The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 628 - 627: No One is Irreplaceable

Chapter 628: Chapter 627: No One is Irreplaceable

Shen Hongmei didn’t directly answer Shen Mingzhu’s question but said, "Mingzhu, you’ve always been smarter and more insightful than me, so help me decide. Brother Zhao said he’s willing to help me start my own company, where I would be the boss. What do you think I should do?"

Watching the confidence on the other’s face, Shen Mingzhu was stunned for a moment before speaking, "When did this happen?"

"The night you suspended me from my job."

"I’m asking, when did you start having the idea of starting a business? Why didn’t you tell me sooner, or do you think I would obstruct you?"

The two stood on the rooftop terrace, and the neon lights of the restaurant’s sign clearly reflected the self-mockery on Shen Hongmei’s face.

"Do you think I could say it? Dare I say it? As soon as I speak out, everyone would accuse me of being ungrateful."

"In the eyes of others, you, Shen Mingzhu, are a great philanthropist, the Goddess of Mercy who relieves suffering, and you are the benefactor and mentor of Shen Hongmei."

"I cannot deny that you’ve helped me a lot, Mingzhu, and I remember it all. But the position I am in today, Shen Hongmei, is also due to my own efforts, progressing step by step on my own. I’m not your accessory, nor am I your slave."

Shen Mingzhu frowned, "In work, you are a very important partner; in life, we are friends and confidants. I thought that was our common understanding."

Shen Hongmei sneered lightly, "Yes, everyone says we are good sisters, but in truth, you’ve never really respected me."

"We started from nothing and grew the business together, yet Du Juan is a vice president and a major shareholder, admired by all as a powerful businesswoman."

"Even Pei Wenping, who joined the factory later than me, holds a large amount of shares, earning a fortune every year."

"In what way am I inferior to them? Isn’t my self-studied college degree, at least, much better than your sister-in-law who only has an elementary education? I work like a dog every day, managing the factory for you, but apart from the empty title of a manager, what else do I have?"

Silently, Shen Mingzhu said, "So, it’s about money, how much do you want?"

Shen Hongmei chuckled lightly, "That depends on how much you think I’m worth in your heart."

"From my standpoint, I don’t think I’ve been unfair to you in terms of salary."

Du Juan and Pei Wenping have shares because they both put in actual money.

As investors, they took risks, and when the factory flourished, it was only fair that they saw high returns.

From the beginning, Shen Hongmei was an employee. Whether the factory lost money or went bankrupt, she ate her meals, drank her drinks, and collected her salary as usual.

Last year, Shen Hongmei’s annual salary, plus year-end bonus and senior management dividends, totaled just under ten thousand yuan.

In Fengcheng, that was considered a ceiling-level income.

Keep in mind that last year, Fengcheng’s average annual income was just over two thousand yuan.

"Mingzhu, times have changed. It’s no longer about you giving me a meal, and in return, I have to dedicate my life to working for you. Since you came to me asking me to come back, you should show me your sincerity."

...

When Shen Mingzhu returned home, it was already dark.

Cui Lianying had finished cleaning up the kitchen and was getting ready to end her shift and go back to her place.

Seeing her come in, she showed concern about whether she had eaten dinner.

Of course, she hadn’t eaten. How could she be in the mood or have the appetite to eat now?

Shen Mingzhu brushed off the question casually and, noticing the house was too quiet, inquired about the whereabouts of the two children, learning they had taken Demu out for a walk, she then returned to her bedroom.

After she had bathed, her brother and sister returned with Demu.

"Mom, what delicious food did you eat tonight?"

For Pei Tang, with his foodie tendencies, eating out = the possibility of enjoying a lot of delicious dishes.

Shen Mingzhu raised her hand to help her daughter tidy her sweat-dampened forehead and teased, "You little glutton, all you know is eating. Didn’t you fill up at dinner?"

"I ate my fill, but it feels like I’m hungry again after a walk."

Patting her little belly, Pei Tang looked up with her rosy, chubby cheeks, "Mom, can I have an ice cream bar?"

Claiming hunger was just an excuse to satisfy a craving; she really wanted ice cream.

