While eating, everyone chatted about various things. After the meal, Chi Ge gave Su Xiaotian some more rules and considerations for translation.
Su Xiaotian listened attentively. She hadn't realized there were so many nuances to translation; she had thought it was simply a matter of accurately conveying conversations. It seemed that no matter the profession, there was always a wealth of knowledge to learn.
Su Xiaomei wanted to go home, but Grandma Su was worried about her going alone.
"Xiaomei, you shouldn't go back by yourself. It's the weekend tomorrow, so you don't have school," Grandma Su said firmly.
"If I don't go home, my parents will worry!"
"We can just call your family to let them know!"
Su Xiaomei, worried that Huo Sinian might be waiting for her, readily agreed.
However, Chi Ge and Chi Yiyuan, the grandfather and grandson, insisted on returning home. Grandpa Su could only ask Chi Yiyuan to take good care of Chi Ge.
"Grandpa Su, Grandma Su, please don't worry. I can take good care of my grandfather!" Chi Yiyuan said politely.
Everyone saw the Chi grandfather and grandson off together.
"Young Yuan is such an unfortunate child!" Liang Xiu remarked as the pair walked away.
"His parents are also quite something. Many people are returning from abroad now, why haven't they come to see their son?" Grandma Su complained.
It was understandable if they couldn't return before, due to policy restrictions. But now that many people were reportedly returning to visit relatives, why were Young Yuan's parents unwilling to come back?
"Perhaps there are other reasons. Many people still can't return," Su Xiaotian quickly interjected. "Let's not concern ourselves with these matters, Mom. Just look after Brother Yiyuan more often!"
Su Xiaotian had never actually asked about the identities of Chi Yiyuan's parents. However, a child raised by someone like Grandpa Chi was certainly no ordinary person. Perhaps, they were not permitted to return by the foreign country. Naturally, Su Xiaotian also knew that another possibility was that the couple themselves were unwilling to return. People who had lived abroad for a long time might not want to come back. It was even possible that the couple had another child abroad, living a happy family life. As for their son, Chi Yiyuan, it was unknown if they even remembered him. Thinking of this, Su Xiaotian quickly shook her head, not daring to dwell on it further.
Su Xiaotian didn't know why she had such thoughts. Perhaps it was because in her memories from her previous life, after Chi Yiyuan achieved success, she had never heard any news of his parents or relatives.
Liang Xiu didn't think too much of it and nodded, saying, "In the future, when you have your own children, prepare an extra portion for Yiyuan too." If Yiyuan could think of Xiaotian, why couldn't she look after him more? After all, with so many children in their family, one more wouldn't make a difference.
Grandma Su strongly agreed, "Exactly. Our family's conditions are much better now. We should send them food and drinks promptly, so the grandfather and grandson don't suffer."
Grandma Su and the others murmured as they locked the restaurant door, and the family headed home together.
The next day was Sunday, the day Su Xiaotian was scheduled to work as a translator. To ensure Su Xiaotian got a good rest, the Su family went to bed early after returning home. Su Xiaotian slept soundly, but the others in the family did not rest as peacefully.
Early the next morning, Grandma Su woke up with dark circles under her eyes and made Su Xiaotian's favorite meat buns.
"My darling treasures love my buns the most, especially the meat ones," Grandma Su said to Su Xiaomei, who was helping her, as she shaped the dough.
Su Xiaomei smiled, "Great Aunt, your buns are the most delicious. Not only Xiaotian likes them, but I do too."
Grandma Su was delighted. "Then you can have an extra one later. I made plenty today, so you can take some for your parents when you go back." Su Xiaomei readily agreed, not being shy at all.
After breakfast, Grandma Su, along with Liang Xiu and Grandpa Su, went to Yiming Pavilion. After Grandma Su left, Su Xiaomei first helped clean up the kitchen. With nothing else to do, she decided to read. For some reason, Su Xiaomei felt that reading at the Su family's home was particularly effective, as if she could truly focus. The older Su brothers also went out after breakfast, while the remaining ones diligently did their homework.
