The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 737 - 736: Love Yourself Before Loving Someone Else

Chapter 737: Chapter 736: Love Yourself Before Loving Someone Else

"Deputy Director Du, you are really impressive, no wonder you’ve achieved such success and status."

Facing Mai Qiu’s admiring gaze, which resembled that of a devoted fan, Du Juan lightly laughed as she swirled her wine glass.

The red liquid in the clear glass, under the light, sparkled like a top-grade ruby.

"I’ve reached where I am today, surely due to my own diligence and effort, but more so because I’ve had a great teacher."

She sipped her wine, her expression becoming dreamy and distant, as if reminiscing about the past.

"It was Mingzhu who taught me to love myself before loving others. Never demean yourself to please others, because no matter how hard you try, you can’t please everyone. It’s better to please yourself first."

"President Shen is really an impressive person."

When Mai Qiu said this, her tone unconsciously revealed genuine admiration and reverence.

If it were someone else seeing their assistant admiring another leader like this, they would probably feel uneasy.

But Du Juan not only didn’t mind, but deeply agreed, "Yes."

She smiled and said to Mai Qiu, "Don’t be deceived by my current status as deputy director; compared to Mingzhu, I still have a long way to go and much to learn."

Mai Qiu was quick-witted, seizing the opportunity to show her loyalty, "Deputy Director Du, I will definitely work hard to assist you. One day, you will become a powerful businesswoman just like President Shen!"

Du Juan clinked her glass with hers, teasing, "I’ll take your good words," and after drinking her wine, her demeanor turned serious again.

"Xiao Mai, work hard, and remember, your efforts are not for me, but for yourself. We all work hard to realize our own values and thereby gain equal rewards. Heaven rewards the diligent, and I truly believe heaven won’t shortchange anyone who tries hard."

"Yes!"

...

"President Shen."

Seeing Huang Ju’s hesitant demeanor, Shen Mingzhu guessed what was on her mind.

"What are you thinking?"

"My parents, my brother and sister-in-law, they all disagree with me moving to Jiangcheng. My second sister-in-law even introduced me to a potential match, and my family wants me to get married and have children soon, to settle down within this year."

Shen Mingzhu pondered, "What do you think?"

Huang Ju said despondently, "I don’t know."

"Xiao Ju, your life is for you to decide. No one has the right to control or interfere with your life, not even your parents. Of course, I’m not saying you should definitely defy them. Ask your heart which path it wants to take."

"I’ll think about it."

"Yes."

Shen Mingzhu was prepared for Huang Ju’s indecisiveness.

She naturally had a compliant and introverted personality, which made her easily influenced by those around her during significant events, leading to her indecision.

In fact, such a personality could also find a fulfilling path in returning to family life and educating children, but that assumes the man she marries is reliable.

Tch.

A reliable man, and pigs might fly!

...

Regarding the replacement for Shen Chaobei, Shen Mingzhu and Du Juan discussed with several senior managers and narrowed down the candidates to the department manager Chen Cheng, deputy manager Guan Qiang, and sales supervisor Ye Tianhai.

After individual discussions and mutual selections, they ultimately decided to send Guan Qiang to Jiangcheng.

During this period, Huang Ju also made her choice—to stay in Fengcheng.

She got along well with her matchmaking partner, and they both had a mutual affinity; barring any unforeseen events, they planned to marry within the year.

As for her career, she planned to continue working as an assistant by Pei Wenping’s side.

Du Juan adapted extremely well, managing the entire company in an orderly manner within just a month with everyone following her orders.

Seeing this, Shen Mingzhu gladly handed over all her authority and took up the role of a hands-off manager.

Without the burden of work, Shen Mingzhu’s days were extremely comfortable.

She slept until she naturally woke up in the morning, visited the food factory and a branch after breakfast, went home for lunch, read and studied in the afternoon, practiced yoga or met friends for afternoon tea, shopped a lot, picked up her daughter from school, and then bought groceries to make dinner.

Seeing her living so leisurely, Pei Yang jokingly provoked her, "You’ve handed over both the company and the factory to your sister-in-law, aren’t you worried she might rebel one day and kick out the founder?"

Shen Mingzhu did not take it seriously, "If she wants to take over, I don’t mind. Rather than being autocratic, I’d prefer to cultivate a competent management team to share the workload."

"In the future, I’ll just be responsible for the general direction and decision-making, and leave everything else to my staff. That way, I can have more personal time, be with my children as they grow, and do things that are more meaningful and enjoyable."

Imagining the future, Shen Mingzhu’s already delicate face glowed with a lustrous pearl-like sheen, looking radiantly beautiful.

Pei Yang couldn’t bear to blink, captivated by her allure.

How could his wife be so beautiful, never enough to look at.

"I should learn from you, cultivate more talent so that I can retire early and travel the world with you."

Shen Mingzhu suddenly suggested, "After I finish this round of learning, let’s buy an RV. While traveling the world might not be feasible right now, we can start by touring our own country."

Pei Yang always supported her lifestyle ideas.

During her free time, Shen Mingzhu often visited Jianguo back in Anping Town.

Although Qin Jinlian’s seventh-day memorial had passed, Jianguo was still not in a good state.

He often spent all day in silence, sitting and staring into space.

The three siblings hoped that Jianguo would rest well to recover both physically and mentally.

But he insisted on continuing to operate the snack shop.

It seemed that keeping the snack shop open would make life stay the same, as if his partner had never left.

Having no other choice, Shen Mingzhu found a middle-aged couple in town to help manage the shop and also keep an eye on Jianguo.

That day, when she returned to Anping Town, Shen Mingzhu specifically picked out a purebred Husky puppy from the dog market.

The puppy, caught between being slow-witted and dumb, naturally charmed Shen Mingzhu, at least.

However, Jianguo didn’t like it.

"Take it away, I don’t want this little creature."

Perhaps sensing Jianguo’s disdain, Erha lowered its head, grabbed his old shoe, and dashed away.

Jianguo, startled for a moment, chased after the puppy barefoot.

"Little rascal, stop right there, drop the shoe!"

Erha ran around the yard joyfully as if it had just been released from a mental hospital.

Jianguo, being older and weakened from long inactivity, exhausted, bent over to catch his breath after a few minutes of chasing.

Seeing that he couldn’t catch up, the Husky stopped, put the shoe on the ground, and provocatively howled at Jianguo:

"Come on, old man, catch me if you can!"

When Jianguo caught his breath and resumed the chase, it picked up the shoe again and dashed around wildly.

The scene repeated itself, comically uncertain whether it was the man chasing the dog or the dog leading the man.

In the end, Erha was left at Jianguo’s side, earning the nickname of a lovable fool.

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