Starting a new chapter in life

"Okay, whatever you say." He Jiaoxu perfectly captured the henpecked husband vibe, and Cui Hongru's original temper was completely tamed by him.

By the time Jingyan received the letter from He's parents, she was already preparing to go to work at the cafeteria. The letter clearly expressed their gratitude and affection for her. Between the lines, it revealed their complaints about He Zhijun's lack of contact with his family in the past, but more so their relief at the significant increase in contact with his family after marriage. This made He Zhijun feel rather embarrassed.

Meeting Jing Yan's teasing gaze, he gave a dry explanation: "I just felt there was nothing worth writing about, it's not that I don't miss them."

"You should also know that even among the closest relatives, relationships need time and communication to last. A mother worries about her child even when he is far away. Your parents must be most worried about you. From now on, no matter what you have to say, write home regularly to let them know you're safe and sound," Jingyan instructed.

He Zhijun nodded gently in agreement: "Chef Lin asked me to tell you to go there early on April 1st." Jing Yan agreed and casually asked, "Previously, the cafeteria needed two helpers. Should the other one also be found nearby?"

He Zhijun shook his head: "This year, some people were transferred to other provinces, and the number of troops stationed here is not as many as before. Apart from you, the canteen does not need to hire any more temporary workers. In fact, if the logistics department had not said that they wanted to keep you in the canteen as an unstaffed staff member when we got married, the canteen would not have needed to increase its manpower. This position was retained because Battalion Commander Gao helped us negotiate and get it."

Jing Yan frowned: "Won't that have a bad impact? If the canteen really doesn't need this job, I can just consider myself a military dependent. It's just that I'll lose ten yuan a month in salary. I can manage without spending a little less. But it would be bad if this dispensable job affected you."

He Zhijun thought for a moment and said, "It's not that I'm worried about you having any impact on me. You go to work first and be careful. If they really don't need so many people over there, we can't cause trouble for the organization. My salary is enough to support my family. If it really doesn't work, you can have your fourth sister transfer the money from your savings account to you. We can manage to get by here for three years. When we go back to Yangzhou, our parents will help us, and life won't be so difficult."

Jingyan… “You say we’re having a hard time right now? Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what ‘hard’ means? Before I started working at the canteen, we could only afford to eat meat once a month, and even then, it was just a few slices of meat in the dishes. We were one of the wealthiest families in the village. But since we got married, it’s only been six months, and we’ve had meat almost every day. This is something we never even dared to dream of before. Don’t make such a fuss. If people knew that we’re only making 48 yuan a month and still thinking we’re having a hard time, they’d probably beat us up.”

He Zhijun's eyes widened: "I just felt that my monthly allowance was gone after buying some meat, and I had to borrow my savings from you, so I felt that life was tight. I didn't think too much about it. Don't worry, I will never talk nonsense outside and will try not to get beaten up."

Jingyan smiled and pinched his cheek: "I will report to the cafeteria on time. I will ask Chef Lin and Sister Liu later. If we really don't need so many people, I will not take advantage of the country. I will let you support me for three years. When we go back to Yangzhou, I will find something else to do."

Early on April 1st, Jingyan tidied herself up and went to the cafeteria with an aluminum lunchbox to report for work. After not seeing her for half a year, Chef Lin and Sister Liu felt no sense of unfamiliarity with her and warmly welcomed her back to work.

Jingyan distributed the fruit candies from the aluminum lunchbox to everyone, and then got to work as Chef Lin instructed. And surprisingly, even though she hadn't worked for six months, she quickly regained her old skills.

However, the workload is indeed not as heavy as it was in Liaoning Province. It used to take at least four hours to prepare and finish a meal, and that was with everyone working non-stop. Now it only takes about three hours. If it weren't for me, the workload would be just right. So, Zhijun is right, we really don't need that many people.

After cleaning up the cafeteria that evening, Jingyan found Chef Lin. Chef Lin smiled kindly at her: "Jingyan, you haven't gone home yet after get off work? Is there something you need?"

Jing Yan nodded: "Chef Lin, today I feel that the canteen is not as busy as it used to be in Liaoning Province. Is it because there are fewer people in the army? Is the canteen not short of people to begin with, so there is no need to find an extra helper?"

