The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 538 - 537: Don’t want to live anymore

Chapter 538: Chapter 537: Don’t want to live anymore

Lun Jiao understood Shen Mingzhu’s testing and hastily explained, "President Shen, my relationship with Shen Brother is pure and innocent, I swear I’ve had no improper thoughts towards him."

Shen Mingzhu was noncommittal, "Just because there’s nothing now doesn’t mean there won’t be something later. Oh, I’m not talking about you, I’m talking about my second brother."

"I know my second brother better than you, weak and incompetent, indecisive, always led by the nose by women. If you two keep interacting like this every day, he is definitely going to change his heart, because he’s not a faithful man."

Lun Jiao’s lips quivered, unsure of what to say.

It sounded like a compliment to her charm, but having an affair with a married man was not something to be proud of, and it could lead to being pointed at and condemned.

"Lun Jiao, actually, I appreciate you. You’re smart, ambitious, and hardworking, and I had considered training you for management. But because of this incident, you can’t stay at Shenji anymore."

Lun Jiao’s eyes suddenly reddened, and her face revealed stubbornness and defiance.

"I can understand your feelings; you might feel wronged. But as a single woman, it is necessary to maintain distance from a married man, as a precaution and for your own protection."

"Have you ever thought about what if my second brother were a beast, and you were alone with him at night, what would you do if he violated you?"

Lun Jiao faltered, "Shen Brother is not that kind of person."

"Ninety-nine percent of murderers don’t appear like they could kill someone before they actually do."

Lun Jiao bit her lip, speechless.

"The money you owe my second brother, I’ll help you pay it off. As compensation, you should not see each other again. Can you do that?"

Lun Jiao wiped her eyes, choked up, "I understand. Could you give me a couple of days to find a place to live and then I’ll move out?"

Shen Mingzhu nodded in agreement.

Having dealt with Lun Jiao, Shen Mingzhu returned to the private room where Shen Xiangnan was.

"Have you thought it through? Are you sure you want to become a scumbag who abandons his wife and daughter just because of some flaws in your sister-in-law?"

Shen Xiangnan hurriedly said, "I definitely want Erya."

"You want her? How? From birth until now, how many times have you fed her? Do you know what she likes to eat, or the size of her clothes and shoes?"

"Even if you step back ten thousand steps, you find her a stepmother, but can you guarantee that a stepmother will love and care for her like your sister-in-law does?"

"To be honest, I don’t like the woman either, and if you want to divorce, it has nothing to do with me."

"But if you really divorce, Erya will definitely stay with her biological mother, and as her father, you will have to pay child support every month until she becomes an adult."

Hearing Shen Mingzhu say this, Shen Xiangnan suddenly realized that if they really did divorce, this family would fall apart.

Over the years of marriage, he couldn’t say he felt nothing for Jia Yuemei.

Thinking of his growing, clever, and adorable daughter, Shen Xiangnan felt reluctant and hesitant.

"Little sister, I, I’ll think about it some more," he said.

Shen Mingzhu looked at him, "Your sister-in-law lacks experience because she’s always been trapped in family and childcare. This problem isn’t hard to solve, it just depends on whether you want to solve it."

Shen Xiangnan nodded dejectedly, "I understand."

Shen Mingzhu turned and headed to the private room where Jia Yuemei was.

"I’ve already dismissed Lun Jiao."

Hearing her say this, Jia Yuemei showed a victorious delight on her face, "That shameless vixen deserved to be fired!"

"I’ve made it clear that besides borrowing money, there was nothing inappropriate between her and my second brother."

Jia Yuemei bristled, "Of course she wouldn’t admit it!"

"Why insist on linking her with my second brother? How does that benefit you? Or do you actually feel comfortable putting a green hat on your own head?"

Jia Yuemei stiffened and fell silent.

"My second brother wants to divorce you."

Jia Yuemei was taken aback, and then exploded in anger, "He mentioned divorce? On what grounds? Does he think he’s right?"

