Chapter 11 A good seedling with excellent bones and muscles

“You—you—you, you already finished translating it?” the supervisor stammered.
How long had it been? Ten, maybe twenty minutes at most?
And she already translated the whole thing?

What’s more, she didn’t even seem to have used a dictionary! Yes, definitely not. Looking up words takes time—there was no way she could’ve done it this fast if she had.

“You didn’t just make stuff up, did you?” The supervisor frowned, suspecting that she had simply filled in gibberish.

He immediately took her translation and compared it line by line with the reference version they already had.

As he read, the supervisor felt a strange mix of sorrow and joy.

The sorrow was: she had truly finished translating over a thousand words of foreign material in just ten-odd minutes.

The joy was: she hadn’t faked it. She genuinely knew how to translate.

In fact, her translation had about 98% similarity with the reference translation. The remaining 2% of differences weren’t mistakes either—they were just stylistic variations.

“Mm~ not bad, not bad at all. Your translation skills are impressive!”

The wrinkles on the supervisor’s face deepened even more, and his eyes lit up as he looked at Song Youyou.

“Comrade Song Youyou, I really didn’t expect you to be hiding such talent all this time!”

He was beaming as he said, “I still need to submit your test translation for official review. Once it’s approved, you’ll formally become one of our translators. But judging by this result, I don’t think there’ll be any issues.”

Song Youyou nodded calmly, not the least bit surprised.
“Okay. Thank you, Supervisor.”

“No, no—thank you!” The supervisor grinned from ear to ear.

He went on to explain:
“Our translators are divided into three ranks—junior, intermediate, and senior. Everyone starts at the junior level. But once you’ve translated a certain amount, we evaluate your accuracy rate and decide whether to promote you.”

“Got it,” Song Youyou replied with a slight nod.

She already knew all of this from her previous life. In fact, she was also aware of a hidden rule the supervisor hadn’t mentioned:

Once a translator reached the senior level, they’d be evaluated again. If they performed exceptionally well, they could be promoted to the status of a special translator—tasked with translating confidential documents for the state or serving as a diplomatic interpreter in international affairs.

In her last life, she had just been promoted to special translator status when she died.

The supervisor was even more pleased by her composed and humble demeanor.

He continued, “As for the payment rates—junior level gets 3 yuan per 1,000 characters, intermediate is 5 yuan per 1,000, and senior is 10 yuan per 1,000.”

After saying this, he looked at her with great anticipation, hoping to see her eyes light up with excitement.

After all, in this era, one egg cost just 5 cents. With 3 yuan, you could buy 60 eggs!

A regular Xinhua Bookstore clerk made 28 yuan a month. If she translated several thousand characters a day, she could earn as much as a full-time employee’s monthly salary!

The more he did the math, the brighter his eyes glowed.

But when he turned his hopeful gaze to Song Youyou, he found her expression completely calm—unfazed.

“Okay.” Song Youyou noticed the supervisor getting a bit too excited and nodded politely.

The supervisor: “…”

Truly, a person who could earn in a day what others made in a month—no wonder she was different.

He smiled and shook his head, then said, “Comrade Song Youyou, why don’t you wait here a moment? I’ll take your translation to the reviewer right away.”

Song Youyou gave a quiet “Mm” and asked,
“Supervisor, while I’m waiting, could I take another foreign journal to translate? I don’t want to waste time.”

In truth, she didn’t know how long the review would take. She just didn’t want to be idle—simply put, she needed money.

“Of course you can!”

The supervisor walked over to a stack of thick materials and generously pulled out several foreign-language journals for her.

“If you want to take them home to translate, there’s a deposit of 10 yuan per issue. But if you translate them here, no deposit is needed.”

“Okay. I’ll go to the reading room to start this one.”

Nowadays, every Xinhua Bookstore had a designated reading room with desks and chairs, where people could read or study.

But most people were too busy with work to visit, so it was usually empty.

Since it was still early morning, when Song Youyou arrived at the reading room, she was the only one there—her presence stood out.

Just then, Song Baozhu had finished arranging some books and was walking past the room when she spotted Song Youyou’s unmistakable figure inside.

Oh really?
You ignore the path to heaven, and instead barge through the gates of hell?

Remembering how coldly He Wenqing had treated her last night after seeing Song Youyou, Song Baozhu’s rage flared up again.

Her footsteps quickened as she stomped into the room, fully prepared to cause trouble.

At that moment, Song Youyou was completely absorbed in her translation work, entirely unaware that malice was headed her way.

Meanwhile, the supervisor had arrived at the general manager’s office with her test paper.

Knock knock knock—

“What are you knocking for? Just come in!”

Inside, Manager Lin scratched the few remaining strands of hair on his balding head, his tone clearly annoyed.

The Xinhua Bookstore was a state-owned cultural unit, and as its general manager, Lin was considered a bureau-level official.

Yet despite his status, not only was he swamped with administrative duties, but due to his background in foreign languages, he was also forced to help translate the endless mountain of foreign materials.

So when a subordinate showed up—not to lighten his load but to ask for something—how could his tone possibly be pleasant?

“Manager Lin, I’m here to submit a translation test for review.”

“A translation test?”

Manager Lin finally looked up, pausing his hair-pulling.

“You should’ve said so earlier!”

“Hurry, let me see it!”

Say it earlier? You yelled at me the moment I walked in, how was I supposed to say anything?

The supervisor suffered bitterly in silence, not daring to say a word.

“Here, this one.”

He quickly handed over the documents.

Manager Lin took them and began reading.

The more he read, the brighter his single-lidded eyes became.

“Good! Very, very good! The word choices in this translation are refined, and the accuracy is extremely high. In fact, in the places where it differs from the reference translation, I think hers is actually better!”

