Chapter 564 | Chapter 565 | Chapter 566
Chapter 564: The Foreign Trade Exchange Conference — Part 2
Sheng Wanyan followed behind the merchant from Country E. The conference venue was vast, showcasing many of Huaxia’s artisans and intangible cultural heritage items.
“Что бы вы порекомендовали?” What do you recommend?
The Country E merchant turned to face her. He had been walking all this time without saying a word, looking around without acknowledging her. After an entire lap around the venue, this sudden question was obviously a deliberate test.
The Country E merchant wasn’t alone; he had his subordinates with him, as well as a translator he had brought along. Huaxia possessed vast lands but had struggled to develop. Now that its development was beginning, many foreign merchants were eager to secure a piece of the pie.
Sheng Wanyan stepped forward with a smile to introduce Huaxia’s unique specialties, speaking in fluent, articulate Russian.
“Страна Хуашань — страна, которой 5000 лет, и если вы не возражаете, вы можете узнать о характере страны Хуашань.”
“Huaxia is a nation with five thousand years of history. If you don’t mind, you can learn about the unique characteristics of Huaxia.”
The Country E merchant raised an eyebrow at her words, exchanged a glance with his companion, and finally made a gesture indicating for her to “lead the way.”
Maintaining a proper, refined smile on her face, Sheng Wanyan walked forward to guide them, introducing Huaxia’s traditional features.
Sheng Wanyan led them to the stall of an artisan who wove bamboo baskets. The Country E merchant watched her. Using fluent Russian, Sheng Wanyan began explaining the history of bamboo baskets and the ingenious creativity of the ancients.
“Bamboo baskets are woven from bamboo, requiring thousands or even tens of thousands of procedural steps.”
“In the hands of an artisan, bamboo can turn into a basket for holding things, a stool, a table, or a bed.”
“A finished product contains no extra artificial materials, preserving the purest essence of nature.”
As Sheng Wanyan explained this in fluent Russian, the Country E merchants looked at her. Was she trying to entice them using history? But these items… were not necessities in prosperous Country E. They slept on cushioned mattresses; why would they need to sleep on hard, rigid bamboo beds? Country E pursued a high-society lifestyle and quality of living, not ancient culture.
Sheng Wanyan knew that speaking further would be futile. She stepped forward and asked the old master to weave a bamboo basket similar to a market bag, then twisted a thin strip of bamboo to tie onto the basket handle.
Everyone looked at her with bewilderment, wondering what kind of tricks she would pull to persuade them to invest. If they could successfully draw an investment from the Country E merchant, these Huaxia artisans would be able to survive, and this craft would not gradually vanish over time.
Sheng Wanyan walked over to a nearby stall selling dyes. Borrowing a few buckets of different colored dyes, she picked up a brush and began painting directly onto the bamboo basket. Her design was very simple, but it was more than enough for a financially minded Country E merchant to spot the potential profit.
Sheng Wanyan painted a cluster of plum blossoms. Once completed, she slung it over her shoulder, presenting a small, delicate crossbody bag.
When the Country E merchant saw this, a distinct flare of excitement appeared in his eyes… as he stared at the bag in her hand.
Sheng Wanyan turned around to display how the finished product complemented her clothing. Seeing the Country E merchant reach out to take a closer look, she took it off and handed it to him with both hands. The Country E merchant accepted it and began discussing it intently with his companion.
“In Huaxia, we love to knit sweaters in the winter, doing the work ourselves to fulfill our daily needs.”
“Capable mothers knit various patterns into sweaters for the family to wear.”
“The embroidery masters of our country do the same; these designs frequently appear on our garments and daily items.”
“We can weave and embroider on the fabric bags we use, and this kind of handiwork can also be applied to various backpacks.”
Hearing her words, the Country E merchant already grasped the potential profit. If skilled embroidery masters could weave various patterns onto bamboo baskets, then in Country E—where people pursued high-quality living and artistic aesthetics—the introduction of bamboo items with diverse patterns would generate massive returns.
The Country E merchant didn’t let his excitement show on his face. After all, he still needed to negotiate the pricing thoroughly with Huaxia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t pry further, leading him along to browse the stall of a wood-carving artisan. A completed carving was already highly distinctive on its own, but since Country E favored items with an artistic flair, Sheng Wanyan began applying colors. Various small, delicate animals and ornaments turned into entirely different landscapes once painted.