"Divorce doesn’t require reasoning. If he doesn’t want to be with you, he can divorce you! The only thing your second brother kept from you is lending a hundred yuan to Lun Jiao. Such a trivial matter, yet you had to make a scene in the police station, making it common knowledge. You don’t trust your husband, and you even accuse him of dirty deeds. He’s sick of you, can’t stand another day with you!"

Jia Yuemei’s tears fell in torrents. "Can you blame me? He sneaks out to see that little bitch every night. They say there’s nothing going on, who would believe that?"

"If you’re convinced your second brother has done you wrong, then just divorce him!"

Jia Yuemei choked, "I won’t divorce!"

"You suspect this and that all day long, how can you live like this? Better to divorce early than to quarrel every day. I don’t have the leisure to deal with your mess!"

Jia Yuemei was scolded even more fiercely and cried even harder.

"Why the hell are you cursing at me? I stay home looking after children, doing laundry and cooking for him, but he’s out there having a jolly time with other women. He’s the one who wronged me!"

Shen Mingzhu couldn’t be bothered to argue any more. "I see you’re idle at home every day, why not come to the shop and help out? Come tomorrow!"

"What about Erya?"

"Find someone else to help look after the kids."

Having said that, Shen Mingzhu turned and walked away, not wanting to say another half word.

...

On the drive home, Pei Yang would glance at her from time to time. "You don’t like your sister-in-law, why did you try to reconcile them when your second brother wanted a divorce?"

Shen Mingzhu snorted coldly, "Someone like my second brother, he can’t get along with anyone. Even if he finds someone new, it won’t be any better!"

Pei Yang laughed, "People say to marry a virtuous wife, but this is the first time I’ve heard such a thing."

Shen Mingzhu said irritably, "If it weren’t for Shenji, I wouldn’t bother with his mess."

As her confidant, Pei Yang naturally understood her thoughts.

She might not care about Shen Xiangnan, but Shenji was a different matter. If Shenji collapsed, what would Feng Huiying and the other employees do?

"Have you considered training another Executive Chef? Just in case your second brother has some issues again, there should be a successor in place."

She had indeed thought about this, and even had someone in mind: Han Zibin.

But Han Zibin was, after all, an outsider, with such a background, and she wanted to observe him more.

Shen Xiangnan, no matter how dissolute and unsatisfactory, would not betray her.

...

When Shen Mingzhu arrived at the shop the next day, Jia Yuemei was already there, bored and curiously watching the hairy crabs in the glass tank.

Although Shen Mingzhu had called her to the shop to help, her status was such that nobody dared order her around.

Shen Mingzhu took Jia Yuemei straight to the kitchen and had her assist the kitchen staff. She told the kitchen workers not to be polite and to give any work to Jia Yuemei.

After instructing them, she left.

By noon, the entire kitchen was bustling. Jia Yuemei was called hither and thither, washing vegetables one moment, handing over plates the next, spinning like a top.

By the time the last dish was cooked, Jia Yuemei was soaked through, sitting on the ground gasping for breath.

"President Shen."

Seeing Shen Mingzhu enter the kitchen, Jia Yuemei quickly stood up, leaning against the wall, and stammered in explanation: "I was just sitting for a moment."

Shen Mingzhu tilted her head, signaling Jia Yuemei to follow her outside.

"How does it feel to have worked in the kitchen all day today?"

Jia Yuemei, fixing her sweat-soaked bangs and looking exhausted, pleaded, "Little sister, can I work as a waitress instead? The kitchen is too tiring, stuffy and hot, I can’t handle it."

Shen Mingzhu: "You’ve worked only half a day and you’re already too tired. But take this kind of work; your second brother has to do it from morning till night, and he’s been doing it for years. Has your second brother ever complained of being tired? Have you ever cared whether he’s tired from earning money to provide for the family?"

Jia Yuemei was stumped.

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