Chef Lin paused for a moment, then walked out to the lobby and said to Sister Liu, "Sister Liu, please stay for a moment. Everyone else can go home first."

Although the others didn't know what was going on, they still said goodbye and left one by one. Chef Lin asked Jing Yan to sit down and said, "Originally, we were supposed to come as a whole regiment, but during this relocation, the Third Battalion was transferred to support the Northwest because of its expertise in demolition. Only two battalions moved here, which is a third less, so our workload is naturally less."

Jing Yan looked at him seriously: "So, the cafeteria didn't actually need any extra helpers originally. Was this position specially arranged for me?"

Chef Lin shook his head: "This position wasn't specially arranged for you. We applied for it before the relocation. Since the logistics department approved it at the time, it has to be implemented now. Don't feel pressured. It's not like you don't have to do any work. Just come to work with peace of mind."

Sister Liu also said, "Jingyan, don't think too much about it. It's just a helper job, and she doesn't earn much money. Our army doesn't need that little bit."

Jingyan forced a smile: "I understand, Chef Lin, Sister Liu, you don't need to worry about me. I just don't want to cause trouble for the organization. Zhijun's allowance is enough to support his family. Everyone says that as military dependents, we should keep up with the times, right? That's why I wanted to ask clearly so I would have a clear understanding."

Chef Lin stood up and patted her on the shoulder: "It's getting dark. You should go back early. You still have a long way to go, and it's not safe to go after dark."

Jingyan said goodbye to them, went home, locked the door, lit the stove, washed up, and lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) to think: This job pays ten yuan a month, which is not much, but it is enough to support myself. However, this is just a basic job. Would it be more worthwhile to use this concession at work to leave a good impression on He Zhijun in the leader's mind?

Although she wasn't a bad person, she lacked a grand vision and couldn't bring herself to sacrifice her own interests for the collective good. However, if she could exchange her own interests for hidden benefits in the future, then such a sacrifice was worthwhile. But whether it was worthwhile, when to do it, and how to do it would have to be decided after He Zhijun returned and they discussed it, since he was the better strategist.

After much thought, it all boils down to waiting. I'll get some sleep first and then figure it out. I'll just do my job as it comes, and I still need to do my best at my work. After all, a good reputation is still very valuable in this day and age.

For the next two weeks, Jingyan worked very diligently. Of course, the overall workload in the cafeteria was not high, and there was more than an hour of free time every day. However, since no one seemed to notice, Jingyan pretended not to know.

Half a month later, He Zhijun returned from leave. That night, the two lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), and Jingyan brought up the work in the canteen: "Zhijun, the canteen is indeed well-staffed. It won't make much difference if I'm one more or one less. Do you think if I voluntarily give up this job, the army will think you have high ideological awareness and it will be helpful to you in the future?"

He Zhijun considered for a moment: "When our marriage application was approved, the organization agreed to give you an extra-staff position. But at the beginning of this year, the logistics department approached Battalion Commander Gao to sound him out, implying that they might cancel the position. However, Battalion Commander Gao blocked us at the time. If we are willing to give up the position, it would be best to let the battalion commander negotiate."

It's not like they went out of their way to help us, and we, in a show of goodwill, stabbed them in the back. We can't say that Battalion Commander Gao took the initiative to talk to us, that we understood the organization's difficulties, and that we were willing to step up our efforts. As for whether there will be any benefits afterward, as long as the battalion commander remembers our kindness, whether there are any actual benefits or not is not important. Don't you agree?

Jingyan yawned, her head feeling a little dizzy: "You decide what to do. Anyway, I'm going to live off your allowance. As long as you're okay with it, I'm okay with it too. I'm sleepy, going to sleep now. Goodnight~"

He Zhijun listened to Jingyan's increasingly deep breathing, feeling both amused and exasperated. His wife was so adorable; for his sake in the army, she had given up a job she valued without hesitation, even though she hadn't said it aloud. He could sense her stubbornness regarding work and supporting herself.

