CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 171: THE MORE YOU WORK, THE MORE YOU GAIN

Shen Qingqing, as a translator, received an allowance after completing her assignment.

Fifty yuan.

That’s considered quite generous.

This month’s salary will be disbursed by the school as usual. Combined, her total income has already exceeded one hundred yuan.

If she takes on a little more translation work, her income will be even higher. Before long, she’ll be able to pay off her debts.

She currently has no family or romantic relationships to maintain. After finishing her main job, she has spare time and energy, making it a good fit for part-time work.

Given the awkward relationship with the Zhou Family, Shen Qingqing didn’t plan to continue collaborating with her previous publisher.

Fortunately, Beijing is a large enough city with more than one cultural media agency. Switching to another place, she could still find work.

With this idea in mind, Shen Qingqing decided to make time to meet with the relevant decision-makers to discuss potential collaborations.

For now, the most important thing is to catch up on her classes.

Although the school arranged for substitute teachers, everyone has a different teaching style. She still needed to assess how her students had been learning during this period.

Shen Qingqing knew exactly what she was doing, and what her priorities should be.

While she was anxious to repay her debt, she wouldn’t put the cart before the horse or let it affect her main job.

Despite her young age, Shen Qingqing had developed a strong teaching methodology and was both serious and responsible.

Not only did students enjoy attending her classes,

but the results of the midterm exams also showed that her class performed the best.

In her first year of employment, Shen Qingqing had already garnered the school’s attention.

Knowing she was single and without a home, her superiors hinted to her that after one year of employment, they would automatically queue her up for the housing allocation process.

If everything went smoothly, she could be assigned a home within two or three years.

This was a big deal.

Shen Qingqing had initially planned to find an opportunity to clarify the housing application process.

Now that her superiors had assured her, Shen Qingqing was genuinely delighted.

Having her own home was incomparable to staying in a dormitory.

It gave a sense of belonging!

Working at Beijing University, Shen Qingqing had proven her capabilities. Before she even made any moves, units in urgent need of translation talent were already reaching out to her.

One such unit was Beijing’s largest newspaper agency, which needed translators to interpret foreign advancements in technology.

This included fields like computer science and aerospace.

If she wanted something less intense, she could write reviews on foreign films or books and so on.

As long as she was professional enough, there was plenty of work available.

As for the pay, it was directly proportional to the amount of work completed.

"Teacher Shen, your abilities are well-known to everyone. If we can collaborate with you, it’d be our honor."

Shen Qingqing thought for a moment. "I might not be able to take on any urgent tasks."

The newspaper official, who had come to discuss this with her, was understanding. "Don’t worry, Teacher Shen, we’ll adjust according to your schedule."

With that resolved, Shen Qingqing could set her worries aside. After discussing the details, the agreement was finalized.

With her abilities, earning two to three hundred a month wouldn’t be a problem.

Thinking of this, the weight on Shen Qingqing’s shoulders eased a little.

The feeling of being in debt was truly unpleasant!

Now that Shen Qingqing had a bit of money in her hands, she planned to wire a hundred yuan to Brother Zhixun once her salary came in.

But aside from his name and home address, she didn’t have any other information about him.

In the end, she could only send it to the family compound.

Madam Jiang hadn’t seen Shen Qingqing in a long time. Upon seeing her, she couldn’t help but nag, "You and Zhixun are both busy with work. He doesn’t take leave, and you don’t come home. The house feels so quiet and lifeless."

Shen Qingqing had indeed been very busy recently and simply couldn’t find the time to return to the family compound.

"Has Brother Zhixun returned from his mission yet?"

Madam Jiang shook her head. "Not a word. I can’t ask too many questions either. Did you see him recently? How is he?"

Shen Qingqing replied vaguely, "He’s doing well. At the meeting, his superiors even praised him."

Madam Jiang’s lips curved into a smile. "That rascal, work’s the only thing he’s good at. At least we don’t have to worry about that."

But then a look of concern appeared on her face.

Even though she trusted her son’s abilities, every time he went on a mission, Madam Jiang couldn’t help but worry.

She was always afraid he might get hurt.

Jiang Zhixun was an excellent pilot and her pride.