Sheng Wanyan found a reason to entice them at every single stall. The longer they browsed, the more enthusiastic the Country E merchant became, eagerly waiting to see what she would present next.
Sheng Wanyan did a massive amount of talking along the way. Meanwhile, the other students who had come as translators had already taken their respective merchants to discuss specific contract terms.
Yet Sheng Wanyan was still browsing. Liu Xing, Wei Lili, and the others were waiting anxiously in the discussion area. The exchange conference had a designated discussion area, which wasn’t high-end or private; instead, a dozen tables were set up right in the main hall. Foreign merchants who had an interest would negotiate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sign contracts directly here. Of course, for merchants with whom negotiations weren’t successful initially, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would conduct specialized follow-ups and negotiations later.
While Wei Lili worried about Sheng Wanyan, she maintained a proper smile on her face, standing aside as she listened to her assigned merchant converse with the leaders.
Sheng Wanyan spent the entire day guiding them through a complete lap around the venue. It wasn’t until the conference was drawing to a close that the Country E merchant she was responsible for was finally satisfied.
Sheng Wanyan led them to the discussion area. At this hour, the exchange conference was almost over, and many foreign corporate merchants had already departed.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs sat in the discussion area, his gaze fixed in Sheng Wanyan’s direction all the while. The merchant she was tracking was their primary target. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had investigated Sheng Wanyan’s background and academic marks before handing this primary target over to her responsibility. Their Ministry was primarily responsible for foreign leadership personnel; after all, the high-level officials also had to relent before foreign merchants could cooperate smoothly.
The moment Sheng Wanyan brought the Country E merchants over, the leisurely demeanor of her assigned merchant instantly shifted, his entire being radiating the sharp intellect of a businessman.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs engaged in conversation with him. The talks went smoothly initially, but when it came down to pricing later on, both men showed signs of displeasure.
“Minister, this is my final bottom line.” The Country E merchant’s tone was exceptionally firm. He absolutely would not accept a higher price!
The Minister of Foreign Affairs didn’t get angry either, maintaining an elegant and refined decorum that vividly put the poise of a “host” on display. Although his tone was gentle and polite, he never fell into a disadvantageous position throughout the negotiation. When it came to Huaxia’s interests, his mild words never yielded an inch.
The atmosphere grew somewhat stagnant. Sensing this, the Minister of Foreign Affairs smiled and poured a cup of tea for the Country E merchant, executing a perfect advance and retreat.
“Huaxia’s artisans toil with their own two hands. In our country, as long as one labors, they can support themselves. Therefore, their labor is highly valuable.”
Chapter 565: Hiring a Nanny
The Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke with immense, resolute force. Seeing that he absolutely would not back down, the Country E merchant fell into deep reflection.
The merchant from Country E had taken a liking to many projects: hand-weaving, wood-carving, embroidery, knitting, and dyeing crafts. These were all areas he intended to invest in.
Naturally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs couldn’t possibly let such a wealthy talent… cough, partner, slip away.
With both sides weighing their options, Sheng Wanyan stood at the back watching the tense standoff, finding it thoroughly entertaining. Ultimately, whoever possessed the greater patience would win the battle of wits.
In the end, between a merchant eager for quick returns and a deeply calculating diplomat, the diplomat claimed victory.
The Country E merchant had originally wanted to straight-up purchase these handicrafts for a massive sum, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs was even more unwilling to allow that, making it so they could only be sourced directly from Huaxia.
Country E’s market was secured just like that. This cooperation would generate a massive amount of revenue for the country, while also allowing these local artisans to earn money.
As the Country E merchant was preparing to leave, he explicitly walked over to Sheng Wanyan and extended an invitation.
“Would you consider coming to Country E to work after graduation?”
“A house and a car included, with a monthly salary of twenty thousand yuan. Care to consider it?”
Hearing the merchant invite Sheng Wanyan to work in Russia after graduation, the officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stepped forward immediately.
“No, no, that won’t do. She is a talent nurtured by Huaxia.”
“I’m afraid she cannot accept your kind generosity.”
Before Sheng Wanyan could even speak, the leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined on her behalf.
The Country E merchant stared at her, completely ignoring the nonsense of these strategic planners; none of these political figures were good people.
Sheng Wanyan smiled and clearly declined his kindness. “Thank you, but my husband is a soldier, and I still prefer it here.”
