301: Discussing Right and Wrong Behind One's Back

Yan Yi smiled, "Sure."

At the Jin residence,

Jin Yan was picking vegetables in the kitchen. Upon hearing a knock on the door, she poked her head out from the room and called, "Old man, someone's at the door, hurry up and open it!"

"Don't shout, I'm not deaf." Jin Shujing put down the newspaper in his hand, leaning on his cane as he went to open the door.

"Grandpa Jin, you're at home!" Yan Yi saw Grandpa Jin opening the door and handed the items to Zhou Ningkai, supporting him as they walked into the house. "I thought only Grandma Jin was home, so I came to see her, afraid she might feel lonely. I didn't expect you to be home."

"Yes, I'm at home. Rarely have a few leisurely days!" Jin Shujing said with a smile, "Among Yan's daughters, you're the most sensible! Even when you're free, you remember to come and see your Grandma Jin."

"I used to play with Jin Chen since I was little! Whenever I'm free, I'm always eating and drinking here. Now that I'm grown up, how can I forget you two!" Yan Yi's witty mouth made Grandpa Jin happy.

"That kid from the Zhou family." Jin Shujing pointed at Zhou Ningkai, who had been silent all along. "I heard you broke your bones, how are you now? Are you better?"

"Grandpa Jin." Zhou Ningkai appeared somewhat reserved. His different background from others made him feel that he was not quite the same, especially when facing the Jin family. "I'm fine now, you don't need to worry about me!"

"That's good. Why did you come today?"

"I haven't been here for a long time, just to see you and Jin Chen." Zhou Ningkai casually said two lies. After all, he rarely came here, and today he was just going to stay with Yan Yi for a while.

"Chen Chen is busy."

"Yes. I haven't seen him for a long time." Zhou Ningkai sighed, "Doctors are really not easy! It seems that people who are too outstanding bear more responsibilities and pressures than ordinary people."

"Who said no?" Yan Yi liked to hear people praise Jin Chen. When Zhou Ningkai praised him like this, she smiled sweetly at Zhou Ningkai.

Zhou Ningkai rarely saw Yan Yi smiling at him like this, and suddenly felt numb in his heart.

Jin Yan heard the movement in the living room and hurried out, holding a basin of leeks. She planned to make dumplings tonight. When she saw Yan Yi and Zhou Ningkai coming, she persuaded them to stay for dinner.

Both Yan and Zhou had their own thoughts, so they readily agreed.

"Oh, I forgot to say, these snacks were bought by Yan Yi to show respect to Grandpa Jin and Grandma Jin." Zhou Ningkai took the opportunity to put the gift on the table. "I came in a hurry and didn't buy anything else. I'm really sorry..."

"Oh, you've come, just come! Why buy gifts!" Jin Yan reminded a few more times, "You can't always buy things, how much money do you earn in a month? Look at what you bought, it's all expensive."

"It's okay." Yan Yi said proudly, "I've taken on a job. Tomorrow, I'm going to work as a translator for someone. Yes, I'm going to Tractor Distribution Factory! There are foreign guests coming to visit, and I'll be accompanying them throughout! They're paying three hundred a day! So, this is nothing!"

"Oh, that's really good. You're so capable." Jin Yan praised.

"You're going to our factory?" Zhou Ningkai, hearing this, became excited. "Just in time, I'll be accompanying them tomorrow to introduce our factory's production technology. We can work together!"

"Yes." Yan Yi suddenly remembered something, "Is Jin Chen's girlfriend also working in that factory? I remember she's doing some publicity?"

"Her?" Zhou Ningkai's face immediately darkened, thinking of the harm caused by Su Hanyan, he felt very uncomfortable, "Yes, that's right. She also works in the factory!"

"What's wrong? Why do you have such an expression?" Yan Yi saw his expression and felt that he seemed not to like Su Hanyan very much, so she asked a few more questions, "Do you know her?"

"More than just knowing her." Zhou Ningkai gritted his teeth, "Since we've come to this point, let me say a few more words. I really can't understand why Jin Chen, who has a good family background, talent, and outstanding appearance, would be attracted to such a vulgar woman! Her reputation in the factory is bad, and her family background is extremely complicated, in short, it's very bad."

