Shen Zhiyi had four days of leave per month.
After working for ten days straight, she decided to take her first break. She had to submit an application to Boss Wei. Since both chefs had already mastered how to cook the Cola series dishes, Boss Wei was happy to approve her request.
Shen Zhiyi applied for two days off.
Boss Wei looked a bit troubled. “Two days? Xiao Shen, couldn’t you just take them one day at a time?”
“No way, that’s too much trouble! Boss Wei, I promise I’ll use these two days to go home and research new recipes. When I come back, I’ll put a brand new dish on the menu. Deal?”
“Hmm, that sounds like a plan. Alright, approved.”
Unable to resist the temptation of new dishes, Boss Wei agreed. Actually, he hadn’t been home in a long time himself and was planning to find time to go back soon to give his wife some money and see the kids.
After finishing work at noon, Shen Zhiyi used her break to buy gifts for her family. In her eyes, “family” meant her mother, her sister Shen Zhilan, and her niece Miao Miao.
After shopping, she went to the town central primary school to get enrollment documents. On her way back, passing an intersection, she saw a recruitment poster taped to the door of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
They were hiring?
That was a secure “iron rice bowl” job!
Shen Zhiyi’s heart skipped a beat. She was thinking of her sister, Shen Zhilan.
The last time they slept together, they had talked late into the night. Shen Zhilan was suffering at home, completely dependent on others. She wanted to work, but with little education, good jobs were hard to come by.
In the past, positions like these were usually inherited, but policies had changed now they were openly recruiting talent. This was perfect.
“Well, isn’t this Chef Shen from Fumanlou? What’s wrong? Tired of working for Old Wei? Want to join us at the Cooperative for a lower salary?” Director Du rode up on his bicycle. He recognized her immediately and joked with a smile.
Director Du was a regular at Fumanlou. His precious son absolutely loved the Cola dishes Shen Zhiyi invented. His wife had even tried to recreate them at home, but she could never get the taste right. After several failed attempts, they had no choice but to keep coming to the restaurant. Especially when his son got a craving, there was no stopping him.
“Of course not! Boss Wei is my mentor. Unless he fires me, I’ll work there until I retire,” Shen Zhiyi laughed, playing along.
“Then what brings you here?”
“I have an older sister. She doesn’t have much education and hasn’t worked in a while she’s been taking care of the kids. But this September, we plan to send the child to school here in town, so she’d like to find a job.”
“Great! Go inside and get an application form. Have her fill it out, then come for an interview and wait for notification. We don’t require high education here. As long as she can manage inventory and do basic math, she’s qualified.”
“Of course, if she knows how to use an abacus, even better she could work in the office. If not, she can work as a salesclerk on the floor. The salary is slightly lower, but if she’s okay with that, tell her to give it a try.”
“Thank you so much, Director Du! By the way, I’m launching another new dish soon. I’d like to formally invite you, your wife, and your son to come try it. My treat.”
“Now that’s generous! Alright, I’m going to work now. Go get that form!”
“Will do!”
Shen Zhiyi got the form, then stopped at a fruit stand to buy some fresh produce. She didn’t buy watermelon though she didn’t know how to pick a good one, and she had developed a bit of trauma from past experiences.
She returned to Fumanlou carrying bags and bags of goods. Little did she know, her conspicuous shopping had already attracted the attention of ill-intentioned people.
A scout from a gang followed her all the way back to the restaurant, then swapped with another person to keep watch.
When it was time to clock out, Shen Zhiyi borrowed Sister Li’s tricycle, planning to ride home that night.
But the two chefs strongly objected. It was already dark! Even a man walking alone wasn’t safe, let alone a woman carrying so many valuables. What if she got robbed halfway?
Sister Li joined in to persuade her to stay.
Shen Zhiyi wasn’t worried though. Her space, Ruyi, was stocked full of goodies daggers, pepper spray, everything she needed for self-defense.
Plus, she had some skills. Ordinary thieves were no match for her.
Over the last ten days, she’d been eating well and sleeping well, so her body had fully recovered. Although the kitchen was greasy and smoky, she used the skincare masks she took out from Ruyi every day. Her skin was looking much better now, smoother and softer.
Of course, it would take time to get back to the flawless porcelain skin she had in her original life this body had endured years of hardship and wind and frost. She had been born with a silver spoon, unlike this original owner.
“Zhao, go get Captain Zhou,” Sister Li whispered to Master Zhao. He immediately hopped on his bike and pedaled fast toward the police station.
Meanwhile, Master Qiu and Sister Li kept trying to delay Shen Zhiyi.
By the time she had loaded everything onto the tricycle, Captain Zhou and Master Zhao still weren’t back. Sister Li said she needed to look for her keys to stall for more time.
Shen Zhiyi: “…”
Two minutes later, Zhou Muchuan roared up on his three-wheeled police motorcycle and screeched to a halt right in front of her.
Shen Zhiyi glanced at Sister Li and Master Qiu, then looked for Master Zhao who had conveniently disappeared. She instantly knew what was going on.
“Officer Zhou? What are you doing here? Patrolling this late?” she asked, feigning innocence.
“I heard you’re taking leave tomorrow. Why rush back tonight? Can’t it wait until daylight?”
“I miss my family! Besides, if I ride fast, it only takes half an hour. If Mom is already asleep, showing up early tomorrow morning will be such a nice surprise.”
“Heh are you sure it’s a surprise and not a shock?” Zhou Muchuan spoke bluntly, as usual.
Now that they were friends, he didn’t stand on ceremony anymore.
His bluntness earned him an eye roll and a playful punch on the arm from Shen Zhiyi.
However, Zhou Muchuan had caught a thief yesterday and gotten slashed by a dagger on his left shoulder. He had it bandaged at the hospital, but it was still very tender. Shen Zhiyi’s punch landed right on the wound.
He frowned in pain.
Shen Zhiyi, oblivious, thought he was raising his eyebrow to challenge her. So she punched the same spot again, a little harder this time. “What? You don’t agree?”
Zhou Muchuan gritted his teeth and endured it. “I agree, I agree. Since you’re going back, move your stuff onto my bike. You sit behind me. I’ll drive you.”
“No need to go through all that trouble. You have to patrol tomorrow, it’ll affect your work. I’m fine.” Shen Zhiyi didn’t want to be a burden.
“It’s no trouble. The bike is fast. If you ride that tricycle this late, your mom will just worry about you.”
Zhou Muchuan swung his long legs off the seat and started moving her bags without waiting for her answer. Master Zhao and Master Qiu helped too.
Sister Li urged her, “Just listen to him, Zhiyi. Let Captain Zhou take you home. Then we can all rest easy.”
Shen Zhiyi had no choice but to agree.
Then, Zhou Muchuan picked up a dusty, burlap sack and turned to ask her, “Since when do you collect waste paper to sell?”
Shen Zhiyi: “…”