“Which university foreign language professor came looking for freelance work? We must hold on to this person!”

For once, the general manager’s poker face cracked into a broad smile.

“Manager, she’s not a university professor… she’s just a high school graduate… a young girl…”

“What? A translator this skilled is just a young girl?”

After a moment of shock, the general manager was overwhelmed with barely contained excitement—the kind of joy an old academic might feel upon discovering a promising prodigy.

“Quick! Take me to meet this talent! Hahaha!”

—

And that “talent” Song Youyou was, at that very moment, being picked on.

“Who gave you permission to be in here?!”

“Aren’t those the foreign language materials from the supervisor’s office?”

Song Baozhu was first surprised, then thrilled—like a predator finding prey.

“Well, well, Song Youyou! So you actually stole the supervisor’s foreign documents!”

She had seen those exact materials in the supervisor’s office before. He treated them like treasure and was always telling the staff not to touch them.

Song Youyou raised an eyebrow and gave her a look like she was mentally challenged.

What nonsense was this woman spouting?
Did she think she was stupid enough to steal documents and then sit in public translating them, just waiting to be caught?
What kind of brain works like that??

Seeing her silent, Song Baozhu assumed she’d hit the mark, and grew even more gleeful.

“Caught you red-handed, Song Youyou! You’re a thief!”

“Song Baozhu! What are you barking about?”

A sharp voice suddenly interrupted.

A graceful figure stepped between them, shielding Song Youyou.

“You’re barking like a stray dog—have you got a death wish?”

“Who’s barking?! You city people are so rude, Wen Xiaorou!”

“Oh yes, yes—I’m rude, being a city girl. But you, a country bumpkin, you’re the noble one. Stealing someone’s job, someone’s fiancé, even someone’s parents—how virtuous of you.”

Wen Xiaorou had always had a sharp tongue that could make people faint with rage.

Sure enough, Song Baozhu was fuming, her chest rising and falling in anger.

“Hmph, you almost made me forget the main issue.”

She glared venomously at Wen Xiaorou.

She knew Wen Xiaorou had been Song Youyou’s close friend for years. They’d studied together and even gotten jobs at the same place.

During the time Song Baozhu had taken over Youyou’s position, she’d had more than a few verbal battles with Wen Xiaorou.

Hmph, sooner or later, she’d deal with both of them!

Smirking smugly, she taunted, “Wen Xiaorou, your clever mouth won’t help you today. Song Youyou’s in serious trouble!”

“Oh? What kind of trouble? Did her foster parents finally stop being blind? Or did her fiancé regain his senses?”

Wen Xiaorou shot back without missing a beat, firmly standing in front of Song Youyou with hands on her hips.

She knew her friend had a gentle nature and wasn’t good at arguing.
Luckily, she had been born with a talent for verbal combat—and no one could do it better.

“You—!” Song Baozhu choked with rage.

“Hmph! Wen Xiaorou, clearly you don’t know yet. Song Youyou stole foreign language materials from the supervisor’s office! You know how important those are—he never lets any of us touch them! I caught her red-handed! She’s finished!”

What? Foreign language materials?

At that, Wen Xiaorou’s heart gave a jolt.

Sure, Song Baozhu’s mouth was foul, but if those were official documents, this could actually be serious.

Still, she didn’t let it show on her face.

“Youyou’s been a bookworm since we were kids. She probably just thought it was reading material—she didn’t know it was restricted.”

Reading material? Pulling out confidential files to read casually in public? That was outrageous—shameless!

Song Baozhu looked like she was about to explode. Wen Xiaorou turning black into white was infuriating.

“Youyou, don’t worry. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Wen Xiaorou even turned around to comfort her.

“Xiaorou…”

Looking at her friend standing in front of her like a protective mother hen, Song Youyou’s eyes nearly welled up with tears.

“Don’t cry, don’t be scared. I’m here for you.”

Seeing her red eyes, Wen Xiaorou thought she was frightened and tried to soothe her.

“No—I’m not scared. I’m happy,” Song Youyou said, shaking her head.

She had finally seen Xiaorou again.

In her past life, after being sent to the countryside, the only one who constantly worried about her and mailed her supplies was this best friend, Wen Xiaorou.

They’d gone to school together, and even worked at the same Xinhua Bookstore after graduation. Their bond was inseparable.

But when she finally got into university and returned to the capital, Wen Xiaorou was already gone. She didn’t even get to say goodbye.

“Xiaorou, I missed you so much.”

Song Youyou tugged gently at her friend’s sleeve, her voice choked with emotion.

“There, there. It’s only been a few days since we last saw each other, but I’ve missed you too,” Wen Xiaorou said soothingly, assuming her friend was just scared by the accusations.

Then she turned back to glare at Song Baozhu.

“Hey, Song Baozhu, I’m not in the mood to argue with you today. Stop stirring up trouble. Let me return these documents to the supervisor and I’ll agree to swap positions with you.”

“You’ve always complained that my post is easy and you hate shelf duty, right? Fine, we’ll switch.”

Hearing this, Song Baozhu’s face lit up briefly with glee.

But after a moment’s thought, she shook her head and declined.

Getting revenge on Song Youyou was more important.

“Tsk tsk tsk, Wen Xiaorou—never thought I’d see the day you lowered yourself to beg me.”

She turned smugly to Song Youyou and sneered, “No one can save you today! You stole official materials—you’re going to the top for this. Off to jail you go!”

In her excitement, she lunged and snatched the journal off the desk.

But she pulled too hard, and with a loud rip, several pages tore right off the journal.

And at that exact moment, the supervisor arrived with the general manager—both beaming with anticipation—only to witness this scene unfolding.