"Wife, if you're ever upset, you must tell me. Don't just suffer in silence."
Su Lao San's voice was laced with anxiety as he said this.
Liang Xiu shot him a glare. Even if she were upset, what could he do to help her?
Grandma Su also looked at Liang Xiu, her eyes full of worry.
The children exchanged glances, all looking troubled.
They were no longer little kids and understood many things.
They had already faced a lot of unfairness at school, let alone at the factory.
The adult world was far more complicated than the children's world.
However, Liang Xiu shook her head resolutely.
"It's nothing, no one has wronged me!"
Although Liang Xiu's words were firm, others couldn't help but doubt her.
"Really?" Su Lao San didn't believe her and turned to ask Qi Liangying.
"Second sister-in-law, were you wronged at the factory?"
Qi Liangying was also quite bewildered at this moment. She hadn't expected Liang Xiu to suddenly say something like that.
They worked in the same shift and went to and from work together every day, so they knew everything that happened at the factory.
She frowned and looked at Liang Xiu, unable to understand the reason behind her words for a long time.
"Third sister-in-law, how could you have such an idea?" Qi Liangying was still trying to figure things out as she spoke.
Seeing that her words had caused her family so much worry, Liang Xiu felt quite embarrassed.
"I'm not wronged. Think about it, the eggs for the sponge cake factory are supplied by eldest sister-in-law. Who would dare to bully us?"
Her words made others believe her a little more.
The most difficult raw material to obtain for the sponge cake factory was eggs. Even for the eggs alone, people at the factory shouldn't dare to bully the few people from Hongxin Brigade.
"Then what is it?" Grandma Su felt that Liang Xiu wouldn't say such a thing without reason.
"I just feel that the efficiency of the sponge cake factory seems to be not as good as it was two years ago."
Liang Xiu hesitated for a long time before saying this. This was just her personal observation, and it might not be true.
Su Xiao Tian looked at her mother meaningfully, surprised that her mother could notice this.
What Liang Xiu said was something Su Xiao Tian had already anticipated.
The sponge cake factory was currently performing well.
However, in a couple of years, with economic development, its efficiency would decline.
At that time, if it didn't adapt, the sponge cake factory might become one of the first factories to be eliminated by the market.
"Mom, you're right," Su Xiao Tian suddenly said, surprising everyone.
How could a child of about ten years old know that Liang Xiu was right?
Especially since Qi Liangying, who worked at the factory, hadn't noticed these issues.
"Xiao Tian, why do you say that?" Su Lao San looked at his daughter curiously.
Su Xiao Tian smiled and said, "I just feel that there are more and more fresh foods on the market recently."
After hearing this, Su Lao San nodded and said, "I do notice these things when I go on long-distance transport. But does this affect the efficiency of the sponge cake factory? Sponge cakes are so delicious!"
Not only Su Lao San, but everyone else also didn't understand.
"If the sponge cake factory's products are single, its competitiveness will be weak, and a decline in efficiency is inevitable," Su Xiao Tian said calmly.
Under the current economic conditions, the sponge cake factory could still survive. In another two years, to survive, it would need to have unique characteristics.
"What's wrong with being single? Sponge cakes are delicious, and many people like them," Su Lao San replied stubbornly.
Perhaps due to ingrained perceptions over the years, Su Lao San always felt that sponge cakes were the most delicious things in the world.
Su Xiao Si suddenly spoke, "Third uncle, what you said is not right."
"What's not right?" Su Lao San looked at his nephew and asked unhappily.
You brat, are you saying sponge cakes are not delicious anymore?
"We think sponge cakes are delicious because they are rare. We don't get to eat them a few times a year. If you had to eat sponge cakes every day, you certainly wouldn't want to."
Su Lao San found himself speechless after hearing this.
Su Xiao Si's words were indeed true. Even the best things would become tiresome if eaten every day.
"When we didn't have enough to eat before, we were happy even with watery gruel," Grandma Su said disapprovingly.
Su Xiao Tian immediately said, "When conditions don't allow, there's no choice. But as conditions improve day by day, how can we not choose?"
"But now, the only things available are sponge cakes and biscuits. Biscuits are dry and not tasty," Grandma Su insisted on her opinion.
Su Xiao Si spoke earnestly.
"When I was at the brigade, I heard Grandma Qi San tell stories. Grandma Qi San said that when she was a child and worked in a wealthy family, there were many pastries, such as Yunpian Gao, Hetao Gao, Matigao, Nuomi Gao, and many more flavors, both savory and sweet, and even some strange flavors. If there were so many delicious things in front of you, why would you insist on eating sponge cakes?"
