QTIMP -Chapter 77 Character Persona – Lazy (Part 25)

“Oh dear, that would be a pity for such talent. How about I recommend you for it?”

The man accompanying the old gentleman looked a little surprised, but he only glanced at Si Qiu and didn’t say anything.

“No, no.” Si Qiu realized that her refusal might have sounded a bit abrupt.

So she organized her words and said, “Elder Yu, I just got married. My husband is a soldier, and I don’t want to leave him. Besides, my health isn’t very good—I can’t stay up late or overwork myself. So I can only let down your expectations.”

Hearing this, the accompanying staff member glanced at her again.

“Sigh! Young people should still strive a bit more. But since you’re unwilling, there’s nothing we can do,” Elder Yu said. He didn’t believe the little girl’s excuse at all.

After all, he had once abandoned medicine for literature. Although that was partly because he wasn’t particularly skilled in medicine, he could still tell whether the girl’s health was good or not.

Still, everyone has their own aspirations, and it couldn’t be forced.

However, this thought was soon overturned by himself. Once Si Qiu became familiar with the vocabulary and expression style used by the older generation of overseas students, the translations she produced required very few corrections.

When he learned that Si Qiu also knew Russian and Japanese in addition to English, his appreciation for talent could no longer be suppressed.

The old man himself spoke nine languages—but don’t forget how old he was. The girl had only just reached adulthood and came from a rural background. Achieving this much already showed her tremendous potential.

So during the work that followed, he began slipping in a little “private agenda.” He would tell interesting stories about diplomacy and also mention the discrimination China had faced internationally in diplomatic affairs.

Si Qiu understood what he meant, but she always brushed it aside skillfully. As soon as it was time, she immediately packed up her things and started preparing to get off work.

She hadn’t taken advantage of the research institute anyway—after all, she finished work at the supply and marketing cooperative at this exact time too. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she briskly called out a goodbye and rushed out.

Elder Yu and the people waiting outside were both stunned. Meanwhile, Director Shen and the security captain locked all the documents into the safe before coming over to explain things to them.

“Commander Bai once said that Comrade Si Qiu is good in every way, except she’s a bit lazy. Once the workday goes past the scheduled time, she immediately becomes like a clock with its spring unwound—she just stops.”

After hearing this, Elder Yu looked at his watch.

“But this is still quite early. Even if she doesn’t want to stay up late, it shouldn’t be time to leave work already.”

“There’s no helping it. That’s when she gets off work at the supply and marketing cooperative.” Director Shen led the two men out, while the security captain switched with another guard to continue watching the office.

As the three of them walked outside, Elder Yu asked again, “Could it be because the subsidy you’re giving her is too little?”

“Elder Yu, heaven knows we’re being fair. We’re paying the highest translation rate—15 yuan per thousand characters. But she simply doesn’t care about money! She eats when it’s time to eat and rests when it’s time to rest. As their regimental commander puts it, that girl really knows how to enjoy life.”

Hearing him complain like this, Elder Yu and the accompanying staff member both chuckled softly.

“She really does know how to enjoy life.”

Elder Yu even felt the urge to call Old Wang.

There was a lot of material and the translation speed was slow. In Elder Yu’s mind, Si Qiu was getting up early and working late every day—of course, that was just his own assumption. After all, it took nearly an hour for them to drive here.

Yet Elder Yu felt that her current routine was practically a form of health preservation.

People in the family residential area noticed that Lu Hongjun drove his wife out every day and then picked her up again in the evening.

Soon, people began discussing it. Since the couple living directly across from them were his own younger brother and sister-in-law, others naturally went to them to ask questions from all sides.

At first, Si Lai answered vaguely. But as soon as the rumors started spreading, she was warned by Lu Hongqi. The main reason was that he had already received a warning call from his father earlier.

He still didn’t understand why his elder brother had suddenly learned to complain to their father. During that last phone call, his father had no idea what his elder brother said, but he conveniently repeated everything Si Lai had done.

Their father had immediately scolded him harshly. He had been too ashamed to even respond—after all, their phone calls were monitored by a third party.

So this time, as soon as the rumor began spreading, he immediately shut down the person who started it.

“Lailai, you should understand this. Although I have some ability, without my dad and grandpa backing me up, my path wouldn’t be easy. Otherwise, why do you think those soldiers from the countryside climb the ranks so slowly? Now that Sister-in-law is already on Dad’s and Grandpa’s radar, offending her is the same as offending them. Think about it—if they wanted to make things difficult for me, could I resist? And if Mom gives you trouble after we go home, could we resist that? If the regimental commander directly warns me, could we resist that either?”

He knew his wife was somewhat vain. She cared a lot about his career and was also quite afraid of his mother, so he persuaded her from that angle.

Sure enough, Si Lai quickly nodded.

“Alright, alright. I promise I won’t talk carelessly anymore. But you should also tell big brother not to keep reporting things to the family.”

Lu Hongqi reached out and rubbed her hair.

“Alright. I’ll talk to him. I won’t let him keep reporting to the family.”

The next day, the regimental commander’s wife called a meeting for the families in the residential compound. Between the lines, she emphasized that everyone should watch their words and actions and must not spread rumors or create unrest.

She also sternly warned the people who had previously spread the rumors.

Si Lai was frightened as well. Throughout the whole meeting she stayed in the back, shrinking into herself. Several times when her eyes met the commander’s wife’s gaze, she quickly lowered her head.

Seeing her like this, the commander’s wife sighed and said nothing more. After all, with such a big belly, it wouldn’t be good if something unexpected happened.

In the blink of an eye, the August Festival arrived. Before Si Qiu even received her translation salary, she first received the research institute’s holiday benefits.

Looking at the items placed on the ground—eggs, canned food, two jin of apples, two jin worth of meat coupons, and two jin worth of grain coupons—Si Qiu’s eyes curved into happy crescents.

“You like them that much? Then I’ll give you my share too,” Elder Yu said. Seeing her grin from ear to ear, he immediately had the person following him place his items beside her pile.

When Si Qiu tried to refuse, he quickly waved his hand first.

“My home isn’t here. Even if I take these, I can’t eat them.”

Si Qiu then looked at the person behind him. That man copied Elder Yu’s gesture and waved his hand as well.

With the three of their shares combined, it became quite a large pile. Elder Yu was just about to ask someone to help her carry the things out when Lu Hongjun strode in with powerful steps.

Si Qiu immediately broke into a bright smile and waved him over. Elder Yu turned his head and followed the direction of her gesture, only to see an exceptionally handsome man—so handsome he almost looked devilish—walking in with a smile.

Elder Yu muttered beside her, “You silly girl, you must have been bewitched by this boy’s looks and gave up your future.”

Si Qiu instantly stiffened her face and glared at him, ready to retort. But Lu Hongjun, who had just walked over, spoke first.

“Hello, Elder Yu. I called my grandfather a couple of days ago and we talked about you. Thank you very much for taking such good care of Xiao Qiu.”

As soon as Elder Yu heard him mention Old Wang, he immediately shut his mouth. Old Wang was famously protective—if he found out someone was making things difficult for his grandson-in-law’s wife, he would definitely come looking for a quarrel.