"Burp~" Zheng Dandan ate for half an hour before finally putting down her chopsticks and burping with satisfaction.
Although the service quality of state-owned restaurants is not very good, it must be said that the chef's skills are very good and the dishes are authentic. Crucially, the portions are also generous. Zheng Dandan was so full that there was still a lot left on the table.
She took out a plastic bag from the system space and packed it by herself, not relying on the waiter here at all.
Seeing Zheng Dandan's behavior, the waiter couldn't help but taunt her: "I've been in state-owned restaurants for so many years, and I've never seen someone like you take away the food you can't finish!"
In reality, it was rare for customers in state-owned restaurants to leave their food uneaten. State-owned restaurants were expensive, so it was rare for diners to order more. Those who cared about showing off tended to order more, but they didn't take it away. So Zheng Dandan became the first waiter to see her do so.
"It just shows you're still a bit inexperienced." Zheng Dandan retorted bluntly, feeling a bit surprised. "Didn't you tell me to be frugal and not waste?"
The waitress was upset when she heard this. She warned Zheng Dandan to be frugal and wanted to take away the bargain. Who knew Zheng Dandan was so rude?
Zheng Dandan didn't care about not getting an answer. She picked up the packed food and started on her way home.
"Mom, look what I brought you!" When Zheng Dandan returned to the Zheng family, she saw Sun Cuilan and happily raised the plastic bag in her hand.
Normally, Sun Cuilan would have smiled back at her beloved daughter. Strangely, facing Zheng Dandan's enthusiasm, Sun Cuilan couldn't muster a smile.
"Mom, what's wrong with you?" Realizing that Sun Cuilan was not in good condition, Zheng Dandan asked with concern.
"Alas!" Sun Cuilan shook her head and sighed when she heard Zheng Dandan's question. "Your father has been temporarily suspended."
"What's going on?" Zheng Dandan was quite surprised and understood why Sun Cuilan had that expression.
Workers in the 1980s were somewhat similar to civil servants in the 21st century: not only respectable, but also secure, safe jobs that wouldn't be easily dismissed. While there will be waves of layoffs as times change, it's clearly not the time to do so now.
"It's just an accident. I'm just temporarily suspended. I'll be back to work!" Zheng's father, upon hearing what Zheng Dandan and her daughter were saying, looked a little embarrassed and said stubbornly. Although his tone was firm, his eyes were vague, and he clearly wasn't very confident.
"You have been replaced in this position, why are you going back?" Sun Cuilan asked dissatisfiedly.
"I didn't do anything wrong. The factory can't fire me!" Zheng's father said with his neck held high. "Someone is just framing me now. After the factory investigates the matter, they will ask me to return!"
Sun Cuilan looked at Zheng's father and couldn't help sighing. She wanted to speak several times, but in the end she couldn't bear to say anything in rebuttal.
Zheng Dandan listened to his father comforting himself and roughly figured out the whole story.
Zheng's father works at a shoe factory. It's not a big one, and the benefits are average. But as a worker, how bad can one be? Every position is highly sought after, and naturally, there's a lot of competition. Just today, Zheng's father was suddenly falsely accused of stealing factory goods. The factory union didn't investigate, but simply sent Zheng home and suspended him from work.
What’s interesting is that before Zheng’s father left, a relative from the factory committee went to report to his post.
It's not as if Zheng's father was unaware of the twists and turns, but for a moment, he found it difficult to accept the sudden change.
That night, the Zheng brothers and sisters-in-law, returning from work, were struck by the news that Zheng's father had been suspended. Was this the end of their family's only worker and their family's reputation in Ginkgo Village?
"Dad, what are you going to do in the future?" asked the eldest brother Zheng Jianye.
"What should we do? We'll go back after the factory committee and labor union have conducted a thorough investigation." Zheng's father said unhappily.
"Dad, if you ask me, it was the factory committee and his bastard relative who were behind this. I'm going to the shoe factory to find them tomorrow!" Zheng Jianjun said angrily, young and impulsive.
"Don't mess around!" Sun Cuilan glared at Zheng Jianjun and scolded him.
"Dad, we still have apples at home. Why don't you bring some gifts and ask your leader for help?" Second sister-in-law Fang Xiaoyu tried to give an idea.
"That's right, Dad, we can't just sit there and do nothing. The factory committee is clearly behind this. I say we should go to the trade union for help. Isn't the trade union supposed to protect the interests of workers?" Second brother Zheng Jiangong agreed.
As soon as Zheng's father was suspended from work, the whole family was in chaos.
Digging for food in the fields is not easy. Not only is it hard work, but the harvest is also small. Just being able to fill your stomach is good. If it weren't for the worker, Zheng Dad, how could the family have such a good life? Moreover, the Zheng family's three sons are waiting to take over!
"Stop talking!" Zheng's father was already in a complicated mood. Listening to his son and daughter-in-law's chatter, he couldn't help but become more and more irritated. He put on a stern face and said, "I haven't done anything wrong. No matter how they investigate, I'm not afraid. Let's eat first!"
Upon hearing this, the Zheng brothers looked at each other, feeling helpless.
Dinner consisted of braised pork and old hen soup brought back by Zheng Dandan, a very sumptuous meal. But aside from Da Niu and Pi Dan, no one in the Zheng family seemed happy. Even the two children, sensing the subdued atmosphere at the table, didn't dare to make a noise.
"Little sister, things at home aren't as good as they used to be. You should save money from now on." Second sister-in-law Fang Xiaoyu picked up a piece of braised pork and couldn't help but worry about the future. She had been able to endure it before, because her father-in-law was the one who earned the money and the family was well off. But now that her father-in-law's status as a worker has been lost, and she sees the feast on the table, her heart aches.
"Even eating can't stop you from talking!" Sun Cuilan looked at Fang Xiaoyu dissatisfiedly. "Why, as soon as your dad was suspended, you showed your true colors and treated Dandan harshly?"
"Mom, I didn't mean that." Second sister-in-law Fang Xiaoyu felt bitter in her mouth. Wasn't she doing this for the sake of the family?
"Hmph, I know you've always disliked Dandan, but let me tell you, as long as I'm around, don't even think about treating her harshly." Sun Cuilan looked at Fang Xiaoyu warily.
Zheng's father was suspended from work, and she was worried that the situation at home would change as well.
"That's enough, eat properly!" Zheng's father complained. After being suspended, every word around him seemed particularly harsh. They were still bickering while eating, endlessly, making it impossible to have any peace!
Sun Cuilan glanced at Zheng's father but didn't say anything. Second sister-in-law Fang Xiaoyu didn't dare to make any noise at this time.
After dinner, Fang Xiaoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief when she returned to her room. She complained to her second brother, Zheng Jiangong, "Jiangong, isn't Mom spoiling me too much? Dad used to be a worker, with a monthly salary, so it wasn't a big deal to spend some on me. But now Dad's been suspended, and Mom still lets me do whatever I want. What will happen if I run out of money?"
Sister-in-law He Yuegui shared the same anxieties as Fang Xiaoyu. Though quiet, she had her own agenda. "Jianye, you need to persuade Mom and keep Xiaomei under control. Our family isn't the same as it used to be. If Dad goes back, it's fine. But if he can't, we can't stand Xiaomei's troubles."
Sun Cuilan, who happened to be passing by, heard this and her face suddenly turned dark.
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