Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

She had never even seen this thing before, let alone eaten it, and had no idea where to begin.

His arrogance vanished instantly, and he subtly inquired of Ye Wenwen what kind of fish it was and how to cook it.

As a result, Ye Wenwen knew nothing when asked and simply answered honestly.

"They said these deep-sea fish were specially bought for the babies in our daycare center. Because they were bought in bulk, the price was much cheaper. If you buy them separately, they cost more than two yuan per pound!"

Upon hearing this, the aunt's hand trembled, and she looked troubled. "Teacher Ye, as long as the food for the children is fresh, that's fine. I don't know how to cook this stuff! What if it turns out badly? If you ask me, you should just go to the factory canteen to buy the food and buy groceries with them. It's cheaper and fresher, and they use common ingredients that are easy for me to prepare! You're just making things difficult for me! Honestly, if I had known it would be this troublesome, I wouldn't have done it."

The aunt complained for a while, then turned and left.

Ye Wenwen was furious. After thinking it over, she decided to go to the factory manager to complain while the children were taking their afternoon nap. Right now, the most important thing was to get the children's meals sorted out.

She was seething with anger as she went to the kitchen with her aunt, only to find her sitting there eating sunflower seeds. The aunt even rolled her eyes at her. Ye Wenwen couldn't take it anymore and started arguing with her aunt on the spot.

Upon hearing the commotion, Sister Fang rushed over, her face grim as she pounded on the door. "What are you doing? This is a school, not a market! What's all the noise about?"

As the administrator of the senior citizens' university, Sister Fang still wields considerable power.

Ye Wenwen was in the right, and being young and hot-blooded, she immediately ran to Sister Fang's side and told her everything that had just happened.

Seeing that the cook seemed unconcerned, Sister Fang smiled and stepped forward to ask, "What's your name, ma'am?"

"My name is Zhou Meifeng. And who are you?" Zhou Meifeng raised her eyebrows arrogantly and sized up Sister Fang with her arms crossed.

Sister Fang was very friendly. "I'm in charge of this school. You were assigned here from the textile factory, right?"

“That’s right!” Zhou Meifeng was clearly very proud when the textile factory was mentioned, with an air of arrogance.

Sister Fang immediately began to exaggerate and praise the textile factory, "I've heard that the textile factory is really amazing, it makes a lot of money, and most people can't even get in! Judging from Sister Zhou's appearance, she must be a long-time employee of the textile factory! Why would she give up a good job to cook here? It's such a waste of her talent!"

Zhou Meifeng seemed to have found a kindred spirit and immediately began to complain to Sister Fang, "I was doing just fine in the textile factory canteen, but those people kept finding fault with this and that, and even said that all the dishes I made tasted the same. It's hilarious. Aren't all dishes the same?"
I think they're just being fussy and making a lot of trouble! If the factory manager hadn't hired a new cook to appease the workers, I wouldn't have come here. I didn't expect a recent graduate like her to cause so much trouble!

Zhou Meifeng rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky.

After Sister Fang found out Zhou Meifeng's background, Ye Wenwen decisively turned around and went out, riding her bicycle to the textile factory to see the factory manager. "Factory manager, I now request that you arrange for someone else to cook. This Zhou Meifeng is a real tyrant, we can't afford to use her."

The factory manager and workshop director had just finished their business when they heard Ye Wenwen's words. They exchanged a glance, both puzzled.

The factory manager's child was also at the daycare center, and he immediately became anxious. "Teacher Ye, it's only the first day of school, and something happened?" Ye Wenwen indignantly recounted Zhou Meifeng's actions, her eyes red as if she had suffered a great injustice. "The person we found is a seafood wholesaler, and the ingredients she provided were both good and cheap. After all, we were taking care of the child, and we wanted to feed the child well and raise him to be healthy and chubby. But that auntie was really too much. She went to the daycare center just to slack off."

It's almost noon now, and she's sitting motionless in the kitchen. The children's lunch is still not ready! Several of us teachers have to take care of the children and can't spare a moment to help. Besides, none of us know how to cook. She's ruined everything!"

The more Ye Wenwen talked, the more heartbroken she felt, like a bullied little wife.

The factory manager and workshop director both frowned and took several factory workers with Ye Wenwen to the senior citizens' university.

When they arrived, they indeed found Zhou Meifeng sitting outside the kitchen enjoying the cool air, and none of the people working inside the kitchen were familiar to them.

The workshop foreman was furious, "Zhou Meifeng! Is this how you work while you're getting paid by the textile factory?"

Zhou Meifeng was startled and glared fiercely at Ye Wenwen, completely refusing to admit she had done anything wrong. "Director, it was Teacher Ye who deliberately made things difficult for me. She brought out that seafood that I've never even seen before. What am I supposed to do?!"

"Since you've never even seen it before and don't know how to make it, you might as well just find someone else." Lin Qin walked out of the kitchen with a dark face, carrying a bucket of freshly cooked seafood noodles. She instructed Ye Wenwen, "The noodles are very hot right now. For the children's safety, wait until they cool down before bringing them to the classroom."

Seeing the noodles that looked and smelled delicious, Ye Wenwen felt both fortunate and grateful. "Thank you, Sister Lin. I'll go help right now."

Just then, Sister Fang came out of the kitchen and, upon seeing the factory manager, immediately stepped forward to explain, "I was worried that the children would go hungry, so I shamelessly asked Comrade Lin Qin to come and help. She is a student here, and her child is also in the daycare center. These seafood and vegetables were all sent back by her family."

They offer these prices at internal wholesale prices because their children are being cared for here; you simply can't buy them outside.

"The factory manager and director will find out when they come with me."

Sister Fang led a group of people into the kitchen and carefully introduced, "The boneless deep-sea fish that Comrade Lin Qin brought today, I think it's called something like that, I forgot. Anyway, it's a rare thing. I heard it's very nutritious and suitable for the elderly and children. It can supplement things like D and A. Anyway, it's a good thing."

There are also fresh oysters here. Since they are for the children, I specially sent these medium-sized ones. I will cook oyster porridge for the children this afternoon.

Comrade Lin Qin also mentioned that they would send over some shrimp tomorrow. She said that shrimp can help with calcium intake and that children who eat it are smarter. Teacher Ye designed the menu entirely from the children's perspective, striving to spend the least amount of money to give the children the best food.

Everything was going well until Sister Zhou couldn't do it! What's worse, it's the first day of school today, and many parents are still here to observe, so many parents already know about this.

The factory manager had originally intended to smooth things over and speak up for Zhou Meifeng, but after Sister Fang said that, he completely gave up on the idea.

He immediately reprimanded Zhou Meifeng sternly, "Since you can't even cook for a few children properly, then leave! We don't need you here!"

Zhou Meifeng immediately became agitated and started throwing a tantrum at the factory manager, "Why should I? It was Ye's fault to begin with. She deliberately made things difficult for me, so why should I be fired?" (End of Chapter)