Shi Jixing impatiently described Xu Kuo's appearance, and at the end he didn't forget to add: "He's just a country bumpkin, obviously never seen the world!"
The more Secretary Wen listened, the more he felt something was wrong. The person Shi Jixing was describing was clearly Xu Kuo!
"Wait a moment."
As he spoke, Secretary Wen took out a piece of sketching paper and began to draw.
He sketched a simple image of Xu Kuo and then handed it to Shi Jixing.
"This is Xu Kuo. Do you think he's the one you saw today?"
"You...you're sure the person you saw was him?" Shi Jixing pointed at Xu Kuo's portrait, his voice trembling. He simply couldn't believe his eyes; how could this be?
"That's right! It's definitely him! I'd recognize him even if he were ashes!" Shi Jixing gritted his teeth. He never dreamed that he would be tricked by a country bumpkin.
"Bang!" Secretary Wen slammed his hand on the table, his face ashen. "Shi Jixing! I think you've lost your mind! Do you know that the 'country bumpkin' you just called a 'country bumpkin' is the talent I'm looking for!"
Especially when he recalled what Shi Jixing had said about the attitude towards Xu Kuo, he became even more anxious.
She grew angrier the more she thought about it, pointing her finger at Shi Jixing and yelling, "Look at you! You're good for nothing but causing trouble! You can't even handle such a small matter! You..."
Shi Jixing was stunned by the scolding. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something in his defense, but didn't know what to say. He never imagined that he would make such a big mistake.
Secretary Wen took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. She took a document from the drawer and threw it in front of Shi Jixing: "Look at this!"
Shi Jixing picked up the document with a puzzled look, opened it, and was immediately stunned. This... wasn't this the English manuscript that those people who had been harassing Secretary Wen had asked her to translate, but she just couldn't manage it?
"Who...who translated this?" Shi Jixing stammered.
"Who else could it be? It's that 'country bumpkin' you just called Xu Kuo!" Secretary Wen sneered.
Shi Jixing felt a burning sensation on his face, as if he had been slapped hard. He couldn't believe that this English manuscript, which even he himself was at a loss for, could have come from the hand of a country bumpkin.
"Shi Jixing!" Secretary Wen's voice was as cold as ice. "I'm telling you, if you ever dare to judge a book by its cover again, you're fired!"
Secretary Wen sternly reprimanded him: "Look at your face! Xu Kuo had real skills, but what about you? Besides being good with your mouth, what else can you do?"
Shi Jixing lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound. Although he was unwilling to accept it, he knew that he had indeed failed this time.
"Hmph, just Xu Kuo! What's so great about being a translator? Even if we lose Zhang the butcher, we'll still eat pigs!" Shi Jixing was still somewhat indignant.
Seeing his defiant look, Secretary Wen became even more furious. She shoved the English manuscript in front of Shi Jixing: "Fine, you think you're so capable? You try translating this manuscript!"
Shi Jixing picked up the English manuscript and slunk out of the office.
"Hmph, what a piece of trash!" Shi Jixing cursed Xu Kuo in his heart. He refused to believe that Xu Kuo could turn the world upside down!
He immediately contacted several people he was on good terms with and spread the word: he was offering a large sum of money to translate the English manuscript!
After seeing off the village chief and Tan Wang, Xu Kuo began to think about expanding the fishpond.
"I still need to ask Liu Yuan for help with this," Xu Kuo muttered to himself. He knew that Liu Yuan came from a big city and must know a lot of people, so he might be able to help.
He set off immediately and found Liu Yuan.
"Expand the fishpond?" Liu Yuan was slightly taken aback when he heard Xu Kuo's purpose. "I actually know a thing or two about this. There's a construction team in the county that specializes in this. They're quite skilled, but their prices might be a bit high."
“Price is not a problem, as long as the fishpond can be expanded,” Xu Kuo said hurriedly. “Teacher Liu, could you please help me contact them and ask them to come over as soon as possible?”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it.” Liu Yuan readily agreed. She knew Xu Kuo wasn’t a stingy person, and if this matter was handled well, it would also benefit her.
Not long after, a burly man with dark skin appeared by the fishpond.
“Xu Kuo, this is Captain Wang of the engineering team.” Liu Yuan stepped forward and introduced the two, “Captain Wang, this is Xu Kuo, Comrade Xu.”
Captain Wang looked Xu Kuo up and down, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry, and grinned: "Comrade Xu, is this the fishpond you want to expand?"
Xu Kuo didn't waste any words and simply pointed to the shimmering water in front of him.
Captain Wang's face immediately darkened upon seeing this.
Having been in this business for so many years, what kind of situation hasn't he seen? Expanding a fishpond is no small project; it can't be done without a hefty sum. This young man in front of him, dressed in coarse cloth, doesn't look like someone who can afford such a sum.
"Hey kid, you're not messing with me, are you?" Captain Wang said rudely, turning to leave. In his view, this was a waste of time.
"Captain Wang, don't rush off!" Liu Yuan quickly called out to stop him.
Captain Wang paused, snorted coldly, and glanced sideways at Xu Kuo, giving Liu Yuan face. After all, Liu Yuan was a city dweller, and he didn't want to make things too tense.
But he still didn't give Xu Kuo a friendly look.
"Hmph, if I don't leave, am I just going to let this kid play me? He's clearly not the kind of person who can afford to expand this pond."
Xu Kuo slightly raised his eyebrows.
"Who says I can't afford it?"
"Really? Tell me, how much are you planning to offer?" Captain Wang crossed his arms, looking like he was saying, "Let's see how much you can come up with." In his opinion, Xu Kuo would at most offer a few cents, just enough to appease a beggar.
Xu Kuo held up two fingers and shook them gently.
"Two hundred?" Captain Wang scoffed, his face full of disdain. "Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
"Two thousand," Xu Kuo calmly uttered the two words.
"Two thousand yuan?!" Captain Wang and Liu Yuan exclaimed at the same time, their voices splitting in shock.
Captain Wang thought he had misheard, his eyes widened, and he asked again, "How much? Say it again!"
"Two thousand, to expand this fishpond." Xu Kuo remained calm and composed, as if he were talking about two cents, not two thousand dollars.
Captain Wang was completely speechless, his face instantly beaming with a smile, as if by magic.
He rushed up to Xu Kuo in one stride, his tone incredibly enthusiastic: "Oh, Comrade Xu, you should have said so earlier! I'll take the job! Don't worry, I guarantee I'll do a great job! Tomorrow, no, this afternoon I'll bring my men over to start work!"
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