However, they don’t know each other.
Xu Nianhua looked at the girl and asked, "Are you looking for me?"
"You’re Xu Nianhua?" The girl was momentarily stunned upon seeing Xu Nianhua, then warmly introduced herself with a smile: "Hello, my name is Tao An, and I’m an editor from Hai City Publishing House. I heard that you are from Beining’s foreign language department and scored full marks in English in South City, so I specifically came to find you."
"Hello, come on in." Xu Nianhua looked at Tao An. Her smile was very friendly and not off-putting at all. She wondered why an editor from Hai City Publishing House had come to see her.
The visitor is a guest, so Xu Nianhua invited her in.
"Here is my work ID."
Tao An directly handed over her work ID, proactively explaining, "Today, I specifically came to ask for your help."
"Oh no, I mean to discuss a collaboration with you." Tao An corrected herself, looking at Xu Nianhua with great sincerity and explained in detail what she wanted Xu Nianhua to do.
Basically, it’s translating a book. The one Tao An brought this time is an English work.
"Your publishing house should have quite a few editors, right?" Xu Nianhua looked at the English book and couldn’t help but ask. Tao An had only joined Hai City Publishing House earlier this year, and the publishing house in Hai City should have a lot of editors.
"Well..."
Tao An scratched her head a bit embarrassedly and said, "Our publishing house was founded in 1978, and it’s only been over three years now. We do have many editors, but there aren’t many talented translators."
"Nianhua, I strongly recommended you to our chief editor. I said your English is especially good, and you’re a particularly nice person, surely capable of taking on this task, right?" Tao An looked at Xu Nianhua pleadingly, her expression evoking a pitiful feeling.
"You don’t even know me, nor have you met me, yet you claim my English is good and I’m a good person? Isn’t that deceiving your chief editor?" Xu Nianhua didn’t accept directly but instead countered, "What if I refuse?"
"No, no, I didn’t deceive anyone." Seeing that Xu Nianhua seemed to misunderstand, Tao An quickly explained, "Actually, I do know you, it’s just that I’ve never met you, but I’ve heard your name and about you."
Xu Nianhua raised an eyebrow.
Tao An continued explaining, "I have a cousin named Zheng Jin. I don’t know if you know her, she was your high school classmate. She kept telling me about how amazing you are, how good your English is, and how helpful you are. So, that’s why I thought of you when the chief editor wanted to find an English editor."
Seeing that Xu Nianhua wasn’t angry, Tao An continued, "Originally, Zheng Jin was supposed to come with me this time, but she was tied up with some family matters, so she couldn’t come. She’s the one who gave me your address; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to find your home."
"Well..." Tao An looked at Xu Nianhua awkwardly and said, "I only recommended you to the chief editor, I didn’t dare guarantee anything."
"Zheng Jin is your cousin?" Upon hearing about Zheng Jin, Xu Nianhua had already made up her mind. Tao An’s honesty made Xu Nianhua want to tease her a bit. She sighed and said, "This book..."
"Ah, don’t tell me you can’t translate it either?" The disappointment in Tao An’s eyes was barely concealed.
"I can take it on, but how much does your publishing house plan to pay per book?" Xu Nianhua inquired.
Her words instantly lit up Tao An’s eyes, and her face, moments ago full of disappointment, now flushed with excitement.