The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 527 - 526: Women and Villains Are Difficult to Raise

Chapter 527: Chapter 526: Women and Villains Are Difficult to Raise

"After you left, several of our veteran employees came to me. They said they won’t resign and want to participate in the training in the Capital."

Shen Mingzhu didn’t even look up. "Tell them that from the moment they submitted their resignation forms, they were no longer employees of Shenji. If they want to come back to work at Shenji, they will be treated as new employees and go through the hiring process accordingly."

Julie nodded. "I understand."

Shen Mingzhu glanced over the list of personnel, her eyes landing on the name of Lun Jiao.

She was the only employee who would be paying her own way for this training.

Mingzhu remembered that she had joined Shenji when Tianxiangyin opened. Her academic credentials were quite good; high school graduate, and she appeared to be very clever.

After confirming there were no issues with the list, Mingzhu picked up the pen to sign her name and instructed Julie to take the list to Pei Qiuxia to withdraw funds.

Pei Qiuxia had passed the junior accountant certification earlier this year, and now she was not only Mingzhu’s assistant but also held the position of cashier.

Three days later, Julie took the employees who were participating in the training and set off for the Capital.

After seeing them off and returning to the factory, Mingzhu took out the business card she had gotten from Zhong Qing and dialed the number on it.

"Manager Cai, hello, this is Shen Mingzhu. My employees have already departed for the Capital. They’re on the K8976 train and should arrive around 7 a.m. tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I’ll arrange for someone to pick them up."

"Thank you so much. It’s their first time in the Capital, and they are strangers to the place. I’m relying on you to look after them, sorry for the trouble."

"It’s no trouble at all. Mrs. Yan has arranged everything, don’t worry."

After hanging up, Mingzhu let out a sigh of relief.

Ever since the dead crab incident, she had realized that Shenji lacked the ability to respond to crises.

Every time there was a problem, she had to step in to solve it. Once or twice was manageable, but if it continued like this, she would be worked to death.

Shenji needed talent, but talent was hard to find. Instead of spending a lot of money to search externally, it was better to cultivate her own loyal, veteran employees and help them grow into independent and capable talents.

Therefore, after being suppressed by Tang Jinshui, she took the opportunity to close the store.

She had to make her employees realize that they absolutely could not afford to be negligent in their work, because even one instance could be enough to destroy Shenji.

At the same time, she used the training opportunity to let the employees understand that as long as they were willing to stay and work diligently at Shenji, she would not mistreat them.

The next day, after receiving a call from Julie that they had safely arrived in the Capital, Mingzhu took the construction team to both Tianxiangyin and Shangyang Spring Store to have them start construction according to her ideas and blueprints.

...

In the evening, after dinner, Pei Yang picked up the insulated food container and went to the store to bring Pei Ke dinner.

Mingzhu put down her chopsticks and got up to follow him outside. "We should hire another domestic helper. Guoguo is at an age where she’s very active. Auntie Yu is getting older. She’s already strained with both housework and looking after the child. I think it’s getting tough for her."

Pei Yang nodded while changing his shoes. "You decide what’s best."

Mingzhu sighed, "It’s a pity we don’t have a spare room in the house; otherwise, we could hire a live-in nanny and wouldn’t have to wash the dishes at night."

Auntie Yu’s working hours were from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and aside from preparing three meals a day and cleaning, she also had to help take care of Guoguo, which was already a substantial amount of work.

Therefore, Mingzhu and Pei Yang did as much of the evening chores as they could manage, leaving nothing for Auntie Yu the next morning.

But this meant that Mingzhu and Pei Yang themselves were burdened by the trivialities of housework.

"That’s easy to solve. Let Auntie Yu and the new helper split shifts—one working the morning and the other the evening."

"Then I’ll look for a housekeeper willing to work the evening shift."

Pei Yang finished putting on his shoes, took the insulated container from her hands, but didn’t rush to leave.

"I passed by Shenji today and saw some construction work going on. What are you up to, what kind of medicine are you selling in your gourd?"

"Don’t worry about my affairs; just focus on your own work."

Mingzhu wasn’t in a good mood and pushed him towards the door as she spoke.

Pei Yang walked a few steps, then turned back, "What’s this about yours and mine? Are you trying to draw a clear line between us now?"

Mingzhu blinked, "I didn’t say that."

"But you’re thinking it."

"How do you know what I’m thinking?"

"Of course, I know." Pei Yang flashed a toothy grin. "You’re thinking that I should come home early in the evening. Don’t worry, as soon as I finish up, I’ll come straight home. I won’t dally or flirt outside."

Shen Mingzhu rolled her eyes, "Alright, you’d better hurry up and go."

Pei Yang pulled her to walk outside with him, "You should see me off."

Shen Mingzhu struggled, but didn’t break free, and could only follow the man towards the yard.

"I haven’t finished my meal yet."

"After seeing me off, you can go back and eat slowly."

Shen Mingzhu gave him a glare.

Pei Yang, however, looked happy, holding her hand even tighter, and said to her, "Whatever you want to do, I will always be your support, not your obstacle."

In the glow of the setting sun, the man’s profile was deep and resolute, his eyes smiling with a unique tenderness.

Shen Mingzhu softened her tone a bit, "If you really want to know, I’ll tell you when I come back tonight."

Pei Yang smiled contentedly, though his tone was somewhat emotional, "Actually, I’ve been thinking these past two days, if this happened to me, how I would handle it."

"But the more I think about it, the more I realize I couldn’t have handled it any better than you did. Do you know what it feels like to look at you now?"

"I feel more and more like you’re a treasure trove, always able to surprise and move people."

"And how fortunate I am to possess such a living treasure."

As he spoke with emotion, Pei Yang lifted her hand to his mouth, wanting to kiss it.

Shen Mingzhu withdrew her hand and scoffed, "What’s with you today, your mouth is so sweet?"

"Mmm, it is, do you want a taste?"

He said, bringing his lips closer.

Shen Mingzhu pushed the man’s chin away with her hand, "No."

"Just try a little, it’s very sweet."

"I don’t want to, get away."

"Give me some face, just one bite."

"I don’t want to..."

"Daddy, Mommy!"

While the two were playfully pushing each other, Guoguo bounced out, lifting her pretty doll-like face, her big eyes filled with curiosity.

"What are you two tasting that’s so delicious? I want to try too!"

Shen Mingzhu said with a semblance of a smile, "Ask your dad."

"Daddy, do you have something delicious?"

Pei Yang jokingly soothed, "No, I’m just playing with your mom."

Hearing that, Guoguo immediately puffed up her face, her eyes widening into round circles.

"Are you thinking you can deceive me because I’m young? I clearly heard you say you had something tasty for Mommy, you just don’t want to share with me! Hmph!"

Pei Yang looked at Shen Mingzhu for help with pleading eyes.

Shen Mingzhu bent down, picked up her daughter, and walked toward the house, "If your dad won’t give you any, let’s just ignore him, we’re going back home."

"Mhm!"

Guoguo nodded vigorously, not forgetting to turn back and shout at Pei Yang with a huff, "I’m not talking to you anymore."

Pei Yang: "..."

It’s true what they say, women and children are the most difficult to manage, the ancients did not deceive me.

...

In the private room on the second floor of the Wankelai Hotel.

He Chunlin looked at Shi Yizheng with a twinkle in her eye, her eyebrows slightly raised, "Just speak straightforwardly, I’m in a hurry to go play cards."

Shi Yizheng placed something wrapped in newspaper in front of He Chunlin.

He Chunlin, suspicious, unfolded the newspaper and her pupils trembled.