Back at Aunt Jiang’s place, the house was filled with delicious dishes.

The old lady was beaming with enthusiasm, and Sister Lu Da’s eyes were shining.

Lin Xia’s mood instantly lifted.

She smiled and said, “Thirf Sister’s cooking skills have really improved over the years.”

Sister Lu Da urged everyone to take their seats quickly, “Oh, I’m starving. Third Sister’s cooking skills have only improved this year; even your elder brother says it’s like she’s suddenly enlightened.”

Lin Shu said half-jokingly and half-seriously, “I guess I was suddenly enlightened.”

Old Lady Jiang invited Sister Lu Da to have a few more drinks with her.

They ate, drank, and chatted in high spirits.

Qian Lisheng, hiding in the shadows outside, was seething with anger.

He didn’t understand why things had turned out this way.

He initially thought that by making Lin Xia suffer a little, he could show her what’s what, suppress her arrogance, and make her learn to be obedient.

Little did he expect that she wouldn’t learn to be virtuous but would end up getting divorced instead.

Now he was even bowing his head to try and make amends, but she refused to come back.

He had already humbled himself—what more did she want?

Should he kneel and beg her?

With Lin Shu causing trouble, he felt that even if he knelt and kowtowed, Lin Xia wouldn’t turn back.

Listening to the cheerful laughter and chatter of the women inside, Qian Lisheng felt gnawed by jealousy and finally left in anger.

After dinner, Old Lady Jiang prepared some melon seeds for them to snack on, wanting to recreate the cozy, chatty atmosphere of rural life, with everyone sitting around the kang, munching on seeds, and talking.

She asked Lin Shu about things in their village, inquired about the family members, and then began talking about her own family.

Her eldest son, Jiang Weidong, had been married for years without children when his wife died, He was always busy with work and unwilling to remarry.

While her younger son and daughter-in-law got along well, but they were close with her in-laws, making her reluctant to intrude.

As she spoke, she held Lin Xia’s hand and said, “Girl, I didn’t ask you to stay with me out of pity. I just want you to feel sorry for me and come talk to me more often. I’m just a rural old woman with no education or experience, and I’m always being looked down upon.”

Lin Xia quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ll come by more often to keep you company.”

Old Lady Jiang was delighted.

She wanted a caring daughter or daughter-in-law to live with her, but unfortunately, she didn’t have a daughter.

Her eldest daughter-in-law had passed away, and her younger daughter-in-law was distant, so she didn’t feel comfortable intruding.

The next day, Lin Shu and Sister Lu Da went to the factory office first.

The factory office director had also been invited to the secretary’s house for drinks the night before, where he enjoyed the pickled fish and spicy fish.

The flavors reminded him of his hometown.

Although there were subtle differences, it was essentially the same cuisine, which made him quite nostalgic.

The local chefs couldn’t quite replicate the authentic taste because they had never experienced it; they could only try to make it based on descriptions.

He thoroughly enjoyed the meal the previous night.

Remembering how he and Secretary Hu had fought over the spicy fish and pickled fish made him smile.

Director Jiang was the most unlucky; he hadn’t had more than a few bites before the two leaders stopped him from taking any more, saying that Lin Shu would make it and Auntie Jiang would definitely learn.

So, Director Jiang would have his chance later.

Jiang Weidong felt quite wronged, knowing his mother wouldn’t make it for him.

Once the guests left, she would definitely go back to eating in the cafeteria.

When the factory office director saw Lin Shu, he was very friendly and had no doubts about why she was there. “Comrade Lin Shu, your pickled fish and spicy fish were very authentic.”

Lin Shu replied, “Director, you flatter me. The pickled vegetables aren’t really authentic; it’s just improvised.”

The factory office director said, “The pickled vegetables were very authentic.”

Lin Shu suggested, “If you like it, I’ll have Auntie Jiang send some over.”

The factory office director declined, “It’s too much trouble for Auntie Jiang. I’ll go get it myself.”

Lin Shu continued, “If everyone likes this flavor, we could have the cafeteria make more pickled vegetables. They can be eaten as pickles or stir-fried. Especially pickled green beans—whether stir-fried with meat or simply with chili peppers, they’re a great side dish.”

The factory office director immediately invited her to the cafeteria kitchen to teach the chefs.

Locals only know how to pickle mustard greens, radishes, and salted eggs.

They aren’t skilled at making pickled vegetables like Northeast pickled cabbage or spicy kimchi.

The local climate is suitable for preserving food, so people usually store a large amount of cabbage for winter and don’t bother with other types of pickling.

However, he found the pickles to be really delicious!

Lin Shu said, “Director, I have something else to discuss.”

The factory office director, realizing he had been inattentive, asked what it was.

Lin Shu said, “Director, haven’t you issued the divorce certificate for Qian Lisheng yet?”

She explained the issue of Qian Lisheng harassing her sister.

“He’s not just apologizing nicely; he’s being aggressive and trying to act like a hooligan, even trying to force my sister to have children. Director, if he keeps saying such things after the divorce, it’s just harassment. We may need to report it to the police! If the police come to the factory, it would damage our factory’s reputation, so I need to inform you and give a warning to Qian Lisheng.”

The factory office director quickly responded, “I remember. The factory director has been a bit busy these past few days. I was thinking we should wait until he has some free time to discuss Qian Lisheng’s issue. Let me go find the secretary, the factory director, and Director Jiang to discuss this matter together.”

Seeing that the leaders were taking the issue seriously, Lin Shu felt reassured and left with Sister Lu Da.

When Lin Shu and Sister Lu Da returned, Old Lady Jiang excitedly began planning to make dumplings.

She didn’t like making dumplings alone, as it was troublesome.

She had to either take care of her son or eat at the cafeteria every day.

With no daughter-in-law, she didn’t think it was worth the effort to cook delicious food.

In the past, she had envied Lin Shu and the others when they went to the Qian family to make dumplings.

Her younger daughter-in-law lived with her own mother, and she, as a mother-in-law, didn’t want to be a burden.

Her eldest son didn’t have a wife, so she was always alone, watching others with daughters and daughters-in-law with envy.

Now that she was hosting Lin Shu and the others, she pretended they were her own daughter and daughter-in-law.

“Let’s go buy some vegetables. Even an old woman like me has someone to accompany her while shopping.”

The three of them bought chives, eggs, and cabbage and chatted warmly on the way back.

As they entered the back gate of the residential compound, they happened to run into Qian’s mother.

Qian’s mother had a gloomy expression and didn’t even bother to greet Old Lady Jiang.

She already suspected that Lin Xia and Jiang Weidong were having an affair.

Now seeing Old Lady Jiang being so close to Lin Shu, Qian’s mother was even more suspicious.

Old Lady Jiang, however, took the initiative to show off, “Buying vegetables? The chives from the back are the freshest. Lin Shu’s girl knows how to shop; she picks the best stuff.

Hehe, if Lin Xia hadn’t divorced, Lin Shu would probably be accompanying Qian’s mother to buy vegetables right now.

You don’t appreciate such a good girl, but I, an old woman, am grabbing the chance.

The old lady was really delighted.

Qian’s mother was so angry she almost stumbled over the threshold.