The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 317 - 316 Qin Jinlian Enters the City

Chapter 317: Chapter 316 Qin Jinlian Enters the City

Wang Hongcheng only had three older sisters and no brothers; once something happened to him, all his wealth and the Fushun Cake Factory would go to his wife, Hong Jinling.

Hong Jinling, an ordinary housewife, knew nothing about business affairs and inevitably relied on her brother, Hong Jinbao, for help.

As long as Wang Hongcheng was sent away, the Fushun Cake Factory would be his!

It was with such calculations that, under Shi Yizheng’s provocation, Hong Jinbao took the initiative to go to the police station to turn himself in.

Hong Jinbao not only exposed Wang Hongcheng for framing Shen Mingzhu Food Factory twice but also reported Wang’s crimes of passing off inferior products as superior ones, and tax evasion and fraud.

He was determined to see Wang Hongcheng locked up for good.

And this was Pei Ziheng’s revenge against Wang Hongcheng. The previous slingshot prank was just an appetizer.

...

Wang Hongcheng was unaware that he had been stabbed in the back by his brother-in-law.

When interrogated by the police officers, he was still naively making excuses, "...Officer, I don’t know anything about framing or setting someone up. I am a law-abiding citizen. I couldn’t possibly do such things."

The interrogator sneered, "Enough with the act. Your brother-in-law, Hong Jinbao, has spelled out all the ’good deeds’ you’ve done over the years. We’ve also gathered sufficient evidence. Whether you speak or not, you’re locked in for this prison meal."

Wang Hongcheng felt as if struck by lightning, his eyes as wide as brass bells.

"See the slogan behind me? ’Confess and you will be dealt with leniently; resist and we will be strict’. Speak honestly about your issues, and you might get a lighter sentence, otherwise, ha—"

More than any threat or intimidation, that laugh made Wang Hongcheng shudder with fear.

His voice trembling, he asked, "What did Jinbao... what did he say?"

"What he said is none of your concern right now. We want to hear what you have to say." The interrogator looked at his watch, folded his arms across his chest, "My patience is limited. If you don’t start talking in three minutes, I’m leaving. Anything else you want to say can be said directly to the judge in court."

After a fierce internal struggle, Wang Hongcheng finally caved in.

"I confess..."

...

In the office of the Audit Department, Shen Mingzhu placed rose-flavored cakes and chocolate liqueurs on the coffee table, "Director Liu, I made some pastries at home these past few days. I brought some for you to try."

Civil servants couldn’t accept gifts, but there was no harm in accepting homemade pastries from friends.

"Thank you, you are so thoughtful."

After the customary pleasantries, Shen Mingzhu elaborated to Liu Yuehua about the factory being sabotaged by villains, "Director Liu, I don’t know how long the investigation will take to conclude, but if the factory remains closed, we really can’t afford the losses. Is there any way for the factory to be unsealed sooner?"

Liu Yuehua smiled and patted her hand, "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. Go back and wait for my news."

Shen Mingzhu expressed her gratitude repeatedly before leaving.

After Shen Mingzhu had left, Liu Yuehua looked thoughtfully at the items on the coffee table.

Half an hour ago, when she went to the leader’s office to deliver documents, she inadvertently overheard the chief promising someone on the phone to expedite the unsealing procedures for the food factory.

She had assumed that Shen Mingzhu had pulled some strings for help.

But now it seemed that Shen Mingzhu didn’t know someone was helping her from behind, and this person held significant influence.

Otherwise, her leader wouldn’t have been grinning like a sycophant on the other end of the call.

...

Shen Mingzhu returned home in a good mood, only to find Qin Jinlian had come and was standing with her second older brother, Shen Xiangnan, under the camphor tree at the door.

Upon seeing her, Qin Jinlian started tearing up as if greatly wronged.

Shen Xiangnan implored, "Little sister, don’t be angry with mom anymore. It’s so cold, just let her come in."

