The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 631 - 630: Wishing You, A Flourishing and Prosperous Life

Chapter 631: Chapter 630: Wishing You, A Flourishing and Prosperous Life

Shen Mingzhu briefly talked about the injustice and dissatisfaction Shen Hongmei had felt in her heart the previous night.

After she finished, she asked Pei Wenping, "Elder sister, I might not be as thorough in my thinking, but Hongmei’s words have given me a wake-up call. Therefore, I want to ask you, do you feel any dissatisfaction because you’ve been overshadowed by your sister-in-law? Tell me the truth. If you don’t speak the truth, I won’t know my own problems."

"Alright, then I’ll tell you the truth, no!"

"Really no?"

Pei Wenping put down her chopsticks, "I sit in the office every day, shielded from the wind and the rain, doing the same work as before, but my income has increased tenfold. I am grateful beyond words, what’s there to be dissatisfied about?"

"Jealous that your sister-in-law gets more? Why doesn’t she look at the work that others do and what she does? Why doesn’t she compare herself to Hu Danni, who cooks the meals?"

"This is the last time. You should stop comparing me with her in the future, not everyone is as heartless as she is!"

Shen Mingzhu laughed, "Alright, I will never ask again."

Pei Wenping gave her a "that’s more like it" glance and picked up her chopsticks, "Let’s eat. We still have to go back to the factory to work."

"Mmm."

Nothing is more important than eating. Only with a full stomach can one have the strength to work.

...

That evening, Shen Mingzhu invited Shen Hongmei to dinner at the Qinyuanchun Restaurant of Shenji.

Although she wasn’t a heavy drinker, Shen Mingzhu still ordered a couple of ounces of Iris Wine.

Iris Wine, also known as Dragon Boat Festival Wine, is made by soaking iris and mugwort leaves and consumed during the Dragon Boat Festival, as it is believed to ward off evil and repel insects.

Even though the Dragon Boat Festival had passed, Iris Wine was still popular with the diners, so the restaurant continued to sell it.

Shen Hongmei arrived as promised.

"Try this pineapple pork. It’s similar to the sautéed pork fillet but has the added sweetness of pineapple."

"Thank you."

Perhaps because their feelings had changed, the two no longer shared the close, intimate rapport they used to have, replaced by politeness and distance instead.

Shen Mingzhu took a sip of wine and brought up work, "About the conditions you mentioned yesterday, I’ve thought it through."

Shen Hongmei put down her chopsticks, "I’m all ears."

"I agree."

Seeing Shen Hongmei’s astonishment, Shen Mingzhu smiled again and said, "But in two years. I’ve made a two-year plan for you. First, you’ll rotate through the marketing department, the production department, and each subsidiary to get acquainted. In two years, I’ll hand over the position of factory manager to you and at the same time, give you 10% of the food factory’s shares."

After hearing her words, Shen Hongmei picked up the cup on the table and drained it in one go, her tone mildly mocking:

"Actually, you don’t have to force yourself, two years – you say it as if it’s nothing, but who can guarantee there won’t be any unexpected changes in the meantime? After all, you’re not sincerely willing to give them, let’s forget it."

Shen Mingzhu looked at her and said earnestly, "Hongmei, I really mean it, and I hope you can give it some serious thought."

"There’s nothing to think about. If you want to give it, then do it quickly. If not, just forget it. Why drag it out and waste each other’s time?"

Shen Mingzhu wanted to say that she wasn’t wasting time. Even though everyone advised her to let Shen Hongmei go, she still wanted to give it another try.

For the times they fought side by side, for their once sincere, unpretentious friendship, and to leave herself with no regrets.

It is easy to find wealth, but a confidant is hard to come by.

If using 10% of the shares could salvage their friendship, she was willing to give it a shot.

However, she could see that Shen Hongmei truly wanted to leave, without a hint of reluctance.

She wasn’t even willing to spend a few seconds to consider that, with the food factory’s growth trend, the value of 10% of the shares in two years would be much more significant than it is now.

Rather than feeling sentimental, she felt more regret.

"It seems that we can’t walk the same path anymore."

