“What are you so scared of? Coward.”
Liu Haiyun spat out bitterly, hurling the insult over her shoulder as she pulled on her clothes in a huff and stormed over to the mirror to adjust her appearance.
Wu Yimu frowned, eyeing his wife with growing displeasure.
“Why are you dressing up like this at home?”
Liu Haiyun didn’t even glance at him. “I made plans with sister-in-law Huiru. We’re heading to the county after breakfast.”
Wu Yimu sighed but said nothing more. Her family had once lived in comfort, and she’d grown up pampered and vain. Even when their fortunes declined, that arrogance never left her bones. What could he say? She only ever got along with gossiping hens like Zhou Huiru.
“I’m heading to work,” he muttered, grabbing his things and leaving.
Liu Haiyun scarfed down her breakfast in record time and dashed out to meet Zhou Huiru, heart bubbling with excitement.
Zhou Huiru had just finished eating and was about to step out when she caught sight of Liu Haiyun practically skipping toward her, her face glowing with eagerness.
“Haiyun, have you eaten?”
“I rushed right over after breakfast, sister-in-law. Let’s get going.”
The two women locked arms and left the village together, chatting like lifelong best friends. The journey to the county would take over an hour by bus, and every minute felt like a ceremony in itself.
As they walked, they spotted Xu Ying and her mother gliding past them on bicycles.
“Look at that,” Liu Haiyun sneered under her breath. “Riding two bicycles—how fancy.”
But the moment she saw them approaching, her demeanor flipped. She beamed and waved.
“Auntie, where are you off to?”
Xu’s mother smiled warmly. “Just heading to the county to withdraw some money. My third son got paid.”
The moment they passed by, Liu Haiyun’s smile dropped like a mask, replaced by scorn.
“Such a show-off. Her man’s just a village captain. What’s there to brag about?”
She turned to Zhou Huiru and scoffed. “Your man and hers are both captains. So how come their family’s living like royalty and yours—” she stopped, the implication hanging in the air like smoke.
Zhou Huiru’s lips twisted in irritation. “What can I do? Captain Xu’s just… too capable.”
“Capable, my foot. Probably just using his position for personal gain.”
Zhou Huiru looked around nervously, then leaned in and whispered, “Haiyun, don’t talk nonsense. If the captain hears you, he’ll yank you by your braids.”
Liu Haiyun rolled her eyes. “Hmph. I’m not afraid of him.”
She wasn’t. Her own husband wasn’t someone to be messed with either. Still, it stung. Why did the Xu family always seem to have the upper hand?
“Ugh. Just let us be poor, then,” Zhou Huiru snapped.
But Liu Haiyun’s eyes glittered with a sudden thought. “Sister-in-law, I’ve got some good news. My man told me some big leaders are coming to our commune soon for an inspection. There’s talk of bringing more production to our village.”
Zhou Huiru’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“How can it not be? They say these big shots are coming to teach us how to farm. Isn’t that hilarious? All of us have been working the land since we could walk, and now people who’ve never set foot in a field are coming to teach us?”
Zhou Huiru grew more excited with every word. She grabbed Liu Haiyun’s hand tightly. “You don’t get it. Even if those leaders don’t know a turnip from a radish, it doesn’t matter. What matters is, if they like your man and he performs well, he could finally surpass Captain Xu.”
Her eyes lit up at the fantasy. If Jiang Min impressed the leaders, he could gain face, maybe even secure a future position. When Xu retired… her man could step up.
Lost in dreams of rising fortunes, they boarded the bus and reached the county over an hour later.
Stepping off, Liu Haiyun took a deep breath and stretched her arms dramatically. “Ah, the city’s just different. Everything’s more convenient. Not like our place—buying a needle is a headache.”
Zhou Huiru sighed. Her family had once lived in the city too, until fate had cruelly yanked that life away.
“I say we go to that state-owned restaurant. Let’s see what that Xu Ying girl is really made of.” Liu Haiyun smirked. “She acts all high and mighty now.”
“Yeah, let’s go see what she’s got,” Zhou Huiru agreed, just as eager.
The moment they stepped into the restaurant, a wave of rich aromas engulfed them—savory, mouth-watering, undeniable.
“Comrade, does Xu Ying work here?” Liu Haiyun asked, craning her neck to peer around.
Hearing Xu Ying’s name, Sun Lifang, a worker at the restaurant, perked up and hurried over. Her eyes were bright with curiosity. “Why are you looking for her?”
The moment she spoke, Zhou Huiru knew for sure—Xu Ying did work here. She quickly responded, “We’re from the same village. I’m her sister-in-law. We just stopped by for a meal and wanted to see her.”
Sun Lifang nodded and turned to call for Xu Ying, but Liu Haiyun stopped her.
“Comrade, how’s Xu Ying doing here? Can she actually cook? That girl’s been pampered her whole life. Never lifted a finger. Can she really handle restaurant work?”
Sun Lifang narrowed her eyes and gave Liu Haiyun a long, hard look.
“Oh, don’t worry about her,” she said coolly. “See this full house? Everyone’s here because of Xu Ying’s cooking. That girl’s got talent. Some people are just born with it. No training, no teacher—pure instinct.”
Liu Haiyun’s face darkened. This wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
Zhou Huiru tried to ease the awkwardness. “Well, then we’re in luck today. We’ll get to taste Xu Ying’s cooking ourselves.”
Sun Lifang’s smile disappeared. Her tone turned crisp and professional. “What would you like to order?”
“I’ll have a chicken bun, a leek-and-egg bun, and a bowl of spicy soup,” Zhou Huiru said.
“I’ll take the same,” Liu Haiyun muttered, clearly fuming.
They took their seats. The moment they sat, Liu Haiyun spat on the ground angrily. “What’s with the attitude? It’s not like she’s the queen of the kitchen.”
“She’s just lucky to have a job. Doesn’t make her capable,” Zhou Huiru grumbled. “Forget it. We’re not educated either. Just like her.”
They’d been standing out there forever, and Xu Ying didn’t even come out to greet them. How rude.
Meanwhile, at the back, Sun Lifang called Xu Ying over.
Xu Ying came out, spatula in hand. “What’s up?”
Sun Lifang jerked her thumb toward the front. “Those two—said they’re from your village. One of them claims to be your sister-in-law. Said you can’t cook, and tried to stir things up. I told her off.”
Xu Ying glanced over and sneered when she spotted Liu Haiyun and Zhou Huiru. “Ignore them. Our family doesn’t associate with people like that.”
Sun Lifang leaned on the counter. “Seriously, the nerve of that woman. Marches in here and insults your cooking. So shameless.”
Xu Ying’s lips curled in disdain. “They just don’t want me to live well. Zhou Huiru probably thinks my father got me this job. Let them think what they want. Whether I can cook or not—our guests know the answer.”
With that, she returned to her work.
Sun Lifang took the buns out and shouted toward the dining area, her voice slicing through the air:
“Table Six—your buns are ready! Move it! You’re delaying the line! Time is money, comrades, and efficiency is life! If you’re too slow, you’re holding up the next person’s lunch, and that delays productivity!”
She slammed the tray down.
“You going to take responsibility for dragging down the entire work force?”