Su Xiao Si was actually speaking his mind.
In the past, when the family's conditions were poor, good things like sponge cakes were rare, perhaps not even a small bite a year, so they were considered delicacies.
But in the past two years, his mother worked at the sponge cake factory, and he had eaten sponge cakes many times.
At first, they were indeed delicious, but after eating too many, they didn't seem to hold much significance anymore.
Su Xiao Tian's beautiful eyes stared at her fourth brother, surprised that he could think so much.
He was teachable!
Su Lao San fell silent.
Over the years, he thought sponge cakes were delicious because the family couldn't even get enough coarse grain biscuits. Eating a bite or two of sponge cake once or twice a year naturally made him think they were delicious.
Now, thinking carefully, sponge cakes were delicious, but they could no longer compare to the craving they once inspired.
Perhaps, as Xiao Si said, the reason they thought sponge cakes were delicious was the lack of other options. If there were choices, most people might not be so fixated on sponge cakes.
Instead, they would choose pastries of various flavors.
"Wife, has your factory considered processing other pastries?"
Su Lao San was tempted. Various flavored pastries sounded quite good.
Liang Xiu gave Su Lao San a sideways glance. This man was truly naive, did he think she was a leader?
"We are just ordinary workers, how would we know what the leaders are thinking?"
Liang Xiu really didn't know if the production model would change to produce other foods.
Hearing Su Lao San being rebuffed by Liang Xiu, Qi Liangying quickly explained.
"Third brother, what to produce and how much to produce is a matter for the leadership. We workers can't worry about so much!"
Speaking of this, Qi Liangying finally organized her daily observations a little.
She was surprised to find that what Liang Xiu said might be true.
The most obvious change was that overtime hours had decreased in recent months.
Fewer overtime hours meant what?
She dared not think further.
Seeing that her second daughter-in-law's expression had also changed, Grandma Su guessed that her third daughter-in-law's statement about the factory's declining efficiency might be true.
If so, she needed to plan earlier. The sponge cake factory, after all, was something her three daughters-in-law relied on.
Qi Liangying's lips curved into a bitter smile and said, "Third sister-in-law, what you said is right. The output of the sponge cake factory might indeed have decreased in recent months."
Grandma Su was not entirely willing to believe that the sponge cake factory's efficiency had declined so much, so she desperately searched for reasons.
"Perhaps it's because the weather is too hot, so fewer people buy sponge cakes. Sponge cakes are delicious, but they don't keep well in hot weather."
Liang Xiu hesitated after hearing her mother-in-law's words.
"Mom, do you really want to give up your factory job? That's a 'iron rice bowl'," Su Xiao Tian looked at Liang Xiu.
Liang Xiu indeed hesitated.
It had been difficult to get such a good job. Liang Xiu was unwilling to give it up just like that.
Having finally climbed out of the countryside, she was an envied factory worker. How could she go back like this?
She looked at Grandma Su again.
Before, Grandma Su only took care of the children at home, so she wasn't worried.
But now, Grandma Su was working hard alone to earn money. As a daughter-in-law, it wouldn't be right not to help.
Grandma Su understood what her daughter-in-law meant when she saw her looking at her. This child had misunderstood.
"Xiuer, I know you're worried about me. You should go back to the factory and work hard. If I really can't manage, I'll hire someone first."
She had given quite a bit of money to the children during this period. Even if she hired someone, it might not cost that much.
Grandma Su's words indeed successfully dispelled Liang Xiu's concerns.
While the factory's efficiency was declining, she was still receiving her wages and bonuses.
Every month, there were also various coupons. If she really resigned and went home, all of this would be gone.
Grandma Su's mention of hiring someone reminded Su Xiao Tian.
It was indeed very hard for Grandma to manage breakfast alone, especially since she was already over sixty years old.
"Grandma, we really should hire someone."
Su Xiao Tian even thought of someone suitable to hire, so she immediately suggested it.
As for her mother resigning, they could wait.
At this time, nothing was better than an "iron rice bowl."
Who was Grandma Su? She was the person who cared most about Su Xiao Tian. With just a glance from Su Xiao Tian, she could understand her meaning.
When Su Xiao Tian said this, Grandma Su understood that she had someone suitable in mind.
"Xiao Tian, who do you have in mind?" Grandma Su asked directly.
"Tan Zi Shi's wife, Li Yu Niang," Su Xiao Tian said earnestly.
"Tan Ban Cheng's wife?" Grandma Su was clearly surprised.
