The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 856 - 855: What Good Can Come from Something Cheap?

Chapter 856: Chapter 855: What Good Can Come from Something Cheap?

"What do you think about this new production line in the food factory?"

After visiting the factory, Du Juan discussed with her two entrepreneurial partners.

One of them said, "The efficiency and standards of the production are on par with Fu Wang’s technology."

Another agreed, "Yes, and the prices are even cheaper."

Although Fu Wang does not have a mooncake production line, they have a similar pork floss cake production line costing about six hundred thousand, which is twice as expensive as Bilihua’s.

"That’s not entirely true. Our production lines are imported from Germany, featuring top-of-the-world craftsmanship and materials. Theirs are at best knock-offs, which might not even last two years. Ours can run for twenty years without any issues!"

That makes sense—who would expect quality from something cheap?

The two entrepreneurial partners thought this, but seeing Du Juan’s indifferent expression, they tactfully remained silent.

However, Mai Qiu, failing to read the room, continued unabated, "Director Du, you saw it today as well. President Shen didn’t treat you like one of her own at all. She has been on guard against you ever since returning to the factory."

Hearing this, the two entrepreneurial partners displayed surprise, but Mai Qiu continued to seethe:

"She clearly held plenty of orders in hand and had long planned to introduce new production lines, yet she didn’t share a word with you. Isn’t it just to push you out and take over herself, leaving you saddled with a reputation for ingratitude? She wants both the fame and the profit! Isn’t her calculation crystal clear?"

After saying this and noticing the two entrepreneurial partners staring at her, she retorted, "Am I wrong?"

The two covered their embarrassment with a forced laugh, keeping their true thoughts to themselves.

Upon returning to the company, the HR manager led a middle-aged female employee to Du Juan.

"Director Du, Sister Wu has completed her onboarding and starts work today."

After the HR manager left, Du Juan tasked Mai Qiu, "Sister Wu will be with you temporarily. Show her the ropes."

"Oh."

Leaving Du Juan’s office, Mai Qiu introduced Sister Wu, Wu Yongmei, around the company while curiously inquiring about her background.

When she learned that Wu Yongmei was hired as the executive secretary, she couldn’t help but wonder.

Though her title was assistant manager, she also handled many secretarial tasks.

Director Du hired a new secretary—did she have different plans for her?

She had been by Director Du’s side for three to four years now. It was time for her to move up.

After all, the previous assistants at the food factory were now either supervisors or managers.

Thinking this, Mai Qiu secretly rejoiced and started imagining which department she might be assigned to oversee.

Caught up in her thoughts, Mai Qiu happily accepted the fact that Wu Yongmei would be replacing her, but she became critical and picky about Wu Yongmei’s personal circumstances.

"Director Du, why did you hire Sister Wu as a secretary?"

Director Du joked, "Do you have something against Sister Wu?"

"That’s not it. It’s just that she seems too old. She’s 38 this year, two years older than you, and her educational level isn’t high—only junior high. Plus, she hasn’t had a proper job before. What did you see in her?"

"You might think she’s old, but I appreciate her rich life experience and steadiness, qualities not found in the younger generation. Moreover, Sister Wu is very good at dealing with people. She was self-employed for over a decade; her ability to endure hardships and stay focused for so long proves her resilience."

Hearing Du Juan’s high praise for Wu Yongmei, Mai Qiu couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous.

"If she’s so capable, why is she still working for us? Didn’t all those self-employed people from the early years make a fortune?"

Even the most capable and money-savvy women can be dragged down by parasitic family members.

Her husband gambled, her mother-in-law was sick, her father-in-law had died early, and for the sake of her children, Wu Yongmei had endured it all with gritted teeth for half her life.

Fortunately, this year her son successfully got into college, and her daughter also found a job after graduating from technical school. Wu Yongmei traded her entire fortunes for a divorce certificate and came alone to Fengcheng to start anew.

This was one of the main reasons Du Juan chose Wu Yongmei to replace Mai Qiu. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

But these were Wu Yongmei’s private matters, which she did not want to share with Mai Qiu in detail, merely dismissing it with "Every family has its troubles."

...

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen Mingzhu convened a general meeting of all factory employees.

"This year, we sold a total of 385,980 boxes of mooncakes, with a sales volume of 5,017,740 yuan, setting a historical record since the establishment of the factory. As the founder and general manager of Ronghua Mooncake, I sincerely say to all the staff, thank you, you have worked hard!"

As her words ended, Shen Mingzhu bowed 30 degrees to the audience below.

Thunderous applause resounded through the sky, every employee’s face was filled with excitement and thrill, which peaked further following the reform measures Shen Mingzhu introduced next.

"Starting this month, workers in the workshop will receive a raise of 20~30% depending on their employee grade, full attendance and various allowances will increase by 20%, and meal subsidies will be given in cash. Everyone can freely choose their dining options without affecting their normal work."

These measures for enhancing the remuneration and treatment of employees had been proposed by Shen Mingzhu before but had been overwhelmingly rejected by most of the management.

This time, however, none of the dozens of managers present raised any objection.

In their eyes, Shen Mingzhu was unequivocally an esteemed leader.

She would lead the food factory to glory; her every decision was infallible truth.

Shortly after the Mid-Autumn Festival came the National Day.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, not only did the food factory turn around beautifully with the sales of mooncakes, but Li Mei also benefited greatly.

Within a month, it sold more than forty production lines, with revenue exceeding ten million yuan.

Shen Mingzhu was never a stingy boss. Besides doubling the bonuses, she also paid for her employees to go on vacation.

However, she herself did not want to go out.

After nearly two months of intense work, the exhausted Shen Mingzhu only wanted to find a quiet place surrounded by beautiful mountains and rivers to sleep for a couple of days.

Pei Tang, invited by Ning Yanxi, wanted to visit Hong City.

After discussing with her husband and son, it was agreed that the father and son would accompany their daughter to Hong City while she and Zhong Qing, who also did not want to go out, would vacation at the nearby Hot Spring Villa in the neighboring city.

The villa was built deep in the mountains and forests.

To allow visitors to deeply appreciate the essence and atmosphere of nature, the entire villa neither had electricity nor running water.

Visitors fetched well water for washing in the morning and used candles for lighting at night; all the food ingredients were locally grown in the mountains like wild vegetables, mushrooms, and game.

Shen Mingzhu was skeptical about the term "locally grown."

With an endless stream of visitors arriving, if there wasn’t some human intervention, the mountain top would likely be stripped bare.

The guest rooms were independent small courtyards with thatched roofs, red brick walls, and bamboo fenced gates.

Though simple, safety wasn’t an issue as the villa had security personnel patrolling 24 hours, and experienced guides familiar with the mountains led the way when going outside.