The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 370 - 369: The Promotion Banquet

Chapter 370: Chapter 369: The Promotion Banquet

"Mingzhu, it seems like there aren’t many guests from your side. Did they get the time wrong, or couldn’t they find the place? Should we send someone out to guide them?"

Upon seeing a small building materials business owner stuffing two thick red packets into Zhao Yun and Pei Ziheng’s hands, Zhou Hui could no longer hold back.

Zhao Dafa had generously booked the entire second floor of the restaurant for the banquet, with twelve tables set.

At this time, Shen Mingzhu and Zhou Hui, as the hostesses, were standing at the top of the stairs on the second floor, one on each side, receiving guests.

Shen Mingzhu was accompanied by Pei Wenping and Shen Hongmei, while Zhou Hui also had a few close female relatives by her side.

As Zhou Hui’s words fell, the women standing beside her all cast strange looks toward Shen Mingzhu.

"They say it’s a banquet hosted by both families, but it seems all the guests are from the Zhao Family’s side. As for matters of social obligations and courtesy, wouldn’t it all fall on the Zhao Family to return the favors?"

Hearing the comments from those around her, Zhou Hui smiled, "My Dafa is just kind-hearted and doesn’t fuss over these things. After all, Xiaoyun and Ziheng are such good friends."

Shen Mingzhu looked at Zhou Hui, "Sister Zhou, I gave you the guest list from the Pei Family’s side two days ago and you also booked the banquet according to the list. You didn’t mention there were too few guests from our side then, so why bring it up now?"

Zhou Hui laughed awkwardly, "I’ve been so busy these past days, I must have forgotten."

"Sister Zhou doesn’t have that good a memory, huh? When you have time, you should eat more walnuts; they’re good for the brain."

Telling her to nourish her brain—wasn’t that insinuating she lacked brains?

Zhou Hui’s face darkened slightly and just then, someone ran upstairs to report, "Cousin, a VIP has arrived outside the restaurant, driving an imported car."

Hearing this, the female relatives with Zhou Hui all sighed with amazement.

"Those who drive imported cars must be big bosses worth millions, right?"

"Hui, it looks like Dafa is really going to strike it big, having such tycoons come to Xiaoyun’s educational celebration banquet."

Zhou Hui’s smile was radiant, "It’s not too bad, Dafa’s business has indeed been much better than last year."

"It shows you have the fortune to bring prosperity to your husband. Ever since you married into the family, you’ve brought good luck to Dafa."

Zhou Hui basked in the compliments and envy of those around her, silently calculating in her mind.

A big boss worth millions surely had a lavish hand—she couldn’t let that Pei kid reap the benefits for nothing.

Thinking this, Zhou Hui said to Shen Mingzhu, "A VIP has come, so I’ll go down to welcome them. You take care of things here."

Without waiting for Shen Mingzhu to respond, she turned and, along with her stepson Zhao Yun and daughter, hurried downstairs.

Zhou Hui’s female relatives also followed suit, eager to catch a glimpse of the wealthy tycoon.

Soon, only Shen Mingzhu, Pei Wenping, and Shen Hongmei were left at the stairway entrance.

Pei Wenping, who was always straightforward, rolled her eyes at Zhou Hui and her group, "Look at her, acting all smug. The educational celebration banquet was something her husband insisted on holding with us, as if they did us a huge favor."

Shen Hongmei agreed, "If it weren’t for Ziheng, Xiaoyun wouldn’t have been able to attend Nanming at all. Where does she get the face to look down on us? She’s dismantling the bridge after crossing the river like no other."

Shen Mingzhu said coolly, "Don’t mind her. She doesn’t call the shots in the Zhao Family; she can only talk big in front of me."

After speaking, Shen Mingzhu looked toward Pei Ziheng and saw him sitting alone, in a daze. She then walked over to him with a gentle expression.

"Son, are you tired? Do you want to find a place to rest and have something to eat?"

Pei Ziheng shook his head; his snow-white, delicate face was filled with sense and earnestness, "There will be plenty of time to rest later, but there are not many opportunities to make money."

