The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 486 - 485: Rejecting Zhou Hui

Chapter 486: Chapter 485: Rejecting Zhou Hui

Pushing open the door to the reception room, Shen Mingzhu lifted her face into a smile, "Sister Hui, sorry to keep you waiting, work has been just too overwhelming."

It’s hard to slap a smiling face: even though Zhou Hui felt uncomfortable, she couldn’t make a scene. Yet, she couldn’t help being sarcastic, "No problem, now that you’re a big boss, being busy is only natural. I don’t mind waiting a bit longer."

Shen Mingzhu didn’t pick up the conversation, instead, she turned and instructed Pei Qiuxia to pick out some snacks from the storeroom for Zhou Hui to take home.

"It’s your first time at the factory, Sister Hui. I really should show you around, but these past few days, the production tasks have been pressing. Let’s wait for a quieter time, and then I’ll give you a proper tour."

Zhou Hui sipped her tea, not bothering to beat around the bush with Shen Mingzhu.

"Mingzhu, I heard that your restaurant is hiring. I have a younger sister named Zhou Xue who has worked for many years at a state-owned restaurant. She has rich experience and strong capabilities."

No one shows up without a purpose; Shen Mingzhu had long guessed that Zhou Hui’s visit was a favor-seeking one, which is why she deliberately made her wait for a while.

Shen Mingzhu held her tea, her face adorned with a genial smile, "The restaurant is opening a branch next month, and indeed we need new waitstaff. Have her come directly to the restaurant for the interview—I’ll tell Manager Zhu about it."

Although Shen Mingzhu agreed readily, Zhou Hui’s expression turned sour.

"Mingzhu, when my sister worked at the state-owned restaurant, she was already a supervisor. At your place, she doesn’t have to be a manager, but at least she should be a supervisor, right?"

Without waiting for Shen Mingzhu to respond, she continued, "When Pei Yang opened that pager shop, my Dafa certainly patronized it a lot. The customers Dafa sent over, if not ten, were certainly eight, right?"

"Besides, my sister is capable. If you don’t believe it, you can ask around. In her previous workplace, she was even voted as an outstanding individual. For her to be a supervisor at your small restaurant is certainly within her abilities."

"That’s indeed quite impressive; our restaurant does need talents like her."

Shen Mingzhu echoed her politely and even flattered her a bit, then she swiftly shifted tone, "But our restaurant is different from other organizations. We have our own internal promotion mechanism. Whether it’s for a supervisor or manager, the position has to be promoted from within."

"I believe Sister Hui’s sister is a capable person. If she also has the will, she can start as a waitress. As long as she demonstrates enough ability, promotion is not difficult."

After all that talk, she still has to be a waitress.

Zhou Hui, very displeased, put her tea cup down onto the coffee table with a clank, "Forget it, I won’t trouble you further and disturb your work."

With that said, she made a motion to leave.

"Sister Hui, let me see you out," Shen Mingzhu replied with a smile.

Zhou Hui had intended to bluff, not expecting Shen Mingzhu not to take the bait and actually propose to see her out, which infuriated her.

When they went out, they met Pei Qiuxia delivering two gift boxes of snacks. Zhou Hui didn’t accept them and left, her heels clicking on the floor in a huff.

Pei Qiuxia approached Shen Mingzhu full of gossip, "What did she come for?"

"Trying to pull strings."

Shen Mingzhu was concise, and Pei Qiuxia instantly understood.

Ever since the food factory opened, the number of neighbors, relatives, and friends hoping to pull strings through Shen Mingzhu was countless, all wanting her to arrange jobs for them.

Arranging jobs was one thing, but they were also picky and choosy, wanting light work but high pay.

In Shen Mingzhu’s words, prop up your pillow higher at night, and you’ll have everything in your dreams.

...

At night, when Zhao Dafa returned home, Zhou Hui told him all about it.

"...You know what my sister is like, tall and pretty, and also genuinely talented. Originally, my sister looked down on her little restaurant. I was just thinking with our good relations, I wanted her to take care of my sister a bit, but what did she do? Right away, she wanted to make my sister a waitress. Who is she looking down on?"

Zhao Dafa hadn’t spoken when Zhao Yun cut in.