Hearing her refusal, the Country E merchant felt it was a bit of a pity, but he respected a woman’s choices completely.
The moment Sheng Wanyan declined, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stepped forward to invite the Country E merchant to dinner, giving him no further opportunity to speak.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Yuyan (her second senior brother), shot her a look, telling her to beat a hasty retreat before the Country E merchant could snap out of it.
Sheng Wanyan nodded, leaving the exchange conference with Liu Xing and the others alongside the university leaders.
On the way back, Wei Lili spoke continuously about her intense excitement and her nerve-wracking mental journey.
“It was terrifying. The entire way, I was petrified of mistranslating and ruining everything.” Wei Lili still felt a lingering dread thinking about it now. She had almost translated incorrectly several times, and thank goodness she had quickly caught herself.
“I was scared too. Several times I was on the verge of being unable to answer,” Lin Meili recalled, matching her nervousness. Multiple times she had felt like she was about to pass out.
Gu Shumin’s eyes behind her glasses were full of tension, offering a highly concise line: “Nervous.” And nothing more.
Liu Xing likewise shared his thoughts continuously with everyone. By the time they returned to the campus, it was already dinner time.
Sheng Wanyan hurried home. She was worried about the two little ones, fearing they would cry if they didn’t get breast milk today.
The moment she arrived home, she found Father Sheng had already picked up Yi Yi. Yi Yi was munching on her apple, sitting on the sofa waiting for her with Maodou.
Seeing Sheng Wanyan return, Yi Yi sprinted over, and Sheng Wanyan scooped her up into her arms.
“Yi Yi, did you eat dinner yet?”
“Were your little brothers obedient?”
Yi Yi nodded, rubbing her round, bulging belly to show her that she was completely full. “Stuffed!”
“Little brothers cried.” Yi Yi exposed Lailai and Maomao’s crimes, pointing at Father Sheng’s clothes, which were stained with urine from her little brothers.
Sheng Wanyan constantly felt that the household ran short on hands. Father and Mother Sheng were now practically turning into full-time babysitters. Sheng Wanyan knew Father Sheng’s true heart wasn’t set here; he wanted to go open a second general store in the city proper.
While Mother Sheng was happy looking after her little grandson, she would also worry about Lailai and Maomao. For a while now, Father Sheng had been helping her look after Lailai and Maomao during the day. Even Yi Yi had to be brought back by Aunt Hu, as no one in the family had time to go pick her up.
Gu Tingxiao had to work and couldn’t manage so much, so Sheng Wanyan still intended to hire a nanny to look after the children at home.
“Dad, thank you for your hard work.”
Father Sheng chuckled and shook his head. Playing with his two grandsons brought him endless joy. However, he was rather unfamiliar with this area, and sometimes when the babies cried and fussed, he didn’t know how to coax them—especially Maomao, who loved to cry.
After dinner, Sheng Wanyan waited for Gu Tingxiao to return from work before discussing the matter of hiring a nanny with him. Finding a nanny required careful scrutiny; it was best to find a close acquaintance, otherwise she wouldn’t feel at ease.
“Just hiring one is enough, primarily to look after the two little ones.”
“Dad has only been looking after them for a little over half a month, yet he already looks quite exhausted.”
Although Mother Gu also frequently took leave to run over and help out, the commute took up a significant amount of time, making it inevitably difficult to be thoroughly attentive.
“I’ll look into it. Everyone—Mom, Dad, and you—has worked hard during this period.” Gu Tingxiao washed her feet, taking her words deeply to heart. Lately, not a single person in the family wasn’t exhausted. Even Gu Tingxiao felt a bit physically and mentally drained, sleeping poorly in the middle of the night and still having to conduct drills the next day.
“Okay.”
Gu Tingxiao took the task of finding a nanny very seriously. Once the Gu family found out, they also helped search, but after screening the options, none met the requirements of the couple.
“General, what do you think of my wife?” Grandfather Gu’s orderly, Uncle Hu, stepped forward to recommend his own spouse. His wife was a contemporary of Mother Gu, and the children in their family were already grown, meaning she didn’t need to look after them. She was idle at home every day, sometimes just taking on some odd jobs to do at home.
Hearing this, Grandfather Gu immediately made inquiries. After all, his orderly was one of their own, making it certainly reassuring.
“My own children and grandchildren were all raised by my wife, so she has experience.”
Hearing this, Grandfather Gu hurriedly told him to head home and mention it, and bring her over for a look to see if she was suitable.
