When She Stops Being Dramatic novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 43: The ’50s Forsaken Wife (43)

The apprentices’ faces all changed. Their spokesperson, Wang Simi, couldn’t help but ask in a small, trembling voice, "Master, are you serious?"

"You’re not going to make us take the college entrance exams, are you?" Some of them already had high school diplomas. Since their master was deliberately setting this condition, the bar would surely be high.

Zhu Yun nodded with a gratified expression. "That’s right. I’m going to study hard and get into college to completely shed my ’illiterate’ status. I can’t just be the only one burying my head in books. How boring would that be?"

"And I can’t just stand by and watch you all get left far behind. So, you’ll strive alongside me, won’t you?"

"In a bit, I’ll talk to the director and have my office converted into a study hall, one desk for each of you. Later, I’ll have your Master’s husband help find some study materials. I imagine food cooked by someone with an elementary school diploma can’t possibly taste as good as food cooked by someone with a college degree."

"A chef who doesn’t want to be a tailor is no good driver..."

’Master’s gone crazy...’

Seeing her apprentices’ faces finally turn green, looking as droopy as wilted bok choy, Zhu Yun was satisfied.

There were many types of melons and vegetables available now. Zhu Yun taught her apprentices how to chop vegetables to practice their knife skills, and she also explained the essentials of preparing cold dishes before letting them experiment on their own.

While practicing their knife work and honing their characters, they could also develop a general sense for the right amount of seasoning.

"At dinnertime, you’ll each set up a table against the wall on the first floor and prepare cold dishes to order for the comrades getting their food. Let them give you feedback and witness your growth."

After picking two apprentices, Zhu Yun led them to continue making cold beverages.

After the mung bean soup brewed in the cafeteria had cooled down, it was chilled in the freezer for fifteen minutes, then poured into insulated containers and transported to the various factory districts.

Making popsicles didn’t require much technical skill. Zhu Yun stood with her arms crossed, giving verbal instructions, and had her apprentices measure out the ingredients roughly with bowls and spoons. The rest—the boiling, molding, unmolding, and packaging—was just manual labor.

That evening after dinner, Zhu Yun and Chu Shenyu walked home side by side.

The sun had not yet completely sunk below the horizon. Its afterglow had lost its intensity, casting a brilliant golden carpet across the ground.

Zhu Yun brought up the matter of the study materials.

"I want you to be as happy as you were before, to not care about what others think, and to confidently demand justice for yourself. If not, I can help you with that, too!"

Zhu Yun pressed her lips together lightly. "But I *want* to study. I want to stand on the shoulders of giants and see this new era."

She had been thinking about this for the past few days.

In the family courtyard, she couldn’t remain a social outcast forever, and besides, she and Chu Shenyu intended to spend the rest of their lives together. Since she had to interact with people, having an impressive diploma would be like having a second beautiful face. Just by standing there, calm and serene, she could make all the petty gossips too ashamed to even show themselves.

It was a once-and-for-all solution, so of course, she had to make it happen.

Chu Shenyu squeezed her hand tightly. ’It’s my existence that’s unknowingly put so much pressure on her.’

He felt a growing sense of guilt. "I’ll help you!"

Both Mr. and Mrs. Chu worked in the education system, and at a key high school, no less. What kind of study materials couldn’t they get their hands on? On their way home, they made a phone call and would bring the materials back after their belated wedding banquet that weekend.