Big Sister Yu, heeding Shen Mingzhu’s instructions, refused to let Qin Jinlian step inside, leaving Shen Xiangnan with no choice but to wait with Qin at the door for Shen Mingzhu’s return.

"What do you want?"

Possibly stung by Shen Mingzhu’s indifference, Qin Jinlian snapped resentfully, "You heartless girl, I heard from others that your son-in-law is in trouble. Your father and I specially came to the city to see you, yet you won’t even let us in the door. I should never have cared about your well-being."

After cursing, she started crying again.

"The issue has been resolved, you should head back soon."

With that, Shen Mingzhu went straight home without showing any intention of inviting Qin Jinlian inside.

Qin Jinlian started crying out loud, and Shen Xiangnan clumsily comforted her.

Shen Mingzhu entered the living room only to discover that there were quite a few people still there.

Shen Jianguo was holding Little Guoguo, teasing and laughing, his smile stretching almost to the roots of his ears.

Shen Chaobei and Du Juan, holding their daughter Daya, along with Jia Yuemei, were sitting on the sofa, all smiling as they watched Shen Jianguo play with his granddaughter.

Seeing her return, they all got up one after another.

"Little sister, you’re back? Mom is outside, did you see her?"

Shen Mingzhu didn’t bite on Shen Chaobei’s question and just called out to Shen Jianguo with a "Dad."

Shen Jianguo felt sorry for his spouse braving the cold outside, but seeing Shen Mingzhu’s indifferent expression, he eventually swallowed the words he had wanted to plead with her.

After some conversation, they learned that it was Shen Baolan who was behind their parents coming to the city.

Early this morning, Shen Baolan took her son back to her maternal home, claiming it was a visit but actually intending to spread gossip about Shen Mingzhu.

Thanks to the vigorous efforts of Shen Baolan and Liu Cuihua, the mother and daughter duo, the entire Shenjiagou now knew that Shen Mingzhu was supposedly bad luck for her husband, having caused him to be on the verge of being jailed.

When Qin Jinlian and her husband heard that their son-in-law was in trouble, they hurriedly came into the city.

"Pei Yang is fine, the factory is fine too, and work will resume in a couple of days."

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

As evening approached, it was unusual for Shen Jianguo to be in the city, and Shen Mingzhu, as his daughter, by all reasons and emotions, should have offered to keep them for dinner and to stay overnight.

But she didn’t want Qin Jinlian to enter her home, so she led the whole family out to eat dinner.

After dinner, she had Pei Yang take the couple to the residential compound to sleep.

All the important items from the old house had already been moved to the new one, leaving only some old furniture behind.

After settling the old couple, Pei Yang left.

Although the residential compound’s house was old and simply furnished, it was still much better compared to the earth walls and tiled roofs of Shenjiagou.

Qin Jinlian ought to be content living in such an apartment, in theory.

But having seen the grandeur of her daughter’s new house, and thinking how her daughter now treated her like an enemy, not even allowing her through the door, her heart was both sad and hurt.

"That’s enough, your son-in-law is in good health and there’s nothing wrong, why are you still pulling such a long face?"

Hearing her spouse’s scolding, Qin Jinlian wanted to retort, but something in her mind was touched, and the next second, she suddenly jumped off the bed and rushed outside.

"Where are you going?"

"To settle accounts with that wench Shen Baolan!"

Shen Jianguo was worried his spouse might cause trouble, so he hurriedly slipped on his shoes and chased after her.

...

Shen Baolan was rocking her son back and forth, trying to put him to sleep while humming a discordant lullaby.

The factory was seized, and her husband was arrested. Two years of hard work had gone down the drain, and they might even incur huge debts, possibly having to use their newly bought house to pay them off.

The more she thought about it, the more excited Shen Baolan became, practically unable to wait to see Shen Mingzhu be ridiculed.

Suddenly, someone banged on the front door so loudly it made the most dreadful noise.

Not only did it startle Shen Baolan, deeply immersed in her fantasies, but it also scared the nearly asleep chubby Yuanbao into a sudden jump.

"Wah, wah, wah..."

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