“You?”
Zhou Yuguo was a bit surprised. He knew Lu Wanwan had been brought in by his wife to take care of Xiao Bao. How could a village girl from the countryside possibly know a foreign language—let alone immediately interact with foreign guests? His expression turned serious.
“This isn’t a joke, and it’s not a small matter.”
Chen Shu also nodded, reminding Lu Wanwan, “Wanwan, I know you want to help us, but foreign languages aren’t like other things. To learn them well isn’t something that can be done in just a year or two.”
Of course Lu Wanwan knew that. Back when she studied foreign languages, she had taken several at once, studying day and night, even dreaming of memorizing vocabulary.
“I know. Please give me a chance to prove my ability.”
Zhou Yuguo and Chen Shu exchanged a glance. They both knew a bit of foreign language themselves, and they could immediately tell that Lu Wanwan spoke it very well—especially her sense of tone and pronunciation, which was no different from a native speaker.
“Yuguo, I think Wanwan can do it. Why not let her try?”
Chen Shu spoke up for Lu Wanwan, but Zhou Yuguo still hesitated. He took out a prepared welcome speech for foreign guests and asked her to translate it, while holding the corresponding foreign-language version himself.
For others, this might have been difficult, but this was exactly what Lu Wanwan did. She took it, read a sentence, and translated it on the spot.
Zhou Yuguo looked at the foreign-language document in his hand—there wasn’t a single word wrong.
“I can help ask around. If there’s no problem, you can serve as the interpreter.”
Lu Wanwan was overjoyed and quickly thanked him. Then she went upstairs to feed Xiao Bao. As soon as she left the living room, Zhou Yushen strode in.
Zhou Yushen had already returned earlier but hadn’t entered immediately after hearing voices inside. He glanced toward the stairs and spoke in a serious tone to his brother.
“I had someone investigate Comrade Lu before. She grew up in the countryside and never had the chance to learn a foreign language. Brother, if she’s really this capable, why would she come to the Zhou family to work as a wet nurse? Wouldn’t being a translator earn more money? If she’s an enemy agent, what is her purpose in coming here?”
Zhou Yuguo also became alert. He had just had similar doubts—her level of proficiency was too high. Without at least ten years of study, it would be impossible to reach this level.
“I believe Wanwan. It’s not easy for her to raise two children on her own.”
“Sister-in-law, what if those two children aren’t actually hers?”
Zhou Yushen’s words left Chen Shu speechless. She still found it hard to believe. “I’ve seen how well she treats Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, and they like her very much.”
But if she were truly an enemy agent, she could easily do that too. For two-year-old children, spending just a few months together would be enough for them to think she was their mother.
Chen Shu suddenly felt a chill. To be safe, she said, “Then I’ll ask her again.”
Zhou Yuguo nodded and added, “Don’t alert her if possible. I’ll arrange for someone to investigate her background further.”
Upstairs in the room, Lu Wanwan had just finished feeding Xiao Bao and was changing his clothes when Chen Shu pushed the door open. She helped while casually chatting.
“Wanwan, your foreign language is so good—why don’t you find a job as a translator? Being a wet nurse really wrongs you.”
Lu Wanwan knew very well that in this era there were many restrictions. The original host’s identity had always been in the countryside—there was no way she should know a foreign language. She had long prepared an excuse.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be a translator—it’s that I’ve never had the opportunity. Besides, I have two children with me, and I’ve never studied foreign languages in school.”
“When I was young, a relative taught me for a while. Later, after my parents passed away, I lived with my uncle and aunt and continued learning on my own. Later… I found ways to learn more by myself.”
“Sister Chen, I need to earn money to treat Yuan Yuan’s illness. Let alone being a wet nurse—even if it means carrying bricks or sweeping the streets, as long as it pays more, I’ll do it.”
All of this was fabricated by Lu Wanwan based on the original host’s memories.
When she was young, there had indeed been a distant relative who had studied abroad and stayed at the original host’s home for a few days while traveling in the countryside.
When Lu Wanwan had just transmigrated, there had also been an educated youth in the village who knew foreign languages, and she had helped that person a few times—but she didn’t mention it, knowing Zhou Yuguo would investigate.
Chen Shu felt deeply moved listening to her. She understood how difficult Lu Wanwan’s life had been.
Yuan Yuan’s recent episode had also frightened Chen Shu. She patted Lu Wanwan’s hand to comfort her. “Don’t worry. Your foreign language is so good—I believe you can handle this translation job. I learned a bit before, but I could never get the pronunciation right or remember the words.”
In the office, Zhou Yuguo put down the phone and called Zhou Yushen over.
“The foreign guests are arriving earlier—only three hours from now. The investigation report on Lu Wanwan hasn’t come back yet.”
“Do we have to use her?”
“The original interpreter can’t make it back. I just called to urge him, but the ox cart he was riding overturned into a ditch. He’s still in the hospital being treated. The other interpreters can’t be reached in time either. You’ll stay with Lu Wanwan the whole time and accompany the guests.”
Zhou Yuguo didn’t feel at ease leaving it to anyone else. Zhou Yushen was the best in the unit when it came to keeping an eye on people. He stood up and patted his brother’s shoulder.
“Go tell her the precautions. I’ll have your sister-in-law prepare her clothes.”
Zhou Yushen nodded. His sharp features remained expressionless. If Lu Wanwan really was an enemy agent, would she reveal something this time?
Once it was decided that Lu Wanwan would be the interpreter, Zhou Yuguo gave her the relevant materials to review. Chen Shu brought out a Lenin-style suit for her. Although it wasn’t fashionable at the moment, it hadn’t fit Chen Shu well after it was made, so she rarely wore it. Now, when Lu Wanwan put it on, it fit as if it had been tailored for her.
When Zhou Yushen came to brief her on precautions, he looked up and saw her dressed in the Lenin suit, her long hair pinned up, revealing her palm-sized porcelain-white face. Her peach-blossom eyes were bright and lively. The structured outfit wrapped around her tall figure—though not a bit of skin was exposed, it was impossible to look away.
It was the first time Zhou Yushen had seen someone wear this outfit so well—yet for some reason, it bothered him.
“Sister-in-law, does she have any other clothes to change into?”
“Isn’t this set fine? Wanwan looks great in it.”
Chen Shu didn’t see anything inappropriate. The fullness in the front, the curve at the back, and her slender, soft waist—she had even been tempted to pinch it earlier.
Three hours later, Lu Wanwan calmly and confidently received the foreign guests in a foreign language, serving as their interpreter. The moment she spoke, the foreigners looked at her in surprise, praising her as the best interpreter they had ever heard.
“Beautiful.”
One of them gave a thumbs-up, repeatedly saying the same word. Even those present who didn’t understand were influenced by the enthusiasm.
Zhou Yushen’s sharp gaze missed nothing of Lu Wanwan’s every move. The suspicion in his heart only deepened.
It was as if this was something she had done hundreds or even thousands of times before.