Chapter 51 Knowledge Lecture
As she pondered this, Sister-in-law Xue left the living room. She saw Zhou Ma cooking in the hallway, approached her, and whispered, "Mom, do you know why my second daughter-in-law does such thankless work?"
Aunt Zhou said confidently, "Of course I know."
Sister-in-law Xue looked at Zhou Ma in astonishment. She never expected that her mother-in-law would know so much about something that she had been racking her brains over. As the saying goes, the one who knows you best is your enemy.
She asked expectantly, "Tell me quietly, why did she do that?"
Zhou Ma argued confidently, "Of course, it's because they've done too many immoral things that they feel guilty and want to use this method to accumulate good karma."
Sister-in-law Xue: "..."
She felt that Lin Yuanshu probably didn't really believe in karma and retribution. After all, if he really believed, he wouldn't have done things like talking back to his mother-in-law, ordering his older brother around, or deceiving his lover.
By the time the women's director and others arrived at Lin Yuanshu's home, the women had already calculated their ovulation period and left.
The neighbor lady walked into the living room, looking apologetic, and said, "I'm sorry we're late."
Lin Yuanshu looked up and saw the women's director next to his neighbor, who gave him a sweet smile. It seemed the fish had taken the bait.
To ensure everything went smoothly, she made sure all the older women in the neighborhood knew about her. This way, they would mention her when they chatted, increasing her visibility and preventing the women's director from forgetting about her.
"It's alright, the timing is perfect, please have a seat," Lin Yuanshu said softly.
After the women's director and her entourage sat down, Lin Yuanshu asked, "Who wants to calculate ovulation period?"
The neighbor pointed to her daughter-in-law and said with a smile, "She's my daughter-in-law."
Lin Yuanshu nodded to indicate that he understood.
Just then, the women's director suddenly asked, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, could you explain the principle behind ovulation to me? I want to understand it so I won't have to bother you anymore. I also want to learn more new knowledge."
Lin Yuanshu smiled slightly and agreed without hesitation: "Of course, no problem. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. I'd be happy to teach you."
To avoid being accused of being indecent, when she talks about conception, she usually doesn't introduce the reproductive system, but instead directly describes the process of conception, the menstrual cycle, the physical changes during ovulation, and precautions.
After listening, the women's director nodded in satisfaction. Not only was the explanation very detailed, but some of the knowledge was also new to her. She asked in confusion, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, you are not pregnant, how did you learn about this?"
Lin Yuanshu explained with a smile, "Part of it came from the doctors in the countryside, and the other part came from the books in the library in Beijing. 'One is never too old to learn.' As long as we keep absorbing knowledge, we can learn a lot of new knowledge."
"You really are a good person, willing to share this knowledge with others and even help them calculate their ovulation period," the women's director said with some admiration.
Lin Yuanshu sighed and said solemnly, "It's not easy for women to live in this world. I'm in a pretty good position and have access to new knowledge, so naturally I should help more women learn this knowledge. Helping others is also helping yourself."
The women's director looked at Lin Yuanshu with a complicated expression. Before talking to Lin Yuanshu, she thought that Lin Yuanshu's good reputation might be hypocritical.
After the conversation, she felt that Lin Yuanshu was worthwhile. Lin Yuanshu truly worked hard to spread this knowledge on her own, and she had great love in her heart.
The neighbor lady glanced at the women's director with annoyance. She was extremely frustrated. She only wanted to calculate her daughter-in-law's ovulation period and didn't want to hear Comrade Lin Yuanshu talk so much about conception. However, since the question was raised by the women's director, she couldn't say much and could only sit there in a daze, feeling frustrated.
Lin Yuanshu noticed the neighbor's impatience and said with a smile, "Let's not get sidetracked. Let me calculate this lady's ovulation period first!"
“Okay,” the women’s director readily agreed.
After calculating her ovulation period, Lin Yuanshu wrote it down on a piece of paper and also briefly explained her method for calculating it.