But as a mother, she wished even more for her child to be safe and healthy.

Shen Qingqing comforted her, "Brother Zhixun isn’t a rookie anymore. He’s been in the military for so many years, he’ll definitely complete the mission successfully and come back to see you."

When Madam Jiang was alone, she liked to let her thoughts wander.

Now, having Shen Qingqing as company, her mood improved significantly.

"Enough about him. Talking about it doesn’t help."

As a soldier, he had to serve the people and follow organizational orders.

No matter how much she worried, beyond waiting for news at home, there was nothing Madam Jiang could do.

Shen Qingqing came to repay her debt but didn’t forget to bring some supplements for the elders.

Two each of apples, eggs, canned luncheon meat, and canned fish.

Though it wasn’t much, it was a token of her appreciation.

Seeing this, Madam Jiang couldn’t help but say, "This is too expensive. There’s no need to buy things for us in the future."

Luncheon meat and canned fish were considered high-end foods.

Madam Jiang had tried them before and found them quite tasty.

But being frugal by nature, she rarely spent extravagantly on food.

How young people spent their money was their business.

But when it came to themselves, Madam Jiang always felt it was wasteful.

"Just come back and see us more often. No need to buy all this."

Shen Qingqing nodded in agreement. "It’s not much. Just a little taste."

Although her debts weren’t fully paid off, Shen Qingqing would never skimp on the amount she repaid each month.

With the remaining money, she wanted to spend it the way she saw fit. After all, there was no point in working hard if she couldn’t enjoy life a little.

Every time she visited the family compound, Madam Jiang always prepared delicious food for her and even sent items to her school.

Spending money on elders was something Shen Qingqing did willingly.

She handed the envelope of money to Madam Jiang. "Please hold this for him. Once he comes back home, you can give it to Brother Zhixun for me."

"You child, why are you so stubborn?"

This wasn’t stubbornness.

As an adult, she couldn’t bear the thought of spending someone else’s money without repaying.

Shen Qingqing smiled and said, "If I ever need urgent help, I’ll come back and borrow from you again."

Knowing her personality, Madam Jiang understood perfectly well that Shen Qingqing wouldn’t take the money back.

She sighed. "Alright then, I’ll hold it for you."

As for whether Shen Qingqing would ever return to borrow money again, Madam Jiang wasn’t so sure.

Back when she and Zhixun hadn’t divorced yet, Qingqing never spent a penny of his allowances.

During her four years abroad, she only used Zhixun’s money because she must have been in some kind of trouble.

Now that she was back in the country and had a stable job, unless it was a dire emergency, Madam Jiang believed Shen Qingqing wouldn’t ask them for money again.

Putting the money into the drawer, she said, "Your grandfather caught two big fish a few days ago. He’s keeping them in the basin. The old man said he’s saving them for when you’re both home. Today, we’ll cook one and save the other for Zhixun. What flavor do you want to eat? I’ll go make it now."

Knowing her grandfather’s personality, he was probably saving it to "show off" to them, acting just like a child.

Shen Qingqing could already imagine the proud look on the old man’s face.

Keeping her grandfather’s preferences in mind, Shen Qingqing immediately said, "Braised fish."

"Alright, I love that too."

Madam Jiang began cleaning the fish, and Shen Qingqing, not wanting to sit idly by waiting for the meal, stepped in to help.

Recently, a lot had happened in the family compound, and Madam Jiang shared the updates with Shen Qingqing.

"Yang Fen is getting married. Her fiancé is the same one your grandfather met earlier."

Shen Qingqing was aware that Yang Fen had traveled to the Northwest for Jiang Zhixun.

Now that she was finally getting married, did it mean that, even without her presence, Jiang Zhixun had never given Yang Fen hope?

"That’s good. I hope she can lead a happy life."

Madam Jiang nodded. "I’m glad too. After she gets married, she should stop causing harm to Zhixun."

Madam Jiang felt it was her son’s charm that made him appealing to female comrades.

She had never interfered in these matters.

But the fact that Yang Fen had once been willing to file a report showed she wasn’t a good person at heart.

It was better to stay away.

She warned Shen Qingqing, "If you ever run into her, stay as far away as possible!"