The Stepmother's Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era-Chapter 455 - 454: Zhou Shuhuan’s Awakening

While Shen Mingzhu had a moment to herself, Yu Jin’e eagerly approached her.

"Mingzhu, auntie wants to ask you something. Among those driving cars, are there any who are still unmarried? It doesn’t matter if they are a bit older."

As soon as Shen Mingzhu heard this, she understood Yu Jin’e’s intentions, "No, they all have families."

Yu Jin’e was somewhat disappointed, "Our Hongmei is already 26 this year. She’s been working for you these past years, even putting off marriage. When can you help her find a match? We don’t have any other requests, just that he must be a city resident and have a house."

"Someone like Pei Yang will do."

The first few sentences from Yu Jin’e, Shen Mingzhu could still tolerate.

After all, Shen Hongmei herself was not lacking in qualifications; she had high earnings and was also ambitious. Even if Yu Jin’e didn’t mention it, Shen Mingzhu wouldn’t let Shen Hongmei marry back into a rural area.

It wasn’t that she looked down on rural areas, but the current social background and environment dictated a colossal difference between rural and urban people in many aspects.

Thinking of Shen Hongmei’s long-term prospects, marrying into the city was definitely the best.

But Yu Jin’e went as far as to compare her with Pei Yang.

Pei Yang, whose abilities and position far surpassed those of Shen Hongmei, and those men who drove cars to the banquet, each of them had a significant status. How could you, a rural old woman, afford to be so picky?

"Auntie Jin’e, this isn’t a marketplace, nor are we hosting a suitor selection banquet for your family today. I welcome you if you’re here to genuinely celebrate the birthday, but if you have other intentions, I’m sorry, you’re free to leave."

"Qiuxia, please see the guest out."

"Yes!"

Pei Qiuxia, who was already seething, moved forward to escort Yu Jin’e to the restaurant’s entrance.

Yu Jin’e, unwilling to leave, turned her head trying to call out to Shen Mingzhu, but Pei Qiuxia pinched her arm, "Auntie Jin’e, please don’t make a scene. If you spoil today’s birthday banquet and upset my cousin, whether or not Hongmei can keep her managerial position is uncertain."

These words hit home for Yu Jin’e.

A failed marriage for her eldest daughter was a minor issue, but losing her job would be a severe loss!

She was counting on her eldest daughter making big money to build a new house for the family.

"Girl, please speak to Mingzhu on my behalf. I won’t bring this up again, alright?"

"Auntie Jin’e, my cousin and your family are neither kin nor relatives. It’s not appropriate for you to call her Mingzhu. Please remember to respectfully address her as President Shen the next time you see her."

Yu Jin’e sheepishly said, "I know Mingzhu is now a big boss, but she also grew up before my eyes..."

"If it weren’t for the sake of our fellow township, you wouldn’t even be able to enter the restaurant today."

Despite her pleas, Yu Jin’e ultimately was left outside the restaurant by Pei Qiuxia.

She didn’t dare, and also lacked the audacity, to force her way back inside, so she could only stand in the cold trying to figure out how to get a message to her eldest daughter.

...

Shen Hongju received the news first and immediately rushed to find Shen Hongmei, "Sis, mom’s been kicked out..."

Shen Hongmei was somewhat surprised, but after hearing the whole story, she calmed down.

She found a cotton coat and told Shen Hongju to take it out to Yu Jin’e.

"Sis, aren’t you going to do something about our mom?"

Shen Hongju didn’t understand.

Shen Hongmei was slightly irritated, "What can I do? She’s an adult. Doesn’t she know what day it is? Just because people flatter her, she forgets her own surname."

"Let her stand outside to catch a breeze and maybe that’ll sober her up!"

Shen Hongju delivered the cotton coat and also relayed Shen Hongmei’s exact words.

Yu Jin’e felt both angry and embarrassed, but there was nothing she could do, so she had to wrap herself in the cotton coat and regret her actions in the cold wind.

...