She handed the note to the woman and said with a smile, "If you follow the method written on the note, you can calculate your ovulation period yourself next month."
It wasn't an act; she gave each of the women a slip of paper so they could learn to calculate their ovulation periods themselves. She couldn't keep calculating ovulation periods for them forever! So teaching them was essential.
The woman said excitedly, "Thank you."
She hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise. Rather than visiting Lin Yuanshu every month, she preferred to do the calculations herself, as she felt embarrassed to keep bothering others.
The neighbor lady seemed indifferent. After calculating the ovulation period, she and her daughter-in-law prepared to leave. Seeing that the women's director was not moving, she asked curiously, "Director, aren't you coming with us?"
The women's director explained with a smile, "I have something to discuss with Comrade Lin Yuanshu."
The neighbor nodded thoughtfully. No wonder the women's director had followed her! It turned out that her real intention wasn't what she thought; she actually believed the women's director had come to protect her.
Lin Yuanshu looked at the women's director with a shocked expression and said embarrassedly, "I didn't expect you to be the director."
The women's director shook her head. "She's not anything special, just a women's director."
When Zhou Ma, who was cooking in the corridor, heard the woman in the living room say that she was the women's director, her eyes lit up immediately.
She threw the washed vegetables back into the sink, dried her hands, and then walked into the living room with a smile to pour water for the so-called women's director.
Lin Yuanshu almost lost her composure when she saw Zhou Ma suddenly barge in. She took a deep breath, showed a disapproving expression, and retorted emphatically, "In my eyes, the position of Women's Director is very important. Without Women's Director, who would protect women's rights and mediate family disputes? With Women's Director around, I can get married with peace of mind because I know that Women's Director is my support."
Zhou Ma placed the water glass in front of the Women's Director. When she heard what Lin Yuanshu said, her expression was very subtle. No wonder Lin Yuanshu's superiors valued him. It turned out that Lin Yuanshu was so good at lying that he could make it sound so real.
If Lin Yuanshu hadn't never mentioned anything about the women's director at home, she would have actually believed his nonsense.
If it were in the past, Lin Yuanshu would definitely be considered a treacherous minister.
After putting down the water glass, she didn't leave the living room. Instead, she stood by the cabinet, pretending to wipe it, but actually eavesdropping on their conversation.
The women's director's eyes were red. No one had ever told her about the importance of the position. When she went out to help others resolve family disputes, people would only complain that she was meddling and that it was their family matter and she shouldn't interfere.
She lowered her head and took a sip of water, trying to calm herself down and not wanting Lin Yuanshu to see her vulnerability.
After recovering, the women's director took a deep breath and said with anticipation, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, I am very happy to have your trust. Actually, I came here today to ask you for a favor. I plan to organize a lecture on conception knowledge and family planning at the chemical plant. After much observation and consideration, I hope you can serve as a lecturer. I will do my best to help you apply for a lecturer subsidy."
Lin Yuanshu nodded in agreement without hesitation, “I am happy to do things for the Party organization. Even without the lecturer subsidy, I am willing to do this. My biggest wish in this life is to become a Party member.”
Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhou immediately rolled her eyes. Lin Yuanshu was talking nonsense again! She hadn't forgotten that Lin Yuanshu had told her before that his biggest wish in life was to add a member to the Zhou family.
The women's director didn't notice Zhou Ma's unusual behavior, since Zhou Ma had her back to her. She said to Lin Yuanshu with a serious expression, "You can definitely become a party member. After all, you are so outstanding. It would be a pity for the party organization to lose someone like you."
Lin Yuanshu gave a sweet smile. "Thank you for your kind words."
To be honest, she could write her own application to join the Party, but she preferred to join through a recommender. Although there is not much difference between the two on the surface, those who know, know.
The two chatted for a while longer, and after confirming the time for the knowledge lecture, the women's director took her leave.
Lin Yuanshu escorted the women's director to the door, and only after seeing her leave the corridor did she turn around and return to her room.
