I've heard that ...; rumour has it that ...; it appears as if ...
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am
family business; family trade; one's occupation; one's trade
to succeed (a person, to a position, etc.); to inherit; to patch (clothes); to mend; to add (e.g. charcoal to the fire); to replenish with
quarrel; brawl; fight; squabble; scuffle; argument
period of poor employment opportunities; job drought; (lit.) employment ice age
rather; sooner; preferably
project; enterprise; business; (arch.) act; (arch.) deed; (arch.) conduct
magnification; enlargement; expansion; amplification
profit; gains; benefit; advantage; grace (of God, Buddha, etc.) (esp. as attained through rightful actions, prayer, adherence to one's faith, etc.); blessing
ability to take action; ability to take initiatives; energy; dynamism; drive
to become twisted; to grow distorted; to get sulky; to sulk; to grow bitter; to become embittered
doing whatever one pleases
investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing; catching up; overtaking
to compare; to make a comparison; to compete; to vie
wretched; miserable; shameful; mean; despicable; abject
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
self-abasement; humility; self-depreciation
(one's) older sister; (one's) elder sister; girl
to go; to come; to be defeated; to collapse; to be annoyed; to be nonplussed
need; want; necessity; costs; expenses
time; season; period; phase; stage
to obtain; to come into possession of; to get hold of; to get one's hands on
loquat (Eriobotrya japonica); Japanese medlar
answer a roll call for another
notebook; copy-book; note; noting down; (musical) note; laptop (computer)
copy; photocopy; blurb on a book jacket; catch copy
department of a university; undergraduate (course, program, etc.)
management studies; business administration (study of)
department; section; course (of study); branch of study; (taxonomical) family
together (of two people); both (of you, them, etc.)
pair of lovers; girlfriend and boyfriend
why; oh; no!; quit it!; stop!
really; very; extremely; (not) anything; (not) at all; (not) a bit
My goodness!; Good lord!; Holy cow!
thank you for your continued patronage
favour; favor; favourite; favorite; patron; supporter