“Xiao Cao, how do your three daughters eat at home?”
After finishing her conversation with Qi Xiaoyuan, Su Man returned to the kitchen and heard Aunt Xu speaking with Zhang Xiaocao.
Zhang Xiaocao was helping out in the kitchen, her hands and feet moving quickly. At a glance, she was clearly someone skilled at housework.
“Ma’am, they can cook for themselves. It’s fine.”
“Oh my, such young children already know how to cook? They’re really capable.”
“Poor children learn to take care of things early.” Zhang Xiaocao said it casually, though a hint of sadness seemed to flash across her eyes for a moment.
Su Man asked: “Why didn’t you bring the children along? I specifically told you to bring your whole family.”
This was Zhang Xiaocao’s first time seeing someone as good-looking as Su Man, and she felt a bit awkward as she rubbed the hem of her clothes. “There are too many kids, they’re noisy. I have three at home, so I didn’t bring them.”
Su Man knew Zhang Xiaocao was not familiar with her yet, so she gave her a kind smile and said nothing more.
After a while, Su Man and Li Qingqing went outside the kitchen. Li Qingqing leaned close to Su Man and whispered: “Sister Xiaocao’s three girls are very well-behaved, they’re not noisy at all. It’s just that her family is too poor. Zeng Yang is the only one earning a salary, and he still sends part of it back home every month. Even so, they’re still planning to have a son. I really feel bad for her three girls.”
Su Man felt a little heavy-hearted after hearing this. Preferring sons over daughters was very common in this era. She could not change other people’s deeply rooted beliefs; she could only try her best to help those around her.
“Qingqing, would you like to come work at the Bakery with me? Although it’s not an official job yet and the salary isn’t standardized, once we achieve results, it will become formal.”
Li Qingqing’s face flushed with excitement. “I’m willing. I believe in you. If you say it’ll work, it will definitely work. My mom can just stay home and take care of Tang Tang.”
Aunt Xu always praised Su Man at home, telling Li Qingqing to learn from her. Li Qingqing already liked Su Man, and after hearing Aunt Xu talk about her achievements, she admired her even more.
She felt there was no need to even discuss it with her family; Aunt Xu would definitely agree.
“Qingqing, don’t tell anyone about this yet. We still need to find another military wife.”
Li Qingqing covered her mouth and nodded seriously, indicating she would keep it a secret, then quietly asked: “Who are we looking for?”
Su Man thought for a moment. “What do you think of Zhang Xiaocao?”
She actually had other considerations, but Zhang Xiaocao’s situation was simply too pitiful.
Li Qingqing hesitated a little. “Sister Xiaocao is very capable, but her family is controlled by Zeng Yang. All the housework and three children are handled by her. I don’t know if Zeng Yang will allow it.”
Su Man understood and returned to the kitchen.
With three people helping, Su Man quickly prepared a full table of dishes.
According to the tastes of Ha City people, Su Man made several home-style dishes: Guo Bao Rou (sweet and sour pork), cabbage stewed with vermicelli, chicken stewed with mushrooms, Di San Xian, stir-fried pork strips, and more. When buying groceries, she had seen fresh shrimp, so she also made spicy shrimp.
The kitchen was filled with fragrant aromas, and the women kept praising nonstop.
“Su Man, your cooking is amazing! Much better than the canteen!”
“Yes, it’s really delicious. We’re so lucky today. Xiao Man, how did you make it? It doesn’t seem special, but it tastes incredible.”
Su Man smiled. Cooking depended mainly on ingredients and heat control. The ingredients in this era were already good, and she also used generous seasoning. With a wood stove properly controlled for heat, the food naturally turned out delicious.
“It’s because Sister Xiaocao handled the fire so well, that’s why it tastes so good.”
When Zhang Xiaocao saw the dishes, she had already felt nervous. Her family did not even cook this much meat even during New Year’s. After tasting a piece of Guo Bao Rou, she only picked at the vegetable dishes afterward. In truth, even the vegetarian dishes Su Man made were already very delicious.
Hearing the praise, she smiled shyly. “No, it’s because your cooking is good.”
“Then why are you only eating vegetables and not meat? Do you think my meat dishes aren’t good?”
Zhang Xiaocao quickly waved her hands, stammering a little. “No, no, it’s not that. Everything you made is very delicious.”
Aunt Xu and Li Qingqing also persuaded her. “Su Man isn’t that kind of person. She cooked this for everyone to eat.”
Zhang Xiaocao nodded and gradually relaxed.
The dishes were brought out, and the men praised them before quickly devouring everything. In the end, the plates were completely clean, and everyone felt a little embarrassed.
Zhang Yong, after eating his fill, stared blankly at Su Man. Her cooking was actually this delicious. Ugh…
Su Man picked up the soda in front of her and raised her glass toward everyone. “Thank you all for coming to my housewarming banquet. I hope we can visit each other more and help each other in the future.”
Everyone raised their soda and clinked glasses. Noticing that Zhang Yong didn’t move, Zeng Yang quickly nudged him with his shoulder.
Su Man was beautiful and good at speaking, and she quickly got along with everyone.
After the meal, the men chatted in front, while the women helped Su Man clean the kitchen before leaving.
Su Man called Zhang Xiaocao over and handed her a packed box.
When Zhang Xiaocao opened it, she was surprised to find Guo Bao Rou and candied sweet potatoes. She immediately tried to return it. “Th-this can’t be…”
Their family had already eaten such a rich meal, how could they still take food home?
Su Man pushed it back. “It’s specially for your three girls. Don’t be polite with me.”
Thinking of her three daughters—so well-behaved and lovable, yet disliked by their father just because they were not sons—Zhang Xiaocao felt her nose sting. She stopped refusing.
“Sister Xiaocao, would you like to work at the Bakery?” Su Man brought up the Bakery again.
Zhang Xiaocao was surprised and excited. “I… can I? I’ve never gone to school.”
“You know how to knead dough and make steamed buns and bread, so you definitely can.” Su Man paused, then emphasized: “But I need to be honest. I can’t guarantee the salary right now. Everything depends on how the Bakery performs. In other words, the Bakery might fail again.”
Although Su Man was confident, she was looking for people who believed in her. Her kindness was not without limits.
Zhang Xiaocao glanced toward the gate where Zeng Yang stood, her eyes carrying a faint trace of fear.
After thinking for a long time, she ran to Zeng Yang and whispered with him for a while. Then she ran back, her eyes a little red.
“Su Man, I have too many children at home and too much housework. I can’t work with you.” Zhang Xiaocao said this while lowering her head in shame. “But I believe in you. You’re so capable, you’ll definitely run the Bakery well.”
Before Su Man could say anything, Zhang Xiaocao had already run off.
Li Qingqing looked at her back and sighed. “It must be Zeng Yang who disagreed. Sister Xiaocao listens to him about everything.”
Su Man said nothing more and turned to Aunt Xu. “Aunt Xu, is there any military wife in the family compound who is educated but doesn’t have a job? Preferably someone who knows accounting.”
The Bakery needed someone to manage finances and inventory checks. Li Qingqing was not suitable, and Su Man had no intention of doing everything herself. She hadn’t come to the 1970s just to work herself to exhaustion again.
Aunt Xu thought for a long time. “There actually is one. The wife of Regiment Commander Zhou, Yang Su. She graduated from high school and used to work as an accountant. It’s just—”
Su Man noticed Aunt Xu’s hesitation and asked in confusion: “With such good qualifications, why wasn’t she assigned a job by the military unit?”