When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 77: Chapter 446: The 1950s Wife of His Humble Days (46)

”We’re a large factory. We have to take all possibilities into account.”

Director Wang furrowed his brow in thought. Gritting his teeth, he said, ”All I can do is try my best to report this to the leadership. Whether it’ll be approved, no one can say for sure.”

Zhu Yun smiled and said, ”I know you’re very capable, Director. I’m sure you can do it.”

”Oh, you,” Director Wang said, shaking his head with a helpless smile. ”I’m just a lowly director. How much power could I possibly have? Stop flattering me! Alright, alright. I’ll have to make a trip and really grind them down for you.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t sit still any longer. He started heading for the office building to corner someone, mulling over Zhu Yun’s words as he went.

Zhu Yun stood at the food service window, watching for a while.

She had spent a couple of months dishing out food with a ladle before, so she had a general grasp of everyone’s appetites.

But today was the first day the cafeteria had lifted restrictions. Everyone took a lot of food—about twice their usual amount. If not for the hot weather making it hard to store leftovers, they probably would have taken even more.

Her gaze lowered slightly as she pondered for a long time.

’I’m just one person with no power to turn the tide,’ she thought, ’but I can at least lessen the impact in my own small way...’

Before, she had only thought about keeping herself and Chu Shenyu from starving. But she had gotten along so well with her colleagues, neighbors, and apprentice that she couldn’t bear the thought of eating and drinking well at home while they were counting rice grains and sipping thin soup.

Director Wang didn’t hurry back until it was almost the end of the workday. He sized Zhu Yun up for a moment before smiling and handing her a document covered in red stamps. ”It’s done, Director Yun. The factory manager approved it. He’s allocated the warehouse in the northwest corner for us to store grain. The cafeteria restructuring documents are here. I also made a trip to the personnel and household registration departments to ask about the numbers...”

Zhu Yun took the documents and the data Director Wang had copied down.

The documents didn’t just contain the approval for the cafeteria staff reorganization; they also detailed personnel changes. Director Wang was promoted to Director of the Food Service Division, while she and another cafeteria director, Director Cui, were promoted to Deputy Directors.

She read it over carefully, then smiled and said, ”Congratulations, Director Wang!”

Director Wang gave a wry smile and rubbed his balding head. ”Congratulations to you too, Director Yun. A promotion means a heavier weight on our shoulders. I hope we can live up to expectations.”

”Okay. I’ll take this data home and run the numbers. Let’s meet tomorrow morning to discuss it,” Zhu Yun said, waving the papers in her hand.

”Alright. Before the day’s over, I’ll notify the other directors,” Director Wang agreed.

Her apprentice still got their meals for them in advance. After Chu Shenyu got off work and came over, the young couple ate in the office, washed their food containers, and then walked home together.

Passing by the factory’s post office, Zhu Yun nudged Chu Shenyu. ”Call your dad and ask about the situation at his school’s cafeteria today. It’d be best if you could ask for the specific number of faculty and students, as well as the male-to-female ratio.”

Chu Shenyu squeezed her palm. ”My dad?”

Zhu Yun smiled, pressing her lips together. ”Our dad, our dad! Hurry up. If you wait, our dad will be off work and heading home.”

As the principal, Mr. Chu worked longer hours than most. At this time of day, if he wasn’t out on business, he’d be in his office.

Chu Shenyu didn’t ask any more questions. He just got in line for the phone to complete the homework his wife had assigned him.

The phones at the post office weren’t very private, so Zhu Yun leaned in a little closer and meticulously recorded all the data.

As they were returning to the family residential compound, they happened to run into Old Mrs. Wang, who was coming back from getting food.

The old woman was carrying a cloth bag, which probably held three or four containers of food. She was muttering, ”I need to send a telegram to my old man and the others. The food in the village cafeteria is nowhere near as good as the factory’s!”

”Wow, steamed white-flour buns and white rice... We don’t even eat this well during the New Year...”

Zhu Yun’s eyes flickered. ”Aunt Wang, your daughter-in-law is almost seven months pregnant, right? Giving birth in the fall is perfect. It’s not too cold and not too hot.”

Old Mrs. Wang was startled. Clutching her cloth bag, she took several large steps to the side, shot Zhu Yun a glare, and then scurried home.

Zhu Yun sighed as if her fun wasn’t over. ”People really do bully the weak and fear the strong. Tsk, tsk. I didn’t even say anything. Why’d she run off like that?”

Chu Shenyu shot her an amused glance. ”I’m guessing the Wang Family will be having relatives come to stay very soon, won’t they?”