Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 358: Zhang Yulan’s Malevolent Mother-in-Law
Turning around, she saw Chen Meilan standing not far behind the group.
"Xiao Su, come here for a moment, I have something to tell you."
"Sister Zhang, Shuangshuang, you guys head back first, I’ll chat with Director Chen for a bit."
Once the two left, Chen Meilan’s tense expression finally relaxed.
"Xiaoxiao, it’s about tomorrow’s dinner, don’t forget it."
Chen Meilan spoke, her face reddening after a long pause.
Su Xiaoxiao assured, "Don’t worry, Director Chen, I definitely won’t forget."
Chen Meilan: "The results of the election are out, and I guess I’ll have to call you Manager Su from now on... The announcement will be posted tomorrow, but since you have the day off, I wanted to let you know in advance."
It was the first time Su Xiaoxiao heard Chen Meilan speak so much; she noticed her unnatural demeanor and thought that there must be something she wanted to say.
Who would have thought Director Chen would be this shy in private?
She chuckled inwardly, keeping a straight face: "Thank you, Director Chen. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to work."
"W-wait."
Chen Meilan mustered the courage to speak: "Xiaoxiao, do you think I should get a new hairstyle, maybe a perm or something?"
Turns out she was nervous about the date tomorrow.
Su Xiaoxiao figured it out; no matter how calm and composed Chen Meilan usually seemed, she still had the heart of a girl in her early twenties.
She sized up Chen Meilan.
During work, she always had this hairstyle.
Her hair was all pulled back, revealing a clean forehead, and casually braided into a thick, long braid.
A very common hairstyle for this era.
Actually, Chen Meilan had the perfect oval face and striking features. If she had a wavy perm and some makeup, she would definitely look great.
But she always dressed too plainly and rarely smiled, giving off the vibe of a school disciplinarian.
Su Xiaoxiao: "Director Chen, you could try a curly perm. You have a lovely face shape, and if you let your hair down with a headband, you’d be gorgeous."
Chen Meilan was a bit embarrassed by the compliment: "Alright, I’ll get a perm tonight, thank you, Xiao Su."
"Well... you should get back to work, I won’t take any more of your time."
Having said that, Chen Meilan hurried off, and as she passed by Su Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao noticed her reddened earlobes.
Ooh, Director Chen is quite cute in private.
Su Xiaoxiao thought to herself, following Chen Meilan into the department store.
Even though the results of the election hadn’t been announced, the performance gap was so huge that everyone could guess the outcome.
Su Xiaoxiao was about to replace Liu Changjiang as the new sales department manager.
As a result, many people were treating her exceptionally warmly.
People she wasn’t familiar with were also warmly greeting her as they saw her.
It almost made Su Xiaoxiao, an introvert, feel socially anxious.
As soon as she arrived at the counter, Zhang Yulan hooked her by the shoulder: "Manager Su, you can’t forget the revolutionary friendship between the three of us because of those flashy bimbos."
Qin Shuang chimed in softly: "She won’t, Xiaoxiao isn’t that kind of person."
Su Xiaoxiao quickly pledged her loyalty: "Of course not, no matter what position I hold in the future, you two are my best friends."
Zhang Yulan felt warmed in her heart and was about to speak when someone called out to her: "Sister Zhang, an elderly lady is looking for you."
Elderly lady? Could it be that malicious mother-in-law of hers?
Thinking of it, Zhang Yulan’s face instantly soured.
The old woman had repeatedly pressured her to give up her job to her sister-in-law and to stay home to take care of the children.
She refused, and they had quarreled a few times. She never expected her to show up directly at the department store today.
She didn’t want to meet her, but knowing the old woman’s temperament, if she didn’t go out, it wouldn’t end today.
"Xiaoxiao, Shuangshuang, I’ll step out for a bit. If I’m not back by work time, please watch over things for me."
Saying that, Zhang Yulan rushed out.
The two of them noticed Zhang Yulan’s unusual expression and felt a bit uneasy.
Su Xiaoxiao: "Shuangshuang, I’m worried about Sister Zhang, I’ll go and check it out, I’ll be right back."
Qin Shuang also wanted to go, but seeing that it was almost work time, leaving the food counter unattended wasn’t an option.
She could only nod: "Alright, go check it out. If there’s anything that needs my help, send someone to call me."
If nothing else, at least if it comes to a squabble, one more person could add some strength.
"Alright, I’ll head over."
Su Xiaoxiao said, placing her handbag under the counter and jogging over.
Soon, she followed and reached the entrance, spotting Zhang Yulan engaged in a heated argument with an elderly lady who looked to be in her sixties. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Getting closer, she could finally hear their conversation.
Zhang Yulan: "No way, there’s no way I’d transfer my job to your daughter, don’t even think about it."
Old Lady Zhang: "Hmph, I see you’re restless. Now that you’re married and have children, you should stay home and take care of them. Out in public every day, what’s the point?"
Zhang Yulan bit her lip hard. Her job was her bottom line and her last stand; she would never compromise, no matter what.
Old Lady Zhang: "Fine, you won’t transfer, right? Then you’ll take care of the kids by yourself in the future, don’t expect me to help you."
"Well, I don’t need your help. As for my job, stop dreaming about it, and if you come looking for me again, I won’t contribute a penny from my salary to the household."
Zhang Yulan clenched her fist and spoke coldly.
"Just try not paying, and see if I don’t have my son divorce you."
"Then go right ahead and divorce, I’ll take the child and live on my own. It’s hardly different from what things are now anyway."
Zhang Yulan’s words silenced the old lady, who huffed coldly and stomped off angrily.
Seeing her leave, Zhang Yulan finally breathed a sigh of relief and slowly loosened her hand. Even in the middle of winter, her palm was slick with sweat, and the wind bit into the icy dregs.
A warm hand clasped hers then, and startled, she turned to see Su Xiaoxiao standing behind her.
"Sister Zhang, are you okay?"
From Su Xiaoxiao’s angle, she could see Zhang Yulan’s reddened eyes, glistening with moisture.
Zhang Yulan wiped her eyes with her sleeve: "I’m fine, let’s hurry back, it’s time."
When it came to her family mess, Zhang Yulan didn’t want to say a word.
As she stayed silent, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t know how to ask.
Everyone has their vulnerabilities; they’re unwilling to show this side to others, and Su Xiaoxiao could understand.
But since she had witnessed today’s events, she didn’t want to stand idly by. Maybe there were other ways she could help Zhang Yulan.
Like finding a way to put that vile mother-in-law in her place.
Though exactly how, she had no idea. The trick would be helping without hurting Sister Zhang’s pride.
As she pondered, they had already returned to the food counter, where Qin Shuang swiftly approached them.
"Xiaoxiao, quick, the general manager just came looking for you!"
