Mr. Wen was almost shocked when he heard what Chen Xuan said, because, as far as Mr. Wen knew, Chen Xuan was an illiterate old-fashioned woman a year ago, but now she wanted to be a first-class professor? Even Mr. Wen's knowledge was still shocking to Chen Xuan. Fortunately, he was Mr. Wen who had seen a lot. Moreover, Wei Nian also came to ask for advice. Mr. Wen's knowledgeable eyes wandered over the solemn faces of the young couple. Mr. Wen believed that the young couple were not joking.
The Wei family has an advantage, they are extremely united outside. Even Wei Yin, who heard about the ambitions of her second sister-in-law Chen Xuan for the first time, came over and sat next to her brother to show her support for her. Moreover, she glanced at the laughing Ms. Chen vaguely.
The Wei family members all expressed their opinions at the same time, and then everyone finally realized that the Wei family members were not joking, they were serious.
Mr. Wen was well versed in the art of gradual progress and asked, "Has Mrs. Wei made any preparations?"
Chen Xuan said, "I plan to prepare for the college entrance examination first. I have also decided on a major, which is agronomy."
Seeing that Chen Xuan had really thought about this question, Mr. Wen said, "I want to be a first-class professor in the university. Chu Si, come here."
Professor Chu's full name is Chu Si. Professor Chu had obviously heard Chen Xuan's question. Although Professor Chu was young, he was on equal footing with Mr. Wen, sitting in the vacant upper right seat. Mr. Wen introduced to Chen Xuan, "Professor Chu graduated from Columbia University in the United States with a doctorate degree, and is now a first-class professor at Peking University." Mr. Wen corrected Chen Xuan that he was a first-class professor, not a first-class professor.
Chen Xuan felt that Professor Chu was very knowledgeable during the conversation just now. She didn't expect that he was a doctor. Chen Xuan knew that a doctorate was a degree. One had to finish college, graduate school, and doctoral studies to get a doctorate. At this moment, Chen Xuan looked at Professor Chu with deep admiration and praised him sincerely, "Professor Chu is really amazing." She continued to ask Mr. Wen, "Do you mean that if you get a doctorate, you can become a first-level professor?"
"Now, it's not entirely true. Professor Wu has a brilliant pen and writes great novels. Professor Wu has never been to college, but he has real talent and knowledge, so he can still be a professor at a university." Mr. Wen said, "The most important thing is to have real talent and knowledge. As long as you have made achievements in a certain area, like Professor Wu, who has a well-known book, or like Professor Chu, who not only has a lot of books but also has a doctorate from a prestigious university, it's all right. It depends on what you prefer, Mrs. Wei."
Chen Xuan thought about it carefully and answered solemnly, "I'm not particularly smart. Now that I've studied, I've become a little smarter. Professor Wu can write a book without ever going to college. He's a genius. I can't do that. I think I still have to study step by step. It seems that I have to follow Professor Chu's path."
If it weren't for Professor Chu's self-restraint, a petty person would probably be annoyed to hear this. Although Professor Wu is also a celebrity in the cultural circle, his reputation is still far inferior to that of Professor Chu. Mr. Wen just used the two as examples, and did not mean to say who is better or worse. It was Chen Xuan who made the comparison herself, and then came up with a fallacy, and said it carelessly. As soon as she said this, she was laughed at again.
Wei Yin heard the chirping laughter of Ms. Chen, just like a loud hen about to lay eggs. Mr. Wen, however, had no intention of laughing at Chen Xuan. After the previous shock, Mr. Wen had seriously considered Chen Xuan's request. Chen Xuan had indeed just started to study, but wasn't it amazing that such an old-fashioned woman could have such a desire to learn? Mr. Wen treated Chen Xuan differently at first because of her aggressiveness, which was different from that of ordinary old-fashioned women. Now, Chen Xuan has further established her own ideals. This should not be laughed at, but encouraged! Mr. Wen made a decision in an instant. He said, "How about this, today is a bit rushed and there is not enough time. Come over next month and I will make a list of books for you. You can study according to the list. When you have mastered the knowledge on the list, you can try the university entrance examination."
Chen Xuan was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."
Mr. Wen waved his hands and said, "It's not you who should thank me, it's me who should thank you. It would be great if all women in the world were like Mrs. Wei and could set such aspirations and study hard. I hope Mrs. Wei can set such aspirations and do such things, and set an example for all women in the world who are still trapped in their small kitchens."
Chen Xuan quickly said modestly, "I am still far from being a role model, but I will continue to study. I know I don't have much knowledge now, and I can't speak well, but I think I can make a living with my own ability in the future. I think that if someone like me who is neither smart nor outstanding can support myself, other ordinary women like me can definitely do it. Alas, the role model should be done by educated people like teachers and professors. If it weren't for you willing to guide me, how can I have a direction now?"