When Zhou Ma saw Lin Yuanshu return to his room, she quickly caught up with the women's director.
Reaching the large tree at the foot of the tenement building, the women's director stopped, turned to look at the suspicious-looking middle-aged woman behind her, and asked suspiciously, "What do you want? I remember you are Comrade Lin Yuanshu's mother-in-law?"
Zhou Ma walked quickly to the women's director. She looked around and, finding no familiar female colleagues nearby, said, "I am Lin Yuanshu's mother-in-law. I would like to ask if you would do anything about your daughter-in-law making things difficult for her mother-in-law?"
The women's director nodded, puzzled, and said softly, "Of course I'll take care of it. Did you make things difficult for your mother-in-law? You can't do something so heartless."
Zhou Ma looked at the women's director with a puzzled expression and said irritably, "When most people hear me say something like that, they should think that I'm being bullied by my daughter-in-law! How could it be that I'm bullying my mother-in-law! Do you think I would walk into a trap for no reason!"
The women's director said confidently, "That's hard to say. How could Comrade Lin Yuanshu do anything to make things difficult for my mother-in-law? There must be some misunderstanding!"
Zhou Ma said angrily, "There is no misunderstanding. She is just making things difficult for me. Ever since she married into the family, my life has been more bitter than bitter herbs."
The women's director, with an air of righteousness, said, "Since that's the case, we'll go back to your home now and let you confront Comrade Lin Yuanshu face to face. That way, I'll know who's right and who's wrong."
Zhou Ma objected without hesitation: "No way, who can out-talk Lin Yuanshu! She can make black into white. Besides, she'll definitely get angry if she finds out I complained to you, and then she'll punish me even more severely. If you just walk away, my life will be miserable."
The women's director's gaze was very subtle. She had heard Zhou Ma say these things before, but they were usually said by daughters-in-law, not by mothers-in-law.
Rather than Lin Yuanshu making things difficult for her mother-in-law, she believed more that this was just the old woman's nonsense, a little trick some mothers-in-law use to control their daughters-in-law. She said softly, "Fabricating facts to slander others can land you in jail."
Startled, Zhou Ma took several steps back and quickly said, "I haven't said anything to you, and I've never seen you before."
After saying that, Zhou Ma promptly slipped away.
The women's director couldn't help but sigh. For these unreasonable middle-aged women, going to the police station was still the most powerful way to get them to tell the truth.
Zhou Ma ran back to the living room in one breath. She was puzzled. Lin Yuanshu and the women's director hadn't chatted for long, and today was their first meeting. Why would the director protect Lin Yuanshu for no reason?
She was even threatened with being taken to the police station. It seems she should stay away from the women's director; the women's director is no good person, colluding with Lin Yuanshu...
After dinner, Lin Yuanshu returned to his room, and Zhou Xiangyang and his older brother took the initiative to wash the dishes.
At first, the older women living in the tenement building found it amusing that two grown men were washing dishes, but after getting used to it, they didn't think much of it and even started asking the men in their families to do the dishes.
If the men are unwilling, they will say, "In the Zhou family, all the men wash the dishes. What's wrong with letting you wash the dishes? If others can wash them, why can't you?"
One of the men couldn't take it anymore and said in a low voice, "Comrade Xiangjun, can you please stop washing the dishes every night? Every time you do it, we have to do it too. People used to laugh at you for not being manly, and now they're laughing at our apartment building."
The eldest brother said helplessly, "I have no choice! I can't argue with the second sister-in-law, and I can't hit a woman. I have no other option but to wash the dishes."
Another man said, "I have a good idea."
The older brother asked excitedly, "What's the great idea?"
The man lowered his voice and said, "You can wash the dishes quietly in your living room. That way, no one will know that men wash the dishes in your house, and we can escape unscathed."
The eldest brother sneered. He had been so excited, but it turned out to be a terrible idea. He refused without hesitation, saying, "Forget it, I'll just keep washing the dishes under the tap! Anyway, you guys are here with me."
