"Them?" Mr. Zhang Sr. shook his head with a smile, "Since the resumption of the college entrance exam, there’ve only been two batches of examinees. Those who learned foreign languages, besides you who volunteered, mostly were enrolled due to insufficient scores and lateral transfers by institutions."
"As for so-called senior brothers and sisters, they are recomnded students from the People’s Liberation Universities all over. Many of them didn’t even finish elentary school and struggle with their own mother tongue, let alone speak foreign languages fluently."
"Moreover..."
Mr. Zhang Sr. paused, his expression turning serious, "Hua Country is currently at a crucial stage in foreign trade. Finding a translator proficient in foreign languages seems like a way to showcase our country’s abundant talent to other nations, but in reality, it’s intended to boost foreign trade orders at this Sui Trade Conference."
"Lin Xiang, among the people I know, besides you, no one else can manage both tasks simultaneously."
Mr. Zhang Sr.’s gaze landed on Lin Xiang. The previously sowhat cloudy eyes now sparkled with wise brilliance, "As long as you agree, I’ll take you as my apprentice. I’m not one to boast, but with around, anyone wanting to bully you will have to see if this old man agrees!"
Mr. Zhang Sr. had known for months that there was a little girl in the rural brigade he once visited who was rallying under his banner.
But instead of being angry, Mr. Zhang Sr.’s first reaction was relief. A little girl fluent in foreign languages and with a sharp mind who could bring in so many foreign exchange orders for the country.
Perhaps the entire transaction volu of the Sui Trade Conference was only marginally higher than those millions of foreign exchange orders, but the significance was different.
Lin Xiang suddenly felt the burden on her shoulders grow heavier.
But she didn’t intend to shirk it; instead, she stated earnestly, "Since the teacher holds in such high regard, I definitely won’t let you down."
"As for foreign languages, I can speak a little, and I have a rudintary understanding of negotiation skills. As long as you trust , I’ll do my utmost to bring in more foreign exchange orders at the Sui Trade Conference."
Mr. Zhang Sr. was about to comnd Lin Xiang when she changed her tone, "But let’s be straightforward; I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee the exact amount of foreign exchange orders I’ll bring in."
Mr. Zhang Sr. was amused by her earnest deanor, "You just go ahead and do it. Nobody dares to place such imnse pressure on a young girl like you!"
"Alright then!" Lin Xiang, raring to go, asked Mr. Zhang Sr. with a beaming smile, "When do we head to the Sui Trade Conference then?"
She was already eager to showcase her skills.
Mr. Zhang Sr. glanced at her, "Provisionally after New Year’s. However, there will be a brief training for relevant staff before the Sui Trade Conference, and you need to attend it too."
The primary purpose of this training is to ensure the staff can grasp every product at the Sui Trade Conference, to answer inquiries from foreign rchants promptly.
After finalizing their newly ford master-apprentice relationship, both laughed and walked out of the study.
"Teacher, please sit." Lin Xiang assisted Mr. Zhang Sr. to the main seat on the sofa, fetched a cup of hot tea, and handed it to him with both hands, "Previously at the Li Hua Team, I couldn’t offer you a formal apprenticeship tea due to circumstances. Today, however thick-skinned it may seem, I’m making up for it, hoping you won’t mind this belated apprenticeship tea."
"The timing of the tea doesn’t matter; sincerity does."
Mr. Zhang Sr. took the tea offered by Lin Xiang with both hands, took a gentle sip, and helped her up from the floor.
After drinking the apprenticeship tea, in the presence of the Jiang family of three, Cheng Jinyun, and Mr. Zhang Sr.’s granddaughter Zhang Maoyan, the master-apprentice relationship was cented.
Mr. Zhang Sr. fished out a hard object wrapped in two layers of handkerchiefs from his coat pocket and handed it to Lin Xiang, "This is your apprenticeship gift. See if it ets your satisfaction?"
Lin Xiang unwrapped the handkerchief layer by layer in front of Mr. Zhang Sr. and the others, revealing the item inside.
It turned out to be Mr. Zhang Sr.’s notebook, recording all his notes from his years of studying foreign languages.
In fact, having endured the trials and refinent of future college entrance exams, Lin Xiang could boast that her foreign language knowledge surpassed Mr. Zhang Sr.’s by a long shot.
But the significance of this notebook was different.
Mr. Zhang Sr. had anticipated the apprenticeship process before coming, so he had prepared this apprenticeship gift in advance—his notebook, one of the most important items to him.
Lin Xiang carefully stored the notebook away and guaranteed Mr. Zhang Sr., "Rest assured, teacher, I certainly won’t let you down!"
This was a promise to Mr. Zhang Sr., but it was also sothing Lin Xiang wanted for herself.
Although this was rely a world within a book, slightly deviating from historical progress, Lin Xiang, however, could witness historical changes firsthand and make a contribution, leaving a profound impact; this felt far more aningful than earning lots of money.
After the apprenticeship ceremony ended, people in the room sat in small groups chatting with each other.
Being the only mature female, the aunt’s conversation naturally turned to Lin Xiang and Zhang Maoyan.
"Maoyan must be twenty this year, right?"
"Aunt Liu, I just turned twenty last month."
"Then you’re a year older than Xiangxiang." The aunt asked again, "Have you started dating soone?"
Zhang Maoyan shook her head, articulating slowly, "You know my work, the people I interact with are few, and I haven’t had the opportunity to date. Before coming today, my mother specifically instructed to tell you this, hoping you could help find a match."
Zhang Maoyan’s voice wasn’t loud, but it fell, and the room went silent.
Mr. Zhang Sr. frowned. What was his daughter-in-law doing? Maoyan was still so young, what’s the rush?
Moreover, who has the young girl personally request a known elder to help find a match?
If word got out, who knows how it would be construed outside!
The aunt had initially intended it as a casual question, but she didn’t expect Zhang Maoyan to be so earnest.
Seeing Mr. Zhang Sr.’s stoic face, she had a hunch and softly inquired, "Well... do you want to find a match?"
Zhang Maoyan shook her head again, slowly stating one word at a ti, "I don’t want to. I just want to focus my energy on my experints. I don’t want to date."
"Then we won’t hurry. Aunt will keep an eye out for you. If I find soone suitable, I’ll let your mother know."
This ti, Zhang Maoyan nodded and said no more.
However, her gaze frequently fell on Lin Xiang.
Feeling sowhat uneasy under her gaze, Lin Xiang quietly turned and asked, "Senior sister, do you have sothing you want to say to ?"
Zhang Maoyan was the teacher’s biological granddaughter and a year older than her; calling her senior sister was fitting.
Zhang Maoyan did not refute the title, simply saying, "Grandfather often ntions you at ho."
"The teacher often talks about at ho?" Lin Xiang felt incredulous, "What does the teacher say about ?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers