Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 103: The Eldest Sister of the 90s Quits Sacrificing Herself (15)

　　As Haomei Food Factory gradually got back on track, Zhao Fuyao’s university semester finally began too.

　　Shanghai University was a prestigious school with a long history, and the campus itself was enormous.

　　On registration day, Zhao Fuyao immediately asked whether she could commute instead of staying in the dorms. The school’s reply was simple.

　　To better manage and ensure responsibility for students, only those with local household registration and homes within a five kilometer radius of the university could apply for off-campus living.

　　During summer break, Zhao Fuyao had already transferred her household registration over, and her little western-style villa also happened to fall within the approved distance.

　　So after registering, she submitted her application for commuter status, and it was approved very quickly.

　　From home to school was only a little over a ten minute walk. Normally she could just walk there, or take the tram or public bus whenever she felt lazy. The transportation around the university area was pretty convenient.

　　The major Zhao Fuyao chose was Journalism, one of the hottest majors of the era.

　　University life was comfortable and relaxing.

　　But no matter where you went, there were always annoying people around.

　　For example, one particular classmate in her class.

　　Seeing that Zhao Fuyao commuted from home, the girl assumed she was a local and tried chatting with her in the local dialect. But Zhao Fuyao could not understand it at all, so the girl immediately started throwing sarcastic little jabs at her.

　　“So this is what counts as a local now? In the future, when people ask where you’re from, just don’t go around saying Shanghai.”

　　The female student’s name was Guan Yan. A born-and-raised local, with both parents working as government officials. From the very first day of school, she carried herself with a huge sense of superiority.

　　She already disliked how flashy and eye-catching Zhao Fuyao dressed, and now that she had found something to mock, she became even more arrogant.

　　After hearing that, Zhao Fuyao replied calmly, “Don’t go looking for trouble for no reason. Where I register my household has anything to do with you? Throwing around all these sarcastic comments really makes you feel superior, huh? What, does Shanghai belong to your family?”

　　Guan Yan was furious. “Y-you just wait!”

　　From that moment on, the two officially became enemies.

　　As for Zhao Fuyao, she could not be bothered wasting energy on her.

　　After spending a few days adjusting to university life, she started using her free time to visit the labor market to look for a housekeeper. The villa was far too big for one person to manage alone.

　　Unfortunately, even after making two trips, she still had not found anyone suitable.

　　That day, Zhao Fuyao received a phone call from Duan Yong.

　　He said they were holding a shareholders’ meeting and invited her to attend as well.

　　Zhao Fuyao even specially took leave from school. She went home first to change clothes before heading over to Haomei Food Factory.

　　At university, she dressed however she liked. Her outfits never repeated, and the colors and styles were always trendy and fashionable.

　　But for formal occasions, she preferred more polished attire. Such as a crisp shirt with tailored trousers, or a sharp stand-collar top paired with a long pleated skirt.

　　Her short hair had grown to shoulder length over the past half year. Even though she was only nineteen, she already carried herself with remarkable composure and presence.

　　By the time Zhao Fuyao arrived, the other shareholders were already there.

　　Duan Yong personally went over to welcome her in, even pulling out the seat at the head of the table for her himself.

　　The overly enthusiastic and almost flattering way he treated her earned silent ridicule from the other shareholders.

　　No matter how down on his luck Duan Yong had been, he was still a man in his forties, not to mention the respected director of an entire factory. Meanwhile, the other party was just a little girl. Was there really a need to suck up to her this much?

　　Of course, they only dared mock him privately in their hearts. On the surface, none of them dared act too disrespectfully.

　　After all, the factory had finally started thriving again lately. Even if it was only for the money and dividends, everyone still had to maintain surface-level harmony.

　　Duan Yong ignored the teasing looks from the others. After Zhao Fuyao took her seat, he stood up and formally introduced her.

　　“Last time, everyone only met in a hurry and never properly got acquainted. This is Ms. Zhao Fuyao, the largest shareholder of Haomei Food Factory. She currently holds 57% of the shares and is also the great benefactor who pulled our factory back from the brink.”

　　After Duan Yong finished introducing her, Zhao Fuyao stood up and calmly gave a graceful self-introduction of her own.

　　Sparse applause sounded around the room.

　　One of the shareholders smiled and said, “So you’re Little Zhao, huh? You’re really impressive. Young people these days sure are capable.”

