"Director, you can rest easy! I’ll definitely work as hard as I can!"

The speaker was Huo Xiaoqian. She was a typical girl from the Northeast—outspoken and enthusiastic.

Meanwhile, Yue Zhaodi just nodded along behind her.

She was more introverted and not at all like most girls from the Northeast, clearly a result of her stifling upbringing.

Xie Changning glanced at Huo Xiaoqian. ’With Huo Xiaoqian around,’ she thought, ’Yue Zhaodi is bound to change eventually.’

With this in mind, Xie Changning asked Yue Zhaodi, "Do you want to change your name?"

’She can’t use that name anymore, not before she starts her studies.’

She was afraid people would make fun of Yue Zhaodi, so she wanted her to pick a new name for herself.

"I’ve already thought of one. I’ll be Yue Yang—Yang as in the sun." It was the first time anyone had asked her about changing her name, and since the person asking was Xie Changning, Yue Yang finally spoke the name she had buried deep in her heart.

’She wanted to be like the sun, shining brightly and giving off warmth!’

She had mentioned changing her name to her parents before, but they refused. They claimed her name would bring her younger brother good fortune and forbade her from changing it.

Now that she finally had the chance, she was, of course, thrilled to change her name.

"Deal. Tomorrow, I’ll contact Vice Factory Director Wang and have him help you change your name. Then you’ll go to Chuncheng to start your studies."

’It’ll probably take my mentor a few days to find the right people,’ she thought. ’By the time they get here, it’ll take a while to set up the lab. That should be enough time for these two to grow.’

"Okay!"

Since arriving at Xie Changning’s home, Huo Xiaoqian had discovered that Director Xie didn’t have to do a single thing around the house.

The two aunts helped with everything, and she only played with her child when she had a free moment.

’Then again,’ Huo Xiaoqian thought, ’how could an ordinary family possibly compare to Director Xie?’

Her family had three or four kids. Her older brother had to help with chores on top of his studies. As for her, she didn’t like school, so she’d come home to get ready to work at the chemical factory.

Thinking of her own family, Huo Xiaoqian’s heart filled with yearning for a life like Xie Changning’s.

If her resolve had been wavering before, it was now set in stone. ’I’m going to be the boss of my own household! I’ll make my future husband walk on eggshells around me, just like Uncle Chen does with Aunt Chen next door!’

’A single glance from her, and Uncle Chen wouldn’t dare say a word!’

Yue Yang stood to the side, somewhat withdrawn. She wasn’t used to suddenly having no chores to do.

"Now, now. Just make yourselves at home. Your Director is a good person. She’s happy to let you two study more, so you have to work hard!" Aunt Wang said, stopping Yue Yang as she reached for a bowl.

’Look at this child. She’s clearly nineteen, but she looks like she’s only fourteen or fifteen. It’s just pitiful.’

’Damn her parents!’

’Even old women like us know that women hold up half the sky. How could they make their own child’s life so miserable!?’

When Aunt Zhao was privately complaining to Xie Changning about it, Xie Changning had said, "It takes all sorts to make a world. Besides, our country is only just beginning to develop. In the future, more and more girls will be able to get an education, learn to read, get jobs, and even become high-ranking officials."

"Just like abroad?"

"No. Our own ancestors had empresses regnant. We’re learning from our own history, not from other countries."

Xie Changning was teaching Aunt Zhao to have confidence in their own culture.

These were things they’d always had, not something learned from another country.

They had dumplings for dinner, and both Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang ate their fill. The two girls were very thoughtful, helping to wash the dishes and wipe the table afterward.

Huo Xiaoqian, in particular, was remarkably quick and efficient.

Yue Yang, for her part, was practiced and meticulous.

The two girls complemented each other well. Xie Changning nodded slightly and had them come sleep in her room.

Huo Xiaoqian gazed at Xie Changning, then at the books and notes piled high on her desk, and said with admiration, "Director, you’re my idol!"

’The director is so incredible!’

"You don’t have to call me Director. From now on, just call me Sister Changning." At home, she didn’t want to be the director anymore. That was a job for work.

’She wanted to be a little lazy at home!’

"Sister Changning," Yue Yang murmured, her face flushing with embarrassment.

Huo Xiaoqian teased her relentlessly for it.

Yue Yang didn’t get angry, retorting quietly, "When Qianqian said it, her face was red too. Don’t think I didn’t see you."

"Oh! So you dare talk back to me now? Take this!"

Huo Xiaoqian started tickling Yue Yang.

At first, the smile on Yue Yang’s face was cautious, as if she didn’t dare to laugh, but it gradually blossomed into a brilliant one.

Perhaps it was the promise of a better tomorrow that ignited the hope in her heart. Her eyes were no longer dull and lifeless as they had been before.

Now, they were bright, full of hope, and filled with anticipation for the future!

The night passed dreamlessly.

The two girls woke up bright and early, packed their things, and began helping the two aunts with chores like wiping down the furniture.

When Xie Changning woke up, she overheard Huo Xiaoqian saying, "This is great. If my studies don’t work out, I’m just going to latch onto Sister Changning and get her to let me be her live-in housekeeper!"

"Being a housekeeper for Sister Changning would be a great career path too!"

Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao good-naturedly scolded her for having no ambition.

Huo Xiaoqian, expecting Yue Yang to agree, said, "Yue Yang, am I right or am I right!? I think I’m a genius!"

"You’re wrong. We can become Perfumers and help Sister Changning break into the international market. Why would we want to be housekeepers? I want to be a Perfumer. I want lots of people to respect me."

Yue Yang still spoke in her usual soft, gentle voice.

However, to Xie Changning’s ears, her words were resolute and carried immense weight.

She was like a drowning person who had just found a piece of driftwood, clinging to it for dear life. No matter what, she didn’t want to go back to that home.

’She was going to go out and see the world!’

"You’re right! Yue Yang, you’ve got a much better outlook than me!" Huo Xiaoqian said, giving Yue Yang a thumbs-up.

Ever since Yue Yang had changed her name, Huo Xiaoqian hadn’t slipped up once. As of last night, the name "Zhaodi" had vanished completely from Yue Yang’s world. No one in Xie Changning’s household ever called her Zhaodi again.

The two aunts especially, their hearts ached for her so much they couldn’t bear to call her by her old name.

Yue Yang found herself smiling more and more.

After breakfast, Xie Changning took the two of them into town to buy some fresh undergarments, along with the paper and pens they would need.

"Sister Changning, we couldn’t possibly accept this. We... we don’t need these things." Huo Xiaoqian might have seemed carefree, but she was very considerate.

’We’ve already received so much help. We can’t let Sister Changning spend any more money on us.’

Xie Changning smiled and said, "You think this is all free? You two are going to be working for me. Consider this an advance on your salary. You’ll have to pay me back eventually."

"So you’d better study hard, so you can earn enough to pay me back."

When Xie Changning finished, the two girls stared at her, their eyes filling with tears. They thought she was just too wonderful.

’Oh, our Sister Changning is just too kind! She’s obviously helping us out, but she has to say it like this...’ Her words warmed their hearts so much, they wanted to cry.