But now, for his own sake, he was willing to compromise. He told himself that no matter what, he would cherish and respect her, even if it was just to make his heart's desire worthwhile. He gently kissed Jingyan's forehead and lay down to sleep.

After that, Jingyan went to work with peace of mind, waiting for He Zhijun's news. A week later, He Zhijun came to see her after lunch. The two walked to the edge of the open space in the yard, and He Zhijun took her hand: "Jingyan, Battalion Commander Gao has negotiated with the Logistics Minister. We've made concessions on this job. You just need to work until the end of this month. The Logistics Minister said that as compensation, he can provide some cash. Tell me if you want anything, and I'll write an application."

"Then let's take the meat ticket. We don't lack anything else," Jing Yan said after thinking for a moment.

"Okay, then take some time to tell Chef Lin in advance, as a way of making up for the friendship you've built over the past two years of working together," He Zhijun instructed.

After cleaning up that evening, Jingyan went to see Chef Lin again. This time, before everyone had even left, Jingyan said directly, "Chef Lin, thank you so much for taking care of me these past few years. I've been thinking a lot lately. Our group has been reduced by a third, and the canteen really doesn't need so many people."

For the past two weeks, I've personally experienced the severe underutilization of my workload. I don't want to take advantage of the organization like this, so I've decided to stop helping out after this month. However, if anyone needs extra help anytime, I can come back anytime—yes, without pay.

The serious atmosphere was broken by the words "I don't want any wages." Chef Lin couldn't help but smile and ask, "You're really willing to give up this job? You won't regret it?"

Jingyan smiled easily: "I have no regrets. Zhijun's allowance is enough to support three or four people, let alone just the two of us. If the canteen is busy, I certainly won't give it up, but it's not busy now. Spring is coming, so I can go back and tend to the yard, raise a few chicks, and collect eggs to save a lot of expenses. In any case, I can find something to do and won't let myself be completely idle."

Chef Lin nodded: "It's good that you can think it through and don't regret it. Since we're about to part ways, I don't have much to offer except my cooking skills. You don't have much talent for it, but I can still give you a recipe. Tell me, which dish do you want to learn?"

Jing Yan's eyes widened in surprise, but she still wanted to bargain a bit: "Just one dish? Can't you have two more?"

Chef Lin raised his hand and flicked her forehead: "Don't be greedy. I can't even teach others a single dish. You should be grateful if I teach you one."

Jingyan rubbed the top of her head and rolled her eyes: "Chef Lin, the braised sheep's head you made for me before the New Year tasted really good. How about I learn to make that?"

Chef Lin couldn't help but laugh: "You're really good at currying favor. One braising liquid can braise both meat and vegetables. You're smart enough. Okay, I'll make it for you tomorrow morning. I'll only make one pot. Watch carefully. It'll be a good dish for dinner. If you can't learn it, don't cry."

"Can I take notes?" Jing Yan asked tentatively.

Chef Lin glared at her: "I don't care if you take notes. I'll only teach you once. As for the rest, it's none of my business."

Jing Yan said crisply, "Thank you, Chef Lin."

The next day, Jingyan put a small notebook in her pocket and took a pen with her. In the morning, while everyone was preparing the dishes, Chef Lin took Jingyan to the large stove against the wall to start teaching. Today, there was no sheep's head, only pork, so Chef Lin used pork belly, ribs, and large bones to braise. No wonder it was delicious. There were fifteen kinds of seasonings alone. How much seasoning to use for how much bone and meat, the proportion of each seasoning, and many other things to pay attention to. By the time the bones and meat were put into the pot to braise, Jingyan's notebook was filled with four pages, showing how complicated the steps were.

Of course, although the process is complicated, the taste is really amazing. When dinner is served, almost everyone who comes to get food orders a plate of braised pork. In the end, everyone in the canteen only gets a few pieces. It's not enough to satisfy our cravings, it just makes us crave more.

Jingyan carefully stuffed the notebook into the lining of her clothes, grinning like a mouse that had just stolen oil. This was a priceless recipe! In her previous life, she could support her family and send her children to university with just a barbecue stall. Now, with this recipe, she was sure she could save enough money to buy a house when she returned to Yangzhou. The more she thought about it, the happier she became. This was a windfall!