Reborn in the 80s: Divorced and Spoiled by the Military Man - Chapter 142

Chapter 142: What Exactly Is the Relationship Between Captain Shen and Comrade Xie?

Just when Xie Yunshu thought Captain Shen was going to say more, he abruptly changed the subject again. “Let’s set this matter aside for now. Remember to wait for me at the entrance to the Construction Site this afternoon.”

Xie Yunshu glanced at the scarf around his neck and could only nod. “Then I’ll see you this afternoon.”

There were many men at the Construction Site, and since Xie Yunshu had contracted the canteen, everyone was naturally familiar with her. At six o’clock, just as the sky was turning dark, she stood outside with her bicycle, and quite a few people greeted her. “Comrade Xie Yunshu? Who are you waiting for?”

Xie Yunshu’s expression was perfectly natural as she explained openly, “I’m waiting for Captain Shen. I need to ask him for help with something work-related.”

She understood how frightening rumors could be, so she explained in great detail. She couldn’t let people think there was anything unclear going on between her and Captain Shen.

Several staff members from the Project Department froze for a moment and exchanged glances. What exactly was this girl’s relationship with Captain Shen? Strictly speaking, Captain Shen was in charge of safety matters at the Construction Site, and he usually dealt more with upper-level leaders or the government. Matters like the canteen weren’t under his jurisdiction.

Comrade Xie and Captain Shen should have had absolutely nothing to do with each other. If it was work-related, shouldn’t she be asking Tian Hao for help?

Just then, Shen Subai walked out of the Construction Site. He had changed back into his black down jacket, with a gray scarf wrapped around his neck. Even among a crowd of men, he stood out from the rest, his figure straight and elegant as bamboo.

“Comrade Xie, hello.”

He gave a slight nod, his attitude steady and proper, with every sign of keeping a careful distance. “Master Zhang should be finished with his work by this time. Since it’s a work matter, let’s not waste any time.”

So it really was about work?

The doubtful, somewhat gossipy looks around them faded a little, and even Xie Yunshu’s heart completely relaxed.

See! How could Captain Shen possibly have that kind of interest in her? She really had been ridiculously self-absorbed. Wasn’t his attitude of keeping distance obvious enough? She was the one who had insisted on giving him the scarf. His conscience was clear, so he hadn’t overthought it and had simply put it on.

But her? She had actually let her imagination run wild over something like this! No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like she was the one scheming after Captain Shen with impure thoughts!

Hopping onto her bicycle, Xie Yunshu’s tone became light. “Then let’s hurry. Captain Shen, if this works out, I’ll definitely have to thank you properly!”

No matter how anyone looked at it, there was no romantic entanglement between the two of them. Besides, this wasn’t a feudal society anymore. It was perfectly normal for male and female Comrades to work together. They were all new youths of the new era, not old-fashioned fossils. They really shouldn’t make wild guesses.

Just as everyone was inwardly blaming themselves, Shen Subai swung one long leg over his bicycle. Only after Xie Yunshu had ridden a little farther did he turn to the few Male Comrade workers with a gentle smile. “The weather is still a little cold. Wear more when you go out, and if you’re riding a bicycle, put on a scarf.”

Among those few Male Comrade workers was the young man who had blushed in front of Xie Yunshu at lunch.

He knew Captain Shen’s status and position, and when he heard this, he was quite touched. “Captain Shen, thank you for your concern.”

Shen Subai adjusted the scarf around his neck, then smiled faintly. “This scarf Comrade Xie gave me is quite warm. She probably knitted it herself. You likely can’t buy one like it outside.”

His tone made it sound as if he genuinely felt sorry for everyone…

The Male Comrade workers: “…”

A scarf knitted by Comrade Xie? A scarf given to Captain Shen? Those few combinations of words directly stunned them all…

Especially that poor blushing young fellow. It was as if he had suffered a heavy blow. He stared blankly at the receding figures of Shen Subai and Xie Yunshu. He remembered it clearly. This scarf had obviously been around Xie Yunshu’s neck at noon!

So, what exactly was the relationship between Captain Shen and Comrade Xie?

