Xie Changning hadn’t expected the two little ones to cry. She was surprised. "What’s this? Can’t handle being in debt at such a young age?"

Xie Changning’s words made them both laugh.

In the end, they each bought two sets of underwear—the kind girls wore these days.

Huo Xiaoqian had one old set, washed so many times the pattern had faded completely. As for Yue Yang, she had never even seen such a thing.

Worried they would feel burdened, Xie Changning bought them two sets each so they’d have one to wear while the other was being washed.

Next were menstrual belts (China’s first sanitary pad production line was only introduced in the 1980s), toiletries, and paper and pens.

"We don’t need shoes. I know how to make them. I can use old clothes to make them when I’m not studying."

Just as Xie Changning was about to buy them cloth shoes, Yue Yang stopped her.

She knew how to make shoes and didn’t want Xie Changning to spend more money.

In the end, Xie Changning just bought some new fabric for Yue Yang to take with her.

Huo Xiaoqian nodded as well. "I can do some handiwork, like mending. Yue Yang is especially good at stitching soles. They’re so comfortable to wear!"

Yue Yang had secretly made a pair of cloth shoes for Huo Xiaoqian once. Huo Xiaoqian could never bring herself to wear them because they were just too beautiful. She felt they were only for special occasions when she went out.

That’s why, when they set off for Chuncheng, Huo Xiaoqian finally threw away her old shoes that were worn through at the toes and put on the pair Yue Yang had made for her.

The shoes were entirely black, but they were embroidered with beautiful lotus flowers in vibrant colors. The craftsmanship was excellent; one look was enough to tell the maker was incredibly skilled.

When Huo Xiaoqian took them out, she proudly showed them off to Xie Changning.

"Sister Changning, look! Yangyang made these. Aren’t they gorgeous?" ’I’ve only worn them once! I put them away right after because I just couldn’t bear to wear them out!’

Yue Yang smiled shyly.

"Qianqian, why are you still wearing these?" ’They’re from last year. They must be a little small by now.’

Huo Xiaoqian put her hands on her hips proudly.

The shoes looked brand new. Xie Changning gave Yue Yang a thumbs-up. "You’re really something else, Yangyang."

Xie Changning’s praise made Yue Yang blush even more, and when the driver returned, she practically fled into the car.

Practice makes perfect. The two were no longer the timid girls who didn’t know how to open a car door; they now knew how to find their own seats.

Xie Changning got into the front passenger seat and said to the driver beside her, "Let’s go. To Chuncheng."

Before leaving, she had contacted her sister. Her sister knew which schools had good foreign language programs, and she would have her take them there.

That way, the instructors would also be more attentive.

The two girls had never been outside of Anong County; their whole lives had been spent within its borders. Suddenly leaving it, their eyes couldn’t take everything in. They stared nonstop at the villages passing by.

"I thought it would be different outside Anong County, but it turns out it’s the same."

"It is different, though," Yue Yang said softly. "The crops here aren’t the same as the ones we grow."

By the time they reached the city, Huo Xiaoqian’s jaw dropped in astonishment. "Whoa! Is this Chuncheng? Look at all the big buildings!"

Yue Yang had been right; this place was nothing like Anong County!

’It’s so much more advanced than Anong County!’

Both girls pressed their hands against the car window, then brought their faces close, squashing them against the glass to see the world outside.

Xie Changning glanced at the world outside through the rearview mirror and left the two curious girls to their discoveries.

The car moved quickly, soon delivering them to the building of the Foreign Trade Bureau.

Since Xie Changning had brought outsiders and wasn’t here on business, she didn’t go upstairs to find Xie Changyi. Instead, she took the two girls to a nearby state-run restaurant.

This was what Xie Changning had told Xie Changyi when she contacted her.

They would meet at the state-run restaurant nearby.

"Mr. Xie, is the person we’re about to meet very important?" Yue Yang was a bit more perceptive than Huo Xiaoqian. ’Coming to such a grand restaurant... they must be a high-ranking official, right?’

’But... aren’t we just here to go to school? Why do we need to meet this important person?’

"She’s alright. She’s my older sister, so don’t worry." Xie Changning explained Xie Changyi’s identity to the girls.

The two girls knew Xie Changning’s status was surely extraordinary, but they never imagined that Mr. Xie’s sister was also a high-ranking official. It was truly astonishing!

When Xie Changyi arrived, Yue Yang and Huo Xiaoqian rose to their feet in unison.

They looked at Xie Changyi, bowed in unison, and said, "Hello, S-Sister Xie!"

Xie Changyi was not what the two had expected. They truly hadn’t thought Xie Changning’s sister would be so different from her. They stood stunned for a moment before bowing and speaking.

They didn’t know what to call Xie Changyi, so they followed Xie Changning’s lead and addressed her as Sister Xie.

The address took Xie Changyi by surprise.

No one had called her that in many years.

"Please, sit. No need to be so formal."

Xie Changyi wasn’t dressed formally. Her usual work attire was still a white shirt and green military-style trousers, giving her an air that was both casual and competent.

However, even though she looked casual, everyone knew she was a formidable woman. Her presence was powerful.

"My lunch break is only an hour and a half, so let’s make this quick and head straight over." As soon as Xie Changyi sat down, the restaurant staff began serving the food.

Xie Changning knew her sister’s personality, so she hadn’t ordered anything fancy to begin with.

She had only ordered four dishes. The four of them finished everything as quickly as possible, then got up, boarded the car, and headed to the place Xie Changyi had mentioned.

This time, however, they took Xie Changyi’s car.

This was because Xie Changning’s driver didn’t know the way.

The group got in the car and drove to a well-known adult foreign language institute in Chuncheng, where they led Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang inside.

The environment here was exceptionally nice, so nice that the two girls were almost afraid to step further inside.

Following behind them, Xie Changning observed the people inside. ’Everyone here seems so eager to learn,’ she thought. ’An environment like this should be able to motivate these two.’ 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Director Xie! What brings you here today?"

The head of the institute came up to Xie Changyi and shook her hand.

At this time, all commercial institutions were state-owned, and this foreign language institute was no exception. Everyone in such circles knew each other.

"Two of my younger sister’s workers are preparing to study abroad and need a period of intensive study here. Sign them up for all the relevant courses you offer. Just tell me the total cost, and I’ll have my sister wire you the money."

Hearing that they were the workers of Xie Changyi’s sister, the man’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang.

He looked the two of them over, and seeing that they were both sensible-looking girls, he slowly nodded. "No problem!"

No one would turn away business, after all.

Seeing that her sister had more or less settled everything, Xie Changning spoke to the man. "May I take a look at the environment in the classrooms?"

Her request was a reasonable one.