Although Li Yu Niang's life was not too comfortable after marrying Tan Ban Cheng,
she was a madam of a wealthy family. With maids serving her, gardeners in the courtyard, and cooks in the kitchen, would she really know how to work?
Grandma Su found it hard to believe.
Their small business couldn't afford to hire someone who didn't know how to work, as it might delay their earnings.
"She can!" Su Xiao Tian nodded very firmly.
"Grandma Li knows how to cook, and her cooking is delicious."
After hearing Su Xiao Tian's words, Grandma Su understood. This child must have found Tan Zi Shi and his wife many times in private.
Even if they tried to stop her, it was clearly useless.
Grandma Su glared at Su Xiao Tian. This child was so stubborn when she set her mind on something. What was she thinking?
"Grandma, I just feel that Grandma Li is quite pitiful," Su Xiao Tian said weakly.
If it was just a small favor at first, it later became genuine.
She wasn't doing it for Tan Zi Shi, but for Li Yu Niang.
For a woman to never have her own children in her lifetime, and to watch her husband have children with other women, was the most cruel thing in the world.
And Li Yu Niang was even more cruel than the cruelest. She was even bullied by the concubine who entered the household later.
This made her want to help.
"Alright, let her come. She can help me in the mornings, and her wages will be calculated based on the amount of work she does."
Grandma Su was not a stubborn person. Seeing Su Xiao Tian's insistence, she agreed.
Moreover, subconsciously, Grandma Su felt that if her granddaughter thought someone could do it, then they could.
Su Xiao Tian was so happy she almost jumped up after hearing this.
"Grandma, I knew you were the best!" The little girl was quite good at coaxing people.
Grandma Su said proudly, "I thought Grandma was the best in your heart!"
"Grandma, how could that be? Xiao Tian's heart only has Grandma! As for Grandma Li, I just pity her." Su Xiao Tian massaged her shoulders and kneaded her back, serving her attentively.
After hearing Su Xiao Tian's words, Grandma Su couldn't help but sigh.
Indeed, she was quite pitiful, much more pitiful than this old lady from the countryside.
Fine, since Xiao Tian wanted to help, she would help. It wasn't a big deal.
Grandma Su enjoyed the massage from Su Xiao Tian's small hands, her eyes and brows filled with a satisfied smile.
The matter of hiring someone was settled.
The next morning, Li Yu Niang indeed came to the old Su family.
It was not yet dawn when she arrived.
However, everyone in the old Su family was already awake.
Grandma Su was wrapping steamed buns.
Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying were helping to make fried cakes.
Upon seeing Li Yu Niang arrive, Grandma Su was not polite. She arranged for her to wash her hands and then officially start working.
Li Yu Niang first tied the apron around her waist, then washed her hands, and then helped Grandma Su wrap steamed buns.
Grandma Su watched with a cold eye.
After watching for a while, Grandma Su secretly nodded.
Li Yu Niang's craftsmanship was indeed excellent. The steamed buns she wrapped were all round and of uniform size. Even the pleats on the buns were of the same size, making them look very appealing.
Grandma Su finally couldn't help but ask, "You were a madam of a wealthy family before. I didn't expect you to know how to do these things?"
After Grandma Su asked this question, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Li Yu Niang's face.
She was indeed a madam of a wealthy family, but she didn't have the final say in that family. Her husband didn't love her, so she had no status at home.
Even the more respectable servants had higher status than her. In that household, she was someone anyone could bully.
Especially when that woman was pregnant, she didn't want to eat food made by others and insisted on eating what she made.
When Tan Zi Shi asked her to cook, she could only cook.
Moreover, that woman was not an easy person to deal with. If she made noodles, she wanted dumplings. If she made dumplings, she wanted steamed buns. She had to make several trips for each meal.
Her cooking skills were honed during that time.
As the main wife, she had to practice excellent cooking skills to serve a concubine. She found it difficult to say such a thing.
Grandma Su didn't receive an answer, only saw the fleeting embarrassment on Li Yu Niang's face.
Knowing that her question might be difficult to answer, Grandma Su stopped the topic.
"Your craftsmanship is truly excellent. I always thought I wrapped steamed buns beautifully, but after seeing yours today, I realized there's always someone better!" Grandma Su's words were not polite but genuine.
Her method of wrapping steamed buns was much rougher compared to Li Yu Niang's.
It was like the difference between refined art and folk art, as Xiao Tian had said!
[Author's Note]
I haven't slept well recently. I plan to go to bed early tonight. Good night, everyone!