Chapter 31 The Sun Is Out

After returning to the Han family, Su Yue looked for an opportunity to secretly talk to Old Lady Han. She told her about the wholesale of cakes and her plan to find someone to help. She wanted to teach Old Lady Han how to make cakes so that, in the future, when she went to work, she could rely on Old Lady Han to make them.

When Old Lady Han heard this, she hurriedly waved her hands. “No, no, no, this is your exclusive craft. How could you teach me this casually?”

When the old lady said that, Su Yue trusted her even more. In truth, she hadn’t invented the pastry recipe at all. The method wasn’t an exclusive secret as many people in modern times could make it. It was only that hers tasted better than most people’s. In addition, people in this era had never seen or eaten these pastries before, so they naturally thought they were particularly delicious.

Su Yue felt that Old Lady Han was very suitable for making pastries. The old lady had been busy in the kitchen all her life, possessed good cooking skills, and was highly proficient in kitchen work. She also loved cleanliness and paid special attention to hygiene. Su Yue felt at ease letting her make pastries. Most importantly, Old Lady Han had a good character and could be trusted.

Su Yue said, “Auntie, the weather will be fine in a few days, then I’ll have to go to work and won’t have time to make pastries. Right now, someone is doing business with me for wholesale, but I’m too busy. Besides, if the Educated Youth Point is repaired, I’ll have to move back, and then it’ll be even more inconvenient to make pastries. If you don’t help me, no one will.”

The old lady was still a little hesitant.

“Auntie, if you don’t help me, I’ll have to find someone else. But what if they’re unreliable and report me?”

Hearing this, Old Lady Han was shocked and hurriedly said, “Don’t look for others; I’ll do it for you. I won’t tell anyone, and I promise not to leak it out. You can rest assured you won’t be reported.”

Achieving her goal, Su Yue smiled sweetly and said, “Okay, Auntie, I’ll trouble you from now on. Starting tomorrow, you can learn how to make pastries with me.”

Seeing that Su Yue trusted her so much, Old Lady Han felt happy and determined to learn well and help when the time came.

The next day, when Su Yue made pastries again, in addition to asking Han Aiguo to light the fire, she also called Old Lady Han into the kitchen.

Han’s third daughter-in-law’s eyes flashed when she saw this. She nudged Han’s second daughter-in-law with her elbow and muttered, “I heard Su Yue is teaching Mother to make pastries and asking her to help in the future.”

Han’s second daughter-in-law already knew this. She nodded and couldn’t help but glance toward the kitchen.

Han’s third daughter-in-law was dissatisfied. “Why didn’t Su Yue ask us to help instead? We’re young and work more efficiently than Mother. At least our eyesight is better than hers. If she needed someone, she should’ve asked us.”

Han’s second daughter-in-law paused before saying, “Maybe because we have to go to work and don’t have time. Mother doesn’t have to work, so she has time at home.”

Hearing that, Han’s third daughter-in-law grew even more unhappy. “Then I don’t want to work either! Making pastries earns much more than working. If I can make pastries, why would I work so hard every day for just a few cents and not enough to eat?”

Han’s second daughter-in-law secretly agreed.

Yes, she really wanted to learn how to make pastries from Su Yue. If she mastered this skill, she would never have to worry about food again. But Old Lady Han didn’t allow them near the kitchen, so they didn’t even have the chance.

Han’s second daughter-in-law whispered, “How would I know? You’ll have to ask Su Yue.”

Han’s third daughter-in-law looked toward the kitchen and fell silent in thought.

Meanwhile, Su Yue was teaching Old Lady Han how to make pastries. Since she had previously made too many different varieties, which was tedious and tiring, she decided not to overwhelm the old lady. Instead, she taught her a few simple, delicious, and easy-to-imitate recipes. These would be the main products for selling, while new varieties could be developed later when Su Yue had time, ensuring both money and points without wasting effort.

Although earning points was important, making money was just as crucial. When she reached 800 points, the system would reward her with a prescription to treat legs but it would only give the formula. She would have to buy the medicinal materials herself, and she didn’t know whether they would be expensive. If she couldn’t afford them, the prescription would be useless. So she still had to save money.

Old Lady Han had decades of kitchen experience, and steaming buns was second nature to her, so baking pastries wasn’t difficult. She learned quickly. After a morning of teaching, she had basically mastered it and started helping Su Yue make pastries.

Su Yue calculated that they would need to make at least 300 pastries a day in the future, possibly more if sales in the city went well. Without machines, the work of making dough, fillings, and steaming was heavy. She worried the old lady might be exhausted, so she asked, “Auntie, I don’t think you can do this alone. It’s too tiring. You should find someone to help you.”

She actually wanted Han’s second and third daughters-in-law to help. Though troublesome at times, at least they wouldn’t leak the secret.

But Old Lady Han immediately dismissed the thought. She knew her two daughters-in-law well. If they learned the craft, their natal families would find out, and more people would get involved. Then they might steal the business or even report it, putting the whole family at risk. That was why she never let them near the kitchen.

“It’s not good for too many people to learn,” Old Lady Han said. “It’s better for me to do it myself. I won’t be too tired, I’ll just take my time.”

Su Yue hesitated and turned to Han Aiguo.

After thinking, he said, “Then I can help my mother.”

Both Su Yue and Old Lady Han were stunned.

“I can’t do heavy labor with my legs,” he explained, “but I can help at home. I may not cook well, but I have strength to knead dough, wash beans, and do chores. That way, Mother won’t be too busy, and it’s more reliable. You also won’t need to worry about finding help.”

