When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 84: Chapter 49: The Jilted Wife of the 50s (49)

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads. ”There isn’t any specific method. It’s just that everyone stops cooking for themselves and eats collectively at the canteen, be it at the commune or their workplace.”

”Everyone eats their fill and works on development together, solving the most basic yet pressing need for food and warmth.”

Zhu Yun’s eyes curved into a smile. ”In other words, the Organization’s directive is very vague. It’s up to us to figure out the specifics. As long as everyone eats their fill and gets proper nutrition, we’re good, right?”

”That makes sense,” everyone agreed, nodding hesitantly.

”Then we need to establish some rules right now while the canteen is just opening to keep things orderly. The Organization is concerned about everyone’s hunger, but we can’t let certain people exploit the situation for personal gain at the expense of others.” Zhu Yun’s expression suddenly grew stern as she spoke.

”The Organization said everyone should eat their fill. Did it say they could take more after they’re already full?”

Everyone’s expression grew serious as well, and they shook their heads.

Zhu Yun wasted no more words and directly passed around the list of rules she had drafted the previous night.

The first rule on the list stated that all employees’ family members must abide by all the following regulations. Otherwise, the factory canteen would refuse them service, and they would have to find somewhere else to eat.

The second rule stipulated that employees’ family members were not allowed to take food to-go; they had to finish their meals in the canteen. In special circumstances, they would be supplied with a standard-sized portion...

The list got even more detailed further down, covering things like how to handle visiting relatives, prohibiting food waste, and docking the pay of employees whose family members left food on their plates.

Everyone nodded along as they listened, but the troubled looks on their faces only deepened.

”Director Yun, your rules are good. They respond to the Organization’s call while making sure everyone gets fed. But after these past two days, people’s expectations have been raised. If we suddenly hit them with a bunch of rules, won’t all hell break loose?”

They knew the families’ personalities all too well. Whether from the city or the countryside, how many people aren’t looking out for their own interests? Even they themselves would occasionally sneak home a handful of peanuts or a few cucumbers.

When they could clearly get away with taking more, why would they willingly walk into a cage of rules?

Besides, they’re using the Organization’s new policy as their justification. Even though the canteens have only been open for a day, these chefs had their own networks. They had called around to see what was happening at other places, and the situation was pretty much the same everywhere.

It was a massive trend. Who could possibly stop the flood the moment the gates were opened?

Zhu Yun chuckled softly. ”Just wait a little longer. We’ll have our justification soon enough.”

No one knew what she had up her sleeve, but in their eyes, her stature had grown immense. It was as if she had transformed from a naive toddler into an ancient sage with a youthful face. Her every move, every word, and every smile now seemed to carry a hidden authority and profound meaning, making it seem like nothing in the world could stump her.

How strange!

Having said her piece, Zhu Yun continued, ”By noon tomorrow at the latest, copies of these rules will be printed and posted at the entrance of every canteen and on the bulletin boards.”

”Once the rules are up, the rest is on us!”

Everyone sat up straight, waiting for her instructions.

Zhu Yun took a sip of tea. ”I’m sure some of you have heard about my background. I come from the countryside. Year after year, I’ve witnessed and participated in the long and arduous farm work of sowing and harvesting.”

”The Organization’s directives are surely the result of long deliberation, and it’s not the place of a small fry like me to question them. I only know that every year, my village has to turn over a large amount of public grain. The villagers don’t dare to eat their fill. Normally, they have two meals a day, and they’re lucky if they feel seventy percent full after each. It’s only during the busy farming season that they see any meat and eat until they’re completely stuffed.”

”Here in the city, everyone relies on grain coupons to eat. And even though we all get paid, and our factory offers good benefits and high wages, families with many children still don’t dare to eat their fill. And that’s here—what about other places?”

”As chefs, we need to be conscious of potential hardships, don’t you think? The Organization has entrusted this grain to our hands. That’s a great deal of trust. We’re like the head of a farm family, the one responsible for ladling out the dishes and portioning the rice. It’s a vital role!”

”We have to make things last for the long run, not just burn through everything at once. Don’t you all agree?”

All they could do was nod in agreement. It was true—if there were enough grain to go around, there wouldn’t be a need for ration coupons. Besides, seeing how everyone ate with abandon for just one day had genuinely scared them.

”Director Yun, just tell us what needs to be done. We’ll follow your lead!”

One person spoke up, and the others immediately followed, their voices booming loud enough to blow the roof off the building.