Ultimately, Aunt Hu was recommended through Grandfather Gu. Gu Tingxiao also checked her background, and the family felt she was suitable, so Sheng Wanyan naturally had her come over for a trial. If she worked out, it would be for the best; dealing with one of their own allowed her to feel more at ease.
Aunt Hu was a bit chubby. When Sheng Wanyan interviewed her, she clearly laid out the terms and salary package. She would stay at the house on regular days, receiving four days of rest every month. It was best if the rest days fell on weekends, so Sheng Wanyan could look after the two children herself. Food and lodging were included during working hours, meaning she wouldn’t have to spend her own money on three meals a day, and the salary was forty yuan a month.
Uncle Hu’s profession was unique, allowing him to return home only during leave, meaning Aunt Hu was entirely on her own at home anyway. Aunt Hu lived in the military family quarters, and the commute here was quite far, so she was perfectly content to stay at the house. Being alone at home was no different from being here.
When Sheng Wanyan arrived home, Aunt Hu had already tracked down the address and was standing at the door waiting.
“You are…?”
“I am the nanny introduced by Old General Gu, your Uncle Hu’s wife. You can just call me Aunt Hu.”
Chapter 566: Aunt Hu’s Capability
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan sized her up. Aunt Hu wasn’t tall, was a bit chubby, and looked very kindly and approachable.
However, how she actually performed would only be determined after a trial period. Sheng Wanyan invited her inside, and the two had a thorough chat.
“It’s like this: I have to attend classes. The two little ones are only two months old, and the oldest is three.”
“Your main job will be looking after the children and preparing three meals a day for the household.”
“You’ll also need to wake up once during the night to coax them back to sleep. The salary is forty yuan a month, food and lodging included, with four days of rest every month.”
“Just let me know in advance when you want to take your rest. Due to family reasons, it’s best if you rest on weekends.”
“However, if you have an urgent matter, you can also give me a heads-up to arrange your time off.”
“Naturally, there will be a one-week trial period. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll look for someone else. Of course, the trial period is paid.”
Aunt Hu nodded. She was well aware of these arrangements; her husband had already explained them to her clearly. This was the granddaughter-in-law of her husband’s superior, and the ones she would be looking after were the superior’s great-grandchildren. For the sake of her husband’s future, she was more dedicated than anyone else.
“No problem, my husband explained all of this on his end.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded upon hearing this. As long as she could accept the terms and look after the three children well, she wouldn’t treat her poorly either.
Aunt Hu officially moved in. The house had a utility room that Gu Tingxiao had cleaned out long ago, just waiting for the nanny to arrive. Aunt Hu checked her room; it had all the necessary furniture, and even the bedding had been prepared. One look and she knew this was a generous household that treated even a nanny this well.
“Where are the children?” Aunt Hu hadn’t forgotten what her job entailed. The moment she set down her luggage, she wanted to go get acquainted with the children.
Sheng Wanyan led her to her bedroom. The two babies were sleeping in their cribs. Lailai and Maomao were fair and chubby, looking exceptionally adorable. Aunt Hu watched them for a while, her heart filled with immense fondness; they were simply too precious.
“This is the older brother, Lailai, and this is the younger brother, Maomao.”
“I also have a three-year-old daughter named Yi Yi.”
“Aiy~ I’ve memorized them all.” Aunt Hu committed the names of the three children to memory.
Sheng Wanyan led her around the house to let her familiarize herself with the layout.
“Yi Yi learns dance at Beijing Dance Academy, and we usually deliver lunch to her there.”
“The child’s lunch needs to be substantial; make sure there are two meat dishes and one vegetable dish.”
“The family’s provisions are all in the cellar, and the kitchen cabinets have seasonings. Just let me know if you run low on anything.”
Aunt Hu noted down everything. She could tell that this family highly valued the girl; the mistress mostly revolved around her eldest daughter. The two little ones basically just needed diaper changes and formula prep, which were minor matters. The truly pressing task was managing three meals a day. Sheng Wanyan placed heavy emphasis on food, especially the children’s nutrition.
“Lailai isn’t prone to crying, so you might need to pay a bit more attention to him usually.”
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Sheng Wanyan shared some amusing anecdotes about the children with her, and Aunt Hu gradually grew less stiff than she had been at the start.
