The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 9 Controlling the Wife
Although some people joked that in the era of ration coupons, even a needle required a ticket.

That's because needles are also made of iron, and anything related to steel was a material controlled by the planned economy.

But there are still some things that can be bought without a ticket, and chili peppers are one of them.

Not everyone likes spicy food. There are plenty of people across the country who don't like spicy food, including many in Beijing. Most locals prefer sweet and salty flavors.

After getting off work, Zhou Zhiqiang bought four catties of chili peppers, including both long and short peppers. He planned to make a chili sauce that wasn't particularly spicy, but would be very appetizing.

After returning home, Zhou Zhiqiang busied himself in the kitchen.

Guo Linhua left many things behind, which benefited Zhou Zhiqiang and his wife.

There are three jars of pickled vegetables, and they are quite nice-looking; they are not cheap to buy.

The oil, salt, and seasonings were all readily available. After tidying up, Zhou Zhiqiang steamed the two-component steamed buns and then started making chili sauce.

A short while later, the sound of a door opening came from the front yard.

Soon Zhou Zhiqiang saw Guo Yuting pushing a cart into the kitchen, looking quite annoyed.

Zhou Zhiqiang leaned out of the kitchen window and asked, "You're back a little late today. Are you working overtime at the hospital again?"

"Don't even mention it. Starting tomorrow, we'll also be receiving sanitation skills training. We'll be there to step in when it really matters."

Guo Yuting said with an unhappy expression, "And they even said that when we logistics staff aren't busy, we can still contribute to the hospital. When have we ever had a moment of leisure?"

"It sounds tough, but if you do well, you'll have a legitimate reason to be promoted, and then you'll be praised."
"Comrade Guo Yuting, working in the logistics department, helped treat patients at a critical moment." When you hear this broadcast, you'll feel much better.

After hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Guo Yuting thought of that scene and felt a little better, saying, "What you said makes sense, but it'll be difficult to get praised. We'll only get our turn in the logistics department after the doctors and sanitation workers have finished their shifts."

"Opportunities are always there, but the main trend is that frontline workers are more likely to get rewards than those in logistics, since they are more tired."

While making chili sauce, Zhou Zhiqiang said, "I might be going to the workshop more often in the future. It's an honor to be on the front line now, even though it's a bit tiring."

"You speak just like our leader."

Guo Yuting muttered to herself that her supervisor at the hospital said the same thing; she heard it once at the hospital and then heard it again at home.

However, if it was something similar, she found it comforting to hear from Zhou Zhiqiang.

Guo Yuting walked into the kitchen, glanced inside, and then asked, "What are you doing? Do you need my help?"

"Chili sauce, it's good for eating and stimulating your appetite. I'll bring you a bottle after I make it. If you don't have an appetite while you're in the hospital, eat some chili sauce."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "I'm almost done. You should go and rest. You must be tired after a long day of work."

After hearing this, Guo Yuting said somewhat embarrassedly, "How can that be? You've been working all day and haven't had a break. Let me go and clean up the dirty clothes."

She said she was tidying up, but Guo Yuting didn't know how to wash clothes at all. After returning to the room, she simply put the dirty sheets and clothes into a basin.

After filling the water container, I didn't know what to do next.

When Zhou Zhiqiang finished cooking and left the kitchen, he found Guo Yuting still standing near the tap, holding a thick stick, as if she was about to use the stick to beat the clothes to wash them.

"Haha, don't use that method anymore. It's because there's a lack of soap powder. Leave it there and I'll do it later."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "Let's eat first. You've had a long day. Try my chili sauce."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yuting put down the wooden stick she was holding, but still said shyly, "How can I let you do all the work? Teach me how to wash clothes later." Zhou Zhiqiang smiled and said, "Okay, we'll talk about it after we eat."

Dinner wasn't particularly good; it was a typical meal for a dual-income family.

Coarse grain porridge, steamed buns made from two kinds of flour, a plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes, a plate of cabbage, and the only difference from yesterday was the addition of chili sauce.

"The chili sauce is really good! Do you have any more? I'll take a bottle to the hospital tomorrow."

Guo Yuting's eyes lit up after finishing the chili sauce, and she then picked up a few more pieces; it was sour, spicy, and a little sweet, and the spiciness was just right.

"I made four or five pounds, enough for you to eat for a long time. I'll put it in a bottle for you later. Tell me when you've finished it."

Zhou Zhiqiang smiled, then paused for a moment before continuing.
"Yuting, we need to plan our meat consumption from now on. Our family gets one and a half jin of meat coupons every month, which means we can eat meat four times a month."

However, I can go to Pigeon Market every month, and at the end of each month we can also go to Donglaishun or Quanjude for a meal.”

Guo Yuting asked, "Can I go every month?"

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said, "Of course, we are both working, so why can't we eat better if we have the means?"

"I'll listen to you, you can make the decision."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yuting smiled and said that she was increasingly pleased with Zhou Zhiqiang as her husband.

She eats meat four times a month and plans to go to the pigeon market to exchange for meat coupons to improve her life. There's no talk of her spending money recklessly, which is completely different from her parents.

Zhou Zhiqiang isn't stingy simply because he knows what the future holds, and with excellent employee benefits, there's no need for him to be stingy and deprive himself of money.

After the meal, when Zhou Zhiqiang was about to clear the dishes, Guo Yuting, who was sitting next to him, couldn't sit still and got up to help.

After spending half a day with Guo Yuting, Zhou Zhiqiang had figured out his wife's personality.

She's a little vain, but she's been well-educated by her parents, and she gets embarrassed after being praised a couple of times.

With this kind of girl, you just have to fawn over her. As long as you fawn over her, Guo Yuting will never have a temper.

However, you can't keep praising someone; a little praise followed by a little criticism is just right.

After Guo Yuting started washing dishes, although she was a little inexperienced, Zhou Zhiqiang gave her a few words of advice, and she was able to do the job very well.

It's not like they were born stupid. If a normal person can't do housework, then they're either stupid or lazy; there's no third possibility.

When it was time to do the laundry, Zhou Zhiqiang and Guo Yuting chatted while they worked.

Guo Yuting mainly talked about hospital matters. Although she worked in logistics and administration at the hospital, she was in charge of managing medicines and often delivered medicines, so she met a lot of people.

At the hospital, she encountered many people and things, and Guo Yuting would grumble about the things that displeased her to Zhou Zhiqiang.

Zhou Zhiqiang didn't say much, only mentioning that he might be promoted to a permanent position next year.

The production task assigned to him by Section Chief Lü today is not difficult; the first batch of production plans can be completed after the New Year.

If all goes well, Zhou Zhiqiang's research on new material processes will be able to be submitted and produce results soon.

If both achievements are recognized together, he might even get a raise after becoming a full-fledged employee.

(End of this chapter)