　　Another chimed in, “Exactly. Everyone sitting here is practically old enough to be your father, so don’t mind us calling you Little Zhao.”

　　Before Duan Yong could darken his face and speak up, Zhao Fuyao had already seen straight through their little power play.

　　She let out a faint scoff and did not indulge them in the slightest.

　　“I do mind. And honestly, I think you’re all being pretty rude. What is this, a wet market?”

　　The room instantly fell silent for a moment.

　　Then an elderly man with graying hair and glasses awkwardly laughed things off.

　　“Come now, young girls are thin-skinned. Us old folks shouldn’t tease too much, or she might start crying in a minute.”   

　　Bang!

　　Zhao Fuyao slammed the folder in front of her onto the conference table, then gracefully sat back down and spoke.

　　“Everyone here will address me as President Zhao. And don’t try acting like my elders either. If you can’t understand plain human language, then get out.”

　　Nobody had expected her to be this domineering, and several faces instantly darkened.

　　“You little girl, you’ve gone too far...”

　　Bang!

　　Zhao Fuyao suddenly kicked forward with the sole of her foot. The six or seven meter long conference table violently slid across the floor, dragging the people seated on both sides with it and nearly knocking them off balance.

　　She looked straight at them and said calmly, almost lazily, “If anyone keeps trying to muddy the waters with nonsense, the next kick is going straight to your head.”

　　The meeting room fell deathly silent.

　　For a moment, everyone was completely intimidated by the aura of this young woman. No one dared speak again and risk becoming the next target.

　　One by one, they awkwardly stood up and adjusted their chairs, the looks they gave Zhao Fuyao now far more complicated than before.

　　Meanwhile, Duan Yong quietly let out a sigh of relief.

　　As expected of someone who could casually pull out two million yuan in one go. She truly had no fear of these old foxes.

　　Finally enjoying the peace and quiet around her, Zhao Fuyao rested her chin on one hand and leisurely looked over the group before her.

　　“None of you could even scrape together enough money to pay the workers’ wages, right? You call yourselves capable, yet the factory was on the verge of collapse. No ability, no money, so where exactly do you get the confidence to show off in front of me?”

　　The shareholders’ faces flushed red with humiliation.

　　One of them finally could not hold back anymore.

　　“You don’t need to act so arrogant here. Back when we were making money, you probably weren’t even born yet. No matter what, we’re still your seniors. Don’t go too far with your words and actions!”

　　Zhao Fuyao let out a cold little laugh.

　　“Real winners don’t spend all day bragging about the past. All I know is that if I hadn’t stepped in with money, who knows where all of you would be right now. Respect goes both ways. If you don’t respect me, why should I respect you?”

　　Several shareholders immediately fell silent. The more reasonable ones had already stopped talking altogether.

　　But a few older ones still refused to swallow their pride.

　　“You’re only acting high and mighty because you have some money. This is just luck! Do you even know how to run a factory? If it weren’t for experienced people like us holding things together, you wouldn’t amount to anything either!”

　　Zhao Fuyao almost laughed from disbelief. She looked at him coldly.

　　“So you’re jealous that I’m rich? That’s honestly hilarious. Aren’t you sitting here for the sake of making money too? The day I signed the investment contract, you were grinning like a lapdog. Don’t tell me you forgot already?”

　　The man’s face turned green with anger. “You...!”

　　Zhao Fuyao continued without mercy.

　　“You happily eat from the bowl, then turn around and curse the person who fed you. That describes someone like you perfectly.”

　　The man’s face darkened completely. Furious, he shoved back his chair and prepared to leave.

　　“Uncle Duan, how many shares does this shareholder own?”

　　Zhao Fuyao casually tossed out the question.

　　The man, who had already reached the doorway, suddenly froze in place.

　　Duan Yong immediately replied, “President Zhao, his name is Wu Guotao. He holds 3% of the shares in Haomei Food Factory.”

　　Zhao Fuyao let out a faint scoff. “Only 3% shares and you’re already this arrogant? If you had any more, would you fly straight into the sky? Our factory can’t afford to worship such a giant Buddha. As the major shareholder, I have the authority to remove him from his position in the factory. If he wants to sell his shares, we’ll buy them back. If not, then forget it.”

　　Wu Guotao, who had already reached the doorway, suddenly froze in place. 

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