The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 363 - 362 Shen Hongmei’s Family Affairs

Chapter 363: Chapter 362 Shen Hongmei’s Family Affairs

Shen Mingzhu stared at Shen Hongmei, dazed for two or three seconds before she came to her senses.

"You want to resign? What’s the reason?"

Shen Hongmei lowered her head, her shoulders slowly beginning to tremble.

Shen Mingzhu took out a handkerchief from her bag, stood up, and handed it to her, her voice gentle, "What happened? Tell me about it."

Shen Hongmei was a year older than Shen Mingzhu, which made her 25 by the rural count of age.

In those days, rural girls got married early, some even starting families at seventeen or eighteen.

Someone like Shen Hongmei was considered very old to still be unmarried in the countryside.

Shen Hongmei, working with Shen Mingzhu, had earned quite a bit of money for the family each year, but she couldn’t withstand the local gossip. Ashamed, her parents disregarded her own wishes and forcefully arranged a marriage for her to wed her off as the "old maid."

"...my dad has accepted the bride price, and I am to wed next month. If I dare not marry, they’ll come to the factory to cause trouble. President Shen, I really have no other choice but to resign so I won’t drag the factory into this."

Shen Hongmei said this while wiping her tears.

Shen Mingzhu comforted her by patting her shoulder, "You don’t want to get married?"

Shen Hongmei nodded, expressing her grievance, "The guy has a face full of pockmarks and he has buck teeth."

Shen Mingzhu said with a smile to tease her, "So if he was handsome, would you be willing to marry him?"

Shen Hongmei shook her head, "I don’t want to marry anyone, President Shen. I just want to work with you to build a career, work hard to earn money, and go to college."

Confusion and helplessness showed on her face, "Must a woman really get married? I’m capable of supporting myself. I don’t rely on my family, nor do I want to depend on a man. Why isn’t that okay?"

"Of course it’s okay, why wouldn’t it be?"

"But my dad is forcing me to marry and wants my sister to take my place at work. If it weren’t for my coming to resign, my dad wouldn’t even let me into the city."

"You just focus on your job, I’ll take care of your family."

With the assurance from Shen Mingzhu, Shen Hongmei eventually stopped crying.

...

Perhaps because Shen Hongmei hadn’t gone home, the next day her family came to the factory.

Shen Hongmei’s sister Shen Hongju also came along.

Two years ago, seeing Shen Hongmei making money in the city, her family also wanted Shen Hongju to join the food factory.

However, Shen Hongju was only 15 then, and Shen Mingzhu had directly refused, also clearly telling Shen Hongmei’s family that the food factory only hired employees who were 18 years of age or older.

At the time, she had even advised the Shen family to let Shen Hongju study for a few more years.

Perhaps they took her advice to heart, as last year Shen Hongju was admitted to high school, and the Shen family supported her education.

"Mingzhu, the main reason we came today is about Hongmei’s marriage. She is already at such an age, if she doesn’t get married now, she won’t be able to find a husband later on," said Shen Zhong and Yu Jin’e, their tone earnest and somewhat ingratiating.

Shen Mingzhu was now a big boss, and their family was counting on their younger daughter to also work at the food factory and make a good income.

Yu Jin’e put her arm around her younger daughter, "This is Hongju. Hongju, go on and greet her."

Shen Hongju called out shyly to Shen Mingzhu, "Sister Mingzhu."

Shen Mingzhu nodded slightly, "Aren’t you supposed to be at school today?"

Shen Hongju fiddled with her fingers, her voice faltering, "I dropped out."

Shen Mingzhu pretended to be puzzled, "Why drop out? You’re about to be in your second year of high school. In two more years, you could take the college entrance exams. If you get admitted, you’ll be a college student. Even if you don’t get in, it’s easier to find a job with a high school diploma."

"What’s the use of a girl studying so much? In a couple of years, she’ll just get married and have children," belittled Shen Zhong indifferently.

