Sister Zhang was equally satisfied after looking at Zhao Haii’s copied manuscript: "Hmm, not bad at all, from now on you’ll work for . If there isn’t much for , you can take other editors’ assignnts as well, but prioritize mine."
Sister Zhang’s attitude was all business, and she spoke briskly: "Old Wu told you, right? 50 cents for 10,000 characters, settle the paynt upon delivery. You can get paper, pen, and ink from logistics, the pen is borrowed, and it must be returned if you quit."
"Okay, okay."
Zhao Haii didn’t expect it to be so quick, she nodded her head, sowhat dazedly.
"Old Wu, take her to get her assignnt," Sister Zhang was busy and didn’t have ti to personally accompany a temp who was copying manuscripts.
"Sure, Sister, you go ahead." Old Wu called out, gesturing for Zhao Haii to follow him.
Zhao Haii bowed to Sister Zhang, then followed Old Wu step by step.
"Since it’s your first ti, don’t take too much. The magazine is not far from your school anyway, if needed, you can co a few more tis; don’t delay the work," Old Wu advised. "Take more after you get used to the work."
"Okay, thank you." Zhao Haii’s eyes were bright, and her smile lifted.
Old Wu took her to get her assignnt, a short story, 23,000 words, to be handed in five days later.
They also settled the paynt for the trial manuscript.
"Don’t ever lose the manuscript," Old Wu stuffed the papers and pen into her hands and repeated it, "Hold onto it, really, don’t lose it."
"I understand."
Zhao Haii nodded earnestly, clutching her bag to her chest, her knuckles slightly whitened.
"Alright then, if anything cos up, co find ." Old Wu smiled kindly and saw Zhao Haii out.
On her way back, Zhao Haii didn’t take the bus, instead, she walked all the way back.
Passing by the Cooperative Society near the school, she paused, then entered and bought a red hair tie.
When she returned to the dormitory, it was just eleven o’clock.
Only Lin Nianhe was in the dormitory.
"You didn’t go to sit in on classes?" Zhao Haii was a bit puzzled.
"Ah, too lazy to move today." Lin Nianhe put down her book and asked her, "How about it? Can you do the job?"
"I can!" Zhao Haii smiled radiantly, relieved as she took out the manuscript carefully from her bag and placed it under the pillow.
"That’s good then." Lin Nianhe pressed her lips together and chuckled, flipping a page of her book.
Zhao Haii took out the carefully stored hair tie from the compartnt of her bag and handed it to Lin Nianhe: "That... I passed by the Cooperative Society, thought it might suit you..."
She trailed off, unable to continue.
Because she saw the hair clip in Lin Nianhe’s hair.
A smooth pearl, as delicate as she was.
Zhao Haii instinctively tightened her grip, the 20 cents hair tie felt sowhat warm in her hand.
"Eh? For ?"
Lin Nianhe sprang up from her chair, eyes shining, "How did you know I’ve been wanting to buy a red hair tie recently? Haii, you’re so sweet!"
As she spoke, she casually took off her hair clip and placed it on the table, reaching for the hair tie.
Zhao Haii hadn’t reacted yet, her fingers tightened.
Lin Nianhe tugged without success and looked at her imploringly, "Could you give it to ?"
Zhao Haii let out a sound of realization, hurriedly loosening her grip.
She smiled, relieved: "As long as you like it."
"Love it, love it," Lin Nianhe tied her hair, picked up a mirror to check her reflection from all angles, then showed Zhao Haii, "Haii, look, isn’t it pretty?"
"Pretty." Zhao Haii nodded sincerely.
"Thank you." Lin Nianhe was very cheerful, continuously admiring herself in the mirror.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Haii finally felt relieved.
She took out the manuscript and began copying, while Lin Nianhe, after a while looking in the mirror, set it down and continued reading.
After half an hour, Lin Nianhe asked her, "Do you want to eat?"
"I still have a stead bun, I won’t go." Zhao Haii said very calmly, smiling, "You go ahead."
"You’re only eating one stead bun for lunch?" Lin Nianhe reminded, "Why not go to the cafeteria then? Even if you don’t get a al, you can still have a soup."
"Huh?" Zhao Haii was a bit puzzled, "Can I drink soup without getting a al?"
Although there was a sign saying "free" next to the soup pot, Zhao Haii always felt that it was a benefit for the students who bought als.
She didn’t dare to ask, nor did she know who to ask.
"Yes, you can drink it. What’s stopping you?" Lin Nianhe grabbed her, "Co on, let’s go eat."
Lin Nianhe firmly dragged Zhao Haii to the cafeteria.
Su Yuncheng went to get als, and she and Zhao Haii lined up to scoop soup.
When it was their turn, Lin Nianhe scooped a huge spoonful of vegetable leaves and tofu, all of which she poured into Zhao Haii’s lunch box.
"Nianhe, you..."
Zhao Haii’s face turned very red.
She hadn’t spent any money, yet scooped so many vegetables...
"What’s wrong? Don’t you like vegetables?" Lin Nianhe casually said, "You can’t be picky like this as a student. Eat more vegetables, it’s good for your health."
As she spoke, she scooped another large spoonful of vegetable leaves.
The bowl of soup looked more like a stew.
Zhao Haii felt she could barely hold the lunch box.
Lin Nianhe also served soup for herself and Su Yuncheng, and together with Zhao Haii, they found an empty table to sit down.
Zhao Haii was still uneasy, afraid that because of her, others might not have soup to drink.
Lin Nianhe took a sip of the soup that looked like swill water, and said, "Don’t just stare at the soup pot; look at others."
"Look at what?"
"There are many people who just drink soup without buying als." Lin Nianhe casually glanced around and spotted several people eating stead buns with soup, "It’s just you who is so honest."
Following Lin Nianhe’s gaze, Zhao Haii saw people like her, and her anxious heart finally settled a bit.
She tore the stead bun into small pieces and dipped it into the soup to eat, it was warm.
During their conversation, Su Yuncheng ca back. He placed his lunch box in front of Lin Nianhe and glanced at her red headband.
Lin Nianhe shook her braids, "Looks nice, right? Haii gave it to !"
Without waiting for Su Yuncheng to respond, she continued, "The last ti I went to grandpa’s place, the old man complained I was too plain, so I had been thinking of buying a red headband, but didn’t have the ti. Haii really helped out, otherwise, I’d definitely get nagged at this weekend."
She spoke cheerily, as if it was a true story.
Nothing is more delightful than a gift reaching the heart, and Zhao Haii’s lips unconsciously curved into a wider smile.
Su Yuncheng looked at Lin Nianhe, his lips slightly curled up, "It looks very nice." He then turned to Zhao Haii, "Thank you for looking after her."
"No, no," Zhao Haii shook her head, "Nianhe helped find a job, I should thank her."
"Looking out for each other, looking out for each other," Lin Nianhe blurted out casually, "A hundred years to share a ride, a thousand years to share bunk beds, no need for formalities."
Zhao Haii: "..."
Sharing a ride, she could carry her, but the other way round, that would be a curse.
After al, Zhao Haii returned to the dorm to transcribe articles. Lin Nianhe, feeling full, dragged Su Yuncheng out for a walk to help digest.
"Does her family have difficulties?" Su Yuncheng asked casually.
"I don’t know; she doesn’t say, and I didn’t ask," Lin Nianhe shrugged, "Look around the school, how many people are not worried about money?"
"True," Su Yuncheng nodded, "I have a classmate with four kids, now barely getting by on just his partner’s salary."
Lin Nianhe stopped in her tracks.
"What’s wrong?"
"I have an idea..."
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