Chen Xuan is indeed not a person who is good at speaking, nor does she have that kind of knowledge, but she is honest enough, and the words she says are not just empty compliments. She truly admires these knowledgeable cultural celebrities. Therefore, even though her words are ordinary, the gratitude in her heart is truly expressed through her eyes and her behavior.
Such honest truth is more touching than a thousand eloquent compliments.
Professor Chu said, "We study to seek true knowledge and enlighten future generations. Mrs. Wei has great ambitions and ideals, which is a role model for women in the new era."
Mr. Wen and Professor Chu were quite influential among the cultural circles. They did not laugh at Chen Xuan's wild ideas, but expressed their support for her aspirations. Then no one would laugh at her anymore, including that sarcastic hen, Ms. Chen.
At that moment, there was a gentleman in a long gown who shook his head and said, "Is learning difficult or easy? If you learn, then the difficult things will become easy; if you don't learn, then the easy things will become difficult. As long as Mrs. Wei has a desire to learn, your ideal will not be far away." This was a gentleman who came and went. Fortunately, Chen Xuan had already memorized "The Analects of Confucius", otherwise, she might not understand all the "ha ha ha".
When the Wei family members said goodbye to Mr. Wen, they were filled with gratitude. Chen Xuan, in particular, had an incomparable understanding of Mr. Wen. It was because when someone like her asked Mr. Wen questions, he did not just give a brief explanation, but instead made a list of books for her. Chen Xuan could now recognize the commonly used characters. Although Mr. Xu would lend her books every time, Chen Xuan still had one biggest confusion, which was that it was different from the previous learning to recognize characters, where she could read any book, because it was still the same as learning to recognize characters. The problem she faced now was that she had to read selectively.
In this regard, no one has been able to give Chen Xuan clear guidance.
This time, Mr. Wen will give him a list of books.
Chen Xuan didn't come back to her senses until she felt a pain in her forehead. She looked up and saw Wei Nian's hand, which had just been withdrawn from her forehead, drew an arc and pointed to the back seat of a car. Wei Nian stared at Chen Xuan impatiently and said, "The door is open for you. Why are you standing there in a daze? Go in."
Wei Yindu sat inside and smiled, "Second sister-in-law must still be thinking about what happened at the salon."
At this moment, Chen Xuan didn't care about the salon. She even forgot about the first-level professor. She looked at the black car with a little curiosity. Chen Xuan wanted to take a closer look. She had only seen it on the roadside when she went out before, and she also smelled the strange smell of car exhaust. But Wei Nian kept urging her to get in the car. Chen Xuan didn't have time to look at it, and got in and sat with Wei Yin. Wei Nian sat in the front seat next to the driver and asked the driver to go to a fabric store near Longfu Temple in Dongsi to take the two of them to buy fabrics.
Chen Xuan was not familiar with rickshaws, and this was her first time riding in a car. She only felt a whoosh sound, and the car started to move very fast. The pedestrians and shops on both sides of the street turned into silhouettes under the setting sun and quickly retreated. Chen Xuan felt that even the birds in the sky were not as fast as them.
Chen Xuan's body was tense and straight, her eyes were fixed on the glass window in front of the car, her eyeballs could not move, and her heart was pounding wildly, as if it would jump out of her throat immediately. Wei Yin was a careful person, she felt that it might be the first time for her second sister-in-law to ride in a car, and she was afraid. The best way to relax people is not to comfort them, because it is very likely to increase their tension. Wei Yin chose a topic to talk to Chen Xuan, "Second sister-in-law, I haven't heard you talk about the first-level professor before. When did you want to be a first-level professor?"
Chen Xuan is a very focused person. The characteristic of a focused person is that they can only think about one thing at a time. When Chen Xuan saw Wei Yin asking her about the first-class professor, she let go of the nervousness of riding in a car for the first time. Because there was a driver in the car, she whispered in Wei Yin's ear, "I heard from Brother Anian last time that a first-class professor can earn 600 yuan a month. Ah Yin, think about it, is there a better job in the world than this?"
"That's a lot of money!" Wei Yin didn't expect that a university professor would earn so much.
"Yes." Chen Xuan turned her head to look at Wei Yin, her heart full of envy for scholars, her eyes revealing a faint yearning, "Besides, being a teacher is a very respected thing. I also particularly like the way those knowledgeable gentlemen in the salon speak. They are so knowledgeable. I want to be that kind of person. However, it must be difficult to become a first-class professor. I thought that Mr. Wen must know, so I asked Mr. Wen for advice. You see, Mr. Wen really knows. Mr. Wen gave me a list of books, and we will read them together. You and Brother Anian are so smart, you will definitely learn faster than me."