Su Yue realized he was right. She asked, “Are you really willing?”

Ordinarily, grown men in the village never set foot in the kitchen, leaving cooking entirely to women. Han Lao-er and Han Lao-san never helped. But Han Aiguo not only lit fires for her, he was now even willing to help make pastries. She was genuinely surprised and secretly happy.

The man she liked wasn’t as egoistic as other men.

Han Aiguo looked at her gently. “As long as you like me, of course I’m willing.”

Su Yue glared playfully at him. When had she said she liked him? Still, her heart was sweet.

Old Lady Han watched the two young people flirt and felt gratified. Though she also thought men didn’t need to enter the kitchen, she couldn’t help being touched that her eldest son was willing to help.

But then she thought who would light the fire?

Su Yue suggested, “I think it’s better to ask Hehua. She’s good at it, and she can earn three work points as a child anyway. Instead of working outside, she can help at home, and I’ll pay her one yuan a day.”

Old Lady Han thought about it. Her eldest granddaughter was indeed suitable, but she felt Su Yue shouldn’t have to pay. Still, if no money was given, her second daughter-in-law might complain. In the end, she agreed.

She called Hehua into the kitchen. The girl immediately nodded. “Aunt Su Yue, I’ll do it for free!”

Su Yue smiled and touched her head. “No, Aunt Su Yue can’t let you work for nothing. You must take the money.”

At Grandma’s nod, Hehua agreed and promised to make good fires.

That evening, Old Lady Han mentioned it at the dinner table. Her second daughter-in-law was delighted that her eldest girl would earn one yuan a day, half of which would be saved for her dowry. She smiled and urged Hehua, “Do well, don’t be careless.”

Hehua nodded obediently.

Han’s third daughter-in-law was displeased. “Sister Su Yue, why didn’t you ask me? I can make fires even better than Hehua.”

Old Lady Han immediately scolded her. “Why must everything be your business! Don’t you need to work? What will the family eat if you don’t?”

The third daughter-in-law argued, “Mother, I only earn seven or eight work points a day that is not even one yuan. I might as well light fires for Sister Su Yue.”

Old Lady Han snapped, “You won’t keep a cent of it anyway. Adults have to hand in all their wages. Still willing?”

Hearing this, she immediately fell silent. If she couldn’t keep any money, she might as well be lazy at work.

The old lady looked around and declared, “When the weather clears, except for the fourth child who’ll stay to help at home, everyone else must go to work. Stop thinking of easy gains all day.”

No one dared object. Without labor points, there would be no food rations, and money alone couldn’t buy enough.

Su Yue then publicly discussed future profit-sharing. She decided to give Old Lady Han three points of the profit and Han Aimin two points. If Han Lao-er and Han Lao-san helped during special times, they would also be given some. In this way, the Han family and she would share the profit equally, fifty-fifty.

As for Han Aiguo, he received nothing.

Later, in private, she explained to him, “I’m your partner. It’s right for you to help me. Do you have the nerve to ask for money from me?”

Han Aiguo only smiled and shook his head. “It’s fine. I’ll give it all to you.”

Satisfied, Su Yue tiptoed, kissed his cheek quickly, and teased, “See? I’m not a black-hearted boss. Everyone who works for me gets paid. Are you satisfied with your salary?”

Han Aiguo froze, his cheeks and ears turning red. His gaze deepened. “Yue’er…”

Su Yue blinked. “What did you call me?”

Tentatively, he reached out and placed his hands gently on her waist. Seeing her smile without rejecting him, he pulled her into his arms. “Yue’er… can I call you Yue’er from now on?”

Hearing his voice full of affection, Su Yue felt her heart sweeten. She nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing. At that moment, life seemed to hold a new meaning.

—-

Soon the day came for the wholesale agreement with Jiang Haishan. Su Yue, Old Lady Han, and Han Aiguo made 1,500 pastries in three days, out of which 500 for town sales, and 1,000 directly wholesaled to Jiang Haishan.

Han Lao-er and Han Aimin went to town together. Aimin delivered the thousand pastries to Sister Jiang’s house, and then went with Lao-er to sell the rest.

With pastries handled, Su Yue focused on her own cooking. She planned to make steamed buns and dim sum for breakfast, tired of corn pancakes and coarse buns. The thought of the meat buns Han Aiguo had bought earlier made her crave them again.

She took out flour and cheekily pushed it toward Han Aiguo. “Comrade Free Worker, it’s time to show off!”

He smiled as he kneaded the dough. With his strength and practice, he was now even better at it than Su Yue.

Meanwhile, she prepared fillings: leek with vermicelli, meat buns, and sweet red bean paste buns. For dim sum, she planned pork cubes mixed with rice for fragrance. Within an hour, everything was ready and steaming.

Just then, the children Maomao and Xiaolei shouted excitedly in the yard. “The sun is out! It’s finally sunny!”

Su Yue wiped her hands and rushed out. The sky had cleared, and golden sunlight broke through the clouds, dazzling the earth.

The rain had finally stopped.

After so many days of downpour, homes had become damp, muddy, and even flooded. Everyone had long been impatient. Now they ran out, cheering, “The sun is out! The sky has cleared!”

But Su Yue felt no joy and only heaviness. The sunshine meant that the Educated Youth Point could be repaired, which meant she would soon leave the Han family and move back.

Her heart sank, and when she looked at Han Aiguo, she saw the same reluctance in his eyes.