MAC’60s Chapter 62.2

This was a very practical issue. They consumed too much oil. A pot of pig oil wouldn’t last long. Even though the family’s private land had been planted with oil crops, it still couldn’t keep up with the consumption.

Wang Ying thought she would need to visit the black market in the city to buy some oil tickets.

Aside from oil, there was sugar, which they also used up quickly. Also, soap and toothpaste…

After calculating, it seemed like a trip out was going to be a costly affair.

Although Wang Ying had four-digit savings, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of crisis.

Buying a sewing machine would cost nearly two hundred, and after the “Double Harvest” period, she would also need to rebuild the house next door. With all these expenses, her savings were simply not enough to cover it all.

With a worried heart, Wang Ying started packing, while Xu Shuang asked for leave from Wan Guodong.

Wan Guodong had a rare break from the restaurant and was surprised when Xu Shuang told him he was going to take the second-level chef exam. He was taken aback, unable to process the information.

“You’re going to take the chef exam? I didn’t know about this.”

Xu Shuang replied, “Didn’t I mention it before? You stamped my application for it.”

Wan Guodong was furious, secretly scolding Xu Shuang for being underhanded. He knew that when it came to things that needed stamps or signatures, he would never look at them carefully and just stamp them or sign them as Xu Shuang asked.

Wan Guodong wasn’t highly educated, and with age, it was hard for him to read things, so he always waited for Xu Shuang to prepare everything. He would just stamp or sign what was needed.

Who would have thought that one of those forms was for a qualification exam!

Wan Guodong’s chest hurt. After the incident in early spring, he had been especially displeased with Xu Shuang. When the leaders assigned tasks, he always dragged his feet, clearly not taking Wan Guodong seriously.

Wan Guodong had originally planned to block Xu Shuang’s exam, but to his surprise, Xu Shuang had applied for it so quickly, and he had already completed the process this year.

This made Wan Guodong anxious. If Xu Shuang passed the exam and got the certificate, there was a possibility that he could be transferred to the county after the New Year.

What if Xu Shuang reported him?

Or, what if another troublesome young person arrived, and the issue with Xie Yuejin would become even harder to deal with?

Wan Guodong’s face turned pale, and beads of sweat started to drip. He no longer wanted to make things difficult for Xu Shuang; he just wanted to keep him. If Xu Shuang had to leave, at least he could take Xie Yuejin with him!

Best case, Xu Shuang would decide not to take the second-level exam and just settle for the third-level chef certificate.

But now, he couldn’t think of any way to stop Xu Shuang from going ahead with the exam. Xu Shuang took the stamped form and left.

Wan Guodong, feeling disheartened, found Xie Yuejin. “Xiao Xie, you should also try your best. It would be great if you could pass the primary exam this year.”

The best way forward was for Xie Yuejin to take over Xu Shuang’s position. He couldn’t let the restaurant be left vacant, and the higher-ups might send someone to take over.

Xie Yuejin sighed in misery. He wanted to take the exam, but the problem was he couldn’t pass.

Xu Shuang hadn’t recommended him to anyone for help, and although he had gone to the county to find a chef to guide him, once the chef mentioned the primary exam content, he was totally lost.

He couldn’t even pass the knife skills test.

Xie Yuejin said miserably, “Okay, boss, I’ll do my best.”

As for how to do his best? He still needed Xu Shuang’s help.

Xie Yuejin felt like everything had been going wrong lately. First, he was caught in a dilemma about organizing a wedding banquet, then he had to deal with the exam issue that was now urgent.

And both of these issues depended on Xu Shuang.

Xie Yuejin could barely summon the energy to sigh.

Xu Shuang took the recommendation letter and a basket of dried goods, and Wang Ying, along with Xu Lao Tai, went to catch the bus, leaving Xu Shuang to ride his bike into the city to meet Chen Dong.

The three of them arrived at Chen Dong’s house in the city.

Chen Dong’s courtyard was lively at lunchtime. Wang Ying took Xu Lao Tai inside, and they were immediately stopped at the front yard by an old woman with raised eyebrows, who stared at Xu Lao Tai, making her feel very uncomfortable.

Wang Ying stepped forward to block the woman’s gaze.

“Ma’am, do you need something?”

The old woman with the raised eyebrows spat on the ground: “Fox spirit!”

Wang Ying and Xu Laotai were both confused.

Just when they were stunned, another elderly woman spoke up: “Oh, Ma Latai, what are you doing? Do you really think you’re Mr. Chen’s wife? Just seeing an old woman and nagging, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you two were already married!”

This mocking tone made Wang Ying understand instantly.

Oh\~ She’s Mr. Chen’s romantic interest!

Xu Laotai was helpless. She had no relationship with Chen Dong; although Xu Shuang learned a skill from Chen Dong, they weren’t close!

But Xu Shuang’s father had some connections with Chen Dong while he was still alive.

“Excuse me, madam, you really misunderstand. I am the mother of Mr. Chen’s apprentice.”

It was better not to explain, but once she did, the old woman with the raised eyebrows became even more energetic.

