Chapter 40: Collecting Translation Fees

"There's only one ox cart in the village, and the schedule doesn't wait for anyone." An Yinan replied with an air of maturity, making Chen Shao burst into laughter. Chatting with this little girl was a truly enjoyable experience; she was very interesting, and the things she said were always unexpected.

"Drink some hot water. It's very cold out today. At noon, Uncle Chen will take you to my home to get familiar with the place. Next time, just go straight to the house; don't wait here like a fool. It's so cold." Chen Shao handed over a white porcelain mug with hot water poured inside.

An Yinan took the mug in her hands, and after one gulp of water, she felt her whole body warm up.

"That would be lovely. If it were the dead of winter, I really wouldn't want to come over to deliver manuscripts." An Yinan was caught between laughter and tears. If she had known, she would have just gone to the State-run Restaurant to eat. Wouldn't a bowl of wontons have been delicious? Why wait here like a fool...

"How much have you translated?" Chen Shao smiled, tidied up the room, and sat down behind the office desk.

An Yinan took the magazines and manuscripts out of her large basket and handed them over. "The task is complete."

Chen Shao was stunned. What kind of speed was this?

"You need to take care of your eyes. With this translation speed of yours, I'm afraid you're translating all day long." Chen Shao had no idea that, aside from translating in the afternoon, An Yinan spent her mornings mountain climbing and tree climbing—when was she ever idle?

"Hehe, it's alright, it's alright." An Yinan felt a bit awkward. It really hadn't taken her much time to translate; if she had translated these few magazines diligently, it would have only taken half a day...

The main thing was that the English in the magazines was very simple, so she could translate it without needing to think much.

"Manage your time well. Rest when you should; your health is the most important thing." Chen Shao exhorted her once more, stacked the Chinese manuscripts he had reviewed neatly, and then placed them into a file folder. During the lunch break, these translated manuscripts and magazines would be mailed to the City.

He then took an envelope out of another drawer. "This is the translation fee from last time."

An Yinan was a little excited; she had the feeling of receiving a salary. She pulled thirteen ten-yuan notes and four one-yuan notes from the envelope. Crucially, there were also several coupons—all national coupons, including Grain Coupons, Cloth Coupons, Non-staple Food Coupons, and Meat Coupons. Although the denominations weren't high, it was better than nothing.

"I specifically applied for these coupons from above. Money is useless without coupons." Chen Shao explained briefly, seeing that these coupons could at least make the child's life a little easier.

"The book fees from last time haven't been deducted yet, right?" An Yinan hurriedly took out thirty-three yuan. The nine books from last time cost exactly thirty-two yuan and six jiao.

Chen Shao didn't decline. This was a state-run shop, not a place where he could just decide not to collect payment. That would be undermining socialism, and he couldn't do that.

"Keep these four jiao." After giving the four jiao in change to An Yinan, Chen Shao continued to ask, "How much material do you want to take this time?"

An Yinan spoke very straightforwardly, without any concealment. This was the reason she had increased her speed—it was precisely to take more materials.

"Can I take a bit more?"

Chen Shao was silent for a moment, then brought out ten magazines. Moreover, each magazine was very thick; the workload was double that of last time. News had also come from the City that the accuracy of the materials An Yinan had submitted last time was one hundred percent, so more materials could be issued. That was why there were ten thick magazines. Furthermore, if the accuracy rate exceeded ninety-five percent for three consecutive times, one would be qualified for the Advanced Translator assessment.

"There is a notice from the City. Your accuracy rate is one hundred percent. If you reach an accuracy rate of ninety-five percent for three consecutive times, you can be granted an exception to take the Advanced Translator assessment, but the translation materials will be relatively more difficult. You can choose." Chen Shao told An Yinan the notice directly. Although he wanted to move up in his position, he also respected An Yinan.

A young girl like this going down to the countryside, and someone who had been registered in the provincial records, was certainly not an ordinary person. He respected her choice.

"Alright, I will translate well. Just notify me when it's time for the Advanced Translator assessment." An Yinan smiled and nodded.

Chen Shao agreed. Currently, translators in the country were too scarce, especially Advanced Translators, and anyone who could achieve a one-hundred-percent accuracy rate was a talent the country urgently needed.

An Yinan threw the translation materials into her large basket; the main reason was that her backpack couldn't fit these ten thick magazines...

After putting them into the large basket, she used the blue cloth as cover to transfer the magazines into her space.

An Yinan and Chen Shao agreed to meet again at noon.

Only then did she check her watch. To make checking the time convenient, she had specifically found a watch without any distinctive branding; the style was very ancient and simple, which suited her identity.

At nine-thirty, An Yinan hurried to the State-run Restaurant. During this time slot, Liu Meijie would be on break, and she could hand over the square scarves—that was another sum of money.

After walking into the State-run Restaurant, she saw the lobby was empty, and the tables and chairs had already been neatly arranged.

Hearing footsteps, Liu Mei hurriedly opened the serving window to look outside. Sure enough, she saw the familiar figure, and she immediately stood up and walked out.

These past few days, she had been annoyed to death by her little sisters. Originally, everyone only wanted one square scarf, but after seeing her rose-patterned one, they immediately changed their minds; everyone wanted at least five. And when they heard Liu Mei say the goods were from Shanghai, they felt it was even more worth it.

"Little sister, you've finally come." Liu Mei was extremely enthusiastic. "You haven't had breakfast yet, right? Let's eat first. Since you're at your sister's place, you can't go hungry."

After she finished speaking, before An Yinan could even say a word, Liu Mei walked to the back kitchen.

In just five minutes, she brought out a large bowl of clear-broth wontons and two meat buns.

Where was the slowness of a State-run Restaurant? This speed could be called rocket-fast, right?

"Liu Meijie, this is too delicious. This time, I can't let you treat me. No matter what, I have to pay." An Yinan said while eating, looking like someone who had never seen the world...

Liu Mei laughed heartily. "Fine, you pay. I just had my Ershu prepare a big pot of braised pork. You pay for it in a moment, okay? I can't afford it."

An Yinan nodded hurriedly, eating without time to speak.

The meal was extremely satisfying. An Yinan rubbed her little belly, feeling caught between laughter and tears.

"Nan Nan, did you bring the square scarves?" Liu Mei had endured for a long time, but she couldn't hold back anymore. Her little sisters had been asking every day, and she herself was anxious too.

An Yinan looked around and raised an eyebrow.

"The kitchen helpers are all out on break now, and there's only my Ershu in the back kitchen. It's very safe." Liu Mei understood and immediately nodded.

An Yinan took a white bag out of her basket; inside this white bag were one hundred square scarves.

"Liu Meijie, these are one hundred pieces. You can check the quality and the patterns." All her square scarves were sewn by a sewing machine, so the stitches went without saying. Moreover, the edges of the small square scarves had straight lines and wavy lines, adding more variety to the patterns of the scarves.

Originally, she had wanted to wear a square scarf, but things hadn't been peaceful lately. Fearing she would be too high-profile, she hadn't worn one for promotion.

Liu Mei was full of joy. She took out all the square scarves and looked at them one by one. Every piece had a different pattern, but the quality of each was impeccable. She had never even seen that kind of fabric material in the County.