The two sisters-in-law were talking when they arrived at Longfu Temple. Chen Xuan got out of the car and realized that they had arrived at the fabric store when she stepped on the blue bricks at the entrance of the fabric store. Chen Xuan thought to herself, this thing called a car is really fast.
Chen Xuan was very restrained in spending money, and she had already made up her mind, so she only chose a dark-colored cloth. Wei Yin was always sensible and refused to ask for more, but Wei Yin was young and liked light colors, so she chose light beige. Wei Nian pointed to a brown cloth and asked the shopkeeper to pack it up. Chen Xuan thought that this should be bought for Wei Jinjin.
Wei Jin and Wei Yin are sisters. If Wei Yin is the only one to buy and not Wei Jin, Wei Jin will definitely make a scene. Then, Wei Nian asked Wei Yin to pick a piece for Yun Jieer.
Finally, Wei Nian asked the shopkeeper to replace the dark-colored woolen material that Chen Xuan had chosen with a watermelon red one. Chen Xuan whispered to An Nian about her plan, "Dark-colored ones don't get dirty easily." These woolen materials had to be taken out for dry cleaning, and each dry cleaning cost several cents. Chen Xuan was a person who knew how to live, so she chose the dark-colored one.
Wei Nian usually looked down on Chen Xuan's blind calculations. He glared at Chen Xuan. He had not yet settled the score with this stupid girl for the embarrassing incident at the salon. Chen Xuan stopped talking immediately when she saw Wei Nian glaring at her. She told Wei Nian to do whatever he wanted. Then, she flattered him in a very spineless way, "Brother Nian, you have better taste than me. The one I'm wearing now is dark in color. This red one is better. It's festive and makes people like it at first glance."
For some reason, Wei Nian felt his fingers itching for no reason, and he really wanted to hit this flattering woman on the forehead.
After buying the materials, the three of them took a bus home. Longfu Temple was not far from Wei's house in Ganyu Hutong. According to Chen Xuan, it was just a short distance, so they could just walk back, and they could save the bus fare. But she had just offended Wei Nian, so she didn't dare to express her opinion and followed him home. The second time she took the bus, Chen Xuan was not as nervous as before.
When they got home, Grandpa Wei and Wei Shi had returned from the shop. As expected, Wei Nian gave the brown material to Wei Jin. Wei Jin was so happy to have a new piece of woolen material. When Mrs. Wei habitually complained about Wei Nian's extravagance, Wei Jin directly advised her mother, "Anian is not spending money on others, but buying things for his sisters. This is to show his love for his sisters. Mom, please stop nagging. If Anian doesn't buy anything for you, I will blame you."
Old Mrs. Wei's eyes narrowed into a line as she smiled. "Okay, I won't say any more."
Chen Xuan stood for a while at Old Lady Wei's place, then she went back to her room, changed her clothes, and went to help in the kitchen. Li had actually prepared everything. Seeing Chen Xuan come back, she smiled and greeted her, asking if they had a smooth trip to the salon. Chen Xuan nodded, went to the kitchen cabinet and took out a large bowl of porridge and a basket for steamed buns. Li opened the lid of the pot, and there was a tray of white steamed buns on the top of the porridge pot. As soon as the lid was opened, hot steam and the aroma of rice and flour porridge hit her face. Li picked the steamed buns into the basket while they were still hot, and then covered them with a steaming cloth. Chen Xuan immediately took them and brought them to the dining room. The two of them served porridge and dishes, and after a busy time, they set the table for dinner, and everyone came to the dining room to eat.
After dinner, Chen Xuan quietly gave Li the fabric that Wei Nian bought for Yun Jie'er. Li whispered, "She is just a little girl, she can wear anything. It's a pity to waste such good fabric." Thanks to Wei Jin's big mouth, Li knew about Wei Nian's purchase of fabric during dinner. Li was not a suspicious person. She really didn't expect that her brother-in-law would buy a piece for her daughter.
Chen Xuan touched Sister Yun'er's head and said, "Sister Yun is so pretty. Her eyebrows and eyes are really those of the old Wei family. She looks like her second aunt."
"I said so too." Li put the material away and thanked Chen Xuan. Chen Xuan refused to take credit for it. "Brother Anian bought it for Sister Yun."
Li smiled, "You and my second brother are both fine."
Chen Xuan said a few words in Li's room. After Wei Shi returned to his room, Chen Xuan said goodbye.
When Chen Xuan returned to the room, Wei Nian was sitting at the small table in the room reading a book. Chen Xuan said, "I sent Sister Yun's material to my eldest sister-in-law. Brother Anian, would you like some water?"
"Don't rush to pour the water. Come here. I have something to tell you." Wei Nian put down the book. He had been holding it in for the whole day.
