Chapter 62 - 62 Celebrating Going to Work

Mrs. Xu sat among the crowd like a fluttering butterfly, clapping her hands as she shared her daughter’s grand accomplishments, from the first time she cooked, to the second time she attended a wedding feast and caught the eye of a senior leader.

Afterward, she talked about buying a bicycle to commute to work until her lips were dry; only then did Mrs. Xu pat her behind and stand up.

“Alright, enough talk, we’re having meat at home today, got to celebrate my daughter’s job.”

“Eldest Sister-in-law Xu, I bought some fabric for you, take a look and make two new outfits,” Xu Ying said, carrying a bunch of fabric out to Eldest Sister-in-law Xu.

If she remembered correctly, her eldest brother’s marriage had recently been arranged, and the red fabric she gave would be perfect for such an auspicious occasion.

She had previously thought the red fabric given by the system was of little use, but now it served a great purpose.

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu, as a married daughter, had never offered to patch things up for her parental home but was often burdened by them, frequently having to borrow things.

Things were different now, the Old Xu Family’s days had improved, and their backs were straight; they couldn’t let their sister-in-law suffer.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, this piece of blue fabric is for you to make an outfit, and the red, if you find it too gaudy or flashy, you can do whatever you want with it.”

Red not looking good? She just said it on purpose, to prevent her sister-in-law from feeling timid and unsure about how to use the fabric.

Hearing this, Eldest Sister-in-law Xu’s eyebrows knit together; such beautiful fabric, how could she not like it?

She took the fabric back into the room to show off to her husband, “Look, my younger sister gave this to me for making clothes.”

Xu, seeing so much fabric, smiled. What made a man happiest was probably his wife and his family getting along well.

He had seen his wife bullied by his own mother and younger sister and felt distressed, but now that his mother and younger sister were getting along better, Xu’s previously furrowed brows finally smoothed out.

He looked at his wife holding a pile of fabric and curiously said, “Isn’t this too much?”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu shook her head, “I’ll make one outfit for myself out of the blue fabric and use the rest to make you a pair of pants. My elder brother is getting married soon.

Fabric isn’t easy to find these days, I want to bring the red fabric back for my elder brother so he can make a new outfit for my new sister-in-law.”

Xu shook his head, “I just got a new outfit made, I don’t need pants. You’ve been in our family for many years and haven’t gotten any new clothes for yourself, you make another pair of pants.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu took his meaning and, setting aside the fabric, didn’t continue the discussion with her husband, “I’ll go cook first. Grandpa, Grandma, Second Uncle, and Third Uncle and their families are all coming over soon.”

She said this with a curve to her lips, “Yingying is really making something of herself, she’s actually working at a State-owned Restaurant now. From now on, our little sister is a big chef.”

“I’ll help you,” Xu immediately said upon hearing there was so much cooking to do, not wanting his wife to overwork herself.

He followed Eldest Sister-in-law Xu out of the room and on reaching the kitchen door, he saw Xu Ying busy at work and said reluctantly, “Younger sister, you go rest, let your sister-in-law and I handle everything.”

It wasn’t that Eldest Sister-in-law Xu wanted her to work so hard; besides, she would have to cook every day soon. It was better for her to take care of it at home. Otherwise, she’d get sick of cooking every day.

“Big brother, can you cook? If not, help us with the fire. Eldest Sister-in-law, help me prepare the vegetables, and I’ll do the cooking, or else you won’t be able to eat my dishes as often in the future.

If you want to eat, you’ll have to go to the restaurant, and that’ll cost quite a bit of money.”

Xu scratched his head; he really didn’t know how to cook.

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu was craving her younger sister’s dishes and nodded happily.

They had a wild chicken at home and the fish Xu had bought, so dinner would be plentiful.

The folks at the Old Mansion soon arrived, carrying things, after Xu had called them over.

Third Uncle Xu was a bit puzzled, wondering why they were eating together when it wasn’t a festival or anything special, but reminded that it saved a meal at his own home, and knowing they’d eat well at a gathering, he called his wife and daughter to Xu’s house with a smile.

