The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 474 - 473: Winning People’s Hearts

"Bought it, at the end of last year, a three-bedroom apartment, with a total area of 120 square meters, the total price was just over eleven thousand."

Knowing that the couple had bought a house, Shen Mingzhu felt relieved. After settling down in the hotel, she suggested visiting the couple’s new apartment.

The apartment was very nice; it was in a newly built commercial housing complex.

Since the couple did not have local household registration, they could only purchase a commercial property.

Compared to ordinary residences, commercial properties were quite a bit pricier, but the environment was really nice, and the location was good too.

"The floor is a bit high, take a rest if you’re tired."

As they climbed the stairs, Shen Mingzhu was panting for breath, and Du Juan considerately said.

Shen Mingzhu nodded, leaning on the railing and catching her breath.

"Why choose the seventh floor?"

"The lower floors sold out early, only the sixth and seventh floors had vacant apartments, and if you buy the seventh floor, you can use the rooftop terrace, which is convenient for airing clothes and quilts later on, so we just went for the seventh floor."

Shen Mingzhu nodded and continued climbing the stairs as she spoke, "If we have some spare money later on, we can build a sunroom on the rooftop, plant some flowers and grass, and invite friends over for barbecue or hot pot on holidays, which would be quite nice."

Du Juan laughed in agreement, "That’s what I was thinking."

The apartment was under renovation, with freshly painted walls and workers laying floor tiles.

Shen Mingzhu took a quick look around, made a few suggestions, and then followed the couple to the place they were renting.

As soon as they entered, Daya came up holding her brother.

"Auntie."

The little girl had shot up quite a bit taller, her skin had grown much fairer, her eyes black and shining, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail, fresh like a lotus bud just emerging from the water.

"You’ve grown taller and prettier too."

Daya’s cheeks flushed with the compliment, as shy as she was when she was little.

Seeing Shen Mingzhu’s gaze fall on her brother, Daya hurriedly bent down to teach her brother to address her, "Dandan, call her auntie."

Dandan was Shen Zilong’s nickname.

Dandan was just over a year old and had taken after Shen Chaobei’s temperament: his big, round eyes stared at Shen Mingzhu without even blinking, but he wouldn’t open his mouth to call her auntie.

As Shen Mingzhu reached out to tease him, he didn’t move at all, looking somewhat foolish.

"Little sister, you rest at home, I’m off to the company."

Shen Chaobei put down his things and greeted Shen Mingzhu before heading out first.

Du Juan took her son from her daughter’s arms and asked her daughter, "Where’s Aunt Chun?"

"She went to buy groceries."

Daya replied while taking a clean cup to make tea for Shen Mingzhu, "Auntie, have some water."

"Okay."

Shen Mingzhu smiled, accepted the cup, placed it on the coffee table, and stood up to take out a long rectangular box from the gifts she had brought.

"Daya, here you go."

Seeing the pattern on the gift box, Daya’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"Thank you, Auntie!"

"Go ahead and open it."

With Shen Mingzhu’s encouragement, Daya immediately ran to the sofa, carefully unwrapping the box, as if she was afraid of damaging the packaging.

Du Juan recognized from the wrapping paper that it was a popular Little Tyrant learning machine. As she played with her son, she said to Shen Mingzhu, "There’s no need to buy these things for the children, it’s too extravagant."

Currently, a Little Tyrant learning machine was priced at over three hundred, equal to several months’ wages for ordinary people.

Shen Mingzhu carried the tea set and said, "It didn’t matter before when we had no means, but now that we do, we can’t shortchange the child. When you have time, take Daya to buy some learning cards, so she can learn more. It will do her good."

Du Juan promptly agreed.

She had always been convinced by Shen Mingzhu; whatever Shen Mingzhu said, she would listen.

Like presenting a treasure, Daya ran to Shen Mingzhu, clutching the just-unwrapped learning machine that still smelled strongly of plastic, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Auntie, I will study hard and repay you when I grow up!"

Shen Mingzhu was amused and smiled, touching her plump little head, "Do you know how to use this? If not, call your Brother Ziheng tonight, and he’ll teach you."

"I know how to use it! Li Mengjie has this learning machine at her house, and I’ve used it there. She is my deskmate, and we are best friends!" Daya said happily, her face animated with excitement.

"Then give it a try."

"Okay!"

Watching her daughter expertly connecting the different cables of the learning machine to the TV while crouched in front of the TV cabinet, Du Juan suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Although she had assured Shen Mingzhu that she would treat both children equally, over the past two years, her energy had been consumed by work and her son, and she had inevitably neglected her daughter.

The learning machine was not cheap, but it was affordable given their family’s current economic condition.

Though her daughter was sensible and had not asked for it, every time she mentioned Li Mengjie and her learning machine, her tone was filled with envy, yet Du Juan had not taken it seriously.

Thinking this, Du Juan took the initiative to ask Shen Mingzhu which learning cards were best to buy.

Shen Mingzhu replied, "Start by mastering the content of the learning cards that come with it, then later focus on the areas she’s interested in."

Du Juan nodded and took note.

After lunch, Shen Mingzhu followed Du Juan to the company for an inspection.

With just one month to go, the branch office was about to celebrate its second anniversary, and this was the first time she, the boss, had ever visited.

The office space, located in a commercial building in the city center, was roughly one hundred square meters, divided into an employee office area, manager’s office, and finance room.

Including Shen Chaobei and Du Juan, the total number of employees was ten.

In addition, they rented a floor in the industrial park in the eastern suburbs for manufacturing and storage purposes, with the factory and store staff totaling twenty.

All together, the entire branch office employed thirty people.

That evening, Shen Mingzhu hosted a dinner for the entire branch office staff at a well-known local restaurant.

In addition, each employee received a gift for meeting.

They were local Fengcheng specialties, like tribute wine, pearl rice, and sausage.

The items weren’t expensive, but they were a good way to win people’s hearts.

As expected, the next day when she arrived at the branch office, everyone greeted her with smiles and were especially enthusiastic about the work she assigned.

After arranging the preparations for the sugar and wine convention, Shen Mingzhu, accompanied by Du Juan, visited Mingzhu Restaurant and the department store to inspect their activities.

She visited Mingzhu Restaurant first.

The restaurant’s location was very advantageous; just across the street was the commercial pedestrian street which attracted a large flow of customers, and it profited over five thousand each month.

In contrast, the business of the department store was particularly dismal. There were hardly any customers in the entire building, which felt chilly and deserted.

"Since the beginning of last year, several new shopping malls have opened around us. Not only is the environment better, but the goods are also more fashionable, and they have taken away at least eighty percent of the department store’s customers," said Du Juan with sorrow.

Who would have thought that the once highly sought-after state-owned department stores would, in less than two years, fall to the brink of closure.

The management of state-owned enterprises lacked autonomy, the managers were accustomed to the security of ’eating from a big pot,’ and they lacked responsibility and initiative. Everyone was getting by with the minimum; it was inevitable to be replaced by new-era malls with first-class services and richer shopping experiences.

After making a round inside the department store, Shen Mingzhu, led by Du Juan, came to the counter where Guo Xin worked.