Chapter 36: Family Planning Supplies

When they arrived at the state-run restaurant, Su Taotao hadn’t planned on letting Fu Zhengtou into the kitchen—it was a matter of principle.

“You take Chenchen and wander around a bit. Come back here for lunch.”

Fu Zhengtou had already slung the big sack Su Taotao brought over his shoulder. “I’ll just help you carry it in, then I’ll leave.”

Su Taotao thought for a moment—letting her kitchen colleagues see Fu Zhengtou wasn’t a bad idea. It’d help them understand who she was leaving with.

With Fu Zhengtou carrying the sack and Su Taotao holding Chenchen, the little family of three headed toward the back kitchen.

As they passed through the lobby, the floor manager and some waitresses were stunned at the sight of Su Taotao.

“You… you’re Comrade Su? How did you become so good-looking?”

Su Taotao smiled. She didn’t need to hide her looks anymore, so she simply said, “I’ve always looked like this. Maybe it’s just that I didn’t work in the kitchen today, so I washed my face a bit cleaner.”

The waitresses and the floor manager were speechless. Even if they scrubbed off a whole layer of skin, they still couldn’t look like that.

Then their eyes landed on Fu Zhengtou, and they were stunned again.

“Comrade Su, who is this? Mind introducing him?”

“My husband, Fu Zhengtou,” Su Taotao said openly and generously.

Fu Zhengtou gave them a polite nod.

Even after Su Taotao entered the kitchen, the onlookers were reluctant to look away.

One of the waitresses muttered, “Say what you will, but that family of three really has the looks. For the sake of the next generation, I guess I should also find a more handsome partner.”

The floor manager scoffed, “Keep dreaming. How many people like those two have you seen?”

The waitress nodded. “That’s true… But didn’t Su Taotao marry a rural guy? He doesn’t look like one at all.”

The floor manager replied, “She’s a zhiqing from a big city. How could she possibly marry an average farmer?”

The waitress sighed. “True. And just look at her—she’s gorgeous.”

Although her appearance wasn’t the traditionally dignified kind, there was no denying she was stunning.

The kitchen had a similar reaction. Everyone had gotten used to seeing the usually “grimy” Su Taotao, so now that she had transformed, it felt almost unnatural. With Fu Zhengtou’s imposing presence added to the mix, even the male staff didn’t dare sneak glances at her.

Chef Xu wasn’t too surprised when she told him she’d be leaving to join her husband at the base. He had expected this day to come ever since she signed that temporary work contract.

Su Taotao pulled out a few large-denomination bills and a small envelope containing ration coupons and handed them to Fu Zhengtou. “Take Chenchen to the state-run department store. Buy him a gift.”

Fu Zhengtou: “…” Wasn’t the military strategy board I gave him a gift?

Su Taotao handed Chenchen over. “Chenchen, go spend some time with Daddy. Come back to find Mommy at lunchtime.”

Chenchen nodded obediently and reached out his little arms toward his father.

Taking the items from Su Taotao and scooping up the boy, Fu Zhengtou gave a polite nod to everyone before leaving the kitchen.

After he left, Chef Xu finally spoke. “Taotao, your husband… he doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.”

Now that they were familiar, Chef Xu treated her like a junior and just called her by name.

Su Taotao withdrew her gaze from the father and son duo and smiled. “Two eyes and one nose like everyone else—how is he not ordinary?”

Chef Xu chuckled. “You’ve got a point.” But deep down, he thought—none of the three of them are ordinary.

Su Taotao didn’t hold anything back. She gave Chef Xu the exact ingredient ratios and complete process for the brine recipe, all clearly written out. She also handed over the remaining ten recipes.

“I promised. No matter when I leave, you’ll have the brine formula and all twelve dishes.”

Chef Xu accepted the documents, feeling a little emotional. “Why so sudden? Can’t you stay a little longer?”

To him, Su Taotao was like the restaurant’s spiritual pillar. Her departure was hard to accept.

Su Taotao shook her head. “My husband’s job is special. If I don’t go now, who knows how long I’ll have to wait for the next opportunity?”

“I already purchased the bamboo shoots needed for this month and prepared a good number of brine spice packs. I’ll still come in tomorrow morning. You try making a batch yourself—there shouldn’t be any problems. Also, the steamed pork intestines in black bean sauce dish is tricky with the timing. It only needs to be blanched for ten seconds, then steamed for three minutes. A bit too much heat and it turns tough; too little and it stays raw. It’s not easy to get right. I’ll bring the ingredients tomorrow morning so we can test it once. If our stove’s heat isn’t suitable, I’ll switch it out for another recipe.”

Chef Xu glanced at the ten recipes in the notebook—five of them used pig offal—and couldn’t help but laugh. “You really have a thing for pig offal, huh?”

Su Taotao replied, “Good cuts of meat are easy to cook—no matter how you make them at home, they taste good. Since we’re chefs, we shouldn’t fight over the easy stuff. Turning ingredients that people think taste bad into signature dishes… isn’t that way more fulfilling?”

Chef Xu asked, “Did you come up with these recipes yourself? Not some family recipe passed down?”

Su Taotao touched her nose and smiled. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that they taste good.”

Over the next stretch of time, Su Taotao explained every single ingredient in the spice mix—its purpose and proportions—to Chef Xu. She also broke down the key techniques for each of the ten dishes, and even had the sous-chef take notes on the side. She didn’t hide anything.

After taking notes, the sous-chef couldn’t help but say, “Comrade Su, I should be calling you ‘Master.’” Everyone else feared teaching apprentices lest they outshine them, but he’d never seen anyone as selfless as Su Taotao.

Su Taotao laughed, “Don’t call me that.” She tapped her temple. “This is just the beginning—I’ve got loads more recipes up here.”

Everyone chuckled.

“There’s not enough time today. Tomorrow I’ll make a few of my signature dishes, we’ll all have a meal together as a farewell. We’ll also settle your final wages tomorrow,” said Chef Xu. Though he hated to see her go, he knew she had a better future ahead and sincerely wished her well.

Su Taotao agreed, naturally.

After leaving the restaurant, she stopped by Chen Sihai’s place to thank him for his support during this time, gave him a quick update on Cao Guohua’s situation, and said her goodbyes.

Since transmigrating, this was the first time Su Taotao had shown her true appearance to the world, and also the first time she slowed down to actually appreciate the small county town. Normally, she didn’t feel much—she was always rushing around. Her only hope had been for Fu Zhengtou to return so they could start a new chapter of life.

And now, that chapter was finally beginning.

So good.

Back at the state-run restaurant, Fu Zhengtou was already waiting, holding the child in one arm.

He hadn’t gone inside, just stood quietly not far from the entrance. Everyone who passed by couldn’t help but glance his way—he was like a living landmark.

Su Taotao took the little one from his arms. “Chenchen, where did Daddy take you? Did you wait long?”

Chenchen tilted his little head in thought and replied, “Streeeet~~ hospitaaall~~”

Su Taotao blinked and turned to Fu Zhengtou. “Were you feeling unwell?”

Fu Zhengtou shook his head. “Just went to pick up some family planning supplies.”

… Pick up what now?

Family planning supplies?

Su Taotao was dumbfounded on the spot.

How could this man say something so explicitly suggestive with such a serious, handsome face?

Who wants to use family planning supplies with you?!

Absolutely no good.