Chapter 39: Playing the Fool to Outsmart the Enemy

Xu Jiaojiao wasn’t paying attention to what Xie Zhi was saying. Her mind was preoccupied with recalling the plot of the book. If she remembered correctly, Qingcheng was set to host a business trade event in August, aiming to attract foreign investors.

Due to its large population and cheap labor, Qingcheng indeed managed to draw in a significant amount of foreign capital. Having grown up in the post-2000s era and witnessed the dark side of social welfare, Xu Jiaojiao had always longed to work in a foreign enterprise—she could hardly wait to get in.

Since there would be a large number of foreigners attending, translators would definitely be in high demand. As someone who had spent years studying diligently in her small town, her English skills were quite strong. She made up her mind to go out and try her luck.

Xie Zhi frowned at the girl, who was grinning foolishly to herself. He reached out and touched her forehead—no fever.

“Jiaojiao, what’s going on with you?”

She snapped back to reality, grabbed Xie Zhi’s face, and planted a heavy kiss on him. “I’m fine, hubby. Let’s go downstairs.”

On the way down, she planned to ask the front desk for more details. To leave a good impression, she even brought a few pieces of candy—sweets were still considered a luxury in Qingcheng, and people who had tasted too much bitterness in life naturally craved a bit of sweetness.

She glanced at Xie Zhi’s wristwatch—it was 4 PM. After gathering some information, she would head to the Western restaurant and try her luck there.

Releasing Xie Zhi’s arm, she walked up to the front desk with a bright smile. At the moment, there were no guests, and the two receptionists were chatting happily.

“Comrades, have some candy.”

The two tall and slim employees widened their eyes at the sight of the sweets. Though they politely declined, their gazes were glued to them.

“Oh, we couldn’t possibly accept! This is too generous.”

Xu Jiaojiao stuffed the candies into their hands, making sure each got a generous handful. “I just saw how beautiful you both are, working in such a respectable job, and I felt a little envious.”

Anyone would be pleased to hear such flattery from a pretty woman. One of them responded cheerfully, “Comrade Xu, you’re stunning yourself! Don’t worry about work—take your time.”

Leaning against the wall, Xie Zhi watched the entire exchange with a cold gaze, his emotions growing increasingly complex. Was Jiaojiao planning to find a job here? If so, would she still leave with him?

“I wanted to ask,” Xu Jiaojiao continued, “this hotel is mainly for foreigners, isn’t it? Why haven’t I seen any?”

One of the receptionists glanced around cautiously before lowering her voice. “Comrade Xu, there are indeed foreign guests, but they should be dining at the Western restaurant right now. They’ll check into the hotel later. Actually, they’re still looking for English translators.”

Xu Jiaojiao’s smile deepened. “That’s great news. I’ll be on my way then.”

“Alright!”

Having confirmed the information, she immediately grabbed Xie Zhi’s hand and left. Behind them, the receptionists exchanged excited whispers.

“Xiuzhi, Comrade Xu is so generous. I can’t even bear to buy milk candy for myself.”

“Yeah, but we’re not too bad ourselves.”

They shared a knowing smile.

Outside, Xu Jiaojiao scanned her surroundings. “Hubby, do you know where the Western restaurant is?”

Xie Zhi nodded, suppressing the urge to ask her what she was up to. He didn’t want to ruin their hard-won moment of peace, so he remained silent, his expression unreadable as they left.

The restaurant was close by, and after a ten-minute walk, they arrived.

Inside, the waiters were dressed just like in the modern era. However, as they stepped forward, a waiter quickly stopped them. “Comrades, the restaurant is full. We’re not accepting more guests.”

Xu Jiaojiao glanced inside through the glass window. The entire place was filled with blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners. Disappointed, she stepped aside and asked, “Comrade, I’m here to apply for the translator position. Could you help me find the person in charge?”

The waiter looked her up and down with doubt.

It wasn’t that he was being judgmental, but this young woman clearly looked like someone pampered by her family. In this era, educated intellectuals who spoke English had all suffered immensely.

Xu Jiaojiao was about to explain herself when a familiar voice interrupted her.

Wen Jing had spotted her through the window. Immediately, she strutted outside, standing tall on the steps as she sneered, “Oh, look who it is—Xu Jiaojiao.”

“You? Applying to be a translator? You’re just a peasant woman from the countryside. Can you even read?”

The golden rays of the setting sun illuminated Xu Jiaojiao’s face, making her look almost unreal in her beauty. She cast Wen Jing a sharp glance and said coldly, “Chairman Mao himself said that workers and farmers are one family. Why do you look down on country folk? Is that what your family taught you? Be careful, or I might report this to your superiors.”

“You—!”

Sensing the rising tension, Xie Zhi intervened, his voice firm. “Wen Jing, watch your words.”

“Brother Xie Zhi, I can understand you applying for the job, but why is she here?” Wen Jing scoffed.

Xie Zhi moved protectively in front of Xu Jiaojiao, shielding her from view. “Jiaojiao, if you wanted to apply as a translator, you should’ve just told me.”

He wasn’t wrong. His father had suggested that he help out as a translator the day he returned. Working for just a week could earn him 700 yuan. But since Jiaojiao had come all this way, he wanted to spend time with her instead.

Wen Jing grabbed Xu Jiaojiao’s wrist. “Wait a moment! I’ll call the person in charge. No need to trouble Brother Xie Zhi.”

She was feeling smug. Even if Xie Zhi had taught Xu Jiaojiao some English, mastering a foreign language without an immersive environment was practically impossible. And even if she could communicate, her pronunciation was probably terrible.

With that thought in mind, Wen Jing shot Xu Jiaojiao a triumphant look and walked inside. The waiter standing by sighed, shaking his head—it was truly a shame.

“Jiaojiao, are you okay?” Xie Zhi asked, worried.

She responded with a playful smile, hooking her little finger around his palm, sending a tingling warmth through his hand.

A middle-aged man soon arrived. Wen Jing smirked. “Uncle Hu, this woman wants to apply for the translator job. But I suggest you be careful—don’t just hire any random stray off the street.”

Xu Jiaojiao ignored her. Nothing was more satisfying than using her own abilities to slap these people in the face.

The man, Hu Yunsheng, had the demeanor of a cultured intellectual. He deliberately stepped down the stairs to avoid looking down on them. “Comrade, translating isn’t as simple as watching a few romance movies. Our requirements are quite strict.”

Xu Jiaojiao’s impression of him improved. With a polite smile, she replied, “Uncle Hu, I learned English from my husband and through the radio, but I’d like to give it a try.”

Only then did Hu Yunsheng notice Xie Zhi. His face lit up with surprise. “Xie Zhi! You got married? I watched you grow up—you had such a bright future ahead. Why rush into marriage?”

Xie Zhi stepped forward and shook his hand. “Uncle Hu, this is my wife. We were planning to visit you later, but we happened to run into you here.”

“If only you were applying, Xie Zhi! You’re exactly the kind of talent we need.”

“If Jiaojiao gets the job, I’ll come along too,” Xie Zhi said calmly. “I have to keep up with my wife.”

Hu Yunsheng sighed. “Alright, Jiaojiao, say a few sentences in English.”

With a graceful smile, Xu Jiaojiao confidently spoke in flawless English:

“Welcome to Qingcheng, a city rich in history and culture, with a large population and a thriving international business scene…”