Su Xiaotian, on the other hand, slept comfortably until past eight o'clock. It wasn't until Lü Ruya arrived that she finally got up.
Lü Ruya looked at the sleepy Su Xiaotian with mixed emotions. He had rushed over early in the morning, and this young lady was still just waking up. Su Xiaotian, still groggy from sleep, couldn't help but roll her eyes at the anxious and flustered Lü Ruya. The flight wouldn't reach the capital airport for several more hours, so why was he here so early?
"Director Lü, why are you here so early? Are you worried you're paying me too little and came ahead of time?" Su Xiaotian asked playfully.
Lü Ruya looked at Su Xiaotian like this and felt like laughing in exasperation. This girl's mouth was truly sharp.
"Isn't it good that I'm paying you more? As long as you leave home, it counts as payment," Lü Ruya said with some complaint. This girl was not only sharp-tongued but also shrewd. The payment for this translation job wasn't calculated from the moment she started translating, but from the moment she left her home. This meant that this girl could earn several hundred yuan more in these three days. This money was truly easy to earn!
Su Xiaotian could see Lü Ruya's slight annoyance and chuckled.
"Director Lü, it's actually easy to save money." Su Xiaotian said unhurriedly.
Lü Ruya became interested and quickly asked, "What method!"
"Cultivate some professional translation talents within your own factory. Then you'll only need to pay salaries!"
Lü Ruya looked at Su Xiaotian, feeling that she was speaking from a position of privilege. If they could cultivate professional talents themselves, would they still be called talents? Their factory had only managed to cultivate one person over many years, and it had taken considerable effort for just that one. Cultivating several more would be a monumental task!
Lü Ruya didn't want to continue discussing this issue with Su Xiaotian. It was completely impractical!
"Comrade Xiaotian, let's quickly wash up and head out. It won't be good if we're late."
Su Xiaotian actually felt that it was still quite early, but if the employer felt it wasn't early, then it wasn't. Anyway, she was earning money from the moment she left home, so why not?
Su Xiaotian didn't say much more. She immediately washed up, changed her clothes, and styled her hair, even putting on some makeup! When Su Xiaotian reappeared before Lü Ruya, she looked vastly different from the student she had been. Su Xiaotian was tall, nearly 1.6 meters. She had pulled a strand of her hair up and secured it with a clip, letting the rest of her smooth black hair fall loosely. She wore a blue long-sleeved dress, paired with a beige trench coat, and black leather shoes that gleamed. She was naturally beautiful, and with a little bit of effort in her appearance, she no longer looked like a typical student. She appeared more like a pampered little princess. Anyone who didn't know her might mistake her for the daughter of a wealthy family. Her attire made the Deputy Director Lü, who was wearing a Zhongshan suit, look rather rustic. Deputy Director Lü was indeed quite rustic. He stared at Su Xiaotian for a long time before asking, "Xiaotian, why do you look different today?" She was different, but he couldn't quite pinpoint how.
Su Xiaotian smiled, "This is called professionalism. You only think my price is high, but you don't consider that to take on this job for you, I even went to buy a new outfit, and I haven't even asked for a clothing allowance." As she said this, Su Xiaotian's expression made it seem as though she was being wronged.
Clothing allowance? Deputy Director Lü asked himself, he had never heard of such a thing as a clothing allowance. However, Lü Ruya was now wise enough to know that if he didn't know something, he absolutely shouldn't ask, because asking would make him look like a fool and cost him money! Lü Ruya didn't fall into the trap, much to Su Xiaotian's disappointment, but she couldn't force him to speak.
"Xiaotian, let's eat first, then we can go!" Su Xiaomei had already brought out the steaming buns.
"Director Lü, have you had breakfast?" Su Xiaotian asked politely.