"Let him in," Pei Yicheng replied as he turned to the Xu siblings and said, "The translator I invited from Ningbei has arrived. When he looks it over, I... "
Pei Yicheng was thinking about how to explain.
Xu Nianhua nodded in understanding and said, "It should be proofread once more."
She was just a high school senior, so Pei Yicheng’s agreement to let her translate the contract was already a surprise to her. Having a professional look it over was a perfectly normal procedure.
Xu Nian’an, who had always felt something was amiss, found Pei Yicheng’s words to be reassuring.
Not long after, the translator Mei was brought in, a middle-aged man in his forties.
After having some tea, Translator Mei began to review the contract earnestly.
An hour later, Translator Mei praised, "The translation is very good; if it were me, it would have been much the same."
Xu Nianhua sat calmly in her chair, not at all surprised.
Xu Nian’an, who had been nervous the whole time, breathed a sigh of relief and quietly gave Xu Nianhua a thumbs-up, impressed by his little sister’s skill.
"Ling Dong, take Translator Mei to the backyard for a break."
Having said this, Pei Yicheng let Ling Dong escort Translator Mei to the backyard to rest and have tea. Mei had been traveling without a break and had worked for an hour straight after only some tea, which was indeed exhausting.
"Alright, Translator Mei, this way, please," Ling Dong led Mei to the backyard.
Pei Yicheng handed over the hundred yuan that was already prepared, the neat ten-yuan notes passing into Xu Nian’an’s hands.
"Little sister, here’s your pay."
Xu Nian’an placed the money directly into Xu Nianhua’s hands.
"Big brother, you hold on to it. What if I lose it?" Xu Nianhua felt sweet satisfaction upon receiving the hundred yuan for her translation. Their eldest brother was getting married, and they needed to organize a few banquet tables, but there wasn’t much money at home. With this money, not only could they afford the banquet tables, but they could also buy some things for the brother’s new house.
"Then I’ll keep it safe for you."
With careful consideration, Xu Nian’an neatly tucked the money into his pocket.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity,"
Xu Nianhua said earnestly. If it weren’t for Pei Yicheng’s trust in her, she may not have had the chance to earn this money.
"I should be the one thanking you for helping me," Pei Yicheng said sincerely.
Xu Nianhua grinned, showing her white and even teeth. Although it is said one should not show teeth when smiling, her smile turned her round, large eyes into crescent moons. Even without any makeup, she was very beautiful.
That smile was like a beam of sunlight in the winter.
Xu Nian’an and his sister declined Pei Yicheng’s invitation to dine and left with the money. Their eldest brother was selling Mung Bean Jelly alone—could he manage it all by himself?
"Translator Mei, how much longer will you need to finish translating the contract?" Ling Dong asked while pouring tea for Mei.
Translator Mei glanced at the contract and shook his head.
Ling Dong felt a jolt of anxiety and asked, "Does that mean the translated contract is completely unusable?"
Before Translator Mei had arrived, Pei Yicheng had already instructed that, regardless of whether Xu Nianhua’s translation was good or bad, Mei should praise it.
Thus, Ling Dong posed this question.
"Mr. Ling, there’s nothing wrong with the translation of this contract; there’s no need for me to re-translate it," Translator Mei said after taking a sip of water, his curiosity piqued. "Did that tall, skinny boy translate this? He hasn’t started university, has he?"
He looked young and was both tall and thin.
"No, it was his sister who did the translation," Ling Dong replied instinctively. However, Translator Mei’s words echoed in his mind as if reverberating through a valley, swirling continuously in his thoughts.