“Ah, I know who you are! Your son comes every day to scrape money off his master, it’s definitely you, the mother, who’s encouraging him! I’ve never seen such a shameless apprentice—doesn’t even bring gifts to his master, just keeps eyeing his master’s wealth!”

This didn’t even make sense, so Wang Ying stepped forward: “Excuse me, ma’am… You look about the right age to be a grandma, so I’ll call you grandma. You say Mr. Chen gave his apprentice money, what’s that got to do with you? Did you get married to Mr. Chen or live with him? What business is it of yours to ask my mother-in-law these things? It’s laughable. You’re just a neighbor, not even a relative. You act like you’re in the center of the Pacific Ocean, what business is it of yours!”

Wang Ying’s barrage of words made the old woman with the raised eyebrows shudder.

Wang Ying wasn’t interested in staying there any longer, so she directly pulled Xu Laotai and walked toward the backyard: “Mother, let’s go. I’ll ask Mr. Chen now; it seems neighbors are getting way too involved these days. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she works for the street office!”

Wang Ying’s display of authority was so impressive that even in the backyard, they could still hear the angry shouting from the front yard.

“You little prostitute! If you dare talk badly about me in front of Mr. Chen, I’ll tear your mouth off!”

Xu Shuang had arrived early and was already drinking tea with Chen Dong.

When he saw them coming, he immediately poured tea for both of them.

Chen Dong, with great curiosity, asked, “What happened in the front yard? I heard Sister Lian shouting?”

Wang Ying: “… She’s called Sister Lian? It’s nothing, Mr. Chen, you sure are quite the ladies’ man\~”

Chen Dong puffed out his belly. As he got older, he could never suck in his stomach, and it looked like he was six months pregnant: “Little Ying, do you think someone like me could have romantic interests?”

Wang Ying: “So, if someone actually did like you, would you be willing?”

Chen Dong quickly waved his hands: “No way! I don’t want to get married. I’m good as I am. All the good food is mine, no need to feed anyone else, and life is just wonderful.”

Xu Laotai, embarrassed, explained what had just happened, and Chen Dong’s face immediately turned purple with anger.

“I didn’t do anything!”

Chen Dong looked as if he had been wrongly accused, feeling very wronged: “I’ve barely said a word to her! Why does she think we’re family? Even if I were looking for someone, it wouldn’t be her!”

Wang Ying laughed and asked, “I think that lady seems pretty confident. She stood there in the front yard with a sharp gaze.”

It seemed like whenever she saw someone around her age, she immediately stopped them to warn them off. She really seemed bold.

Chen Dong quickly turned in circles: “If she keeps this up… I’ll report her to the authorities!”

The entire courtyard was a welfare house for the state-run restaurant, and everyone worked at the same unit. The old woman’s husband, when he was alive, had worked as a vegetable washer at the restaurant, but that job had been passed down to her youngest son last year. Her eldest son also worked at the restaurant, chopping vegetables under another chef.

Although Chen Dong wasn’t great at his craft, he had donated a lot of family assets in his early years, so even now the restaurant’s land and buildings were originally his family’s. That gave him significant influence within the restaurant.

He thought, if worst comes to worst, he would report to the authorities.

The authorities should be able to handle it, right?

Wang Ying made it clear to Chen Dong: “You better speak up, Master. If that lady spreads rumors about you, your reputation will be ruined!”

Chen Dong slapped his forehead: “Right now!”

He couldn’t let anyone think he was planning to find a wife. That would be hard to explain!

Xu Shuang seemed to be thinking ahead: “Master, you should clarify things in the restaurant too.”

The old woman’s son was working at the restaurant, chopping vegetables. Who knew if he was planning to use Chen Dong’s name for something.

Chen Dong seemed more serious after hearing Xu Shuang’s words. He nodded and agreed.

Once the irrelevant matters were cleared up, everyone began to prepare for lunch in a lively manner.

Xu Shuang brought a fish and a rabbit, while Chen Dong generously went out to get a piece of meat.

The lunch dishes included gingered rabbit with double peppers, steamed pork, chopped chili fish head, braised fish belly, and braised fish.

All these dishes were substantial, and Chen Dong even brought a pot of wine, making everyone’s faces flush with the drinking.

Wang Ying tried each dish. The double-pepper rabbit was both numbing and spicy, fragrant and delicious. The rabbit meat was very tender, a completely different experience from the dry rabbit meat she had eaten before. The tender, smooth rabbit meat paired with the wild mountain pepper’s sour and spicy taste really awakened her taste buds.

The steamed pork was soft and sticky, the chopped chili fish head was spicy and pungent, the braised fish belly had a rich flavor, and the braised fish slices maximized the freshness of the fish.

Wang Ying was eating happily.

Chen Dong gave a thumbs up: “Good, your exam tomorrow should be no problem.”

The seasoning on these dishes was much better than his, and if he couldn’t pass the second-level certification after this, something would definitely be off!

After finishing the meal, the three of them went out. First, they delivered the medicinal herbs, then they went together to look at sewing machines.