“Yingying, your aunt brought some vegetables and a kilo of ribs; what can you make with these?” Second Aunt Xu carried the meat and vegetables into the kitchen, intending to help cook, but finding the kitchen crowded, she tactfully left.

However, when she did leave, she didn’t come out empty-handed; she took some fried peanuts and mushrooms that Xu Ying had prepared.

“Fragrant, fragrant, let Shengshun eat.” Xu Shengshun was drooling as he watched Second Aunt Xu carrying the fried peanuts, looking incredibly tempted, “Mom, let Shengshun eat.”

Second Aunt Xu looked at her son with a touch of embarrassment.

Mr. Xu didn’t mind at all, looking at Xu Shengshun with nothing but affection, “Hey, let Uncle give Shengshun some.

Shitou, go to the kitchen and get a bowl and chopsticks for your uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Shitou could no longer bother playing with his third uncle. He got up and ran to the kitchen, sensibly serving a generous amount of peanuts to his largest uncle.

“First Uncle, you eat this first, I’ll come check on you later.”

Xu Shengshun took the bowl, using the chopsticks to devour the peanuts with relish.

Second Aunt Xu’s eyes reddened at the sight, “Hurry up and eat, you’re an adult and still so clueless.”

Mr. Xu responded, his face falling, “What nonsense are you spouting? Does Shengshun want to be like this? Speaking like that is too hurtful to the child.”

What was originally a happy occasion turned gloomy in the courtyard.

“Dad, Mom, I’m here,” announced Third Uncle Xu, sauntering into the yard with a carefree stride.

Mr. Xu’s face blackened at the sight of his third son, saying sternly, “What are you doing here? The sight of you really kills the mood on such a fine day.”

Third Uncle Xu was unmoved by his father’s harsh words—he had heard far worse from his dad.

He grinned shamelessly, then turned his head to ask Mr. Xu, “Big Brother, what’s the good news? I could smell the meat from miles away, and it’s driving me crazy with hunger.”

“Yingying is going to work at the State-owned Restaurant the day after tomorrow,” Mr. Xu said.

Before Third Uncle Xu could fully sit down on the stool, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud, “B-Big Brother, you’re not joking, right?

How could Yingying possibly work at the State-owned Restaurant? That place is so hard to get into, how could a young girl like her possibly…”

“Uncle is here, come help me make a fire,” Yingying’s loud voice called out from the kitchen.

Mr. Xu, thinking his youngest son wouldn’t go to help, was just about to scold him when he saw the son swiftly get up from the ground and enter the house.

Mr. Xu rubbed his eyes, wondering if this was really his youngest son.

Mrs. Xu was also slightly surprised.

“Yingying, tell your uncle the truth, how did you end up getting a job at the State-owned Restaurant?” Third Uncle Xu asked with a stern face, having confidently made a bet with his niece just a few days ago.

He wasn’t just bluffing him, was she?

“I got in with my skills, Uncle. Do you think the food I cook is tasty?” Yingying, holding the spatula, asked without turning her head.@@novelbin@@

Third Uncle Xu nodded; he had eaten food prepared by Yingying before, and it was indeed quite good.

But even so, getting into a State-owned Restaurant was no easy feat.

These days, most jobs were all about who you knew, not what you knew. Entire factories were full of nepotism.

If it was all about skills, he wouldn’t have been rejected himself.

“Tasty, but the State-owned Restaurant is hard to get into,” Third Uncle Xu said seriously, suddenly seeming like a different person emanating an air not to be taken lightly.

Yingying didn’t know much about her uncle and couldn’t understand why he was making such a big deal about her getting a job at the State-owned Restaurant.

“It’s tough to get into these units now, but having skills gives you a chance of success.

I’m working at the State-owned Restaurant, aren’t you happy, Uncle?” Yingying turned to look at him.

Third Uncle Xu shook his head, joy evident in his eyes. He was delighted for his niece; it wasn’t just prestigious but also meant that the Xu family’s lives would get better.

“I’m happy, but does that mean the promise you made earlier to find me a job still stands?” Third Uncle Xu reverted to his usual playful and cheeky demeanor, as if the serious man from before had never appeared.