the damn man, who’s making me angry!

Shen Mingzhu continued to glower at him.

"I’m worried about you being at a disadvantage; I’m not there. If something really did happen, could you and Hongmei handle it?"

The man had a point, but Shen Mingzhu was still very upset.

"I don’t need you to worry about me. Get out, I’m annoyed just looking at you."

"Don’t go out these days. The tender announcement for People’s Shopping Mall is tomorrow, I’ll attend it."

Shen Mingzhu didn’t respond.

Her temper was up, but she wasn’t going to meet Wang Hongcheng alone at this time.

There was a training course tonight, and normally, the couple would go home together.

But after class today, Pei Yang said to Shen Mingzhu, "Darling, you go home first with your sister-in-law, I’ve got a meeting with a friend and will be back later."

Still upset about the afternoon’s event, Shen Mingzhu rode off on her bicycle without a word.

Seeing Du Juan and Shen Hongmei watching him, Pei Yang could only offer an awkward smile.

After watching the three of them ride off into the distance, Pei Yang turned his bicycle around and headed in the opposite direction.

Shen Mingzhu returned home, fed her daughter, put her to sleep, and then went to wash up.

By the time she got into bed, it was already eleven o’clock, and she couldn’t sleep, so she opened up her training materials to review.

Pei Yang didn’t get home until almost midnight.

As he pushed the door open and saw her still awake, his face broke into a smile, "Waiting for me?"

Before Shen Mingzhu could retort, her eyes caught a noticeable gash on the back of his hand.