"It's cold outside, why did you come out?" Mrs. Yu shooed Qi Zhenzhen back into the house.
"My mother is teaching Mingyue to embroider. Auntie, you know, I'm not interested in that. If I stay there, my mother will see how well Mingyue embroiders and will nag me again," Qi Zhenzhen said playfully.
"I don't know what your mother is thinking. Who says a girl's needlework must be good? Mingyue likes it herself. If she didn't, I wouldn't force her. Besides, with your family's situation, why do you need to do embroidery yourself? If you like it, just embroider something to pass the time," Mrs. Yu said. "I'll talk to your mother later."
Qi Zhenzhen nuzzled against Mrs. Yu. "Auntie understands me. The embroiderers in the embroidery building are so skilled; we can just buy whatever we want."
The two chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.
The young woman who had been working before finished her tasks quickly, but her heart was heavy. Why wasn't the kimchi business hers? It was money, pure white silver, every day.
And Mrs. Yu, she only got the position of manager because she was the village chief's daughter-in-law. In this cold weather, they had to touch the icy cold cabbage, while she just held a warm hand warmer and watched them work. It was too unfair. She was just a fallen family that had ended up in their village, so why did she leap to become someone respected by everyone in the village?
When work ended at noon, Qi Zhenzhen invited Mrs. Yu and Song Mingyue to stay for a meal.
The two families were familiar with each other, so Mrs. Yu did not refuse. She also liked Qi Zhenzhen's cooking; the same dishes tasted delicious when made by her.
Seeing that Qi Zhenzhen was going to cook, Song Mingyue prepared to get off the kang to help, but Mrs. Yu pulled her back. "You'd better stay put. Mother isn't being stingy with you, but if you get involved, who knows when we'll eat. Don't just get in Zhenzhen's way."
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Cooking was Song Mingyue's weak point; no matter how she tried, she couldn't even get started.
For lunch, they were having Roujiamo. A couple of days ago, she bought a pig's head from Butcher Zhang and stewed it until the meat was tender. The braising liquid was Qi Zhenzhen's secret recipe. The braised pork head was incredibly delicious. She would bake some white Jianbing, slice them open, add the pork head meat, and ladle on some braising liquid. It was so good that people would want to swallow their tongues.
The white Jianbing were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the meat fragrant and tender. Taking a hot bite, everyone ate with great satisfaction.
"Zhenzhen, it's clearly meat sandwiched in bread, why is it called Roujiamo?" Song Mingyue asked indistinctly, taking the last bite of her third Roujiamo.
Why was that? Qi Zhenzhen hadn't considered this question. Visually, it was indeed meat sandwiched in bread, so why was it called Roujiamo? Wishing she had Baidu here, Qi Zhenzhen could only prevaricate, "It was written that way in a book I read before. As for why, I really don't know."
Upon hearing that it was from a book, Song Mingyue looked convinced. "What's written in books is reasonable, and besides, 'Roujiamo' sounds better when you say it."
Books were written by scholars, and people in ancient times inexplicably held scholars in awe, rarely questioning the content of books.
In the afternoon, there was one less worker. Jin Niang, the young woman from the same village as Mrs. Yu, helped inform Mrs. Yu of her absence. Jin Ping had her period and was in too much pain to get out of bed, so she asked for two days off.
Jin Ping was the one Mrs. Yu didn't think highly of, and she was the one who had incited Li Shan and his wife to produce more kimchi.
Mrs. Yu went into the house and told Qi Zhenzhen about it. Qi Zhenzhen smiled. "Auntie, as long as you know what you're doing, it's fine. We're not unreasonable here. If someone isn't feeling well, must we force them to work? When we build the workshop next year, we'll need to establish some rules for hiring people. Those who work will get one day off each month, and they'll still be paid for the days they don't work. If they don't rest on their day off, they'll get an extra day's wages each month."
Mrs. Yu pondered for a moment and thought it was a good idea. She nodded. "Indeed, there must be rules. It's always said that without rules, nothing can be done properly. Managing a workshop cannot be as casual as it is now."
Having her period was just an excuse. Her period had only ended a few days ago, so saying this now was just to have a legitimate reason not to go to work.
She had seen the village elders go to the Qi family a few days ago. Although Qi Zhenzhen had successfully appeased them and sent them away, would those people truly be content? If the recipe for kimchi was in their hands, it would be like guarding a mountain of gold.
Jin Ping decided to try. Perhaps she could find a partner.
As luck would have it, the first house Jin Ping visited was the second uncle of Chief Song.
Aunt Song disliked Jin Ping. This young woman's eyes were like hooks, and she looked at everyone as if her eyes were filled with water, making her most alluring.
"What are you here for?" Aunt Song was not polite at all, blocking the door and not letting her in.
"I'm here to see the elder," Jin Ping replied respectfully. This Aunt Song had a reputation for being a shrew and was also jealous. If her husband so much as glanced at another woman, she would scratch their face. Although her own husband didn't pay attention to other women, she accused others of seducing him. This woman was so unreasonable that she was truly disliked.
Hearing the commotion, Song Deshun came out of the house. "Jin Ping, what is it? What's the matter with you, old woman, blocking the door and not letting people in? If people find out later, who will dare come to our house?"
Although Aunt Song was formidable, she never dared to act up in front of Song Deshun. She glared at Jin Ping and let her in.
"Come, sit inside," Uncle Song beckoned her.
Little vixen, little slut. Aunt Song spat at Jin Ping's retreating back. A slender waist and full hips, she looked alluring just standing there. When she walked, she swayed her hips. What man could look at her and not move his feet?
Inside the house, Uncle Song asked Jin Ping amiably what she had come to see him about, but his eyes kept looking at her bulging chest. Her collar was stretched taut, and it was quite large.
"The Qi family's kimchi business is doing so well. Aren't you anxious, elder?" Jin Ping got straight to the point.
As soon as this was mentioned, the wicked fire in Song Deshun's heart was extinguished. "What good method do you have?"
Jin Ping glanced at Song Deshun. Song Deshun leaned closer to her. Jin Ping whispered a few words, and Song Deshun slapped his thigh. "You little slut, you thought of the same thing as me."
Song Deshun had been wondering how to deal with it. Since Jin Ping worked at the Qi family and was willing to help, it would save a lot of trouble.
Jin Ping threw Song Deshun a flirtatious glance. "When this is done, don't forget my contribution."
Jin Ping didn't stay long. When she left, she smiled at Aunt Song by the door, then swayed her hips and took small steps as she left the Song residence.
As soon as Aunt Song entered the house and saw her husband's covetous expression, she cursed Jin Ping in her heart, calling her a shameless little slut who was trying to seduce men even at her place!