The news of Yu Jin’e being "invited" out of the restaurant quickly spread among the people of Shenjiagou.

Some laughed at the spectacle, while others sighed with feeling.

But everyone had reached a unanimous realization: the times had changed, and Shen Mingzhu, the sparrow that had flown from Shenjiagou, was now a true phoenix, no longer on the same level as them.

They could fawn and curry favor, hoping to share in Shen Mingzhu’s success, but they had no right to impose their morals on her.

Otherwise, they would become the next Yu Jin’e.

It had to be said that Shen Mingzhu’s tactic of making an example out of someone had worked well.

However, there were always those who were skeptical.

"Auntie Jin’e, now that Shen Mingzhu has risen to wealth, she looks down on us folks from Shenjiagou, treating you like this."

"You have no idea how many people are laughing at your family behind your back."

"If it were me, I would barge in and cause a scene, turn her world upside down. She didn’t show you any mercy, so you don’t need to save face for her."

Yu Jin’e glared at Shen Baolan with a side-eye, "Baolan, I may be getting on in years, but my mind is still sharp. My Hongmei works with Mingzhu and makes a neat sum of two thousand a year. A little grievance like this is nothing to me."

"As for you, what are you really after? You have an issue with Mingzhu, that’s your business. Don’t expect to use me as your pawn."

Failing to stir up trouble, Shen Baolan sullenly prepared to return to the restaurant.

Having snowed just last night, it was freezing cold outside.

But the moment she stepped one foot through the restaurant’s main entrance, she was stopped by Pei Qiuxia.

"The sister-in-law said Auntie Jin’e is lonely outside by herself, so you should stay out here and keep Auntie Jin’e company with your chatter, don’t come in," said Qiuxia.

Shen Baolan glared at Pei Qiuxia, who was blocking her way. "Our family has given a gift money, by what right are you stopping me from entering! Move aside! Otherwise, I’ll make a fuss, and we’ll see who ends up embarrassed."

"The sister-in-law has reserved a private room for you in the tea house next door, where you and Auntie Jin’e can chat all you want and have some hot tea when you’re tired," explained Qiuxia.

"When the feast starts, the sister-in-law will arrange for meals to be sent there for you, please go ahead."

After saying this, Pei Qiuxia promptly called over two waiters and dragged Shen Baolan to the tea house next to the restaurant.

Yu Jin’e was also "invited" over.

On the second floor of the restaurant.

Shen Mingzhu stood in front of a window, looking down coldly at the scene unfolding below.

She had prepared for today’s birthday feast for nearly two months, refusing to allow anyone the chance to spoil it.

The news of Shen Baolan being "invited" to leave the feast quickly spread, spurring varied comments.

People in the family compound were cursing Shen Baolan, saying she got what she deserved.

Though Ma Sufen was annoyed with her daughter-in-law’s lack of wisdom, she was more concerned about losing face, so she took her grandson to find Zhou Shuhuan and told him about the situation.

She hoped Zhou Shuhuan could help plead their case so that her daughter-in-law could at least sit through the meal.

Otherwise, when they returned home after the feast, the people in the family compound would surely laugh at the Zhou family to no end.

Zhou Shuhuan dismissed Ma Sufen with noncommittal responses and sent her away. Turning around, he watched Pei Yang, looking triumphant among the crowd, with mixed feelings in his heart.

He had recently had a dream.

A very long dream.

In the dream, Shen Mingzhu had married him, and Shen Baolan had married Pei Yang.

Half a year later, Pei Yang died in a sea accident, leaving Shen Baolan a widow.

After mourning his brother’s early passing for a while, he picked himself up and ventured into business once again.

This time, he succeeded.

He made a lot of money, bought a big house, drove a car, and lived a happy life with Shen Mingzhu.

Everything in the dream felt so real, that happiness didn’t seem like a dream at all, but more like his actual life.

Waking up, he sat at the head of his bed and smoked half a pack of cigarettes before finally realizing that he couldn’t continue to waste his life.