The other men couldn't help but sigh, turning their gaze to Zhou Xiangyang and asking, "Don't you think it's unmanly for a grown man to wash dishes?"
Zhou Xiangyang replied doubtfully, "I don't think so! My wife said that men who do housework are the most attractive. As a man, you should wash the dishes."
The older brother rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Talking to Xiangyang is pointless. He's been completely fooled by his wife. He wouldn't dare say a harsh word to her."
Zhou Xiangyang's eyes widened as he retorted, "I'm not stupid, and I dare to speak harshly to my wife."
One of the men chimed in, "Your older brother says you wouldn't dare, but you say you would. We, as outsiders, don't know the truth. Why don't you show us a scene where you dare to say harsh words to your wife?"
“Okay,” Zhou Xiangyang readily agreed.
The other men all wore expressions of anticipation, as if watching a good show.
The eldest brother knew these men had ill intentions, but he didn't stop Zhou Xiangyang's actions. Instead, he watched the show with the others, wanting to make Lin Yuanshu suffer a setback.
After washing the bowls, Zhou Xiangyang put them in the cupboard, then looked up and walked into his older brother's room, standing in front of the curtain at the door.
A group of men, eager to watch the show, stood in front of Zhou Xiangjun's door. Since there were women inside Zhou Xiangjun's room, they couldn't go in, so they stood at the door waiting to see what would happen.
Zhou Xiangyang turned his head and glanced at the people at the door, silently saying, "You just wait and see."
Then he turned around, stood in front of the curtain, and shouted loudly, "Please open the door for me."
Hearing the sound, Lin Yuanshu lifted the curtain with a puzzled look on his face.
Zhou Xiangyang turned to the man and smiled smugly, then strode into the room with his head held high.
Before Lin Yuanshu could even speak, the group of men at the door scattered in all directions, fearing that Lin Yuanshu would come and cause them trouble.
Looking at the dazed men, the older brother sighed and said helplessly, "I told you all, Xiangyang has been fooled into a daze. You didn't believe me, but now you do!"
The men nodded in unison. If Zhou Xiangyang's behavior was called speaking harshly, then they must be speaking harshly at home every day.
Lin Yuanshu raised an eyebrow, returned to his room, and didn't inquire about the group of men, since everyone has their own little secrets.
She smiled and said, "You worked hard washing the dishes. Luckily, you helped me, so I had time to read. You are the best person to me. I am so lucky to have married you."
Although Zhou Xiangyang said "It's only right," he was actually overjoyed inside. He was so happy to be praised by his wife again today.
He voluntarily recounted what had just happened.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuanshu looked at Zhou Xiangyang with concern, "They have ill intentions and are deliberately saying these things to provoke you. They just want to see you make a fool of yourself. You should stay away from them next time."
Zhou Xiangyang took a deep breath. After listening to Lin Yuanshu's words, he finally realized what was going on. He said indignantly, "I never thought they were this kind of people. They are really too bad. I will never talk to them again."
If the eldest brother knew that Lin Yuanshu said this to Zhou Xiangyang, he would definitely refute it. They didn't want to see Zhou Xiangyang make a fool of himself, but rather Lin Yuanshu.
Looking at Zhou Xiangyang's innocent appearance, Lin Yuanshu felt a pang of conscience. She walked over and kissed Zhou Xiangyang's lips, whispering, "So good."
Zhou Xiangyang blushed instantly, his ears turning as red as if they were bleeding. The little voice in his heart was dancing with joy. Ah! His wife not only praised him but also kissed him on the lips. His wife loved him so much; no one could love him more than his wife.
He lowered his head in embarrassment, his heart pounding so fast that he didn't know how to face Lin Yuanshu. He whispered, "I need to go write the recipe now."
Lin Yuanshu asked in confusion, "Does the cafeteria's large-scale cooking require you to write the menu?"
