Siheyuan: Cooking journey

After playing a little joke with Ma Hua, He Yuzhu started cooking and preparing breakfast in a good mood.

On the side, Qin Huairu lowered her head and picked cabbages, with a different light flashing in her eyes, and she felt anxious and regretful.

The head of the cafeteria, He Yuzhu, actually became the director of the cafeteria.

If I had treated him better earlier, wouldn't it be...

But now it's too late.

How could Qin Huairu not see that He Yuzhu had a good relationship with Director Yang and was also the canteen director, so he was considered a big shot in the steel rolling mill.

I wonder how many women are lining up to curry favor with a man like this.

Not to mention, He Yuzhu already had a partner whom he had never met.

As a widow, how can I be competitive?

In the past, perhaps people could have ignored their reputation and spread gossip and done some bad things.

Now, she understood how valuable a woman's reputation, especially a widow's, was, and she was unwilling to do that again.

Besides, working in the kitchen can save two meals, so even if there is no extra income, it can make life good for the family.

And he is under He Yuzhu's command. If rumors really spread, it would be even more disadvantageous to him.

What if He Yuzhu transferred himself out of the cafeteria in order to avoid suspicion and not want that mysterious person to misunderstand him?

It doesn't take much thought, anyone could do this.

Although it is clear that doing nothing and maintaining the status quo is best.

But Qin Huairu looked at this good man she missed, and as he became more and more outstanding, she felt more and more unwilling to accept it.

She knew very well how rare it was to find a man who could selflessly treat orphans and widows.

But I regret that I realized it too late.

Sometimes, when a habit becomes second nature, we stop taking it seriously and don’t cherish it at all.

Only when you really lose something, when it’s gone, do you realize how good it is.

By the time I finally understood and knew, it was already too late. That person was already getting further and further away.

I originally thought that it would be best if he didn't get married, and I would be willing to stay with him.

Today, this has become a luxury.

Qin Huairu felt sad and regretful, but she had no choice and didn't know what to do. In the end, she could only sigh with mixed feelings.

At this time, she no longer asked for anything else, just being able to speak normally was enough.

But even this seems difficult to achieve.

Qin Huairu's eyes dimmed.

In her sight, He Yuzhu cooked the dishes and only served a small plate for herself, with no intention of putting them on the table.

The situation was just as he said, he didn't want to bother with anything else and didn't even want to eat at the same table with me.

Is it because the misunderstanding that occurred at the gate yesterday has not yet been resolved?

Or is it because the kids took away the pot of chicken last night?

Didn’t you say before that you loved children the most?

Didn’t you say that you would raise the child as your own?

Didn’t I say that children can take whatever they want at home and they should not be allowed to suffer any injustice?

Qin Huairu couldn't guess, she just felt that He Yuzhu had really changed, became unfamiliar, and became like a blazing flame, making moths unable to help but want to pounce on him.

At some point, I really want to throw away all constraints and pursue like a moth.

But reason told her,

It’s not that I don’t want to, but that he already doesn’t want to.

...

The hot rolling workshop is bustling with activity.

Liu Lan wiped the sweat off her face and walked to the door of the workshop to cool down. Yu Li handed her a military water bottle.

"Drink some water."

"Ah."

Liu Lan didn't hesitate to take the kettle and drank several gulps, then gave it back to Yu Li.

Ever since coming to the workshop, Liu Lan felt that she had a special connection with Yu Li.

This connection came from the gossip with He Yuzhu that the third uncle was not a good person and was plotting against his daughter-in-law Yu Li's job.

Unexpectedly, when I arrived at the hot rolling workshop, I was actually in the same group with Yu Li.

"When will this work end?"

Yu Li tightened the lid of the kettle and pursed her dry lips. The workshop was too hot and drinking water could not quench her thirst much.

"Just do it, what else can I do?"

Liu Lan was quite optimistic and asked, "How are things going over there? Have you not divorced yet?"

"How can we divorce? Don't you know how calculating that old fellow Yan Bugui is?"

Yu Li sighed in annoyance and said dissatisfiedly:

“He said if I divorced him, he would come to the factory to talk to the factory manager and make me lose my job;

"I won't leave. I'm like a slave in his house. He calculates my monthly salary clearly for me as an apprentice. He asks me to pay half to the family. I also have to pay two dollars for rent and two dollars for food every month. I have to pay for everything at home. Even sitting and listening to the radio has to be charged.

“I really regret why I took this class in the first place. Now I am unwilling to do so, but there is nothing I can do.

"How many people are unemployed? I don't have a high school diploma, and other factories don't want me. I have to go back to my parents' home. I am so old now, I can't just sit there and do nothing. My parents can't afford it.

"I'm a second marriager. I don't know what kind of person I can find. After thinking about it, I think I should rely on myself. But I don't have much hope if I live on my own..."

Liu Lan curled her lips and said, "You just can't get over it. You're stuck in a dead end. Why are you afraid of that old guy? What if he doesn't give you money? The worst that can happen is a divorce. What's there to be afraid of? There are plenty of good men."

"It's not that easy."

Yu Li shook her head and smiled bitterly: "My family wanted me to divorce at first, and even paid money to Yan Jiecheng for medical expenses, but in the end the divorce didn't happen, and I even paid for it. Not only did I pay for it, but my family didn't get any benefits, and now they ignore me.

"My salary hasn't been paid yet, where can I go? Even if old man Yan Bugui is calculating, at least his family still has a place to live and food to eat.

"I don't have any other ideas right now. I just hope to find an easier job that won't be so tiring."

Liu Lan looked around and joked, "If you really want to change, I have an idea for you. Just find Deputy Director Li."

"Go, go, go. Why don't you go?" Yu Li rolled her eyes at her.

"I want to beat that bastard up."

Liu Lan cursed angrily, blinked, and gossiped in a low voice: "You... "

"I'm in the workshop, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Yu Li blushed and glared at her.

"Just talk about it. You're free anyway."

Liu Lan looked like she wanted to chat a little more, but Yu Li blushed and ignored her.

At this time, the workshop director came over.

"Liu Lan, the cafeteria is short of staff. Starting today, you will be working in the cafeteria. This is a transfer order signed by Director Yang."

"......"Liu Lan.

"......" Yu Li

They were just chatting and laughing a moment ago, and in the blink of an eye, they went their separate ways.

"Do you still know Director Yang?"

Yu Li was envious and greedy, and felt jealous, because the canteen was the best job in the steel mill.

"I know Director Yang, but Director Yang probably doesn't know me."

Liu Lan shook her head, probably guessing that it was He Yuzhu who asked Director Yang for help, and patted Yu Li's arm with a smile.

"Good sister, I won't forget you even when I go to the cafeteria. Come buy food and I'll give you more."

"Uh-huh."

What else could she do? Yu Li pursed her lips and nodded, she was so envious that she wanted to go directly to find Deputy Director Li.