The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 499 - 498 Selection Management

Chapter 499: Chapter 498 Selection Management

Zhao Dafa had roamed the business world for so many years that his skills in observing words and expressions could be described as masterful; he distinctly felt Shen Hongmei’s coldness and distance towards him.

Could that little rascal have said something to her?

When he got home, Zhao Dafa pulled Zhao Yun in front of him, "Have you been to see your Aunt Hongmei these past few days?"

"No."

With the end of the term approaching, and coursework piling up, Zhao Yun had also joined the school basketball team, practicing basketball for an hour every day after school, so he really had no time to visit Shen Hongmei.

"Then have you said anything to her before?"

"No, what’s wrong?"

Seeing his son didn’t seem to be lying, Zhao Dafa was a bit unsure for a moment.

Was he overthinking it?

"It’s nothing, go do your homework."

Zhao Yun wasn’t a clueless little kid anymore, "Is it because someone outside said something? That has nothing to do with me. The only time I mentioned having Aunt Hongmei as a stepmother was in front of you. Ziheng told me not to spread the word yet, saying that haste makes waste, and that we should plan it out slowly."

Zhao Dafa couldn’t help but chuckle at his son’s words, "You little rascal, stop meddling in your old man’s affairs and focus on your studies. If you flunk your final exams, see if I don’t whoop you."

"So, is there a reward if I do well?"

"What do you want now?"

"Buy me a motorcycle."

The family originally had two motorcycles, a Honda 125 and a Mulan.

After Zhao Dafa got a car, he gave his Honda 125 to a friend and kept the Mulan at home for use.

Other than Zhou Hui and Aunt Deng riding it to buy groceries, Zhao Yun would occasionally ride it as well.

When Zhou Hui left, she took the Mulan with her.

Thinking that his son would be in ninth grade next semester, already standing at 1.7 meters tall, and the house indeed needed a motorcycle, Zhao Dafa readily agreed.

"As long as you make it into the top ten of your class, I’ll buy you one."

"Yay!"

Zhao Yun dashed back to his room like a whirlwind to continue studying.

He was naturally intelligent, and as long as he paid attention in class he could keep up. Before exams, if Pei Ziheng gave him a crash course on the key points, he could usually get good grades without sacrificing playtime.

...

The morning meeting had ended.

Shen Hongmei came to Shen Mingzhu with files to report on her work.

Shen Mingzhu listened while efficiently reviewing and approving documents with her signature.

After Shen Hongmei finished her work report, Shen Mingzhu also finished processing her documents.

"Go back to work."

Shen Hongmei gathered her files, but hesitated and didn’t leave.

"President Shen, I went to see Ma Chao after work yesterday. Don’t you want to ask about the outcome?"

Without looking up, Shen Mingzhu scoffed lightly, "I don’t need to ask, I already know."

Shen Hongmei couldn’t help but tease, "President Shen, when did you learn to predict the future?"

Shen Mingzhu gave her a blank look, "The love of your childhood, yet he could abandon it so easily, clearly shows he’s a person who values his own interests above everything else. Believe it or not, if there’s someone stronger than his current wife and able to help him more, he would choose to divorce just the same."

Shen Hongmei fell silent for a while before saying, "I believe it."

"Everyone stumbles, but if you trip over the same hole twice, that’s just foolish."

Shen Hongmei knew this was Shen Mingzhu’s advice and warning to her. She replied, "President Shen, I’ve thought it through. If he wishes to return the money, then so be it; if not, then let it be. Consider it a lesson bought. I’m not weak-hearted; I truly loved him once. I want to keep a sliver of beautiful memories from the past and not turn it into enmity."

Shen Mingzhu neither agreed nor disagreed, "When we were young, who didn’t encounter a jerk or two? What’s most important is to be able to move on without dwelling on past affairs."

Relieved, Shen Hongmei then laughed, "You’ve always been the best, with a clear goal in sight since we were kids, and you’ve achieved that goal. Back in school, when the teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, you said you wanted to marry a city man and eat commercial grain. The whole class laughed at you, but now everyone is envious."

Shen Mingzhu did not really want to talk about her childhood, since that was the original owner of the body’s past, not hers. She thus changed the subject and started asking Shen Hongmei about her thoughts on a partner.

In Shen Hongmei’s eyes shone bewilderment, "I don’t even know what kind of man I’m looking for anymore. I used to think Ma Chao was the best, but in just a few years, he has changed so much that I don’t recognize him. I feel like men are unreliable, it might even be better to live alone. Yet sometimes I worry whether I’ll have regrets when I get old, when everyone has their families and only I am left alone."

Shen Mingzhu comforted her, "You don’t need to think too much, just let things take their course. Fate will have its way."

After pausing, she added, "Actually, my older cousin has a nice candidate, a university classmate of Chen Liang. He’s about your age, now working as a technician at a machinery plant. Do you want to meet him?"

"I’ll meet him then."

Seeing that she agreed, Shen Mingzhu smiled, "I’ll let you know once it’s arranged. You should head to work now."

"Okay."

...

Time flew by quickly, and before long, the Shenji Branch Store’s trial opening was imminent.

More than a dozen servers from the old store went through layers of selection and on-the-job evaluations, and eventually, Peng Ling and Ma Xiaoping stood out with the top two scores, successfully promoting to be the headwaiters of the old and new store respectively.

To keep the staff motivated and the work feeling fresh, both stores implemented a rotation system, where every three months, the staff from both sides would switch workplaces.

This decision was met with unanimous praise from all employees.

Though the old store did good business, it was far from the city center, and without any entertainment at night, it was inevitable that the staff felt bored.

The new store was in the bustling city center, where after work, one could go shopping, enjoy a late-night snack, or have a casual meet-up—this was the lifestyle the young people preferred.

After arranging for the accommodation of the staff at the new store, Shen Mingzhu pulled Feng Huiying aside for a private talk.

"Feng sister, how do you feel about not being promoted to headwaiter this time?"

Feng Huiying smiled nonchalantly, "Oh, it’s nothing. I joined the latest, so indeed I can’t compare with Xiaopeng and Xiaoma. They’re veterans, young and sharp, with more experience than me. I have no complaints."

Shen Mingzhu took Feng Huiying’s hand with a sincere expression, comforting her, "Feng sister, the young people have their vitality, but experienced persons like you are stable and accommodating, which puts me at ease."

"Actually, I had you in mind for the manager position, but there are still many areas where you need to learn and grow. I’ll talk to Julie and have her mentor you more often. She’s a professional in hospitality management, and I believe you two will make a great team in the future."

These words were as good as a promise to make Feng Huiying Julie’s deputy in the future.

Feng Huiying couldn’t contain her joy, and any trace of displeasure instantly vanished.

She had been a foreman at the match factory for several years, and after coming to Shenji, working with a bunch of twenty-something young ladies as a server, not to mention being outperformed, was hardly settling.

Now, with the pie in the sky painted by Shen Mingzhu, she once again had confidence in her future.

On the tenth of July, the Shenji Branch Store officially began its trial operation.

Thanks to the old store’s publicity and the successful new product tastings she had organized, the first day of the trial operation was a booming success with all twelve private rooms fully booked.

As it was the new store’s first day, there were understandably some hiccups. Shen Mingzhu personally took on the role of coordinator, bustling about nonstop when suddenly a familiar voice greeted her from behind—

"Shen Mingzhu, long time no see."

When she turned back and saw the newcomer, Shen Mingzhu was both surprised and delighted.