Without hesitation, Zhou Xiangyang said, "The canteen manager said that the deputy director of the Chemical Industry Bureau will be coming to the chemical plant next week, and asked me to cook a few of my signature dishes. The deputy director likes spicy food, so I need to think carefully about what dishes I should make!"
Lin Yuanshu nodded thoughtfully, then replied absentmindedly, "Then think about it carefully."
She lay back down on the bed, suspecting that the deputy director of the Chemical Industry Bureau was after her, or more accurately, the workshop.
Although she hadn't specifically looked into the production efficiency and product qualification rate of other chemical plant workshops, she could guess that the production efficiency of other chemical plant workshops was definitely not as good as that of the workshop she was in charge of.
After all, according to historical progress, solvent sulfonation was not used to produce naphthalene intermediates until the 1980s, and her approach advanced the development of naphthalene intermediate production workshops by nearly ten years.
It's not that she didn't want to do it decades earlier, but with the current equipment and technology, it's simply impossible.
You can take big steps, but don't take too big a step at once, or you might pull your crotch.
She was a little nervous, but also a little excited. Those were connections! If she could build good relationships with them, she wouldn't be able to do whatever she wanted in Beijing, but at least most people wouldn't dare to deliberately make things difficult for her.
Zhou Xiangyang, who was in a state of shyness, did not notice Lin Yuanshu's unusual behavior at all.
At ten o'clock sharp, Zhou's mother shouted loudly in the corridor, "It's time to turn off the lights."
They woke up the sleeping eldest brother and sister-in-law Xue.
The eldest brother said helplessly, "Mom insists on reminding the second daughter-in-law to turn off the lights every night! I think she's not torturing the second daughter-in-law, but torturing us."
Sister-in-law Xue yawned, her eyes still sleepy, and said, "It's no use telling me. You should tell Mom. You should be glad that Xiao Er's wife isn't sleeping in the middle of the night, otherwise Mom might call her to turn off the lights in the middle of the night."
The eldest brother couldn't help but sigh. He felt that his mother was much more difficult to deal with than his second wife. At least his second wife was reasonable, provided that you could win an argument with her, while his mother was simply unreasonable.
He could only continue sleeping, feeling frustrated.
Upon hearing Zhou's mother's voice, Lin Yuanshu promptly helped Zhou Xiangyang make the bed, then turned off the light. She lowered her voice and said, "When I get my salary next month, I'll buy a small desk lamp so Mom won't have to tell me to turn off the light every day."
Zhou Xiangyang sat on the quilt and asked in confusion, "Didn't you tell Mom that you were going to give her your salary next month?"
Lin Yuanshu said helplessly, "Plans can't keep up with changes, I'll have to pay my salary the month after next."
It's no wonder she wants to live paycheck to paycheck; she's just lacking so many things, and those things are expensive.
Zhou Xiangyang nodded thoughtfully, turned on his flashlight, and said softly, "Could you lower your head for a moment? I think I see something on your face."
Without thinking much, Lin Yuanshu brought his face close to Zhou Xiangyang's.
Zhou Xiangyang took a deep breath, turned off the flashlight, and then gently touched Lin Yuanshu's lips to his.
Lin Yuanshu was not displeased by Zhou Xiangyang's sudden behavior. Instead, he stuck out his tongue and licked Zhou Xiangyang's lips.
Zhou Xiangyang's face turned red, and just as he was about to lick back, Lin Yuanshu's lips left him.
"It's very sweet." Lin Yuanshu's tone carried a hint of a smile. Even though it was pitch black all around, she could imagine Zhou Xiangyang's face turning bright red.
Zhou Xiangyang murmured softly, "Mmm."
"Let's go to sleep! I'm actually a little sleepy." Lin Yuanshu went back to his bed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
After Lin Yuanshu fell asleep, Zhou Xiangyang couldn't fall asleep at all. He wasn't sleepy at all and was extremely energetic. He decided that he wouldn't kiss his wife when he went to sleep anymore, as it affected his sleep quality too much.
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