Xiao Mei shows up half an hour early for her first job interview. Her hands shake so badly the water nearly spills, but one unexpected question from the manager changes everything.
Half an Hour Early
离还有半个小时，小美已经坐在公司门口了。
There was still half an hour to go before the interview, but Xiao Mei was already sitting by the company's front door.
她拿出手机，又看了一遍准备好的话。
She took out her phone and went over the lines she'd prepared one more time.
Xiao Mei
我叫小美，今年二十三岁……不对，应该先问好。
My name is Xiao Mei, I'm twenty-three this year… no, that's wrong, I should say hello first.
前台给了她一杯水，她接过来，手有点儿抖。
The receptionist handed her a cup of water; she took it, her hands trembling a little.
Receptionist
别这么呀，我们人很好的。
Don't be so nervous—our manager is really nice.
An Unexpected Question
Manager
你好，请坐。我看了你的，你是学的。
Hello, please have a seat. I've looked over your résumé—you studied economics.
Xiao Mei
是的，您好。我……我准备了很多东西想跟您说。
Yes, hello. I… I've prepared a lot of things I wanted to tell you.
Manager
那些先放一放。我就问你一个问题：上个月你最高兴的一件事是什么？
Set all that aside for now. I'll just ask you one question: what made you happiest last month?
Xiao Mei
啊？这个……我帮一家小饭馆算清楚了一年的，老板请我吃了一碗面。
Oh? Well… I helped a little restaurant sort out a whole year of its accounts, and the owner treated me to a bowl of noodles.
说到这里，她忘了，眼睛亮了起来。
As she said this, she forgot her nerves and her eyes lit up.
A Bowl of Noodles Worth It
Manager
一碗面就让你这么高兴？
One bowl of noodles made you that happy?
Xiao Mei
因为老板说，他做了十年，第一次看懂自己的。
Because the owner said he'd been in business for ten years, and that was the first time he actually understood his own accounts.
Manager
好。我不要会背的人，我要会算这碗面的人。下星期一来吧。
Good. I don't want someone who can recite a résumé—I want someone who can do the math behind that bowl of noodles. Come start work next Monday.
Xiao Mei
真的吗？谢谢您！那……我准备的那些话，还用说吗？
Really? Thank you so much! So… do I still need to say all those lines I prepared?
笑着摇摇头，把那杯没动过的水递还给她。
The manager smiled and shook his head, handing back to her the cup of water she'd never touched.