The translation office was quieter than the rest of the county.
Located behind a row of government buildings, it carried a different atmosphere—serious, focused, almost distant.
Lan Yue led the way.
Mei Lin followed calmly, her bundle still in her hand.
Inside, shelves were stacked with books and documents. Papers lay organized in piles. The faint smell of ink filled the air.
At a desk near the window—
A man sat writing.
Lan Yue paused.
"Husband," she called softly.
The man looked up.
His expression was calm, but sharp—someone used to judging people carefully.
When his eyes fell on Mei Lin, curiosity flickered briefly.
"This is my friend," Lan Yue said.
"She's looking for translation work."
The man's gaze deepened.
"Your friend?" he repeated.
There was a hint of skepticism.
In this place—
Translation wasn't simple work.
It required education. Skill. Precision.
And Mei Lin—
Didn't look like someone from that world anymore.
Still—
He didn't reject her outright.
Instead, he reached for a stack of papers.
"Translate this," he said, placing them in front of her.
Five pages.
Dense text.
Technical.
Difficult.
Lan Yue glanced at it and felt her heart sink slightly.
This is too hard…
But Mei Lin—
Didn't hesitate.
She looked up.
"Can I sit here?"
The man nodded.
---
Mei Lin sat down.
Picked up the pen.
And began.
---
The room fell silent.
Only the faint scratching of pen on paper could be heard.
Her movements were smooth.
Natural.
As if the language wasn't foreign at all.
---
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen minutes.
---
She stopped.
Placed the pen down.
"I'm done."
---
Lan Yue blinked.
"…Done?"
Her husband frowned slightly.
Already?
He took the papers.
At first—
He read casually.
Then—
His expression changed.
His posture straightened.
His eyes sharpened.
---
Line by line—
Word by word—
He checked everything.
Accuracy. Flow. Meaning.
Perfect.
Not just correct—
Better than standard.
More natural.
More precise.
---
His grip on the paper tightened slightly.
"This…"
He looked up at Mei Lin.
Then back at the paper.
Then again at her.
"…Who taught you this?"
Mei Lin simply said, "I studied before."
---
Lan Yue couldn't hold back anymore.
"Well?!" she asked quickly.
Her husband slowly placed the papers down.
"She passed."
---
Relief flooded Lan Yue instantly.
She smiled widely and pulled Mei Lin into a tight hug.
"I knew you could do it!"
Mei Lin smiled faintly.
But her eyes remained calm.
Because—
This was only the beginning.
---
Lan Yue's husband looked at her again.
"This is just first-level," he said.
"Basic entry."
Most people stopped here.
Few moved further.
---
Mei Lin met his gaze.
"I can pass up to level three."
Silence.
Lan Yue froze.
Her husband's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Level three?" he repeated.
That level—
Handled more complex material.
Political. Technical. High precision.
Very few people could reach it.
---
Mei Lin nodded.
"You can give me books."
No hesitation.
No fear.
---
The man stared at her for a moment.
Then—
He slowly nodded.
"…Alright."
"If you can do it—
I'll submit your work personally."
---
A quiet shift happened in the room.
From doubt—
To recognition.
---
Mei Lin stood up.
Then asked calmly,
"Can I stay here tonight?"
The request was simple.
But practical.
She needed time.
Focus.
Opportunity.
---
Lan Yue answered immediately.
"Of course you can."
Her tone carried no hesitation.
"We'll go out to eat today," she added with a small smile.
"You don't have to worry about anything."
---
Mei Lin nodded.
"Alright."
---
For the first time since entering the county—
She allowed herself a small breath.
A small pause.
---
The path had opened.
Not by luck.
Not by escape.
But by her own ability.
---
And this time—
She would walk it properly.
The office slowly grew quieter as the day passed.
Sunlight shifted across the floor, climbing the shelves, then fading into a softer glow.
Mei Lin didn't notice.
She was already working.
---
After agreeing to let her stay, Lan Yue's husband placed two books in front of her.
"Translate these first," he said.
His tone was no longer dismissive—
But it still carried caution.
---
Mei Lin nodded.
She sat down again.
Opened the first book.
And began.
---
Time passed.
Silently.
Steadily.
Her pen moved across the paper without pause.
Sentence after sentence.
Page after page.
No hesitation.
No correction.
No wasted motion.
---
Six hours later—
She closed the second book.
"I'm done."
---
Lan Yue had just returned.
She stopped at the doorway.
"…Already?"
Her husband looked up from his desk.
He took the translated pages.
Checked the first.
Then the second.
Then more.
The more he read—
The quieter he became.
---
Finally—
He placed the pages down slowly.
His expression had changed completely.
"Stay with her," he told his wife.
"I'll submit these."
Without waiting for a response—
He picked up the documents and left.
---
The door closed.
Silence returned.
---
Lan Yue walked closer, still slightly stunned.
"You finished both?"
Mei Lin nodded.
"Yes."
Lan Yue stared at her.
Then suddenly laughed softly.
"You really… changed."
---
They sat together.
For the first time that day—
There was no pressure.
No test.
Just two old friends.