Master Zhang of Haicheng Restaurant was an old chef. His ancestors had once served as imperial chefs. He himself had also spent a period of time destitute and down on his luck, but later, with Reform and Opening Up and Haicheng’s rapid development, he welcomed the springtime of his own career.

Not only was Master Zhang now the head chef at Haicheng Restaurant, he also had several young apprentices under him.

Those willing to apprentice as cooks naturally weren’t the children of high-ranking cadres. Most were kids from families that weren’t well off. Master Zhang had relied on his skills over the years to finally establish himself at Haicheng Restaurant, but one restaurant didn’t need that many head chefs.

After his apprentices completed their training, the ones who had saved up a little money would open small eateries of their own. Those in worse circumstances would either stay on as kitchen assistants or go work at other little restaurants.

Song Shanchuan was the apprentice who had been with him the longest. The boy had a hard life. His father had once been an old coworker of Master Zhang’s, but he hadn’t made it through those difficult years and had passed away early, leaving behind only a wife who couldn’t speak and a young child.

When Song Shanchuan was seven or eight, no one knew what had frightened him, but he also stopped speaking. Master Zhang had originally wanted Song Shanchuan to take over for him one day, but the manager of Haicheng Restaurant wasn’t very willing. “He can be a kitchen assistant, but forget about making him head chef.”

Haicheng Restaurant was the best restaurant in Haicheng, and it had no shortage of chefs. If not for Master Zhang, the manager wouldn’t even have been willing to hire Song Shanchuan as an assistant.

So when Shen Subai asked him, Master Zhang immediately recommended Song Shanchuan. “The boy makes delicious food. He can’t speak, but he knows sign language and can read. Communication won’t be a problem.”

Master Zhang would have to retire sooner or later. Once he was too old to work, the manager of Haicheng Restaurant would definitely drive Song Shanchuan out. When that happened, how were this widowed mother and fatherless son supposed to survive?

Shen Subai didn’t give an answer. He turned his head and glanced at Xie Yunshu, silently asking for her opinion.

Xie Yunshu looked at the young man sitting beside Master Zhang. He seemed to be in his early twenties, about the same age as her. He wore a white chef’s uniform and had a delicate, clean-cut look. He sat there quietly, letting them size him up.

“How are his cooking skills?” Xie Yunshu hesitated, then added, “I’m personally contracting a canteen, so I won’t be able to offer a very high salary.”

The wages at Haicheng Restaurant had to be pretty high, right?

Master Zhang hurriedly said, “Anything I can cook, Shanchuan can handle too. As for wages, he’s currently paid fifty yuan a month at Haicheng Restaurant. How much could you offer?”

A little less wasn’t impossible, but it couldn’t be too little. He knew the Construction Site canteen served three meals a day. Breakfast was usually steamed buns or noodles, so the chef wouldn’t have much to do then, but lunch and dinner alone would be exhausting enough.

He was anxious to find work for Song Shanchuan, but if the other side only wanted to squeeze and exploit him, that wouldn’t do either.

Xie Yunshu blinked. That wage was completely acceptable. Auntie Zhao was getting fifty yuan a month too!

“As long as there are no problems with the work, the salary won’t be a problem!” Xie Yunshu had a good impression of Song Shanchuan, so she said, “The contract hasn’t officially started yet, so for now, it’ll be fifty yuan a month. After one month, it’ll go up to sixty.”

After saying that, she added, “But the food has to taste good.”

Master Zhang agreed at once. “Of course.”

On the way back from Haicheng Restaurant, Xie Yunshu very considerately offered to treat Shen Subai to a meal. “You paid last time. I brought enough money this time.”

Shen Subai lowered his eyes and chuckled softly. “All right.”

This time, the two of them went to an ordinary neighborhood restaurant. They spent only five yuan and still had a very good meal.

When they returned, Shen Subai brought her all the way downstairs to the communal apartment block. “It was just on the way.”

Xie Yunshu took him at his word and didn’t think too much about it. “Then Captain Shen, you should hurry back.”

Only after Shen Subai left did she put away her bicycle and turn to enter the stairwell.

Lin Cuiping suddenly popped out like a ghost and said eerily, “Xie Yunshu, tell me the truth. What exactly does your man do? He’s definitely not a section chief, is he?”