The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 524 - 523: Shenji Closes Down

Chapter 524: Chapter 523: Shenji Closes Down

Facing Tang Jinshui’s provocation and mockery, Shen Mingzhu responded with a faint smile, "Boss Tang flatters me. I hope that one day I truly become as successful as he says, so I won’t disturb Boss Tang’s fortune-making."

Having said that, Shen Mingzhu stepped away.

Tang Jinshui sneered triumphantly at her retreating figure, "Stupid bitch, doesn’t even inquire about who Tang Jinshui is. Trying to fight with me is like farting against thunder!"

Hearing the insults behind her, Shen Mingzhu thought to herself: Idiot.

Go fuck your mother!

...One thousand words are omitted here.

By the time Shen Mingzhu returned home, Pei Yang had already prepared the ingredients for the marinade and two large glass jars with the two kids, just waiting for her to marinate the crabs.

"Where are the crabs? Didn’t you buy them?"

Seeing her empty-handed, Pei Yang thought she had left the crabs in the car, but after searching the car, he didn’t find even a hair.

"Forget about it. From now on, our family probably won’t be able to enjoy seafood anymore."

"Why?"

Shen Mingzhu sent the kids to the bathroom to wash their hands for dinner, then went to the kitchen with Pei Yang to tidy up, briefly explaining how Tang Jinshui’s domineering attitude cut off her access to seafood at the market.

After hearing her story, Pei Yang comforted her by squeezing her shoulder, "No big deal. Fengcheng doesn’t have just one market selling seafood. When I worked as a sailor, I knew quite a few bosses in this business. I’ll get in touch with them tomorrow."

"No need."

Shen Mingzhu had already sorted the prepared ingredients into separate bags for refrigeration. While sealing them, she spoke softly, "The precious jade does not compete with the pebbles. We don’t need to stoop to the level of such petty and vindictive people. He’s probably very smug right now. Let him have his moment of triumph for a few days."

Having suffered significant setbacks before, she had come to deeply understand that acting on impulsive anger is a major taboo in the business world.

"Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. A gentleman will take his revenge when the time is right. There’s no need to rush."

Pei Yang smiled and leaned closer to her, "Our President Shen is showing more and more vision now."

Shen Mingzhu gave him a look and turned to put the stuff in the refrigerator, but then she saw Pei Ziheng standing at the kitchen door.

Her expression softened, "Have you washed your hands? Help Daddy set the table for dinner."

Pei Ziheng nodded obediently, went to the cupboard, opened the door, and carefully counted out three rice bowls.

The rice bowls were fine Jingdezhen bone china, with a delicate and translucent glaze, as white as snow, clearly reflecting his beautiful but cool black eyes.

...

Under Tang Jinshui’s oppression, Shen Mingzhu neither looked for new supply channels nor changed the menu; instead, she decided to close the restaurant.

After the contract with Tang Jinshui expired, she posted a notice of temporary suspension of business right at the entrance of her restaurant.

The news brought immense joy to Tang Jinshui, who called over a group of friends to drink and celebrate.

"This Shen bitch is too arrogant for her own good. Dares to oppose me? I’ll make sure she can’t even keep her restaurant open!"

"Brother Shui is mighty. Anyone who messes with Brother Shui is just asking for trouble."

"Good she knows her place and closed the shop herself. Otherwise, we’d have to teach her a lesson."

Tang Jinshui, flattered by a bunch of fair-weather friends, appeared even more complacent.

Rubbing his chin, he said sleazily, "To be honest, that little lady isn’t bad-looking. If she came begging to me, let me have a good time, I might consider letting her off the hook."

At this, a round of lewd laughter erupted from the table.

"Brother Shui, with pleasures like that, don’t forget us brothers here. Let us have a share of the fun too."

"Don’t worry, you won’t miss out. Drink up!"

"Here’s to Brother Shui."

...

The outside world had mixed reactions to the closure of Shenji.

There were those who sympathized with Shen Mingzhu and those who feared and detested Tang Jinshui’s bullying ways.

For the outside world, the closure of Shenji was just another topic for casual conversation. But for the dozens of employees at Shenji, it was as if the sky had collapsed.

Despite Shen Mingzhu’s promise to pay salaries as usual during the suspension, it could not eliminate everyone’s worries and fears.

Shen Mingzhu might support them for a while, but could she keep it up their entire lives?

The second day after the closure, some employees began to look for new jobs and other opportunities.

After learning this, Shen Mingzhu did not stop them.

This incident was a test for both Shenji and its employees.

...

"It looks like Shenji is really in trouble. Your little sister has her food factory; she doesn’t mind if Shenji collapses since she doesn’t care, but it’s different for us. Our entire family depends on Shenji for our livelihood. She decides to close the shop without any notice, completely disregarding our well-being!"

Jia Yuemei grew more and more indignant as she spoke, "If she has no compassion, she can’t blame us for being disloyal. I think we should take this chance to go out and do our own thing. With your skills, are you afraid you won’t make money?"

Shen Xiangnan was also utterly frustrated.

He had been full of hope that he’d make a fortune through Shenji, only to find the new store shut down after just two months, dragging the old store down with it.

When the business was thriving, his commissions alone could reach four or five hundred a month.

Now with the store closed, he was left with a mere hundred or so in fixed salary. What could he do with such meager earnings?

However, despite not understanding Shen Mingzhu’s decision to close the store, he had no ambition to go out on his own.

Only the ignorant are fearless.

Back when he knew nothing, he too thought he could make something of himself.

But the longer he worked under Shen Mingzhu and the more he saw, the more he realized that doing business was not as simple as it seemed.

It required brains, connections, knowledge of management, and operation.

All of which he knew nothing about.

Even the Shenji dishes that delighted the customers were all created by Shen Mingzhu’s hand.

Without Shenji and Shen Mingzhu, he was nothing.

So to him, Jia Yuemei’s instigations just sounded ridiculous and foolish, and his perception of Jia Yuemei herself became increasingly irritating.

He couldn’t stand to stay in the house for another minute and headed out as soon as he put on his shoes.

Jia Yuemei stood at the door, asking where he was going, asking if he would come back for dinner, but he ignored her.

...

Zhao Yun felt quite disheartened after learning that Shenji had closed.

"Zhao and I loved dining at Shenji. Now with Shenji closed, we have nowhere to go."

Pei Ziheng gave him a look, "It’s only a temporary suspension, not a closure."

Zhao Yun: "What’s the difference? It’s still not open anyway."

"It’s just a break for a while; they’ll reopen after some time."

"Did Mingzhu tell you that?"

Mom never talked to him about business matters, but he believed she wasn’t the type to give up easily.

Shenji would definitely continue, and it would get better and better.

Mom wouldn’t be brought down by anyone.

However, he wouldn’t let those who bullied Mom get away with it either.

Anyone who bullied Mom deserved to die.

In Zhao Yun’s heart, Shen Mingzhu was a revered elder, just like his mother, and seeing her bullied made him feel terribly uneasy.

"We can’t just sit by and let Mingzhu be bullied like this."

Pei Ziheng turned around, saw Guoguo engrossed in drawing on a low table, completely oblivious to their conversation, and then he asked Zhao Yun—

"What do you want to do?"

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