---
After a moment, Lan Yue spoke again.
"You can't stay at my house," she said gently.
Mei Lin looked at her.
"My mother-in-law…" Lan Yue sighed.
"She doesn't allow outsiders."
Her tone held a trace of helplessness.
"It's already difficult enough living there."
Mei Lin understood immediately.
"It's fine," she said. "I'll manage."
---
Lan Yue hesitated.
Then asked softly—
"What about you?"
Her eyes searched Mei Lin's face.
"What happened to your life?"
---
Mei Lin was quiet for a moment.
Then—
She answered.
"When I was sent to the brigade…"
Her voice was calm.
But steady.
"I met someone."
Lan Yue leaned slightly forward.
"A teacher," Mei Lin continued.
"We got married."
A pause.
"I have a daughter."
Lan Yue's eyes widened slightly.
"How old?"
"Three."
---
Silence.
Then—
A small smile appeared on Lan Yue's face.
"You… became a mother."
There was warmth in her voice.
And something else—
Relief.
---
Mei Lin nodded.
"Yes."
Her expression softened slightly.
---
"And your parents?" Lan Yue asked carefully.
Mei Lin's gaze lowered.
"They were sent north."
Lan Yue's smile faded.
"I see…"
No more questions were needed.
In this era—
That answer said everything.
---
The two women sat quietly.
Different lives.
Different struggles.
But somehow—
Still connected.
---
After a while, Lan Yue spoke again.
"You're really planning to work like this?" she asked.
Mei Lin nodded.
"Yes."
Her voice was firm.
"I need money."
"For my family."
---
Lan Yue looked at her.
Carefully.
Then slowly smiled.
"Then… I'll help you as much as I can."
---
Mei Lin didn't say thank you.
She didn't need to.
Some bonds—
Didn't require words.
---
Outside—
The sky began to darken.
Inside—
Something new had begun.
The office was calm again.
Mei Lin and Lan Yue sat side by side, talking quietly—two women reconnecting after years of distance and change.
For a moment, life felt almost normal.
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast. Urgent.
The door burst open.
One of the workers rushed in, slightly out of breath.
"Director! Director!"
Lan Yue turned, startled.
"What happened?"
The man looked excited.
"She passed!"
Silence.
"…What?" Lan Yue asked.
"She passed Level 2!" he said quickly.
"The higher-ups checked her translation—"
He pointed at Mei Lin.
"They're very impressed!"
---
The room froze.
Lan Yue turned slowly toward Mei Lin.
Her eyes widened.
"Level 2…?"
That wasn't ordinary.
That level already required strong accuracy and understanding.
Very few people reached it so quickly—
Let alone on the first day.
---
Mei Lin remained calm.
But inside—
She knew.
This was expected.
---
Lan Yue suddenly grabbed her hand.
"You really did it!"
Her voice carried genuine excitement.
A mix of pride and disbelief.
---
At that moment—
Lan Yue's husband returned.
He had clearly heard the news already.
His expression was no longer skeptical.
It was serious.
Evaluating.
Respectful.
"You passed Level 2," he said.
A statement.
Not a question.
Mei Lin nodded.
"Yes."
---
He studied her for a moment.
Then gave a short nod.
"Good."
That single word carried weight.
---
Lan Yue clapped her hands lightly.
"That's it! We're going out to eat!"
She turned to her husband.
"Your treat."
Her tone was playful.
---
He didn't refuse.
"…Alright."
---
They stepped out together.
The evening air was cooler now.
The streets glowed softly under dim lights.
People moved slower.
The noise of the day fading into something calmer.
---
They entered a small restaurant.
Simple tables.
Warm food.
The smell of oil and spices filled the air.
---
For the first time in a long while—
Mei Lin sat at a table not out of survival—
But choice.
---
They ordered dishes.
Shared food.
Talked.
Laughed.
Lan Yue spoke more freely now.
Her husband listened quietly, occasionally adding a few words.
The atmosphere was light.
Almost… peaceful.
---
At one point, Lan Yue asked softly,
"You'll stay here tonight, right?"
Mei Lin nodded.
"Yes."
---
Lan Yue turned to her husband.
"Can she stay at the store?"
Her tone carried a hint of concern.
"She has nowhere else to go… and she can work there too."
---
He didn't answer immediately.
He thought for a moment.
Then—
"Alright."
---
Lan Yue smiled.
Relieved.
"Good."
---
After dinner—
They walked back together.
The night had deepened.
The streets quieter now.
---
When they reached the store—
They stopped.
Lan Yue looked at Mei Lin.
"Take care of yourself."
Mei Lin nodded.
"You too."
---
Lan Yue hesitated for a second—
Then hugged her lightly.
A simple gesture.
But meaningful.
---
Her husband gave a final glance at Mei Lin.
"Work well," he said.
"More opportunities will come."
---
They left.
Walking back into the night.
---
Mei Lin stood at the doorway of the store.
Alone again.
But this time—
Not lost.
---
She stepped inside.
Looked at the books.
The papers.
The desk.
---
A place to work.
A place to grow.
A place to begin again.
---
She sat down.
Picked up the next book.
And started.