The salesman looked at the factory director in disbelief.
To him, choosing Xia Wan as the interpreter was simply a huge mistake.
He glanced at Xia Wan with undisguised bitterness. “Even if your father used to be a technician in our factory, that doesn’t give you the right to fool around. We’re dealing with foreign experts. If you offend them, even the director won’t be able to take responsibility for it.”
Xia Wan gave him a reassuring look. “I didn’t start learning English just yesterday because I got divorced and decided to take the college entrance exam. I’ve been learning it since my dad was still alive he’s been teaching me all along.”
The director had been feeling a bit regretful about his impulsive decision, but hearing this, he finally relaxed.
“If Old Xia taught you himself, then there won’t be a problem. He was the first college graduate our factory ever had, and he was even sent abroad to Country S for government-sponsored study back then.”
The salesman stared at Xia Wan in shock, his earlier contempt turning into admiration. “That impressive?”
Xia Wan subconsciously tried to recall the novel’s plot, but none of this had been mentioned. This was the first time she herself was hearing it.
After all, in the book, Xia Wan was just a nobody who died in the very first chapter.
As for coordinating with foreign experts, she felt completely at ease. Back in the apocalypse, she had already mastered multiple languages especially English. Not only was her spoken English fluent, but she was also excellent at written translation. It was an essential survival skill in that world.
Even though the apocalypse system came with a translation function, she had never needed it.
They followed the director into the workshop. The machines were still running, but the coarse sand rods being produced were uneven, and there was a loud, abnormal noise.
Just from listening, she could already tell there was a problem with the gears.
“Xia Wan? What are you doing here?”
Lu Hongmei’s sharp voice rang out.
Xia Wan turned her head and saw not only Lu Hongmei, but Su Lijuan as well.
Before Xia Wan could answer, the salesman stepped forward to explain, “The machine has malfunctioned. A foreign expert we invited will be providing technical support later. Xia Wan will temporarily act as our interpreter.”
Lu Hongmei scoffed. “Her? An interpreter? Director, how can you believe her nonsense? I’ve lived with her for so long and never once saw her speak a foreign language. Don’t let her fool you.”
The director had already heard about the Lu family situation from Xia Wan, so he showed Lu Hongmei no warmth.
“I have my own judgment, Comrade Lu. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Lu Hongmei didn’t seem to catch the tone and was about to continue mocking her, but Su Lijuan quickly grabbed her arm. She stepped forward and looked at Xia Wan with a forced, bitter smile.
“Xia Wan, it’s one thing for you to be willful in daily life, but translation work isn’t something you can do just because you know a few words of English. I’ve heard it requires a lot of professional terminology related to machinery. Even with a high school education, you wouldn’t learn that. So how could you possibly understand it?”
Lu Hongmei chimed in, “Exactly. I studied English for a few days myself I only know a few letters and simple words. Where would you even learn such complicated vocabulary?”
Facing the distrustful looks around her, Xia Wan gave Lu Hongmei a meaningful smile.
“Lu Hongmei, we both have the same high school education. If you’re unconvinced, why don’t we talk to the expert together once he arrives?”
Lu Hongmei’s face flushed red, but she didn’t dare agree.
She was the kind of person who only knew how to nod and say “yes” or shake her head and say “no.” She couldn’t even manage basic greetings with a foreigner how could she dare accept?
“Do you think I’m stupid? If I talk to the expert with you and you spout nonsense and offend him, while no one else understands, you’ll definitely pin the blame on me.”
“I heard this machine is very expensive, and the fee for hiring an expert is something neither of us can afford. If you anger the expert and he refuses to fix it, how are you going to explain that?”
“Even if your dad used to be a technician and the director backs you up, you still won’t be able to bear that responsibility!”
Hearing this, the director’s anger flared. “Comrade Lu, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that I’m showing favoritism?”
The weight of the director’s authority pressed down on Lu Hongmei, instantly crushing her arrogance. She stammered, “I… I didn’t mean that, Director!”
“I just don’t want you to be deceived by Xia Wan. She’s only a high school graduate—how could she possibly know such complicated English?”
The director snorted coldly at the surrounding looks of doubt and said, “It’s true that Comrade Xia is a high school graduate. But don’t forget her father used to be a technician at our factory, and her mother was also a workshop supervisor. Both were well educated, so naturally their child wouldn’t be lacking.”
“While Old Xia was still alive, he put a great deal of effort into Xia Wan’s education. He often taught her English related to workshop machinery, so she naturally knows more than other comrades with only a high school education.”
“Besides, having Comrade Xia receive the expert today is just for basic coordination. Once the official interpreter arrives, the actual machine issues will be handled by a professional translator. There’s no need for everyone to worry so much.”
The people nearby finally relaxed.
“So it’s just a simple handover. Then Xia Wan doing it is no problem.”
“Yeah, as long as she knows some English to settle the expert in. It’s not as serious as Lu Hongmei made it sound.”
“She just can’t stand seeing her sister-in-law in the spotlight. She’s always been talking bad about her in front of us.”
…
Lu Hongmei’s face turned green.
Su Lijuan gently patted her shoulder and said softly, “Hongmei, don’t be angry. After all, Xia Wan has such an impressive father. When Uncle Lu was alive, he was just an ordinary worker in the factory. We really can’t compare with her.”
That instantly reignited Lu Hongmei’s anger.
“So what if he was impressive? Wasn’t he still a curse who got my dad killed?”
As soon as the words fell, the director shot her a sharp look, frightening her into immediately shutting up.
Regarding the fire in the residential area back then, not only did the factory suffer heavy losses, many people were forced to move away.
As factory director, he had also received severe punishment at the time.
Because of that, almost no one in the factory was willing to talk about the incident.
Xia Wan stepped forward and looked at Lu Hongmei provocatively. “No one dares question my father’s abilities. If he were still here today, this minor malfunction would have been fixed long ago. There’d be no need to spend a fortune inviting experts.”
The director sighed regretfully. “That’s true. If Old Xia were still around, so many problems in our factory could be solved. What a pity.”
Xia Wan turned to the director and said confidently, “Director, back then my father didn’t just teach me English he also taught me a lot about machine maintenance. He hoped that one day I could contribute to the factory just like he did.”
“Since the expert hasn’t arrived yet, why don’t you let me give it a try?”