The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 307 - 306 Pei Yang Captured

Chapter 307: Chapter 306 Pei Yang Captured

Facing the joint enforcement visit from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau and the police station, Shen Mingzhu quickly calmed down after a brief panic.

"Officers, your timing is impeccable. We just discovered counterfeit products of ours in the market, and all the items are here."

Looking at the mountains of spicy strips and dried tofu, an enforcement officer from the Bureau scoffed sarcastically, "Very well-informed, indeed. We’re still investigating on our end, and here you are, already gathering up the evidence against yourselves."

Another said, "It wouldn’t be ’a thief crying stop thief’, would it? Earning dirty money and now, when caught, you’re trying to shift the blame. With your tiny, shabby factory, is it really worth someone’s effort to fake your products?"

Shen Mingzhu did not rush to defend herself but instead picked out her factory’s products and placed them alongside the counterfeit ones to make a comparison, pointing out the differences one by one.

"Our spicy strips and dried tofu have been well-received since they hit the market, with sales climbing each month. To be honest, compared to the other products from our factory, the profit margins for spicy strips and dried tofu are the lowest. We really have no need to ruin our reputation for a meager benefit."

To the officers from the Bureau, Shen Mingzhu’s explanations sounded like mere sophistry, which they were all too familiar with.

They had even seen ones more ruthless than Shen Mingzhu, who would kneel and kowtow, swear and curse, adamantly claiming their innocence. However, upon investigation, they would turn out to be heartless and unscrupulous, utterly disregarding the consumers’ safety – utterly despicable and hateful.

"Enough, there’s no need for more words. We will find out the truth through our investigation."

The Bureau immediately issued a suspension of production and business operations, and all the factory workers were expelled from the premises.

The enforcement officers meticulously collected evidence and conducted a thorough search in the production workshops, cooked food processing areas, packaging, and warehouses.

Producing and selling food that doesn’t meet safety standards is a violation of criminal law, and the police station intended to take the relevant persons in charge back for review.

Although Shen Mingzhu was the general manager, the business license was in Pei Yang’s name.

"Don’t worry, I’ll go to the police station, explain the situation clearly to the officers and then come back. Take good care of Ziheng and Guoguo and call me if anything happens."

After quickly giving these instructions, Pei Yang was taken away by the police.

Watching her husband being taken to the police car, Shen Mingzhu’s tears fell from her eyes.

"President Shen, think of something," Du Juan urged.

With Du Juan’s reminder, Shen Mingzhu quickly snapped back to reality.

She wiped away her tears and looked around. The workers hadn’t left but were whispering at the factory gates, their faces full of panic and anxiety.

Shen Mingzhu tried to stabilize her emotions and loudly reassured the workers, "Don’t worry, we have nothing to hide and no reason to fear investigation."

"Starting today, everyone is off for three days. You will still receive your wages for these three days. You can go home, see your children, and have a good rest. Return to the factory on time after three days to resume work."

Hearing her words, several senior employees also spoke up to calm the crowd, "Everyone relax. President Shen said there’s nothing to worry about, so there’s nothing to worry about. The factory has been investigated before, and there were no issues in the end."

"That’s right, we’ve produced our products with our own hands, and we know best whether they’re good or bad. The money we earn is honest, and we would never adulterate our products."

"Exactly! It must be somebody envious trying to frame us. Those who can’t compete fairly with us resort to mean tricks behind the scenes. Sooner or later, Heaven will deal with them!"

With the comfort and persuasion of Shen Hongmei, Du Juan, and a few senior employees, the workers gradually left for their dormitories, each picking up their belongings to go home.

After the workers were gone, Shen Mingzhu, under the guise of grabbing her bag and personal items, secreted away some spicy strips and dried tofu in her pockets.

Once out of the factory, she went straight to the nearby police station to report the crime. After the police opened a case, she went to find Pei Wenping.

Upon hearing that her brother had been taken to the police station, Pei Wenping also became somewhat panicked.

"Mingzhu, see if you can ask friends for a favor to pull some strings to get Pei Yang out first. I’ll ask your brother-in-law for advice."

"Big sister, just getting Pei Yang out won’t solve the problem. The crux of the matter lies with that batch of counterfeit spicy strips and dried tofu. We must find evidence that proves those products didn’t come from our food factory, so Pei Yang can be completely exonerated."

Pei Wenping thought it made sense and immediately asked what they should do.

But Shen Mingzhu didn’t have an answer.

Everything happened so suddenly, it would be untrue to say she wasn’t panicked and scared, and she couldn’t quite figure out what to do next.

After saying goodbye to Pei Wenping, Shen Mingzhu went back home.

It was noon, and Sister Yu was cleaning the house. Seeing her return home didn’t surprise her since Shen Mingzhu would sometimes come back to check on her daughter during lunchtime when the factory wasn’t busy, though she usually called ahead to have lunch prepared.

"Madam, you don’t look well. Are you sick?"

Noticing her distressed demeanor, Sister Yu asked with concern.

"I’m fine, Sister Yu. Please prepare something for me to eat."

"There’s rice in the pot. Shall I stir-fry a dish for you?"

"Anything’s fine."

Shen Mingzhu didn’t have an appetite, but she knew she needed to eat to have the strength for the "battle" ahead.

When she returned to the bedroom and saw her daughter sleeping soundly in the crib, blissfully unaware of her father’s incarceration, Shen Mingzhu felt both relieved and pained.

After checking on her daughter, Shen Mingzhu went to the living room and called Zhong Qing.

Zhong Qing arrived very quickly, even before she had finished eating.

"Qingqing, have you eaten?"

Zhong Qing shook her head and then nodded, "I’m not hungry. You go ahead and eat."

Shen Mingzhu still had Sister Yu cook a bowl of wontons for Zhong Qing.

Before the wontons were ready, her son Pei Ziheng ran back home breathlessly, backpack in tow.

"Mom."

Shen Mingzhu put down her chopsticks and walked to her son, trying to appear as if nothing was wrong. "Son, why are you back? Didn’t Aunt Hongmei pick you up? Have you had lunch?"

Pei Ziheng, smart and perceptive as he was, couldn’t be fooled by Shen Hongmei, and with little effort, he found out that something had happened at the factory.

He immediately asked his teacher for leave and rushed back home.

His mom must be worried and upset; he needed to be there to accompany her.

Glancing at the bowls and dishes on the dining table, Pei Ziheng pursed his lips and answered that he hadn’t eaten yet.

Shen Mingzhu then went to the kitchen and asked Sister Yu to cook another bowl of wontons.

Soon, two bowls of steaming wontons were served on the table.

Shen Mingzhu had finished eating and sat quietly with them, pondering things silently.

Finally, after they had finished eating, Shen Mingzhu was about to suggest that Pei Ziheng go upstairs to rest when he spoke up first.

"Mom, has Dad been arrested?"

Shen Mingzhu’s throat tightened, and before she could think of a response, Pei Ziheng added, "Aunt Hongmei told me everything."

"Mom, Dad will be fine. You don’t need to worry."

Shen Mingzhu looked at her son and suddenly noticed some changes in his facial features; they seemed to have matured, becoming more three-dimensional and profound, yet they were still very delicate and handsome.

Her anxious heart suddenly calmed down considerably, "That’s right, your dad will be okay. He’ll be back once the investigation is clear."

It was at this moment that Zhong Qing also spoke up...