Upon hearing this, Qin Jiao smiled faintly.
’I don’t know if I was pure back then, but I’m definitely not now,’ she thought. Some things were better left unexplained.
Seeing how happy Jiang Xiaoyue was, Qin Jiao thought to herself, ’This must be what people in the future would call the joy of seeing your ship become canon.’
Qin Jiao said, "Alright, I’m in a hurry this time, so I can’t stay long. Some of the design drafts you mailed last time were quite good, and I want to talk to you about the summer collection. If your designs are selected, we’ll pay you a design fee. Or, you could start now as a freelance part-time designer for our factory. In that case, you wouldn’t get a design fee, but you’d receive a regular salary. You’d also have to come work at the factory for a while during your winter and summer breaks. The choice is yours."
The matter was complex and offered options, which was why Qin Jiao hadn’t gone into much detail in her last letter.
Du Liya was a talented designer and had studied abroad, so her skills were certainly better than Jiang Xiaoyue’s at present. But her young mother-in-law was still on her honeymoon and was also pregnant. Most importantly, Qin Jiao knew her mother-in-law had no real career ambitions.
Making her work a nine-to-five job was completely out of the question.
Plus, she was getting older, had a new family, and would soon have a baby to raise... Qin Jiao had already discussed it with Shen Yi; they absolutely wouldn’t let Du Liya continue to worry about these things for them.
Shen Yi could handle the design work for now; he had a background in art.
But he was the factory manager and was planning to start an internet company in the future. He was so busy that he definitely wouldn’t have time for design work.
So, they needed someone with great design talent who was also trustworthy.
Jiang Xiaoyue was one of their candidates. At the same time, they would also keep an eye out for other talented individuals to bring into the clothing factory and, in the future, the internet company.
Jiang Xiaoyue was so excited her lips trembled. "Really? Is this for real? I’ll definitely choose the second option!"
Qin Jiao knew from her past life that Jiang Xiaoyue came from a single-parent family. She was a hardworking, positive, and cheerful girl.
Therefore, provided she had the talent, Qin Jiao was more than willing to give her a helping hand.
Qin Jiao said, "Okay then. It’s the end of March now. How long will it take you to get the design drafts for the summer collection to me?"
"Three days? No, that won’t work. I need to draw them properly. It’ll take at least a week."
"A month, then. Before May Day, get the design drafts to me. I need at least ten different styles. Can you do that?"
Jiang Xiaoyue’s eyes lit up. "Boss, I promise you, I’ll definitely get it done! Before May Day, you’ll have ten design drafts—if not more!"
"Oh, and when you mail them, send them by registered mail so they don’t get lost."
"Yes, Boss!"
After seeing Qin Jiao and Shen Yi off, Jiang Xiaoyue remained standing at the school gate, watching the car they got into until it disappeared from sight.
A classmate passing by looked at Jiang Xiaoyue curiously. "Jiang Xiaoyue, what’s wrong? Are you crying? Did someone bully you?"
Jiang Xiaoyue sniffled and shook her head. "No one bullied me. I’ve met my benefactors. That couple, they’re truly good people. Do you think I must have helped them a lot in a past life for them to be so good to me in this one?"
Her classmate looked completely baffled.
If Qin Jiao had heard this, she would have said to Jiang Xiaoyue.
’You did help me immensely in our last life. You allowed me to feel the warmth of a very rare friendship during those bleak years.’
To be good to others is the greatest good you can do for yourself.
Qin Jiao felt a warmth in her hand. She looked up and saw Shen Yi’s large hand covering her small one.
Their fingers intertwined.