With that, he stuffed all the red packets he had received that day into Shen Mingzhu’s hands, "Mom, these are for you to use towards the payment for the renovations."

Although the factory’s business had been doing well recently, most of the funds had been spent on purchasing mooncake ingredients, and the renovations at the new factory also required substantial spending, leaving Shen Mingzhu extremely short on money lately.

"Thank you, son. These red packets are rewards from your uncles and aunts. You keep them for yourself; mom will find a way to take care of the company’s needs."

Hearing Shen Mingzhu decline, Pei Ziheng’s beautiful little face drooped slightly, "It’s all because I’m too young to help with anything for mom."

The boy’s dark lashes covered his eyelids, and his whole body exuded unhappiness and disappointment at being unable to help his mother.

Shen Mingzhu’s heart instantly softened, "Alright then, consider this money as lent from Mom, and you can give it back after the Mid-Autumn Festival is over."

"Mhm."

Pei Ziheng’s little face instantly brightened with a smile.

...

"Look, that’s them."

At the restaurant entrance, Zhou Hui followed the direction her cousin was pointing and looked over, her expression suddenly taken aback.

The guests turned out to be two young and beautiful women.

Not only were they dressed in expensive clothing, but their demeanor was also very elegant, clearly indicating they were the daughters of wealthy families.

Just as Zhou Hui wondered when Zhao Dafa had met such people, Zhao Yun happily ran up and began chatting with the two, smiling broadly.

Seeing this, Zhou Hui assumed they were relatives of the Zhao Family and greeted them with a full smile as well.

"Hello, and welcome to Xiaoyun’s promotion banquet. Please come inside."

However, both of the women just looked at her indifferently, their expressions distant.

Zhou Hui felt a bit embarrassed and hastily signaled to Zhao Yun with her eyes, "Xiaoyun, these two are..."

"They are Aunt Mingzhu’s good friends; I’ll take them upstairs first."

Zhao Yun showed no intention of introducing them to Zhou Hui and, after speaking, led Zhong Qing and Yan Su into the restaurant.

After Zhong Qing and Yan Su entered the restaurant, several women surrounded Zhou Hui, talking over one another.

"Zhou Hui, they aren’t guests of the Zhao Family, are they?"

"Didn’t Xiaoyun just say it? They’re good friends of Shen Mingzhu."

"Look at the bracelets they’re wearing on their hands, those are high-quality jade pieces."

"I’ve seen this car before; it’s called a Bentley, I heard it costs over a million."

"Hiss, a car that costs over a million? How rich must their family be?"

Listening to the conversations around her, Zhou Hui couldn’t help but glance at the white sedan not far away, her mind filled with mixed emotions.

Shen Mingzhu actually had such wealthy friends.

...

When they returned to the second floor of the restaurant, only Pei Wenping and Shen Hongmei were at the staircase entrance; Shen Mingzhu was not seen, likely having led the guests to their seats just now.

Seeing Zhou Hui return, Pei Wenping taunted her on purpose, "Zhou family girl, didn’t you go out to greet some important guests? Where are they now?"

Zhou Hui was annoyed inside but responded with a smile on the surface, "I was mistaken, they are Mingzhu’s friends."

Pei Wenping also smiled, "Although there are fewer guests on our Pei Family’s side, the ones who came are quite influential. Not to mention anything else, just Ms. Yan and Ms. Zhong combined are more significant than all the other guests present."

Zhou Hui didn’t believe this and thought Pei Wenping was just bragging.

Therefore, after the promotion banquet was over, she went to Zhao Dafa to inquire about the identities of Zhong Qing and Yan Su and, upon learning the backgrounds of their families, Zhou Hui was thoroughly lost for words.

The Yan Family and the Zhong Family, one was influential, and the other was from a wealthy lineage.

They were existences far beyond the reach of their ordinary social class.

...

It wasn’t many days after the promotion banquet that it was Jia Yuemei’s daughter’s full moon feast.

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