There was a popular saying in this era about stethoscopes, steering wheels, butcher knives, and salesclerks—they all represented cushy jobs with great benefits that everyone envied.
Working in the cafeteria was no exception. This one, in particular, was newly built to serve the main office building and foreign guests, making it prestigious in every respect. As such, the positions were extremely sought-after. The spots were already filled before they even officially started hiring.
Furthermore, everyone who worked here had connections. They took pride in having landed the job and held their heads a little higher than usual.
But into this cozy nest, a bedbug had crawled. For those who had lucked into such a cushy post, their smug satisfaction—the kind they wanted the whole world to see—was greatly diminished. It was like finding a fly in a slice of expensive cake.
Standing near the door was a woman with a fair complexion, pretty features, and two braided pigtails, wearing a blue sweater vest. She pursed her lips in displeasure and said, "Exactly. The First Cafeteria is the face of our machinery plant. Not just anyone can get in."
"If she's staying here, then I'm leaving!"
Her words made everyone else in the room gloat.
Two women who had been speaking earlier began to feigningly persuade her. "Guo Jiayi, you're a college graduate assigned here this year—the only one in our First Cafeteria. You're in charge of finances. Without your leadership, our accounts would be a complete mess, wouldn't they?"
"That's right, Guo Jiayi. Your uncle is the deputy director of the agricultural machinery department. He must know all the ins and outs of the plant. We're all counting on you to look out for us."
"Someone like Zhu Yun is only fit for cleaning. Compared to you, she's heaven and earth apart. Why are you even bothering with her?"
'Praising one while stomping on another. How clever!'
Zhu Yun scoffed. "Well, well, so we're playing favorites here, are we? I thought we were all about equality for everyone. In that case, I'm definitely staying. And I'll have to trouble this fine lady to be a woman of her word. Lift your feet, take a right, and don't let the door hit you on the way out!"
"And you two, is this a comedy routine? It's a real shame you're not in the arts troupe. Such a waste of your talents."
"Huh, on second thought, it's good you're staying in the cafeteria. With your big mouths and deep guts, you'll fatten up nicely. We can slaughter you next year to generate some income."
The three women stared at her, their faces filled with shame and anger at her words.
"How can you speak like that, comrade? This is the plant's First Cafeteria. The people who eat here are all important figures. If you talk without a filter, you'll just cause trouble if you stay. It should be you who leaves," a tall, thin man said with a cold expression, unable to watch any longer.
Zhu Yun crossed her arms and sneered. "Oh, so you're just ganging up on me to kick me out, is that it? No need to be so hypocritical, saying 'if I stay, you'll leave.' Your words are as worthless as farts. The funny thing is, there's actually a toad here opening its mouth to catch them."
"Tsk, tsk. Just because there are more of you doesn't mean justice is on your side. They said it was open recruitment. You can be here, so why can't I? Nobody knows what role they're suited for yet. Or are you the boss, already assigning positions?"
The man's face turned bright red from her words. Feeling the gazes of the onlookers, he flew into a rage out of humiliation and shouted coarsely, "You're the toad! With a face like that, you're not even fit to carry my shoes!"
"Who are you calling a toad?"
"You!"
Everyone froze for a moment, wanting to laugh but not daring to. They secretly reminded themselves that they were here to work and get paid. It was best to stay out of trouble and not end up like this guy, who had tried to kiss up to someone only to lose all face and dignity.
However, everyone also knew they were at the office entrance. A few people stepped in, each pulling one person back to separate them, trying to prevent a full-blown fight where no one would come out ahead.
Before long, the door to the office opened, and a tall, slender figure walked out first. "Director Wang, I've had my team calibrate all of the cafeteria's machinery. If you run into any problems, just have someone find me."
"Absolutely, absolutely. Thank you, Mr. Chu, for taking the time to come and do the calibration. We have so many technicians at this plant, but none of them are as versatile as you. You can handle anything."
"This kitchen equipment all came from Shanghai. It's highly sought-after, and their technicians are swamped. I thought, we're a machinery plant, how could we not figure this stuff out? Heh, but we really couldn't. Only Mr. Chu is skilled enough!"
"Once the workers are all assigned, I'll have to trouble you to come by again, Mr. Chu, to teach them how to use it all."
The man, who was fleshy and balding on top, said with a sycophantic grin.
The man nodded. "Alright. Just have someone give me a heads-up beforehand, Director Wang."
After saying his goodbyes, he turned around, and only then did Zhu Yun get a clear look at his face. It was the handsome young man who had gotten a glimpse of her "ugly" face last night.
She couldn't help but shuffle to the side, trying to blend into the wall like a piece of background scenery.
'What could she do? Sister Yun here had a reputation to maintain. If she still had her fair skin, beautiful face, and long legs, she would have definitely unleashed her queenly aura and made him kneel and sing 'Conquer.''
'But right now, she was just a little piece of charcoal. In front of a handsome man, she had to minimize her presence. She couldn't have him permanently etching this unsightly image of her into his memory, could she? Not when she planned to nurse her skin back to its former glory.'
"Mr. Chu, you're so amazing! We're both college graduates, but you're a genius with machinery. I have so much to learn. I'll have to learn from you in the future!" Guo Jiayi stepped forward with her hands behind her back, sticking her tongue out playfully.
Chu Shenyu gave a cool grunt of acknowledgment. His gaze shifted sideways to a certain someone shuffling one step at a time. Against the freshly painted white wall, it was hard not to notice her.
Without another word, he strode away.
Everyone exchanged glances. Mr. Chu really was an ice block. A pretty and accomplished girl like Guo Jiayi couldn't even get a response out of him. No wonder he was still a bachelor at twenty-six.
'The old-timer heartthrob. The rumors were true!'
Just as Guo Jiayi was stewing in her embarrassment, Zhu Yun let out an unapologetic scoff, and the atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point.
"You've all been waiting a while, haven't you?" Director Wang was newly appointed and full of enthusiasm, eager to make a good impression. He cheerfully addressed the crowd, "Line up and come in to register. We'll do a quick assessment, and then you can go home and wait for your assignments."
"We're on a tight schedule. It's only a few days until next month, and our task is heavy, but we absolutely must ensure the First Cafeteria opens on time!"
Zhu Yun was in luck; she was in the last group to register.
Each person filled out a form and then told the director what skills they had.
Director Wang would occasionally ask a few questions, scribbling notes in a red, soft-covered notebook. He would call out "Next," and the next person would squeeze forward.
When it was Zhu Yun's turn, Director Wang looked up and exclaimed in shock, "My goodness, child, why are you so dark?"
Zhu Yun twitched the corner of her lip. "Director Wang, my skin color doesn't affect my eligibility for the job, does it? I just got a tan. It'll fade if I stay out of the sun."
"Alright, then. Fill out the form and tell me what you can do and what position you want," Director Wang said, striving to treat everyone equally. 'Those who achieve great things don't sweat the small stuff.' That was one of the work principles he had written on the first page of his notebook.
But he still couldn't help himself. He kept glancing at Zhu Yun again and again, clicking his tongue internally. 'So grimy. No matter how many times I look, she's still so grimy...'