How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 216 - 218: Earning Manuscript Fees_1

Li Qiao felt embarrassed. Having a ready tutor available for free was an opportunity not to be missed, yet there weren’t enough hours in the day.

Ma Hongxiang had asked Li Qiao to study with her at the library in the afternoon, but Li Qiao declined, citing other commitments, "I have other things to do, maybe next time." She had already prepared her translation materials and was busy contacting publishing houses to earn translation fees.

Earning fifty yuan a month, plus her stipend, would certainly constitute a handsome salary.

The thought filled her with satisfaction.

...

After the morning classes ended, Li Qiao, with her materials ready, headed to the Beijing Publishing House.

The lobby served as the office space. She approached a young woman sitting by the door, "Excuse me, are you in need of an English translator here?"

"We don’t publish books that require English translation."

Li Qiao, who had arrived full of confidence, felt greatly disappointed upon hearing this. If they didn’t accept her, wouldn’t all her effort be for nothing? She patiently asked, "What languages do you publish books in?"

"Do you understand Russian? How about Korean?" the young woman asked, sounding quite impatient.

Li Qiao pursed her lips, she indeed did not understand those languages.

After thanking the woman, she left to hasten to the next publisher.

Called the Beijing Library Publishing House.

This time, a woman in her forties greeted her. Her surname was Wei, and she was the editor-in-chief of the publishing house.

She had a neat bob haircut, wore heavy glasses, and her expression was stern.

Li Qiao handed over the materials she had translated in advance.

Editor Wei skimmed through them, not even getting into the content. The handwriting alone was pleasing to the eye.

She read carefully and silently.

Faithful to the original text, including techniques, content, and emotion.

However, she had made appropriate additions and subtractions, freeing the translation from any stiltedness. It was a very good translation.

She nodded in satisfaction, "This section is very well translated. I have a piece here; can you translate it on the spot?"

Li Qiao’s eyes lit up. There was hope. "Of course, I can!"

Editor Wei took out a piece of writing from her drawer.

Li Qiao received it and after carefully browsing and pondering over the choice of words, translated it on the spot.

The sentences were natural, fitting, accurate, and fluent.

Editor Wei decided to hire her on the spot, "How about three yuan and fifty cents per thousand characters?"

Li Qiao silently estimated, thirty-five yuan for ten thousand characters seemed quite good. "Do punctuation marks count?" If not, it seemed a bit of a loss.

"They count," Director Wei said briskly.

Li Qiao agreed.

Director Wei immediately drafted a contract, printed and copied it, then handed it to Li Qiao, "Two copies here, please check, and if there’s no issue, sign your name."

Li Qiao reviewed the contract; the submission deadline was strict, and the translation fees were to be settled by the 10th of the following month.

After confirming the contract was in order, she signed it.

Director Wei stamped it with the publishing house’s seal and gave Li Qiao a short manuscript, "Remember to come and hand it in next Sunday."

"Sure thing," Li Qiao agreed with a fulfilled spirit. On her way home, after passing by a shopping mall with the thirty yuan she had received in the morning for her translation fees, she bought Qin Jin a scarf, two sweaters, one made of wool, lightweight and super soft but comparatively expensive, costing twelve yuan and sixty cents.

The other was a cotton blend, much cheaper.

It was only three yuan and ninety cents.

After paying, she walked out.

Opposite the shopping mall was an old pharmacy with quite a few people lined up outside.

Out of curiosity, Li Qiao inquired and learned that the old pharmacy’s frostbite cream was renowned for its effectiveness.

With winter approaching, people were queuing up to buy frostbite cream in preparation.

Thinking of her grandmother’s hands, which always turned blue and purple in winter, sometimes even swelling and reddening, she followed the queue and bought a tube of frostbite cream to take home.

...

In the Qin family’s courtyard.

Old Mrs. Qin was chatting leisurely with Jiang Wanqiu.

Sitting beside Jiang Wanqiu was a girl of delicate appearance.

"Is Qiaoqiao back? What are you carrying in those big and small packages?" Old Mrs. Qin asked.

Li Qiao replied obediently, "Sweaters. Jin’s two sweaters have gotten a bit stiff; I reckon they’re not warm anymore, so I bought him two new ones and also a scarf." After finishing, she greeted Jiang Wanqiu, "Madam Xue is well, I hope? And hello to you, miss."

The delicate girl smiled shyly, "Hello."

Jiang Wanqiu said, "What miss? You should call her little auntie-mother."

