Chapter Twenty-Two: The Housewife

The two men couldn’t help but look at her with contempt.
After being a housewife for three years, she probably had no clue about the current market trends, yet she dared to apply for the position of deputy general manager at a top business conglomerate, as if it were child's play.
Pei Susu and the HR director had already reviewed the résumés of the three candidates and had a rough idea about them.
The HR director proceeded with the interview, asking each candidate questions as per the process.
“What was the greatest challenge you faced during your tenure?”
“My biggest challenge was handling a complex corporate merger, which required coordinating multiple departments and stakeholders. In the end, we achieved a successful transaction.”
“When your subordinates have conflicts, how do you handle it?”
“Resolving internal conflicts requires objectivity and fairness. It’s important to communicate and negotiate appropriately, understand the interests and demands of all parties, and find the best solution based on the company’s overall interests.”
Their answers were textbook and official, so Pei Susu lost interest in taking comparative notes. She simply set down her pen and looked up at them.
“Tell me about your understanding of the Fu Group and your suggestions for its current strategy.”
The two men, seeing the general manager pose the question, eagerly scrambled to answer, “Fu Group is the leading conglomerate in the capital, with business spanning multiple sectors and regions…”
...
The HR director favored the second interviewee and whispered to Pei Susu.
“A doctoral student from the most popular major at B University, surely possesses strong learning ability. He worked in the finance department of the group, so his work skills shouldn’t be lacking.”
But Pei Susu’s gaze passed over the two men and landed on the quietly seated female professional beside them. “I want to choose Zhou Haoyue. Mo Group is second only to Fu Group in the capital, and Zhou Haoyue joined Mo Group right after graduation.”
“They’ve all struggled for at least ten years, yet Zhou Haoyue rose all the way to general manager in less than six years. Her capabilities are not weak.”
The HR director frowned in dilemma. “President Pei, what you say makes sense, but Zhou Haoyue has been out of the workforce for two years, and you know her family situation.”
“Her child is just a month old. What if she leaves halfway through work to care for her child?”

Zhou Haoyue nodded firmly. “I have already arranged for a reliable nanny to care for my child. I will not take frequent leaves.”
Pei Susu stood up and reached out to her. “Looking forward to working with you.”
The two men beside them couldn’t believe they lost to a housewife and voiced their doubts.
“Just because she says she won’t suddenly leave to nurse her child, does it mean she won’t? Why did she give up the promising position of general manager at Mo Group two years ago and resign to get married?”
“Exactly, and she’s already had one child. Who’s to say she won’t have a second or third? Then she’ll take half a year’s maternity leave, and when the child is born, she’ll quit again to take care of her family.”
Zhou Haoyue’s patience was not infinite. After being repeatedly ridiculed by them, her gentle and refined face turned cold, revealing the aura of a decisive, formidable woman she once was.
“I have no plans for a second or third child. My husband has left his job to pursue a side business and will help take care of our child. The nanny will handle the rest of the trivialities. I have no concerns on the family front.”
“As for you two, we’ve worked together before. I remember rejecting both of your proposals—they were clueless and argumentative, just like now. If you’re not convinced, we can write scenario plans and compete.”
Pei Susu saw that she was not as fragile and easily bullied as she appeared, and her appreciation for Zhou Haoyue deepened. She gave her a thumbs-up in approval.
A deputy general manager needs a certain level of compliance, but also the authority to command subordinates.
Seeing Pei Susu’s support for Zhou Haoyue, the two men knew they had no chance at the deputy general manager position at Fu Group. They scoffed, grabbed their briefcases, and left with stiff faces.
“Of course women favor women.”
Pei Susu’s gentle, aloof eyes suddenly sharpened. “My initial impression of you was good, and I seriously considered you. But when faced with the risk of rejection, you didn’t try to fight for it, nor did you showcase your strengths.”
“Your resentment isn’t about comparing abilities, but about fixating on your competitor’s gender and attacking her.”
The HR director, a middle-aged man, felt relieved after hearing Pei Susu's words and sighed.
“The beginning and end of an interview is when you walk into and out of this room.”
At this moment, the two stood at the doorway of the interview room, and hurriedly left, one foot already out the door.
—

At Xingye Group, after quarrelling and falling out with her senior colleagues, Chu Qingzhu returned to her office alone. Watching the unfamiliar faces passing through the workspace, she realized she had no allies left.
Suddenly, a face flashed by. Chu Qingzhu looked at the bid proposal on her desk, prepared earlier for Fu Group, and made a call.
“The number you dialed cannot be reached.”
She tried three more times, but still couldn’t connect. Searching online for Luo Yuan’s news, she discovered that Luo Yuan had not only stepped down from her position as deputy general manager at Fu Group,
but soon after her resignation, a sulfuric acid assault occurred outside Fu Group's headquarters.
“Luo Yuan tried to drag Pei Susu down with her, failed, and out of anger attempted to hurt someone, only to be caught by Fu Zhi Chen.”
Chu Qingzhu connected the two incidents and paid to have Luo Yuan’s whereabouts investigated, eventually finding her under an overpass by the riverside.
“You work for me, I’ll give you money and a place to stay. Luo Yuan, you’re running out of options.”
“Chu Qingzhu, what makes you think you can say that to me? If it weren’t for the flawed bid proposal you and Liang Wenru prepared, Fu Zhi Chen wouldn’t have suspected me.” Luo Yuan desperately tried to maintain a cold expression.
A month ago, she was the elegant, proud deputy general manager of Fu Group. Now, she lived under a bridge among vagrants, dressed in filthy clothes, reeking, harassed by beggars all day, narrowly escaping assault several times.
She was nearly driven to collapse, and crazily approached Chu Qingzhu. “Look at what I’ve become—does it amuse you? I tried to hurt Pei Susu, and Fu Zhi Chen wants to deal with me. What can you do?”
Chu Qingzhu recoiled from her stench, but her current circumstances left no room for hesitation. Offending Fu Group? Liang Wenru had long been hated by Fu Zhi Chen, and by sticking with him, could she escape blame?
Liang Wenru’s attitude towards her was growing colder and inconsistent, and he still hadn’t mentioned marrying her.
Xingye was deteriorating day by day, with frequent personnel changes. She couldn’t cultivate her own team in time, making her plans difficult to execute.
“Luo Yuan, you’ve been deputy general manager at Fu Group for years. Surely you have some skills and connections of your own.”