Yi Yi was brought back by Father Sheng. Sheng Wanyan had long since discussed the matter of hiring a nanny with Father and Mother Sheng to give them a psychological preparation. When Father Sheng first found out, he had hurriedly expressed that he could just look after them himself, but once Sheng Wanyan mentioned opening a branch store, he agreed.
As for Mother Sheng, she couldn’t object even if she wanted to; the couple had quietly finalized the arrangement without a word. Furthermore… that was her son-in-law’s house, so she couldn’t interfere too excessively. Mother Sheng had also wanted to look after her two grandsons, but her little grandson at home was only a little over two months old, and Pan Yue had to attend classes, leaving her completely tied down. On top of that, she had to worry about the daily meals and the general store. Although the family didn’t run short on money now, they wouldn’t dare to be so extravagant as to hire a nanny. Spending forty yuan on a nanny—she would rather do a bit more work herself.
When Yi Yi returned home and saw a stranger, she quickly ran over to Sheng Wanyan’s side and clutched her hand.
“Yi Yi, this is Aunt Hu. You can call her Grandma Hu.”
“From now on, Grandma Hu will be at home helping Mama look after Yi Yi and your little brothers.”
“Grandma Hu?” Why was there another Grandma Hu???
“Yes, that one is the dancing Grandma Hu, and this one is the Grandma Hu who looks after Yi Yi. They are different.”
It took a good while for Yi Yi’s little brain to register the difference between the two. Aunt Hu was kindly by nature and proactively chatted with her, and before long, Yi Yi also grew familiar with her.
“Wanyan, then I’ll go cook dinner.” Aunt Hu had originally intended to call her “Third Young Mistress,” since in her eyes, Sheng Wanyan was of noble blood. Sheng Wanyan found it awkward and insisted she call her by her name, lest outsiders overhear and think their family was engaging in bourgeois practices.
“No need, you start work tomorrow. My mom already cooked tonight’s dinner over at her place.”
“Sit down and have a bite with us.”
Hearing this, Aunt Hu immediately declined. How could she eat and drink for free? “Aunt Hu, don’t stand on ceremony. Just consider it a welcome meal for you.”
Aunt Hu stubbornly refused, being highly principled. It wasn’t until Mother Sheng brought the food over and shared a long, persuasive chat alongside Father Sheng that Aunt Hu was finally convinced.
Aunt Hu grew familiar with Father and Mother Sheng, especially Mother Sheng; by the time they finished dinner and departed, they were already addressing each other as good sisters. Ten sentences from Sheng Wanyan weren’t as effective as a single sentence from Mother Sheng, and Aunt Hu instantly felt a trace of belonging.
When Gu Tingxiao returned, he and Aunt Hu familiarized themselves with each other’s faces. After dinner, the couple retired to rest.
The next day happened to be the weekend, allowing Sheng Wanyan to observe how well Aunt Hu looked after the children.
Getting up early in the morning, Aunt Hu had already prepared breakfast and tidied the house until it was spotlessly clean. Even Yi Yi’s formula had been mixed. Seeing how diligent she was, Sheng Wanyan was inwardly surprised. If it were up to her, she certainly wouldn’t be able to get up to cook breakfast, usually just taking items from her space to eat with Yi Yi. Moreover, tidying the house so cleanly first thing in the morning in the dead of winter was something she simply couldn’t achieve.
“Wanyan, what do you think of today’s breakfast? If there are no issues, I’ll follow this standard from now on.”
Aunt Hu had prepared meat buns, corn, and eggs. The meat buns were even shaped into little rabbits, causing Yi Yi’s eyes to light up the moment she saw them.
Sheng Wanyan took a bite. The flavor was excellent, and the buns were very springy.
“Aunt Hu, your culinary skills are far too amazing, aren’t they?”
Seeing her praise her cooking, Aunt Hu instantly beamed. This was nothing! If she weren’t afraid that Sheng Wanyan would think she was boasting, she would have liked to tell her that her skills with grand courses were even more delicious.
“As long as you all like it, I’ll make them for you from now on.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded. “Aunt Hu, breakfast is wonderful.”
Hearing this, Aunt Hu rejoiced in her heart. As long as the boss was satisfied, her heart was at ease.
“Aunt Hu, have you eaten yet?”
“I’ve eaten. Rest assured, I won’t shy away from eating.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. Since they had agreed food and lodging were included, she wouldn’t be stingy; whatever the family ate, Aunt Hu would eat the exact same thing.