[be careful of cars and clouds when you go out~]

302: Skepticism

Seeing his expression and hearing his words, Jin Shujing and his wife glanced at each other, their faces showing a puzzled look.

Yan Yi was also stunned. "Are you talking about the Su Hanyan we know?"

"Who else could it be if not her?" Zhou Ningkai said loudly.

Yan Yi smiled cautiously. "I feel like the Su Hanyan you know might not be the same person we know..."

"You've been deceived by her. You don't know her true face because you haven't spent much time with her! I work in the same factory as her, so naturally I know more about things," Zhou Ningkai asserted.

"Ningkai, you can't say things like that casually." Yan Yi reminded him again, "Now she's Jin Chen's girlfriend, and... you're also in front of Grandpa Jin and Grandma Jin..."

"This isn't gossip," Zhou Ningkai insisted.

In matters concerning their grandson's lifelong relationship, Jin Shujing naturally remained cautious and careful. They knew very little about Su Hanyan, limited to just a few brief encounters.

"Since that's the case, go ahead and tell us," Jin Shujing wanted to know more about the situation.

"Okay." Zhou Ningkai proceeded to recount the factory gossip and rumors he had heard from Lin Zhiqiu, "I heard that Su Hanyan wasn't very well-known before. I met her during a New Year's Eve party. At that time, she saved a scene and sang an English song with great charm, which made her famous in the factory ever since.

She doesn't get along well with many people in the factory and often triggers various conflicts. The most serious incident was when rumors spread that she was having an affair with the factory director. At that time, the director's wife even caused a scene at the factory. It was eventually clarified that she was there to tutor the director's child in English. However, whether this is true or not, there's no way to verify."

"Is that so?" Yan Yi found it incredible. She squinted her eyes and casually interjected, "Isn't she a female worker? How can she speak English and tutor someone?"

"I heard she has a technical school education. However, she really can sing English songs..." Zhou Ningkai said.

"Singing English songs doesn't mean she knows English!" Yan Yi said, "There are foreigners who can sing Chinese songs after practicing one repeatedly!"

"So, I also doubt the truth of that matter. But, in the end, it was settled!"

"Then... she's quite capable!"

"That's right."

"You continue." Yan Yi interrupted a few more times, letting Zhou Ningkai continue. She also wanted to hear more about any shady background Su Hanyan might have.

"She became famous in the factory overnight because of that incident. Due to that, the factory director fired three people in one go! All of them were related to her and clashed with her."

"Ningkai, ah," Jin Yan felt uncomfortable listening, "Your factory director's son is already so grown up, are you saying Yan Yan had an affair with him?"

"It's said so." Zhou Ningkai didn't dare to be certain, just vaguely said so, leaving room to blame it on "it's said".

[jin chen would love to break your bones, mend them, and rebreak them again]

"What's her purpose then?" Jin Yan asked again.

"Grandma Jin, you hit the nail on the head." Zhou Ningkai took the opportunity to talk about Su Hanyan's chaotic family background, "She has four siblings in her family. Two brothers and one sister are already married, but she's still single. Although they're all workers, they don't live very well."

303: Heavy Thoughts

"Would she really go through all this trouble with a married factory director? After all, she's still young. I've seen that girl, she's actually quite kind..." Jin Yan didn't want to believe it. Her impression of Su Hanyan had always been good.

"Grandma Jin, let me tell you. You probably don't know this, right? She's been living outside all this time, never going home, why? Because she's fallen out with her family! With so many people in her family, she doesn't get along with her two brothers and isn't close to her sister, so as an unmarried girl, she lives outside! She lives in the single dorms at the factory, but she only goes back very late every night... Don't you think there's something wrong with that?" Zhou Ningkai spoke earnestly.

"That does seem unusual," Yan Yi murmured to herself, "It's understandable to have friction with one relative, but with so many, that's unacceptable."

"Exactly." Zhou Ningkai continued, "There's something you may not be aware of, but it's widely known in the factory. According to Su Hanyan's qualifications, she shouldn't have been eligible for a house this year. But guess what? She got one this year! A staff member who's been at the factory for five years got a house, while those who've been there for over ten years didn't! Naturally, there are people in the factory who are resentful..."

