CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 201: NOT A PORCELAIN DOLL

If possible, no one would want to both work and earn money to support the family, and still have to take care of the elders and children at home.

"You should be secretly happy if you can find a wife who has a job and cares about the family."

Wen Shi spoke earnestly, "One must be content, and as a man, be even more considerate. Old Lin, you can’t take for granted how good your sister-in-law is to you and your son."

"I haven’t."

The accusation was too serious, Lin Qiu Ping refused to shoulder the blame for it.

"I remember her kindness and appreciate her feelings. That’s why, when she asked me to learn to cook, I came immediately. I even asked people everywhere to buy Dacron for her, spending quite a bit on money and ration tickets, and it cost me some personal favors too."

Yi Chichi was puzzled, "You need connections to buy Dacron?"

Isn’t this stuff everywhere on the streets?

It turned out she was indeed mistaken. The time when our country truly began to produce Dacron independently was in 1979, produced by the Liaoyang Petrochemical Fiber Factory.

Before 1979, Dacron was available on the market, but not in large quantities.

Therefore, buying Dacron indeed required connections.

Upon learning this, Yi Chichi suddenly understood, no wonder most of the Dacron on the market was white, with little floral or printed designs.

So it turned out this stuff was a rare item.

Wen Shi thought she wanted it, and quickly said, "Wife, I’ll ask someone to help buy it for you."

"??? Buy what?"

Yi Chichi was confused, apparently not grasping her own meaning.

Lin Qiu Ping’s lips twitched slightly, the couple clearly weren’t on the same wavelength.

"Old Wen said he’ll get you Dacron."

Originally thinking she would be happy, Lin Qiu Ping and Wen Shi instead found that not only did she show no trace of happiness, but there was even a faint disdain.

The two brothers glanced at each other, what’s going on?

Are there women who don’t like Dacron?

"No need."

Still puzzled, Yi Chichi firmly declined Wen Shi’s offer, "I have no interest in Dacron. It’s neither absorbent nor breathable when worn. Apart from being wrinkle-resistant and brightly colored, it has no other merits, and it’s expensive. It’s not worth wasting money on."

She was even more unwilling for Wen Shi to owe someone a favor for a piece of Dacron.

Owing favors in this world is the hardest to repay.

If you have to owe a favor, it should be for something significant.

"Are you sure you don’t want it?"

Wen Shi felt she was too thoughtful and caring, internally determined to secretly buy her some fabric to make clothes.

Yi Chichi saw his expression and knew exactly what he was thinking.

Half laughing, half crying, she insisted, "Old Wen, I am not joking, I really don’t like Dacron, don’t buy it for me thinking it’ll be a surprise, it just won’t be."

This time she made her disdain for Dacron very clear, and Wen Shi’s intentions were put to rest.

He acknowledged with an "oh," "Alright, I won’t buy it."

Lin Qiu Ping looked at him as if he were an alien, amazed that this guy actually had a moment of obedience?

That’s good, next time he acts up, I’ll ask Mr. Yi to deal with him.

Laughing and joking, the three entered the kitchen.

Lin Qiu Ping glanced around and found his forehead covered in black lines, "You two just aren’t cut out for domestic life."

"In what way aren’t we?"

Wen Shi placed the pot on the empty stove and went to the backyard to fetch firewood.

Lin Qiu Ping sighed, "You have pots, bowls, ladles, and steel pans. Why haven’t you prepared an iron pot?"

"We weren’t planning on cooking."

For boiling water and cooking noodles, a steel pan suffices. Once the water boils, you throw in noodles or dumplings, and then scoop them out.

If you want soup, crack an egg, add some greens and shrimp, and if you want it dry, mix it with sesame oil and meat sauce. It’s a delicious meal either way.

"But you still need to cook. Even the best cafeteria meals get monotonous over time."

There’s a distinct difference in flavor between large pot meals and small pot meals.

This is Lin Qiu Ping’s honest opinion.

Wen Shi agreed, "You’re right. That’s why I’m learning to cook."

Lin Qiu Ping wanted to ask why it wasn’t his wife learning to cook, but feared a retort, so he said, "Good man, I’ll learn too. Who’s the teacher?"

"My wife."

Then, Yi Chichi received the spotlight.

Wen Shi’s eyes were filled with trust, while Lin Qiu Ping’s eyes were full of doubt.

He asked, "Sister-in-law, can you cook?"

"I can only cook verbally."

In reality, I can cook; it may not be chef-level skills, but it won’t be a culinary disaster.

It’s just the simple, ordinary, home-cooked flavor.

However, she hates cooking.

Despises the oil and smoke.

In an era without dishwashers, range hoods, or detergent, even if you wash dishes with hot water, the psychological feeling of greasiness is still discomforting.

Lin Qiu Ping had a bewildered expression, his mind full of questions about what verbal cooking meant.

Soon, he understood.

Yi Chichi’s verbal cooking was literally verbal cooking.

She instructed, while Wen Shi followed her step-by-step instructions and procedures.

How high the heat should be, the oil temperature, what to add first, and then what next, she directed everything in an orderly way. The result was unexpectedly satisfying.

Fragrant, spicy, and brightly colored. They hadn’t tasted it yet, so they didn’t know how it would taste.

But it scored in looks and aroma.

He picked up a small octopus to taste; the texture was firm yet tender, without the usual marine smell.

After swallowing the small octopus, he looked as though questioning his life, "I never knew octopus could be this tasty."

The octopus from the cafeteria...

Forget it, not worth mentioning.

"I also didn’t know seafood could be made into a spicy dish."

Wen Shi’s culinary world was broadened too, not reacting much better than Lin Qiu Ping.

Yi Chichi didn’t pay them any mind, focused on enjoying her spicy seafood hotpot.

Seeing her attempt to peel a crab, Wen Shi quickly offered, "Let me do it for you, so the shell doesn’t cut your hands."

Yi Chichi handed the crab to him, and Lin Qiu Ping instantly felt a sense of being overstuffed.

"Do you two have to go that far?"

Getting cut by a crab shell, they’re not porcelain dolls or anything.

Absurd.

Absolutely absurd.

"If you don’t know anything, don’t speak."

Wen Shi looked up and glared at him, "My wife’s not delicate; it’s because her hands are used for embroidery. If they get snagged, we’d owe a lot."

Lin Qiu Ping’s eyes widened, "Embroidery?"

"Yeah."

"Can you still do that kind of work?"

He looked worried, "You better be cautious; it’s troublesome if someone reports you."

"No worries, my wife is a specially hired embroidery master at the Friendship Store, with an official stamp and contract."

The name "Friendship Store" was like a golden ticket, quelling any unrest.

After all, ordinary people couldn’t even get near the Friendship Store, but Yi Chichi was a specially hired embroidery master there. To say the least, that title was quite impressive.

Lin Qiu Ping relaxed, "Sister-in-law is amazing."

"Just trying to make a living."

Yi Chichi humbly smiled, warmly inviting him to eat.

Lin Qiu Ping felt a bit embarrassed, and rubbed his hands with a smile, "I won’t eat more, but could I take a couple of shrimps back for my wife and kid to try?"