The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 626 - 625 Breaking Off

Chapter 626: Chapter 625 Breaking Off

Only after everything outside had completely quieted down did Huang Ju slowly get to her feet, using the wall for support. Yet, her legs were so sore and numb that she could hardly walk. She could only lean against the wall for relief.

"Sister Xiaoju, so you were in the restroom. We’ve been looking for you for ages. What happened to you?"

Confronting her colleague’s curious gaze, Huang Ju tried her best to hide her discomfort, "Nothing serious, my stomach is just a little upset. Did you need something from me?"

"Oh, President Shen is looking for you."

"Alright, I’ll go now."

After giving her instructions and sensing that Huang Ju seemed out of sorts, Shen Mingzhu casually expressed her concern, "Are you still not feeling well? If it’s too much you should go to the infirmary and get some medicine."

Huang Ju shook her head and turned to go back to work.

As she was about to reach the door, she couldn’t help but return to Shen Mingzhu’s desk.

"President Shen, do you also think I’m not as good as Wen Xiaoqin?"

Shen Mingzhu wasn’t surprised; although she held a high position, factory gossip always found its way to her ears through various channels.

"What do you think yourself? Do you feel you are worse than Wen Xiaoqin?"

Huang Ju shook her head, "I don’t think I’m worse than her, but..."

"But I chose to promote her and not you, and you can’t figure out why?"

Huang Ju hurried to explain, "It’s not that I can’t understand, I just want to know where I fell short. They say I’m no good, unable to get with it, and I don’t know if I’m really that bad..."

After listening to Huang Ju’s outpouring, Shen Mingzhu gestured for her to close the office door before she began to speak:

"The ordeal you went through today is something that Manager Shen also experienced in the past. But do you know how she handled it?"

"She didn’t run away; instead, she faced it head-on and punished workers who violated the rules as a manager."

Huang Ju instinctively retorted, "But I’m not in management..."

"But you are one of my people and no one in the entire factory dares to look down on you. Even if you say nothing, just standing in front of them is enough to be a deterrent."

Huang Ju was left speechless.

She had thought about confronting those people to shut them up, but in the end, she couldn’t muster the courage and could only hide away like a mouse.

Shen Mingzhu continued, "Huang Ju, mediocrity is your weakness, but it is also your strength. A mediocre person keeps their options open, swings with the wind, and does not easily make enemies. So you have no reason to belittle yourself."

"Some people are born leaders, while others are more suited for clerical work. Just like building a house, the beams that support the structure are important, but so are bricks and mortar. If their roles were switched, the house would never be built. That’s why finding your place is important."

"As for those who can’t see your efforts and contributions, that only shows how ignorant and foolish they are."

With Shen Mingzhu’s reassuring words, the gloominess in Huang Ju’s heart was swept away, and she was revitalized.

"President Shen, I understand now. Thank you. I’ll get back to work!"

"Hmm."

...

In the private dining room of a restaurant, the drunken Shen Hongmei vented her frustrations and dissatisfaction to her tablemates—

"I only took one day off. What right does she have to suspend my job and rush to find a replacement? I bet she planned this all along!"

"I’ve been loyally devoted to her for years, always diligently working hard and never daring to slack off. I might not be credited with achieving the food factory’s current scale, but I’ve certainly put in a fair share of hard work!"

"But what about her? She just turns her back without a second thought, not sparing any past kindness!"

"I know what she’s thinking. I used to be nothing in front of her; she’s used to being high and mighty. Now that I surpass her in every way, it makes her uncomfortable."

"My husband is more capable than her man, I’m better at stocks than she is, and even the car I drive is better than hers!"

"She’s just jealous, can’t stand me, and wants to control me through work! I’ll leave my words here: she can forget about it. Unless she comes to me to make amends, I won’t bow down to her!"

The people seated with Shen Hongmei were all close friends who naturally sided with her, and one after another they began to denounce Shen Mingzhu with shared outrage, ranting about pettiness, making mountains out of molehills, and burning bridges after crossing.

When Zhao Dafa arrived at the restaurant to pick her up, Shen Hongmei was already too drunk to walk and had to be helped into the car by everyone.

In the envious gaze of her sisters, the black Cadillac merged into the bustling nightlife.

"I heard this car costs over a million."

"Hongmei is really blessed among us – she married the latest but got the best match."

"Don’t say we’re green with envy; Shen Mingzhu is the same, always scheming to trip someone up!"

"That’s what people fear, comparison."

...

"How much did you drink?"

In the bathroom, Zhao Dafa patted Shen Hongmei’s back to help her breathe as she vomited into the toilet and held her hair up so it wouldn’t get dirty.

After throwing up, Shen Hongmei sat on the floor, clinging to Zhao Dafa’s leg and sobbing.

"Brother Zhao, I lost my job! Wuuwuuwuu..."

"Mingzhu suspended me and arranged for someone else to take over my job; she doesn’t want me to come back..."

Zhao Dafa was somewhat surprised.

In his subconscious, Shen Mingzhu and Shen Hongmei were sisters closer than blood, so why had they suddenly fallen out?

However, since Shen Hongmei was completely drunk and crying nonstop, he could only suppress his doubts and coax her gently.

"It’s okay, if you really lose your job, I’ll start a small company for you, and you can be the boss."

"Really? You’re not lying to me, are you?"

"Really, I’m not lying."

Reassured by Dafa’s promise, Shen Hongmei contentedly fell asleep in his arms.

Zhao Dafa carried her to the bed, removed her shoes and coat, and tucked her in.

After doing all this, Zhao Dafa was sweating profusely and sat by the bed to catch his breath before going into the bathroom to shower.

As the sound of the bathroom door closing echoed, Shen Hongmei on the bed slowly opened her eyes.

She had indeed drunk a lot, but not so much as to completely lose her senses.

She had brought up her suspension while pretending to be drunk to test Zhao Dafa’s stance.

Because she knew that in Zhao Dafa’s heart, Shen Mingzhu held an important place.

This importance had nothing to do with romantic affection but was admiration and respect for Shen Mingzhu’s capabilities.

Fortunately, Zhao Dafa was a man of loyalty and chose to stand by her side.

Shen Hongmei’s mouth curved slightly in satisfaction, and she closed her eyes contentedly.

...

Morning.

Zhao Yun left for school after breakfast, leaving only Zhao Dafa and Shen Hongmei at the dining table.

Zhao Dafa, who was watching Hongmei quietly peel her egg, intended to ask about last night’s incident when Hongmei took the initiative to speak first.

"Brother Zhao, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you..."

Being someone who had weathered many storms, Zhao Dafa didn’t lose his temper upon hearing that Shen Hongmei hadn’t followed his advice to sell her stocks.

"So what’s this about you being suspended?"

Shen Hongmei confessed that she had taken the day off to go to the securities firm, which Shen Mingzhu found out.

"I admit it was my fault, but she didn’t give me a chance to explain, just forced me to take leave, suspended me, and found someone to fill my position."

"I’ve worked in the factory for so many years; if not for merits, then at least for my hard work. I really don’t understand why she would do this to me."

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