Chapter 5 — Breakfast Changes Destiny

I picked up the cake box: "Mom, you're right, we don't separate you and me. Then later when the Headmaster's wife praises the delicious cake, I'll say that this was made by Chu Kien Thanh himself, washing the apples and kneading the dough, so that everyone can freely praise him." Chu Kien Thanh's face stiffened. He doesn't know how to do it? If someone else casually asks two questions, it will be exposed immediately. He suppressed his anger: "Okay, I'll take it. Don't talk nonsense." The party was held in the small hall of the factory. On the table were melon seeds and peanuts, the family gathered around talking and laughing. As soon as Chu Kien Thanh entered the door, he straightened his back, as if he was already sitting in the homeroom chair. Chairman Tuong's wife, wearing a dark red sweater, was smiling and greeting everyone. Chu Kien Thanh pushed me forward: "This is my wife Lam Xuan Duong. She's very skillful. She made some date cakes." I passed the cake box over: "Miss Tuong, try some fresh things." Ms. Tuong opened it and her eyes lit up: "This pattern is really meticulously pressed. Xuan Duong, which bakery did you study at before?" Chu Kien Thanh argued: "She just does it at home, she has country skills." I glanced at him: "My mother used to sell a cake shop in town, and relied on this skill to raise me. It was not a haphazard job." Ms. Tuong tasted a piece and nodded repeatedly: "It's not too sweet, the apple flavor is also very good. Much better than the cakes sold at the Trading Cooperative." The wives of the neighboring family also gathered. Trieu Le Hong appeared from nowhere, standing on the edge and sarcastically hinted: "The Chairman's wife is just being polite. In the cafeteria, who doesn't know how to cook some food?" Ms. Tuong looked at her: "Can you also make a part to bring this exact flavor to me?" Trieu Le Hong was speechless. Chu Kien Thanh's face was not very good, but he was afraid of offending Ms. Tuong, so he had to laugh along. When entering the party, Chu Vien and Chu Tieu Tue competed to sit next to me, waiting for me to pick up the food. I didn't move. Chu Tieu Tue pulled my sleeve: "Mom, I want chicken thighs." I turned the plate of food in front of him: "Pick it up." "I can't pick it up." "Stand up and pick it up." Chu Vien was impatient: "Mom, can't you pick one for him?" I looked at him: "You're the older brother, why don't you pick it up for your sister?" He immediately lowered his head and ate his rice. Vuong Que Lan sat at another table. Seeing that no one was serving him, he shouted in a high-pitched voice: "Xuan Duong, get me some soup." Dozens of eyes immediately turned towards that direction. Chu Kien Thanh's smile stiffened on his face: "Mom, please keep your voice down." Vuong Que Lan ignored it: "My hands are shaking, I can't scoop." I didn't get up, turned around and said to Chu Kien Thanh: "Kien Thanh, mom is calling you." He whispered: "There are so many people, don't cause trouble." "I'm not causing trouble." I gave him the soup ladle: "She's your mother, it's most appropriate for you to scoop the soup." The homeroom teacher sat right next to him, holding a cup of tea and observing him. Chu Kien Thanh had to stand up and scoop soup for Vuong Que Lan. Vuong Que Lan is still picky: "It's too little, add more meat." Some people laughed out loud. The roots of Chu Kien Thanh's ears turned red. Ms. Tuong leaned close to me: "Is your mother-in-law usually like that?" I said: "You just arrived, you're not yet used to your son's filial piety." Ms. Tuong understood immediately and patted the back of my hand: "Women cannot let themselves be tired to death." My heart moved slightly. When the party was about to end, the factory manager also arrived. He tasted a piece of leftover date cake and asked, “Who made this?” Just as Chu Kien Thanh was about to open his mouth, I spoke first: "I did it." The factory manager looked at me: "Next week the factory is hosting a reception for senior comrades. Can you make twenty boxes? Pay."

at market price.” Chu Kien Thanh's eyes lit up and he said, "Okay, okay, she has time." I looked at the factory manager: "I can do it, but it must be clearly stated that the factory ordered it from me, not through someone else's hands." The workshop manager smiled: "Okay, Chu Kien Thanh, your wife knows how to work better than you." Someone at the table laughed softly. Chu Kien Thanh's face turned from green to white. On the way home, he finally couldn't bear it anymore: "Lin Xuan Duong, are you determined to make me lose face today?" I carried the empty box: "If I ask you to scoop soup for your biological mother, is that filial?" "I know you don't talk about that." "What about cakes?" I stopped walking: "The things I make, if I say I did it, would it make you lose face?" Chu Kien Thanh gritted his teeth: "Men need face when they go out." I looked at him: "Women need it too." Vuong Que Lan was behind him and scolded: "What dignity do you need? Marrying into the Chu family, you also belong to the Chu family." I turned around: “Then later on, Mom, tell someone from the Chu family to wash your feet. People with different surnames like you have no qualifications." Vuong Que Lan choked and coughed. Chu Vien next to him mumbled: "Mom is really stingy, there are only a few boxes of cakes." I gave him the empty box: "Twenty boxes next week, you can do it." When I'm done, I'll give you the money." Chu Vien immediately hid his hands behind his back: "I don't know what to do."