"This does seem rather odd." Jin Shujing, who had been silent, spoke up, "In the factory, seniority and qualifications are highly valued. If that's the case, there does seem to be a problem here."

"Think about it... how could an ordinary department employee like her get a house in such a short time?" Zhou Ningkai questioned.

"Ningkai, you can't speak so irresponsibly!" Jin Yan sensed his implications and cautioned him again to be careful with his words.

"I'm not speaking irresponsibly. Grandma Jin, how long have you known Jin Chen and me? We're friends! And I won't hide it from you, I did like her for a while before. But later, after hearing about all these messy things, I decisively decided it couldn't continue. Her family is really chaotic, beyond your imagination! This kind of family is really not something to get involved with, whoever gets involved will be in trouble."

After Zhou Ningkai finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the living room.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, he continued, "I'm doing this for Jin Chen's own good. Grandpa Jin, a person's character is paramount. I'm worried that Jin Chen might be deceived by her appearance..."

"I understand." Jin Shujing nodded, "Alright, Grandma and I understand! Thank you! Let's not talk about this anymore. We'll make dumplings tonight. Both of you help Grandma Jin make dumplings."

"Okay."

Jin Shujing went upstairs with heavy thoughts. He went to the study and called Jin Chen's residence.

Due to his busy schedule, if Jin Chen finished surgery late at night, he would stay in the hospital's family building where he owned a flat.

The phone rang for a long time without anyone picking up. Jin Shujing guessed that he was busy in the operating room.

He decided to put this matter aside for now and wait until Jin Chen wasn't busy.

That night, the elderly couple lay in bed, but Jin Shujing couldn't sleep well, tossing and turning.

"Wife, do you think... what kind of person is this Yan Yan really? Could our Chen Chen have misjudged her? After all, this boy is busy with work all day, no time for love, could he just see this girl looking good, gentle in appearance, and then fall for her... Actually, he doesn't really understand her?" Jin Shujing expressed his worries.

Jin Yan was almost falling asleep, but she heard her old man say this and turned over to face him, "You just don't think too much. When Chen Chen comes back, just ask him."

304: Extra Caution

"No, I can't." Jin Shujing threw off the covers and was about to get out of bed. "I have to call Jin Chen."

"Wait a minute." Jin Yan opened her eyes and grabbed Jin Shujing's wrist. "Do you know what time it is? You can't sleep, but what about Chen Chen? He has so many surgeries every day and he's exhausted. If he doesn't rest well at night, what if his old health issues flare up?"

Jin Shujing lay back down. "I'm just worried about him. What if... what if he ends up like his disappointing uncle, marrying that kind of woman? How will Chen Chen manage?"

"Don't worry. Chen Chen has better judgment than his uncle. Yan Yan isn't a bad girl." Jin Yan still believed in Su Hanyan's kindness. She remembered how Su Hanyan had helped her on a cold, deserted street without expecting anything in return.

"That's not necessarily true..."

"Why wouldn't it be? If you're really worried, spend more time with her when you get the chance! It's okay for Jin Chen to postpone marriage a bit. But for now, stop worrying and get some sleep."

"Alright." Jin Shujing nodded, thinking it would be best to arrange a meeting with both families.

Jin Chen was special to him, the one he liked the most among all the grandchildren. His marriage needed to be handled with the utmost care.

...

The next day.

Foreign guests were coming to visit the factory.

The factory held a grand welcome ceremony. When the foreign guests got out of the car, workers lined the entrance, warmly applauding.

The purpose of the foreign delegation's visit was mainly to tour and exchange ideas. The day before their arrival, leaders from the city's labor union came to the factory to arrange the reception schedule and confirm the tour route.

The visiting delegation was accompanied by a leader from the city's labor union and an interpreter from the international department of the national labor union, consisting of about five people.

At the same time, journalists and photographers from well-known newspapers also came to cover the visit.

The factory's director, along with the union president and other leaders, first invited the foreign guests to the factory's conference room for tea.

The conference room was large. Su Hanyan and Lin Qingyu, along with a few union staff members, were there to serve them, bringing water and making tea.