Yu Jin’e also chimed in, "Mingzhu, since Hongju is not going to school anymore, and Hongmei is going to get married, why not let Hongju take Hongmei’s place at work? How about it?"

Shen Hongmei arrived just in time to hear her mother’s words, and instantly felt both anger and urgency.

"Mom, what nonsense are you spouting? The factory has rules and regulations, even if I quit my job, it’s still not up to you to arrange who fills my position."

Yu Jin’e hurled a few sharp glares at her, "You worthless girl, didn’t you say you would quit when you returned to the city? Have you quit? Just wait, I’ll settle the score with you when we get home."

After scolding her daughter, she turned to Shen Mingzhu with a flattering smile on her face.

"Mingzhu, Hongju has studied for one more year than Hongmei, and she’s also hardworking and capable, she’ll definitely be able to do the job well."

"Mom!"

Shen Mingzhu gave Shen Hongmei a reassuring look before she slowly began to speak.

"Uncle, Auntie, when Hongmei first started, she didn’t know anything and could only do miscellaneous tasks around the factory. It took me two years of time and effort to train her properly."

"To put it frankly, it wouldn’t be wrong for Hongmei to call me her mentor. Marrying her off now is like having my two years of hard work go to waste."

Shen Zhong immediately pushed Shen Hongju forward, "Isn’t Hongju here? You could train Hongju just like you did with Hongmei."

Shen Mingzhu replied coolly, "Uncle, I don’t have that much spare time to teach people how to work. You’re forcing Hongmei to marry, I, being an outsider, can’t interfere with that, but in my own factory, who I want to employ is none of your business."

With that said, she glanced at Shen Hongju, "I’ve said before, I don’t hire anyone under 18 years of age, even if it’s just one day short."

"Furthermore, if Hongju only has a middle school diploma, she can only work as a general worker in the factory. Not to mention the low wages, it’s also hard work. If she has a high school diploma, she can work as a clerical worker in the factory and might even have a chance to be promoted to management in the future."

Shen Zhong and Yu Jin’e exchanged helpless and struggling looks.

The reason they wanted to marry off their eldest daughter was with the intention of having their younger daughter take over the elder’s job.

If the younger daughter couldn’t get into the factory, and the elder was married off, wouldn’t that just benefit the Tian Family for nothing?

Shen Mingzhu continued to fuel the fire, "Actually, I was planning to promote Hongmei to manager next month, but I didn’t expect Uncle and Aunt to have already arranged a marriage for her. Ah, what a pity."

Shen Hongmei looked shocked, clearly unaware of the promotion beforehand.

Shen Hongju cast an envious gaze at her older sister.

Shen Zhong and Yu Jin’e were both stunned and delighted, "Mingzhu, if Hongmei gets promoted to manager, how much will her monthly salary be?"

"At least a hundred, and there’s a bonus at the end of the year. Conservatively estimated, she could make at least fifteen hundred a year."

Shen Zhong and Yu Jin’e huddled together to do the math and immediately decided to call off the arranged marriage.

The groom’s family had offered only five hundred yuan as a dowry, but their daughter could earn fifteen hundred in a year working; even a fool would know which option to choose.

"Hongmei, you must work hard, don’t let down Mingzhu’s cultivation of you; don’t worry about home affairs."

Before leaving, Shen Zhong and Yu Jin’e kept admonishing Shen Hongmei, as if they themselves wished they could stay and complete the work for her.

After sending her family away, Shen Hongmei returned to the office with a tense and excited heart.

"President Shen, thank you."

Shen Mingzhu did not even lift her head, "I said I would help you resolve it, now go back to work."

"Okay."

Seeing that Shen Mingzhu didn’t mention the promotion to manager, Shen Hongmei felt a sudden sense of disappointment and dejection.

It seemed that it was just to send her parents away that she had pretended to offer the promotion.

No matter, she would work hard.

She would earn the position of manager through her own ability.

"Ah, wait a moment..."

Just as Shen Hongmei turned to leave, she was called back by Shen Mingzhu.

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