"Wasn’t it you who went out of your way to ask Aunt Mingzhu to find a job for your aunt? How can you say Aunt Mingzhu is looking down on you?"

"Your aunt was already a supervisor in the state-owned restaurant and yet she wants your aunt to be a waitress. If that’s not looking down on your aunt, what is it?"

"Then let your aunt continue to be a supervisor at the state-owned restaurant," Zhao Yun retorted casually.

Zhou Hui choked up.

Nowadays, private restaurants were flourishing everywhere, boasting not only exquisite decor and pleasant environments but also top-notch flavors in their dishes, squeezing the old state-owned restaurants out of business one after another, unable to survive. Just last month, her youngest sister had also been laid off.

In those times, finding a job that met one’s expectations was no easy task.

Although Shen Mingzhu’s restaurant was small, its business was surprisingly good, and the wages were high.

More importantly, the guests who dined at the restaurant included prominent and influential figures. She thought, if her youngest sister could latch onto one of them, marrying a wealthy man would be ideal.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have considered approaching Shen Mingzhu.

In her heart, she had always looked down on Shen Mingzhu for coming from the countryside, and she felt that Shen Mingzhu’s man was less capable than her own. She was very reluctant to lower herself to Shen Mingzhu.

As a result, Shen Mingzhu didn’t give her any face at all, which certainly upset her.

It was at this moment that Zhao Dafa spoke up, "Don’t make things difficult for the Shen family’s young sister. She has her own rules. If you insist on breaking her rules, then you’re not making an ally, but an enemy."

Zhao Yun clapped vigorously, "Zhao always speaks wisely!"

"Keep it down."

Zhao Dafa’s face blossomed into a smile, clearly enjoying his son’s flattery.

Seizing the moment Zhao Dafa was in a good mood, Zhou Hui said, "Dafa, why don’t you help Zhou Xue find a job."

Zhao Dafa did not refuse, but he did not agree either, merely saying he would keep an eye out.

Zhou Hui was dissatisfied with Zhao Dafa’s noncommittal response, but she dared not say too much and could only try to please him by busily serving up dishes and soup.

She understood well that to keep a man’s heart, one must first keep his stomach.

...

After dinner, Zhou Hui used the excuse of taking her daughter out for a walk and used a public phone to call her youngest sister to report.

"Big sister, it’s not that I want to say it, but after being with your brother-in-law for so many years, you haven’t been able to win over his heart. We can’t rely on you for anything at home."

Zhou Hui was already in a bad mood, and hearing this, she couldn’t restrain her anger.

"If you’re so capable, then don’t come to me for help in the future."

Hearing Zhou Hui lose her temper, Zhou Xue immediately softened her tone, "I spoke out of turn, big sister. Don’t be mad. I’m just worried about you. You have to find a way to tie the knot with your brother-in-law and secure the position of Mrs. Zhao."

Zhou Hui replied irritably, "Do you think I don’t want to tie the knot? He’s unwilling, can I tie him up and force him to go?"

"And what about a child? You and your brother-in-law need to have a child. With a child, the bond of husband and wife solidifies, and your brother-in-law will be willing to spend money and effort on your family."

"He doesn’t want to have kids. Just think of something, act first and report later. Once the child arrives, will your brother-in-law be able to deny it?"

"Enough, stay out of my business and mind your own."

With that, she hung up the phone.

She turned her head and saw a young couple pushing a baby carriage passing by, which only worsened her mood.

How could she not want to bear the Zhao family’s offspring? But ever since she had an accidental pregnancy two years ago, Zhao Dafa had gone through a vasectomy. How could she have a child on her own?

...

Shen Mingzhu didn’t care about Zhou Hui’s thoughts, but she couldn’t disregard Zhao Dafa.

Over the years, Zhao Dafa had been a great help in both her personal life and business, and he had been wonderful to her two children.

Regarding the refusal of Zhou Hui, Shen Mingzhu felt obligated, both emotionally and rationally, to provide Zhao Dafa with an explanation.

After much thought, Shen Mingzhu picked a weekend and invited Zhao Dafa and his family of four to the restaurant for a meal under the pretense of tasting new dishes.

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