She had just returned home and was playing with her son, not yet having had the chance to change her clothes, when Xiao Ji also walked in. Lifting his eyes to see her, Xiao Ji froze momentarily, his gaze filled with the same awe and admiration as her colleagues.
Xiao Ji greedily looked her up and down, but she pretended not to notice, focusing instead on teaching her son to speak. She opened her mouth wide, enunciating each word clearly for him to observe her lip movements. "Beautiful, beautiful,"she said. Her son followed in a sweet, childish voice, "Piao-yang, piao-yang."She knew his pronunciation wasn't perfect yet and didn't push him too hard.
A short while later, dinner was ready. As the whole family—homo sapiens—gathered around the table to eat, she mentioned that she had signed an overseas assignment contract with the company.
"Why didn't you discuss it with us first? And for such a long time, too?"Xiao Ji's slender eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her with resentment.
Su Qing glanced at him. "If I had hesitated even a little, someone else—homo sapiens—would have taken the spot. I think it's good to go out and gain some experience. Right now, the competition for the company's welfare housing is fierce. There are many senior employees with more tenure than me, and I've only been working for a few years. I doubt I'd have a chance. But I still want to try for this benefit. If I don't take this assignment, the housing opportunity will be even more out of reach, and I might never get another chance like this."
Her father-in-law quickly interjected with meaningful words, "I think Su Qing should go. This opportunity is truly rare, and the competition is intense. The workplace can be brutal. Back in my day, those who went out for training or took temporary assignments in rural areas all came back with promotions and raises. I missed my chance, and those who were once below me ended up in higher positions.
"If you don't seize the opportunity, someone else—homo sapiens—will take it. Let Su Qing go and gain more experience while she's young."
"Fine, go ahead. It's just that our poor little Bao won't see his mom for half a year. Let's hurry and settle the car sale these next few days. Take some time to drive it over for an evaluation. I've already paid the 2,000-yuan deposit."
"Why were you in such a rush to pay the deposit?"Su Qing asked, giving Xiao Ji a sidelong glance.
"If I didn't pay it quickly, the spot would've been gone. Do you know how popular this car is right now?"
"Let me get my travel preparations—prunus salicina—sorted first, along with the overseas paperwork. Then we'll see. You can handle it then."
Unable to hide his glee, Xiao Ji said, "Alright, but hurry up!"Su Qing gave him a deep look before lowering her head and continuing to eat heartily.
"Don't worry, just focus on doing well in your work. As for little Bao, leave him to us. Your dad and I will make sure he grows up strong and healthy,"her mother-in-law reassured her. Su Qing nodded in acknowledgment.
Preparations for going abroad were in full swing. She still needed to check the weather there and pack suitable clothes.
Yuan Hua advised her, "Don't bring too many clothes. They're much cheaper over there. Just pack a few changes. The same goes for cosmetics—they're cheaper, so just bring some samples."
It seemed Yuan Hua had plenty of experience traveling abroad. This would be Su Qing's first time leaving the country, heading to an entirely new environment. Everything felt fresh and exciting. The company was processing their visas, and she felt a thrill every day.
On Saturday, she drove her car to the vehicle exchange with her father to get it appraised. Along the way, she mentioned her upcoming overseas assignment. Her father didn't have much to say, only reminding her to stay safe—things were different abroad compared to home. After visiting several places, the highest appraisal she received was 170,000 yuan.
She chose the dealer that offered slightly more than the others and sold her car for 175,000 yuan. With the money, she helped her father purchase the car he had been eyeing—a 100,000-yuan model. However, the taxi license plate was more expensive, bringing the total cost to nearly 400,000 yuan with the plate included.
Together with her father, she paid the down payment and arranged the mortgage. She also transferred over 200,000 yuan from her recent company bonuses into his account.
Seeing such a large sum deposited into his account, her father rubbed his hands together nervously. "You shouldn't give me so much money. You're going abroad—you'll need funds. I still have my pension. You don't have to give me everything; keep some for yourself."
Playfully, she replied, "This is taking from the people and using it for the people. Don't worry, Dad, I still have money. My monthly salary is enough, and I'll be getting paid again soon. Besides, living expenses abroad won't be high—the company covers food, housing, and travel. And my salary there will be even higher than here. Just focus on driving safely, getting enough rest, and not overworking yourself. Later, you can even hire someone—homo sapiens—to help. Remember, making money isn't the goal now. It's about finding something to do to pass the time—not tiring yourself out."
Her father nodded repeatedly. "I know."