Chapter 36 - 33: The Forsaken Wife of the 50s (33)

Chapter 36: Chapter 33: The Forsaken Wife of the 50s (33)

Zhu Yun laughed and chimed in, "You know me so well, Sister-in-law. I’m just from the countryside and only know a few dishes. Over the past few months, I’ve pretty much exhausted my entire repertoire."

"If I don’t work hard at home developing new dishes, how can I justify the high hopes the leaders have for me?"

"That’s why I applied for a refrigerator. Ladies, don’t be fooled by its size. There’s only so much it can hold, so it’s really not practical for me to share it with everyone."

"How about this? You all get your money ready and sign up with me, and I’ll ask the Director later if he can pull some strings to get a few more refrigerators."

When the crowd heard they’d have to pay for it themselves, they all pursed their lips. Someone even muttered, just loud enough for others to hear, "If you don’t want to share, just say so. Don’t use the Director as an excuse. She must have money to burn, showing off like this..."

Having been politely rebuffed, and with the novelty worn off, the crowd dispersed.

Sister-in-law Tan let out a long sigh of relief. "Yun, you did the right thing. You absolutely can’t set a precedent with this. Otherwise, it’ll be as if you spent your own money on a refrigerator just for their convenience."

"Mm, and thank you for your help just now, Sister-in-law. But really, if you ever need to chill anything, feel free to bring it over. We’re good friends, so there’s no need to be formal!" Zhu Yun casually handed her a bowl of cherries. "These are a perk from my work unit. I can’t eat this many by myself. Please, take them for the kids to try."

Sister-in-law Tan couldn’t refuse and said with a sigh, "Oh, you. Once you’re married and living in the family compound, you need to be a bit more shrewd. Don’t go wearing your heart on your sleeve just because someone is a little nice to you."

"What if they’re just after your things? Are you going to give away everything you own?"

Zhu Yun couldn’t help but laugh. "Sister-in-law, I’m not a little kid. I can tell who’s genuinely good to me."

"I really do see you as my own sister. And you’ve looked out for me plenty of times, too."

With that, she told her that she and Mr. Chu were going to be in the collective wedding.

Sister-in-law Tan nodded in agreement. "A collective wedding is a great idea. It’s lively and grand, but without all the hassle."

At this, her expression changed. "When I was working at the farm, I heard that Guo Meiyun and Wu Quanquan are also going to be in the collective wedding."

Zhu Yun shrugged nonchalantly. "So what if they are? It’s organized by the factory."

’In a collective wedding, all the brides and grooms are sure to wear the same outfits. She and Chu Shenyu would definitely outshine everyone with their looks, figures, and charisma, reducing everyone else to a backdrop. What was that saying from a later era about wearing the same clothes?’

’It’s not scary to wear the same outfit; it’s just awkward for whoever’s uglier. Given Guo Meiyun’s petty nature, she’ll probably get so mad she’ll puff up like a blowfish.’

Sister-in-law Tan sighed again. "I also heard that Wu Quanquan pestered his aunt until she got them an apartment on your floor, the seventh."

"Mr. Wang’s wife is having a difficult pregnancy. They’ve already sent a telegram home asking his mother to come and care for her."

She concluded with a look of sympathetic resignation, "So, to sum it up: on your top floor, you’ll have Wu Quanquan and his wife, across the hall you’ll have Mr. Wang and his wife, and your former mother-in-law will be here too."

Zhu Yun couldn’t help but sigh as well. ’Life is certainly going to be interesting from now on,’ she thought. ’I’d better stock up on sunflower seeds and peanuts. Ooh, and I should buy a comfy little stool so I can open my door and watch the drama unfold.’

***

The next day, Zhu Yun arrived at the cafeteria at her usual time, only to find a dozen or so spirited young men and women dressed in neat rows at the entrance, waiting to welcome her!

At the very front, a young woman with a round, baby-fat face quietly counted, "One, two, three!"

"Good morning, Master!" the group roared at the top of their lungs.

Zhu Yun felt the ground tremble from the force of it and took a moment to compose herself.

Although her skin was already in good condition, she believed that skincare was a never-ending battle, so Zhu Yun still kept herself thoroughly covered.

Her eyes remained serene. "Hello."

"Thank you for your hard work, Master!"

"Serve the people..." The words slipped out of her mouth automatically. ’What in the world was that for?’ she wondered.

Just then, Director Wang came out, beaming. "Chef Zhu, what do you think of the apprentices I’ve found for you? Want to test them first?"

"Once you’re satisfied, we’ll hold a formal apprenticeship ceremony. After that, you can just sit back and enjoy the respect they’ll show you. There aren’t many masters in the entire factory with your level of prestige, you know."

There were other old masters in the factory, of course, but each only took on two or three apprentices from every batch of new hires. To have seven or eight apprentices over a lifetime was considered pretty good.

"Please test us, Master!" the group of young people shouted, bowing respectfully once more.

Zhu Yun blinked. "Is all this formality necessary?"

’An apprenticeship ceremony banquet, even.’

Director Wang rubbed his hands together and smiled. "Of course! As the saying goes, ’a teacher for a day is a father for life’—or in your case, a mother for life. Learning a trade requires a master to teach them step by step. They can’t be ungrateful; they must treat you with the filial respect due to a true elder. These are the rules!"