Lina carried herself with the authority of a store manager, not expecting Zhao Panpan to flatter her or try to win her over, and honestly, she found herself curious about what Zhao Panpan would do.
Zhao Panpan quickly got familiar with the environment. At the consultation area, she studied the few tables there, absorbing all the materials—the brand’s strengths, the types of maternity rooms, the pricing for different rooms and services, how meals are prepared and dietary restrictions handled, how nannies are assigned, what goes on in the baby room, the rehabilitation programs, how contracts are signed, how deposits are collected, and the company culture. She soaked it all up like a sponge.
By the end of the day, Zhao Panpan understood the store’s operations inside and out.
The other customer service staff was an unmarried young woman named Meng Ning, but everyone called her Lemon. She had worked in a related industry in Shanghai before. Now, pushed by her family, she had returned to her hometown for matchmaking, and after finding someone suitable, came back to the city to work.
Lemon was friendly toward Zhao Panpan, probably because of her close bond with Lina and Lijuan. She had a natural warmth toward an “outsider.”
Once she saw how organized Zhao Panpan was at work, she liked her even more. Lemon was the store’s top salesperson and answered all of Zhao Panpan’s questions openly.
The atmosphere here wasn’t competitive—everyone maintained a genuine, kind spirit.
Lijuan had initially been cautious because of her sister’s warnings, but after Zhao Panpan helped her with a few work issues, she couldn’t help but be impressed.
By the end of the day, Zhao Panpan had gotten to know the cleaning staff, meal delivery staff, rehabilitation specialists, and the baby room team. Everyone, except the store manager, liked this new employee with a constant smile and positive attitude.
Except Lina.
Lina went home, hearing her sister praise Zhao Panpan, then called other people who had interacted with her. They all gave the same glowing feedback, which made Lina almost doubt herself. “The holidays bring a lot of customers. Do you really think a pregnant woman can handle this? What if something happens? We could be in trouble! She’s taking up a spot—what if we find someone better later?”
Lijuan, cooking, tried to reassure her. “Sis, don’t be so harsh. I think Panpan is pretty good. Let’s try her first. Right now, we really need hands. Even if she’s just serving tea to customers, if she can’t handle sales in two months, she’ll quit herself.”
Lina reluctantly agreed but still felt uneasy.
Zhao Panpan, on the other hand, felt great. After a full day at work, she felt confident she could handle the job. She found a one-bedroom apartment near the store—enough for the next four years while raising her child without needing a second room.
The landlord was a woman in her seventies, living downstairs alone. Rent was reasonable, but she had strict requirements: tenants must be clean, have a college education, greet her at night, and avoid loud noises after 10 PM. Zhao Panpan understood—she knew the elderly worry about accidents and was happy to comply.
At 800 yuan a month, not including utilities, it was cheap compared to other apartments in the area that often cost 1,500 yuan.
The place was also well-maintained, with no cheap furniture or accumulated dirt. A wooden table and chairs on the balcony overlooked lush trees, perfect for reading or soaking up the sun.
The landlord checked Zhao Panpan’s degree and had her sign a contract detailing all the rules.
Zhang Yanyan and Old Li came to help move in. The neighborhood was a bit old and had no elevator, but it was very livable.
After settling Zhao Panpan, Zhang Yanyan asked how work was going and, hearing everything was fine, finally relaxed. “If anything comes up, just call us.”
Her main concern was Zhao Panpan’s health and the baby, but seeing her cheerful and optimistic, she felt reassured.
When a woman has her own money, she gains a sense of security. Right now, Zhao Panpan was doing what she loved, not worrying about the messy past, and that was a good thing.
Meanwhile, the people from the past were far from calm.
Duan Zhibin lost the work he was proud of, was fined, and detained for fifteen days. His mother, Zhou Xianglian, hated the Zhou Xiangping family. She harassed them daily and demanded compensation for Duan Zhibin.
But her money had already been seized by the court and given to Zhao Panpan. She had no way to pay.
“Sis, I helped support you for years! You can’t be so ungrateful!”
Some of Zhang Liang’s assets ended up taken by Zhang Jun, and some were taken by Zhou Xiangping’s siblings, leaving only a little left. That little remaining wealth hurt more than anything Zhou Xiangping had done to her.
“My son could’ve earned hundreds of thousands a year, but your family destroyed that. His future is ruined, so of course, you have to compensate!”
Zhou Xianglian raged, every word dripping with bitterness. “You greedy people! You ruined my daughter-in-law, even hurt the unborn grandchild, stole property, forced my son to make fake documents, and now he’s lost work. I’ll never forgive you!”
When Zhou Xianglian’s own interests were threatened, she immediately turned against Zhou Xiangping. Hearing Zhou Xiangping repeat that she had no money infuriated her. She grabbed Zhou Xiangping by the hair and dragged her outside, shouting curses all the way.
“Everyone on the street should see! This wicked woman destroyed her son and daughter-in-law’s marriage, beat her pregnant daughter-in-law in a hospital, and even killed her own grandchild. I’ve never seen such evil!”
“You shameless woman! You forced my son to help you take property, ruined his career, and now you think you can get away? I’ll make sure you pay! As long as my son isn’t released, I’ll come after you every day!”
Zhou Xiangping cried out, trying to get Lin Jiajia to help, but Lin Jiajia simply closed and locked the door.
Zhou Xiangping felt utterly hopeless, pleading, while Zhou Xianglian showed no mercy.
“What are you doing!”
Zhou Shaowei arrived to see the two women fighting, surrounded by onlookers. “This is so embarrassing!”
Immediately, one stopped hitting, and the other went silent.
Their maternal family mattered deeply to them.
Years ago, when they were beaten and scolded by their husbands and harassed by their mother-in-law, Zhou Shaowei had brought cousins over to smash things, keeping the women safe for a while.
With the fighting stopped, Zhou Xianglian fumed, “They ruined my son and his future. Today, they must pay. Otherwise, how will my son ever have work?”
Zhou Shaowei looked anxious. “Second sister, you’re blaming Zhibin, but even supporting him for life would be justified.”
Zhou Xiangping was shocked, unable to respond. “We never said we’d take Zhao Panpan’s money! It was Zhibin’s idea. We just followed what he said. It wasn’t us—who would know those twisted schemes?”
Smack!
Zhou Xianglian slapped her. “My son helped you so much, and you repay him with slander!”