When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 88: Chapter 50: The Cast-off Wife of the 50s (50)

”I heard that only wealthy families used to have a bowl of nourishing soup before a meal...”

”The rich really know how to eat. And you know what? After drinking the soup, my stomach feels so comfortable, and it’s really whet my appetite...”

Everyone happily drank their soup, wiped their mouths, and went to get their food.

A smile touched Chu Shenyu’s eyes. He knew deep down that this was all his wife’s handiwork.

If he hadn’t figured it out beforehand, he probably would have been fooled by her too.

He looked down at the eel soup with bits of red date floating in it and drank it all in one go. His somewhat empty stomach felt soothed. It certainly had a nourishing effect, but the ultimate goal was simply to fill people up, letting the soup take up some space first.

A single ladleful was enormous!

How big is a person’s stomach, anyway?

In the past, each window in the cafeteria served different dishes, giving everyone plenty of choices.

But now, the cafeteria claimed it was following the lead of other work units in the organization. The variety was gone, and every window sold the same dishes, soups, porridges, and staple foods.

However, the factory leadership was considerate of the employees and their families, so the cafeteria strived not to repeat dishes for one or two weeks.

With this explanation, no one had any reason to object.

Kung Pao Chicken, Egg and Tofu Pottage, Stir-fried Pork with Celery, and a Five-Grain Harvest Medley. The staple was three-grain steamed buns, and there was also a mushroom congee.

It was truly a nutritious and balanced meal with meat and vegetables. The problem was, everything tasted delicious. Even the three-grain steamed buns were different from usual, with a fragrant, sweet, and chewy texture.

Men, women, the old, and the young all received different portion sizes. If you were still hungry after finishing, you could come back for more. However, if you had leftovers, your name would be recorded and posted on the bulletin board in your residential courtyard!

Chu Shenyu was just about to get in line when he saw his wife had already found a seat and was waving at him, her food already served.

He chuckled and walked over. Only then did he notice that everyone in the cafeteria was using matching trays, bowls, and plates, all engraved with the words ”Bright Machinery Factory - Cafeteria No. 1.”

Zhu Yun giggled and explained, ”When each cafeteria was first built, they all got a set of tableware like this, with the quantity based on the number of tables and chairs. It was for passing inspections from the higher-ups. But they were never used, just left in the warehouse to collect dust. They’re perfect for us now.”

”Don’t you think plating it like this looks nice and makes the portions look bigger?”

Chu Shenyu nodded. It reminded him of how she had used makeup techniques with light and shadow before. ”Is this also using a visual illusion?”

Zhu Yun’s lips curved into a smile. ”Exactly. When people are hungry, their eyes exaggerate their hunger—they feel like they could eat a whole cow. So why can’t we trick their eyes into shrinking that hunger a little?”

Chu Shenyu’s mouth twitched. ’My wife might not be highly educated, but I have to admit, she has an endless stream of clever tricks. She’s managed to turn this tiny, palm-sized kitchen into a stage for her grand ambitions, as if she were commanding a great army.’

”Quick, Mr. Chu, help me see if the portion size is right,” Zhu Yun urged with a wide grin, though she was actually a little uncertain.

She started digging into her own portion as well.

People back then didn’t have much oil in their diets—to put it bluntly, their bodies took in little protein and fat, so they had large appetites. She paid special attention to this. A balanced diet could also reduce the consumption of ingredients.

Chu Shenyu didn’t say anything and ate just as he normally would.

He had a habit of exercising daily and was a big eater, but for once, he was completely stuffed!

He looked at his tray in astonishment, then glanced up at his wife, who was smiling smugly. A rare look of bewilderment filled his eyes.

Zhu Yun had been observing everyone as she ate. After finishing her soup and slowly wiping her mouth, she couldn’t help but snap her fingers. ”The experiment was a success! From what I can see, eighty percent of the people didn’t go back for seconds, and half of the remaining twenty percent were getting food for their family members.”

”Master, why is that?” Her young apprentice, who was sitting nearby, scooted over and asked curiously.

Chu Shenyu was also puzzled.

Zhu Yun explained carefully in a low voice. Besides the filling effects of the tofu, celery, and coarse grains in the dishes, the Kung Pao Chicken and the chewy three-grain buns required thorough chewing. Furthermore, when food is delicious, people can’t help but slow down and savor it happily...

In short, there was a lot of science to it!

The cafeteria’s opening kept Zhu Yun busy for two days. Afterward, her main tasks were just organizing the warehouse with her apprentices and planning the next day’s menu.

So, while she taught her apprentices how to cook, she also took the lead in hitting the books.

Just after lunch, Zhu Yun was hit by her usual wave of drowsiness. Half-asleep, she followed behind Chu Shenyu, stepping from one palm-sized patch of shade to the next as they slowly made their way home for an afternoon nap.