Hearing her say this, Shen Hongmei was silent for a long time before speaking, "I will repay the help and kindness you’ve shown me in the past."

Shen Mingzhu smiled, "What industry are you planning to go into? Can we talk about it?"

"Don’t worry, no matter what industry I choose, I won’t go against you. I will not touch the food industry."

Seeing that Shen Hongmei didn’t want to say more, Shen Mingzhu didn’t ask further but simply raised her glass from afar.

"Then, I wish you success in all your future endeavors, may your path ahead be as splendid as a blossoming flower."

"Thank you."

"Goodbye."

Watching Shen Mingzhu turn away with poise, Shen Hongmei instinctively called out, "Mingzhu."

Shen Mingzhu turned back to look at her.

"Sorry."

"You don’t owe me any apologies. Just be true to yourself, and hang in there!"

After speaking, Shen Mingzhu smiled, waved at her, and turned to leave. However, a phrase she had once read flashed through her mind:

From now on, our paths diverge and the journey is long; taking care of ourselves is also a form of respect for each other.

...

The night wind caressed her face, bringing a trace of coolness, and the gaudy streetscape flew past the car window.

Her goal was achieved, free to roam the vast sky and ocean, but Shen Hongmei felt no happiness. Instead, there was an indescribable sense of loneliness and emptiness.

She had been by Shen Mingzhu’s side for too long and had grown accustomed to having her as a guiding beacon.

Now that they were going their separate ways, she inevitably felt lost and anxious.

But deep down she knew she had done nothing wrong. No one was born more noble than another; why should she be at Shen Mingzhu’s beck and call for the rest of her life?

A ringtone interrupted Shen Hongmei’s thoughts.

"Mrs. Zhao, I have some inside information for you. Fang Zheng’s stocks are expected to resume trading next Monday!"

"That’s great!"

The news of Fang Zheng’s imminent return to trading swept away the gloom in Shen Hongmei’s heart.

Once Fang Zheng started trading again, she planned to sell all her shares immediately. At the very least, she should get around one million three hundred thousand yuan.

...

As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, Shen Mingzhu smelled a sweet fragrance.

Curiously following the scent to the front of the living room, she found a Gardenia jasminoides Ellis nearly as tall as a person placed at the side of the steps.

The canopy wasn’t large, but among the branches hung several tender yellow buds, some flowers blooming, others still in bud.

She bent down for a gentle whiff, and the rich, pleasing fragrance filled her heart with joy.

"Back already?"

Looking up, the man stood tall and erect on the porch, his handsome face bathed in the light from above, profound yet tender.

She pointed to the potted plant on the steps, "Did you buy this?"

"Yeah, so you wouldn’t always think the flowers at other people’s places smell nicer than ours. Now that we have our own, you won’t be running off anymore, right?"

Pei Yang’s words were loaded, still jealous about her calling the "young masters" ridiculous.

Indeed, a single slip can cause enduring regret.

If she had known, she would rather not have...

Just the thought of those "young masters" and their caliber...

Forget it, the flowers from home smell just a bit sweeter.

Not just the flowers, but people too.

...

In the evening, when Zhao Dafa returned, Shen Hongmei confessed her desire to start her own business.

"I’ve already discussed it with Mingzhu. We’ve cleared up the past unpleasantness, and as for my entrepreneurial aspirations, she said she would support and respect me."

Zhao Dafa naturally wouldn’t oppose it and asked about her business plans with concern.

"I’m planning to sell household appliances. It’s the peak time for commodity housing; people buy new houses and need to replace their old household appliances. Plus, I can collaborate with decoration companies, mutual benefit for all. Dafa, what do you think?"

Zhao Dafa was optimistic about her business idea and asked how much capital she needed to invest.

This was his indirect way of agreeing to help her financially.

Shen Hongmei rejected the offer without hesitation, "Dafa, I don’t need your money. I have my own. I want to do this on my own and make it a success!"

She was determined to prove to everyone that she would only get better and better without Shen Mingzhu.

Unaware of her true thoughts, Zhao Dafa admired her confidence and independence and held her, imparting plenty of business wisdom.

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