"No, I’ll have Auntie warm you a cup of milk."

Pei Tang pouted her red, chubby lips, clinging to her hand and cooing, "I don’t want milk. I just want an ice cream bar, will you let me have one?"

Shen Mingzhu spread one hand out, "I’m feeling a bit itchy-handed today and I want to spank someone. Will you let me?"

Pei Tang was not frightened by her words, but instead blinked her big eyes, "Mom, if you’re in a bad mood and want to hit someone, just hit Dad. His skin is thick and his flesh is tough; he can take a beating. My little arms and little legs are delicate and tender. If they get hurt, you’d be heartbroken."

Human offspring are indeed a magical and adorable species, capable of making one flaming mad while also bringing laughter.

Shen Mingzhu’s frustration slowly melted away with her daughter’s soft and whiny voice.

She patiently explained to her daughter, "First, it’s nighttime, and eating cold things can upset your stomach; second, you just had a cavity filled, and the doctor told you to cut back on sweets, remember?"

Seeing that she couldn’t have her ice cream, Pei Tang’s mood plummeted, her tender cheeks puffing out like a little pufferfish.

Shen Mingzhu chuckled and poked her cheeks with her finger, "However, if you behave, Mommy will find time on the weekend to make you sugar-free ice cream."

Pei Tang’s eyes immediately sparkled with joy, "Mom, if there’s no sugar, won’t the ice cream not be sweet?"

"Not at all, the ice cream I make is sweet even without sugar."

"How can ice cream be sweet without sugar? Mom, you’re not a fairy from the heavens who uses magic to make ice cream sweet, are you!?"

The curiosity and imagination of children are always incredibly abundant.

"There’s something called xylitol; it’s not sugar, but it can be used as a sweetener in place of sugar."

Nothing is irreplaceable, sugar as much as people.

After settling the two children down to sleep, Shen Mingzhu changed into casual clothes, applied light makeup, and then drove out.

...

The night breeze was gentle, and the lights flickered.

Shen Mingzhu rolled down the car window, maneuvering through the bustling streets, eventually parking her car in front of a luxuriously decorated nightclub.

"Welcome!"

Upon stepping into the nightclub’s lobby, two rows of hostesses dressed in silver qipaos bowed enthusiastically in welcome.

Each one, fair-skinned and beautiful with long legs, looked at you with sparkling eyes.

Not just for men, even she could hardly control her surging emotions.

"Madam Shen, you’ve arrived. Please come in."

Shen Mingzhu graciously gave a ten yuan tip, and amid the hostesses’ surprised thanks, she entered the private room.

Inside the room, Zhong Qing and Yan Su had already arrived, unexpectedly, so had Zhuang Xueqi.

She had only made arrangements with Zhong Qing and Yan Su.

As Shen Mingzhu walked in, Zhong Qing was the first to speak, "You’re late, you should be punished!"

Shen Mingzhu immediately raised her hand in surrender, "My fault, I’ll punish myself with a drink in a moment."

Zhuang Xueqi, with her legs crossed, adopted a pose of a powerful woman, "How can you be such a pushover, saying you’ll punish yourself with just one drink."

Shen Mingzhu took a seat with Zhong Qing’s encouragement and responded to Zhuang Xueqi:

"My alcohol tolerance is poor; three drinks and I’ll be out, then I’d trouble you all to take care of me."

Yan Su smiled while pouring her water, "Don’t worry, I’m on a diet and not drinking. I can take care of you."

Zhong Qing followed up with a laugh, "I’m not drinking today either, I came out after taking medicine."

Shen Mingzhu quickly gave a concerned glance, "Are you sick?"

Zhong Qing gently held her hand, reassuringly explaining, "Not at all, I’ve been seeing a traditional Chinese medicine doctor recently and got some herbal medicine for my health."

Ever since becoming a mother, Zhong Qing had also become much more gentle, often radiating the glow of motherhood that Shen Mingzhu could sense.

"So, Mrs. Ning, shall we..."

"I’m on my period, I can’t drink."

Shen Mingzhu found herself speechless, "So you’re not drinking, she’s not drinking, am I supposed to drink alone?"

All three nodded in unison.