Chen Xuan still poured half an enamel pot of hot water and placed it next to Wei Nian. Wei Nian had always refused to wear cotton trousers and a cotton jacket. Chen Xuan said that she wanted to heat the kang, but he disliked the smell of smoke. Chen Xuan herself wore thick cotton trousers and a thick cotton jacket at night, and even woolen socks and big cotton shoes on her feet. Therefore, Chen Xuan was not cold at all. It was just that seeing Wei Nian freezing so cold, she felt sorry for him out of humanitarianism, so she always prepared hot water for Wei Nian to warm his hands.
Chen Xuan sat on the other side of the small table. "What's the matter?"
What else? Wei Nian asked Chen Xuan a question and whispered something, which attracted a lot of attention. He was almost laughed at. He kept talking about her calculations when buying clothes. Wei Nian said, "If you are unsure about something, don't speak so loudly. Don't you see that those who don't know what's good for you will laugh at you?"
Chen Xuan nodded honestly, and asked cautiously with some uncertainty, "Isn't it embarrassing for you if I don't call you Brother Anian?"
Wei Nian said "huh" with a confident and arrogant look, "How can I lose face? I mean you, you have to pay attention to the occasion when you speak in the future, understand?"
"Got it." Chen Xuan nodded rapidly, "If there's anything like this that you're unsure about again, I'll ask for your advice quietly."
Wei Nian also pointed out what Chen Xuan said inappropriately in the salon. Wei Nian said, "Although I don't know much about nerds, Professor Chu can be on an equal footing with Mr. Wen, while Professor Wu is just an ordinary guest in Mr. Wen's salon. Tell me, who has more status between the two of them?"
After giving Wei Nian this, Chen Xuan immediately understood and quickly replied, "Professor Chu."
"That's it. What you said is wrong. Even if Professor Wu is a genius, you can't put Professor Chu below Professor Wu. Everyone wants to save face. If Professor Chu is narrow-minded, you will offend him with your words."
"I really didn't mean it." Chen Xuan said, "I was thinking that Professor Chu has a doctorate, and Professor Wu has never been to college, so it's obvious that... this can't be compared." It can't be said that someone who has less education and becomes a professor is more knowledgeable than someone who has more education and becomes a professor. Chen Xuan fell silent.
Wei Nian taught Chen Xuan sternly, "Be careful with your words in the future, especially when it comes to comparing people, don't say them lightly."
Chen Xuan said sincerely, "I must not speak like this in the future. Professor Chu helped me a lot today."
Seeing that Chen Xuan was willing to accept criticism, Wei Nian was slightly satisfied and started talking about Chen Xuan's blind frugality. Wei Nian said, "Don't save money blindly all the time. You can't save money in the right way. You said, if you buy another piece of dark-colored material, you will have two clothes to wear alternately. People will ask you why you only have this one piece of clothing. You spend the money for two pieces of material to wear one piece of clothing. I really don't know if you are smart or stupid."
Chen Xuan muttered softly, "I was thinking that dark colors are more resistant to staining."
Wei Nian said, "There is no place to be frugal. People can't always think about saving money. Is money saved? Money is earned. Even if you save money every day, one dollar could buy five kilograms of fat pork ten years ago, but now it can only buy three kilograms. Even if you save one dollar for ten years, you still lose two kilograms of fat pork."
Chen Xuan blinked, "What should I do then?"
"Think of a way to make more money."
Chen Xuan thought hard and finally said with shame, "It was just by chance that I thought of knitting a wool sweater this winter. The money I made was not much."
"But this year is better than last year, isn't it?" Wei Nian was not all discouraging, he also tried to encourage Chen Xuan, "You can't rush to make money, you see the bottles and jars I collect, they also have to be kept at home for a long time, and I will only sell them when there is a suitable opportunity. There are ways to make money everywhere, just pay more attention to it on weekdays. Frugality means not to waste, not to be stingy, spending money where it counts, that's frugality. So what's the use of saving a few cents on dry cleaning fees, that's blind frugality. If you make a nice piece of clothing and wear it out, others will see that you are well-dressed and have a good impression of you, then the money is worth spending. From today on, your debt is written off, don't think about the few dollars you owe all the time, as if it were a mountain pressing down on your head."
Chen Xuan refused without hesitation, "No, let's put things in perspective! Brother Anian, I have remembered everything you said and I will think about it carefully. The money I owe is the money I owe. Brother Anian, you taught me these principles of dealing with people and teaching me English, which is a great help to me. If I don't pay back the money I owe you, what kind of person would I be? Wouldn't I be like a deadbeat? Brother Anian, you are a good person. I can't rely on you just because you are good to me and let you suffer. When I get better in the future, I will repay you, Brother Anian!"
Chen Xuan confidently and energetically took out a foreign language book from the drawer and asked Brother Anian to teach her the foreign language she was going to learn today.
The author has something to say: ps: I am always lazy today, so I will combine two updates into one, good night everyone~~~~~~~~~~~