Due to a health issue with the international department's interpreter, Yan Yi, who had studied abroad, was temporarily recruited from the Foreign Languages Institute to serve as the interpreter.

So when Su Hanyan poured tea for her, the two inevitably encountered each other.

Yan Yi was dressed elegantly and professionally, with a refined makeup look, exuding the aura of a returning elite, while Su Hanyan wore the factory's work uniform.

When their eyes met, Yan Yi quickly scanned her from head to toe, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"Hello, Su Hanyan!"

"Hello, Yan Yi."

"So this is what your job is like!" Yan Yi said with a slight smile. "I wonder if Jin Chen has ever seen you at work!"

Su Hanyan knew she probably looked quite plain right now, but she didn't mind. Her role was that of a worker, and she was following factory regulations, wearing a uniform to receive foreign guests. As long as she looked clean and neat, adhering to etiquette standards, it was fine.

"That's not your concern." Su Hanyan smiled back. "Your job is to interpret, so just focus on your own responsibilities."

Su Hanyan returned to her position, standing straight with a pleasant smile on her face.

305: Anxious as Fire

The formal talks began with introductions from both sides, followed by the union chairman's presentation on the factory's production operations and union activities.

At the same time, the foreign delegation also introduced some activities of their domestic union.

Yan Yi served as the translator for both sides, conveying the main points smoothly at first, as they were mostly common phrases. However, when they began using specialized technical terms, she started to stumble slightly.

It was true that Yan Yi had studied abroad, but she wasn't a professional translator. Typically, translators would need to familiarize themselves in advance with the content they were translating, especially when it involved technical knowledge, which required thorough preparation.

Whether Yan Yi wasn't fully aware of this or was too confident, or perhaps it was due to being thrust into the role at the last minute without preparation, the fact remained that she didn't fully understand the specialized terminology and couldn't provide precise translations.

Seeing the confusion on the faces of the foreign delegation and sensing the unease among our own staff, Yan Yi's translation was interrupted.

"What's wrong? Is the other side dissatisfied with us? Or...?" Zhang Hong asked.

Yan Yi felt a little overwhelmed but still said, "It's okay, there's no problem."

She decided to skip translating some of the more difficult terms that didn't affect the overall meaning and essence.

Perhaps this approach would work better.

When Yan Yi resumed translating, leaving out those words indeed made her translation smoother. However, she failed to describe the factory's distinctive products and processes in detail, only giving a general overview.

When the factory leaders emphasized a particular product, Yan Yi completely faltered. Despite several attempts, she couldn't accurately express it in precise terms.

Feeling embarrassed under so many scrutinizing eyes, she coughed a few times to ease the tense atmosphere and conceal her inner panic.

The others present didn't understand English well, so they genuinely believed Yan Yi had a sore throat and thus halted the translation.

"Comrade translator, is your throat okay? Maybe you should drink some water to soothe it before continuing," Zhang Hong said, calling Su Hanyan over to pour water for Yan Yi.

"Don't worry, it's okay. Just have some water and take your time," reassured the members of the foreign delegation, offering her water.

Yan Yi maintained a composed smile on her face, but inside, she felt like she was burning up with anxiety. She was desperate and didn't know how to handle the situation.

General English, technical English, and business English were all different. While she had a solid grasp of financial vocabulary from her studies, her knowledge of specialized English terms related to chemical machinery was virtually nonexistent.

She was truly at a loss. In the heat of May, sweat drenched her back.

Su Hanyan had been listening to the translation and had already discerned the issue.

Seeing sweat beads forming on Yan Yi's forehead, Su Hanyan smiled and, after filling the glass with water, spoke up directly, "Director Zhang, it seems like our translator isn't feeling well. How about I take over for her?"

"Are you capable?" Director Zhang knew Su Hanyan's capabilities, but translating as an English teacher and a professional translator were quite different.

This was an important matter for the factory, so it was important to confirm.

Being cautious was never wrong.

"I am capable," Su Hanyan affirmed confidently. "She seems to be struggling, so why not let me take over? I'm an employee of our factory, familiar with our products, sales, and the operational policies and philosophies of our factory!"