The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 845 - 844 Admonishment

For Shen Mingzhu and Du Juan’s squabble, Jia Yuemei reveled in their misfortune more than anyone else.

Over the years, the kindness Shen Mingzhu had shown to Shen Chaobei and his wife, Du Juan, nearly made her eyes turn green with envy; she was eager for discord between the two households, hoping that once Shen Mingzhu and her brother’s relationship soured, the benefits would fall into their (Jia Yuemei’s) second branch of the family.

With such wishful thinking, she couldn’t wait to stir up trouble in front of Shen Mingzhu.

When she saw Shen Mingzhu saw through her intentions, although embarrassed, she was unwilling to give up halfway.

"Butting into others’ business is nosy, but when it comes to our own family, I can’t help but speak up. To tell you the truth, I really feel for you, little sister. You’ve been so good to your sister-in-law, wholeheartedly supportive. If it weren’t for you, she’d still be digging sweet potatoes back in the countryside!"

Shen Mingzhu replied neither softly nor sharply, "Second sister-in-law, I treat my eldest brother and sister-in-law the same way I treat you and second brother. If you think my sister-in-law is ungrateful, then you should set an example by keeping your own conscience and not become an ingrate."

Jia Yuemei sulked, "It’s big sister-in-law who wronged you, why drag me into it?"

"Just a few words said in anger, it’s not a question of who wronged who. Haven’t you talked behind my back, second sister-in-law?"

"I certainly have not."

Shen Mingzhu gave her a look that said "whatever makes you happy," and carried the prepared fruit plate into the living room.

Jia Yuemei pursed her lips, but quickly put on a smile and followed Shen Mingzhu into the living room.

At half-past four in the afternoon, after the last customer had left, Shen Mingzhu returned to the living room and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Shen Hongmei feeding her daughter on the sofa.

"Is Huanhuan awake?"

"She just woke up, and the moment she did, she started fussing for milk."

Shen Mingzhu sat down beside mother and daughter, looking at the little milk baby who sucked on her bottle with little grunts, her expression involuntarily softened.

Shen Hongmei, observing her, showed concern, "Are you alright?"

"What could be wrong with me?"

Seeing her composed expression and clear eyes, Shen Hongmei shook her head with a smile, "It’s just me worrying too much. I was afraid you were upset because of what Dandan said."

"One issue can be viewed from different perspectives, leading to different conclusions. It would be wrong of me to force others to agree with and echo me."

Shen Hongmei earnestly said, "But I think that everything you do, you do for good reason."

Shen Mingzhu smiled, "That’s just your personal opinion. You can’t expect others to think the same way you do."

Shen Hongmei nodded, "Yes, that’s true."

After leaving Ruifeng Garden, the driver asked Shen Hongmei, "Ma’am, are we heading home now?"

Considering the blazing sun overhead, Shen Hongmei instructed the driver to go to Mingzhu Restaurant. She bought some afternoon tea sets and then took her daughter to Zhao Dafa’s company.

Upon arriving, after handing the afternoon tea and her daughter over to Zhao Dafa, Shen Hongmei drove back to the food factory with two sets of afternoon tea.

Today was the weekend.

The office staff at the food factory had weekends off, but to prevent unforeseen incidents, two or three managers were on duty over the weekend.

It was Du Juan’s turn to be on duty this week.

"Why are you here at this hour?"

Near the end of the workday, Du Juan was surprised to see Shen Hongmei at the factory.

Shen Hongmei, placing the afternoon tea on the coffee table, smiled and said, "No particular reason, I just came to see how you were doing. Are you finished with your work?"

"What work could there be, with the factory in its current state, it’s not like there’s anything to do."

Shen Hongmei opened the box of desserts she had brought and handed a cup of fruit tea to Du Juan.

Du Juan took the tea but didn’t drink it, instead looking at Shen Hongmei and saying, "You’re looking for me because you have something to say, right?"

Shen Hongmei lowered her head for a sip of tea before speaking, "Something happened at Guoguo’s birthday party at noon. You must know about it, right?"

Du Juan was silent. "Chaobei and I have been busy with work and have neglected Dandan’s discipline."

"Kids will be kids, and getting into trouble is inevitable. We mothers can all understand that. Actually, this matter has nothing to do with me; I might be overstepping by even talking to you about it."

Du Juan said, "You’re already here, so just speak your mind."

Shen Hongmei took another sip of her tea and lowered her head, "You now, you remind me of myself from some time ago. Back then, I made money from stock trading and felt on top of the world, full of confidence and arrogance, believing Shen Mingzhu was a hindrance, and even made quite a disgrace of myself."

"But reality soon slapped me hard, and I realized that without Mingzhu, I was nothing, incapable of doing anything well."

"Du Juan, we both benefitted from Mingzhu’s help to get out of the poverty of Shenjiagou. I really hope you don’t make the same mistakes I did."

Du Juan shook her head, "Hongmei, I’m not like you."

"I can’t deny that in those first few years, Mingzhu really helped me a lot. She taught me how to stand on my own two feet. But everything since then, I’ve achieved through my own effort and ability, step by step, to where I am today."

"I don’t have Mingzhu’s smart brain, nor do I have a husband as capable as yours. From beginning to end, I’ve only had myself to rely on."

This statement was undoubtedly an insinuation that all of Shen Hongmei’s success was due to her husband.

Shen Hongmei, who had a bit of a temper as well, left a remark, "I’ve said my piece, just hope you won’t regret it later," and got up to leave.

She had barely left when Mai Qiu came in.

"Director Du, what did Manager Shen come to talk to you about? She looked unhappy as she left."

Du Juan handed her assistant the untouched fruit tea, "I haven’t touched this tea or the snacks; you have them."

"Oh."

Mai Qiu took the tea, remembering something, "Right, earlier Director Liang called to discuss something with you, but Manager Shen was here, so I pushed it back for you."

"I know."

...

Zhao Dafa walked in the door at ten o’clock at night.

Although he had drunk quite a bit at a dinner party and wasn’t very clear-headed, he immediately noticed that his wife on the couch wasn’t in a good mood.

"What’s wrong? Has Huanhuan been mischievous again?"

He sat down next to Shen Hongmei, draping an arm over her shoulder to ask.

Shen Hongmei shook her head, smelling the alcohol on him, and said, "I saved some soup for you; let me get it for you."

"Um, thanks, wife."

The soup was quickly served to Zhao Dafa.

"Tastes good, did you make it?"

Her husband’s praise undoubtedly satisfied Shen Hongmei internally, "It’s hot out, and you love to drink, so I stewed a turtle to clear your heat."

"You’ve worked hard." freeweɓnovel.cøm

"For family, there’s no need to be so courteous with me."

Zhao Dafa took two big sips of the soup before speaking, "Since we’re family, if you have any troubles, just talk about them. Don’t keep them bottled up."

Feeling depressed and encouraged by Zhao Dafa, Shen Hongmei shared everything that had happened at the birthday party, as well as her visit with Du Juan.

"I really don’t want Du Juan to go down my old path. I was lucky and turned back in time, but I’m afraid she won’t be able to."