"Little Sweetheart, your second grandma won't be back for lunch, so you should eat with us," said Grandma Yang.
"Thank you, Grandma Yang," Su Xiaotian replied without being overly polite. They were all acquaintances, and being too formal would be awkward.
She sat down next to Yang Liming.
Although there were other leaders among Yang Liming's group, Su Xiaotian's role at this moment was not that of a staff member, but rather a junior member of Yang Liming's family, so she naturally followed Yang Liming.
Xiao Liu, as Yang Liming's secretary, also sat with them. She specifically chose the seat next to Su Xiaotian.
Yang Liming grew increasingly curious. How did things get so friendly just by inviting her to eat together?
"Xiaotian, try this dish, it's sweet and sour and delicious."
"Xiaotian, this dish tastes great, you should try it."
"Xiaotian, this steamed bun is excellent!"
Throughout the meal, Xiao Liu, the secretary, was primarily occupied with attending to Su Xiaotian.
The others were very surprised, and even Yang Liming was astonished.
What was wrong with Xiao Liu?
Why had she suddenly become so attentive to Xiaotian?
Under Xiao Liu's careful attention, Su Xiaotian ate a lunch of uncertain flavor.
Being cared for too considerately didn't feel entirely comfortable!
Fortunately, she wouldn't be eating with Xiao Liu every day, otherwise, she would surely go mad.
Yang Liming watched their interaction with great interest, feeling very happy.
The two young girls were quite amusing. If only he had a granddaughter, she would probably be even cuter!
The meal concluded in a harmonious yet peculiar atmosphere. Su Xiaotian accompanied Yang Liming to the entrance, watched him go in to rest, and then continued upstairs to her own room.
Su Xiaotian rested for about half an hour. Just as she got up to read, there was a knock on her door.
Opening it, she saw Xiao Liu standing at the doorway.
The graceful young woman held books, paper, and a pen, along with a small paper bag containing fruit.
"Sister Xiao Liu, why are you here?"
"I thought you might be awake, so I came to find you. This is fruit I specifically bought for you. See if you like it?"
Xiao Liu first extended the small paper bag in her hand towards Su Xiaotian.
She had noticed Su Xiaotian bringing fruit on the train and figured she must be a girl who liked fruit, so she hadn't slept at noon and had specifically gone out to buy some.
In Chuncheng at this time, fruit was scarce, and with the Lunar New Year approaching, it was even rarer.
Su Xiaotian smiled, thanked her, and took the fruit.
"Sister Xiao Liu, are you holding books because you want to read with me?" Su Xiaotian asked proactively.
Xiao Liu nodded shyly; that was indeed her intention.
She had observed Su Xiaotian on the train and felt that Su Xiaotian was likely someone who would take a short break after about an hour of studying.
She could use Su Xiaotian's break time to ask questions she didn't understand.
This way, she wouldn't disturb Su Xiaotian's studies and could also help herself learn better.
Su Xiaotian wasn't worried about not being able to concentrate on her reading with someone present.
Even with Xiao Liu there, she could still focus on her books.
Su Xiaotian washed the fruit and placed it on the small table.
"Sister Xiao Liu, let's read first. When we get tired, we can have the fruit."
Although she wasn't lacking in fruit, Su Xiaotian still accepted the kindness of others.
An afternoon passed. During Su Xiaotian's breaks, Xiao Liu understood many of the problems she had been struggling with.
It had to be said that someone who was a top student was indeed a top student. When Su Xiaotian explained, she did so clearly and concisely, allowing Xiao Liu to grasp the concepts quickly.
Her comprehension was much higher than when teachers lectured in school.
Xiao Liu's resolve to resume her studies became much firmer.
She had worried about not being able to learn, but now it seemed possible.
This trip lasted three days, and she could ask many questions. She needed to seize the opportunity to study.
"Xiaotian, thank you. I learned a lot from you today," Xiao Liu said sincerely to Su Xiaotian.
If Su Xiaotian weren't attending a banquet later, Xiao Liu would have definitely asked her to continue lecturing.
Moreover, they also had activities to attend shortly, and she needed to accompany Chairman Yang.
"Sister Xiao Liu, study hard, and you'll definitely get into university!"
Encouraged by Su Xiaotian, Xiao Liu's smile became even brighter. As she returned downstairs, she ran into Yang Liming.
Yang Liming was very surprised to see Xiao Liu coming downstairs with books.
"Xiao Liu, did you go to find Xiaotian?"
When did the two girls become such good friends?
They could spend an entire afternoon together?
"Chairman, I had some questions I didn't understand, so I went to Xiaotian to have her explain them to me."
"She's younger than you!"
Yang Liming knew very well what kind of personality Xiao Liu had.
It seemed incredible that she would proactively seek out someone younger than her to ask for advice.
"The knowledgeable are teachers. Xiaotian studies well," Xiao Liu said without any embarrassment.
Yang Liming nodded and said, "Xiao Liu, it's best that you've come to this realization. Although you've been doing women's work these past few years, you yourself have never emerged from your own confusion. I'm very happy to see you like this!"
Xiao Liu came from a good family, otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to start working by her side immediately.
However, it was also true that Xiao Liu's family did not consider her daughter's prospects and future.
Xiao Liu's family preferred to invest their time and energy in nurturing her brothers, which Xiao Liu had always found difficult to accept.
This time, Xiao Liu's sudden realization and finding another direction for development could be considered an opportunity for her.
"Chairman, thank you. I will work hard."
Xiao Liu smiled gently and serenely, no longer displaying the forced smile from before.
Such a smile made Yang Liming feel very comfortable.
"Freshen up, we have an event to attend tonight as well."
Xiao Liu quickly took her books back to her room, tidied her hair, and then set off with Yang Liming.
Along the way, other colleagues felt that Xiao Liu seemed different in some way, but they couldn't pinpoint what had changed.
After Xiao Liu and the others left, Su Xiaotian was also escorted by someone sent by Fan Shufang to the banquet for receiving foreign guests.
The banquet for receiving foreign guests was very well decorated, and even the heating was much warmer than in other places.
Su Xiaotian had always felt that the country's policies at this time were very strange. As long as it concerned foreign guests, the treatment was exceptionally high, leading the "foreign masters" to feel superior.
It also made many domestic people feel that going abroad was truly a sign of being superior.
Such policies persisted for several years before changes were made, but they ultimately gave the Chinese people the illusion that foreign friends were superior!
Although she didn't fully agree, Su Xiaotian knew that such policies were not something one person could control.
As a junior translator, she only needed to fulfill her duties. As for other matters, she didn't need to think about them for now.
In any case, as long as she herself wasn't servile or obsequious.