Li Qiao was confused, "Ah?" Little auntie-mother? Oh, she got it—it was Professor Xue’s girlfriend.

Since Professor Xue called Madam Xue ’aunt,’ by seniority, she should call him ’little uncle.’

She immediately corrected herself, "Hello, little auntie-mother."

The girl laughed bashfully, "The date hasn’t even been set. My name is Fan Feifei, I’m twenty-one this year. How old are you? If you’re younger, just calling me Feifei is fine."

Jiang Wanqiu said, "It’s a matter of sooner or later."

Old Mrs. Qin thought to herself, weren’t you quite satisfied with Miss Su Qing last time? It’s only been a few days, and you’ve changed to another one.

Poor Lingqing too.

Busy with academia all day at school and hardly ever home, yet he’s had several girlfriends.

Even the neighbors know about it, but they don’t think it’s because Lingqing doesn’t want to go on blind dates. They say that there’s something wrong with his health, that he has plenty of prospective partners but once they discover his true condition within three days, they all run away.

Li Qiao went to her room to put the bags away and then entered the kitchen to fill the teapot for Jiang Wanqiu and Fan Feifei.

Fan Feifei said, "Aunt Qin mentioned that the paintings on your family’s walls and the ink paintings inside the house are all done by you, and you’re even the Top Scholar of the college entrance exam. That’s really impressive."

Li Qiao replied, "If you’re going on a blind date with Professor Xue, you must be amazing too." A girl with a poor background would not catch Madam Xue’s eye.

Fan Feifei smiled, "I haven’t even met him yet."

Jiang Wanqiu’s eyes slyly shifted, "Qiaoqiao, why don’t you take Feifei to find your Professor Xue." Mothers know their sons best, and the third son surely had some interest in Li Qiao—or why would Sufen say she saw them reading together often?

Sufen didn’t understand these matters, but she did.

By asking Li Qiao to bring someone over to him now, perhaps he would agree to the match she had chosen.

Once a man has a formal partner, any feelings he might have towards Li Qiao would naturally fade once they have kids.

Li Qiao secretly held her forehead in exasperation. No wonder Fan Feifei said their horoscopes hadn’t matched up yet—they hadn’t even met face to face.

Had Madam Xue gotten so desperate for a daughter-in-law that she was making her call someone little auntie-mother? And sending her to look for Professor Xue, at that—if he took a liking to her, it might be okay, but if he didn’t, wouldn’t she be blamed for interfering?

And if he got angry with her, who would help her catch up on her studies then?

She wasn’t looking for trouble.

She tactfully said, "I’ve just picked up a job at the publishing house and have to submit work next week, so I’m really pressed for time. Madam Xue, it might be best for you to go personally. Professor Xue is either on the second floor of the library looking up materials or in his study. He’s easy to find."

After speaking, she returned to her room.

Jiang Wanqiu followed her in, "What job did you pick up? You have to provide for your grandma and also for Jin—that must be tough on you. Xiangjun, it’s a pity how things turned out for you." Her words did not forget to denigrate Old Mrs. Qin.

Old Mrs. Qin retorted, "No one asked you to provide. Look at how worked up you’ve become." She yawned, "I’m so sleepy, you all make yourselves at home, I’m going to rest for a bit in my room."

Jiang Wanqiu’s face couldn’t quite hide her embarrassment; it was a clear dismissal. She found an excuse to leave, "Today we’ve got a barber coming to our compound to cut hair, I’m just in time for a trim. Let’s go, Feifei."

Fan Feifei agreed.

Old Mrs. Qin politely said, "Do come and visit whenever you have the time."

"..."

....

After sending Jiang Wanqiu and Fan Feifei off, Old Mrs. Qin went to Li Qiao’s room to inquire about her job, worried it might disrupt her studies and advised her to turn it down. "You’re skipping grades and writing papers, and now a job too. Aren’t you tired? I have money if you don’t have enough." Jin had earned a fair amount selling seeds and had given her quite a bit of spending money.

Plus what she had saved from selling knits.

She could afford to give twenty yuan a month to her daughter-in-law.

Without interruption for a whole year.

Li Qiao smiled, "I have enough, the paper is finished. I don’t plan on writing anything new anytime soon. I’m confident about skipping grades; I’ve got plenty of time now."

Only then did Old Mrs. Qin’s concerns ease. "It’s chilly in the room, mind you take care," she said as she turned to leave.

Li Qiao handed out the medicated ointment she bought for Old Mrs. Qin, "Grandma, this is for you."