The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 658 - 657 Who is the Thief

Chapter 658: Chapter 657 Who is the Thief

"Mrs. Wu, I’m sorry for the inconvenience and delay. I’ll have my driver take you to the tea party and explain today’s events to the senior Mrs. Wu on the way."

After weighing the pros and cons, La Shiran unwillingly compromised.

In her triumph, Mrs. Wu couldn’t help but sneer, "Fourth Mrs. Wu, why cause such a fuss? I’m insignificant and can easily be wronged, but as for you, although Ruili is only one of the Cui Family’s enterprises, it’s a time-honored brand that’s been managed for over a hundred years. Yet, in just a matter of days in your hands, it’s been thrown into chaos. Tch, I don’t know why the older generation of the Cui Family isn’t intervening... Ah!!"

Mrs. Wu, while venting her displeasure and stepping onto the elevator, was knocked over midway by a cleaner carrying a bucket of water, drenching her thoroughly and instantly transforming the elegant lady into a drenched mess.

"What are you being paid for? Can’t you watch where you’re going?!"

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It wasn’t on purpose, I swear it wasn’t on purpose!"

The cleaner repeatedly apologized while frantically trying to help Mrs. Wu up.

The stunned onlookers scrambled to assist, pulling Mrs. Wu up from the ground. Shen Mingzhu kindly instructed a female employee to remove her coat and cover Mrs. Wu’s drenched body to prevent any exposure.

Soaked like this, she certainly couldn’t go out and had to return to the VIP room to get herself together.

Meanwhile, her forgotten handbag was quickly taken by the manager to another VIP room.

At this juncture, Shen Mingzhu also took the opportunity, while helping to dry Mrs. Wu, to thoroughly search her from top to bottom.

Even her clothes and high heels were not overlooked; taken under the pretense of drying, they were sent outside for a detailed inspection.

Nothing.

Seeing the manager shake his head, signaling that no diamonds were found in Mrs. Wu’s handbag or on her person, Shen Mingzhu felt helpless and could only let La Shiran see the guest off.

Yet Mrs. Wu was now unwilling to leave, citing humiliation as the reason, demanding justice from La Shiran, or else she would call the police.

The standoff between the two was ongoing when the second and third Mrs. Wu arrived.

"The senior Mrs. Wu noticed that Mrs. Wu hadn’t arrived at the tea party and sent us to check the situation."

After the second Mrs. Wu bluntly stated their purpose upon arrival and saw Mrs. Wu’s disheveled and angry appearance, she quickly expressed her concern and inquired about what had happened.

After learning the full story, the second Mrs. Wu immediately proposed to dismiss Manager Tang along with the two female employees responsible for receiving Mrs. Wu and the cleaner who caused the trouble—all should be fired.

La Shiran naturally refused.

Ruili was the first enterprise she took charge of after marrying into the Cui Family, and if she let the second Mrs. Wu make this decision, what authority would she have left at Ruili?

As for the second Mrs. Wu, this was just a test; if La Shiran gave in now, she would surely find ways to reach into Ruili next time, completely sidelining La Shiran and ultimately becoming the actual person in charge of Ruili.

La Shiran stood her ground firmly, and although the second Mrs. Wu was aggressive, she dared not overstep, as La Shiran was personally appointed by Cui Rumao.

Yet she didn’t want to miss this rare opportunity to strike at La Shiran, and so her gaze shifted, targeting La Shiran’s mother.

"Mrs. Qiu, how do you think we should resolve today’s incident?"

In front of La Shiran, her mother spoke freely, but before the second and third Mrs. Wu, she was extremely cautious, not daring to make a sound.

Although they were both part of the Cui Family, in every aspect—background, experience, family heritage—the two women far outstripped La Shiran and her mother.

Moreover, they were sent by the senior Mrs. Wu to handle the jewelry theft case, not something she and her daughter could contend with.

With the mindset that a smart man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him, La Shiran’s mother didn’t hesitate to switch sides, "Shiming, stop being stubborn; just do as the second lady says."

With these words, the eyes of everyone in the VIP room shifted when looking at La Shiran—some sympathetic, some gloating.

Seeing that La Shiran wasn’t upset, Shen Mingzhu finally understood why she said she had no one to talk to by her side.

Even my own mother doesn’t stand by me, let alone outsiders.

Even someone as foolish as Qin Jinlian knows how to defend me in front of others.

This mother of La Shiran is even worse than a country aunt like Qin Jinlian.

"Ruili is an industry entrusted to me by Cui Rumao. Should any issue arise, I will take full responsibility, so there’s no need for Elder Sister to worry."

But even when pushed to such extremes, La Shiran still refused to budge.

The second madam was annoyed, but her face showed helpless resignation, "If that’s the case, there’s no point for me to meddle uselessly. Please hurry and don’t keep the first madam waiting."

La Shiran took a deep breath and looked at Mrs. Wu, "Mrs. Wu, the incident today was due to the negligence of our Ruili, causing you displeasure. On behalf of Ruili, I’d like to formally apologize to you. We will compensate for your soiled clothes with a new set, and in addition, we will upgrade you to a free Platinum VIP for one year."

At Ruili, different VIP levels offer various discounts and treatments.

Mrs. Wu sneered with a look of contempt, clearly not accepting La Shiran’s manner of handling the situation.

The atmosphere became frigid for a moment.

"Snap!"

The third madam lit a lady’s cigarette on the sofa, while casually flicking her cigarette, she leisurely pointed at La Shiran:

"Some people, having no ability, still insist on hogging the toilet without doing their business. Number four, don’t you think such people are despicable?"

La Shiran frowned at her, "Younger Sister Hui, smoking is not allowed inside the store."

The third madam "Oh-ed" nonchalantly, took a deep drag before stubbing the cigarette out in the orchid pot on the coffee table, casually saying:

"Sorry, I forgot. This Jade Orchid plant is just like the one at my home, I thought I was there."

The action of the third madam displeased La Shiran and she was about to instruct the staff to clean up when Shen Mingzhu suddenly approached La Shiran and whispered something to her.

After listening, La Shiran pondered for a moment before turning to Manager Tang, instructing him to bring over a ruby necklace valued at five hundred thousand as an apology to Mrs. Wu.

Mrs. Wu accepted the item ungraciously and ridiculed La Shiran again before leaving satisfied in the company of the second and third madams.

Shen Mingzhu accompanied La Shiran to send the ladies out.

At the instant the three women stepped out of Ruili’s doorway, Shen Mingzhu suddenly shouted, "Stop them! The missing jewelry is on them!"

Everyone stood frozen in shock, including La Shiran.

She looked at Shen Mingzhu with a mix of astonishment and unease, "Mingzhu, don’t joke around."

While she had provoked the second and third madams, with Cui Rumao backing her, the worst would be enduring some hardship.

But Shen Mingzhu was different from her; she wasn’t completely sure she could protect Shen Mingzhu, which is why she immediately tried to pass it off as a joke to get Shen Mingzhu out of trouble.

"Number four, I’m not joking."

Shen Mingzhu’s persistence left La Shiran both worried and angry, truly wishing she could pin the person down and give her a spanking.

"Number four, do you trust me?"

Trust you my ass.

Before La Shiran could figure out how to respond, the second madam had already approached, fuming with rage, "Number four, what do you mean by this? Are you suspecting me and Younger Sister Hui now?"

Even though it was Shen Mingzhu who had done it, everyone could see that Shen Mingzhu was La Shiran’s person. Naturally, they attributed Shen Mingzhu’s actions to La Shiran.

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