Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 145 Lu Siwen's Ambition

The next morning, Zhai Da and Lu Wei went for their usual morning run.

As usual, sitcoms were being staged at the entrance of the residential compound.

Liu Tiejun still hasn't left Dongyang. Or rather, as the person in charge of recruiting students from scattered provinces, he has no more important work to do than poaching two "top scorers." Yesterday, he followed them to "Utopia," and today he's blocking the entrance to their residential area.

Yu Jinghui, on the other hand, adopted a follower strategy, basically following Liu Tiejun wherever he went, and even called several colleagues to take over his shift.

When Liu Tiejun went into the public restroom, there was a Harbin Institute of Technology student accompanying him in the next stall.

There is only one purpose.

For self-defense.

In theory, Yu Jinghui was not solely responsible for admissions in a particular province, but rather served as the director of the admissions office at Harbin Institute of Technology. However, during this period, nothing was more important than protecting the two top scorers.

If Liu Tiejun doesn't leave, he won't leave; if Liu Tiejun leaves, he'll have to wait a couple more days to guard against a possible comeback.

The two groups' mutual infighting and wariness actually kept these troubles out of Zhai Da's life.

Even the security guard, Sanmao, was familiar with them. Every day, he would sit on a bench and watch the two of them bickering, as if watching a grand show.

Isn't this more interesting than TV dramas?
Liu Tiejun darted around and said, "Student Zhai, we could actually try a customized training program. Are you interested in art? You should have heard of the reputation of Tsinghua University's Academy of Fine Arts. You could take one or two courses to improve your aesthetic sense!"

Before Zhai Da could reply, Yu Jinghui, who was like a martial spirit protecting him, appeared: "What are you saying? Zhai likes literature, not painting."

He also bought "The Long Road to Lu" yesterday, but hasn't read it yet.

"Even you guys at Harbin Institute of Technology don't like literature."

"You Tsinghua University has that? The Chinese Literature Department is a specialty of Peking University! Don't you have any idea how bad your Tsinghua Chinese Literature Department is?!"

Zhai Da smiled politely and said, "Please continue your conversation. We'll be leaving now."

Then I took Lu Wei for a morning workout.

He now divides his energy 50/50, using half for warm-up running and the other half for height training, including jump rope, vertical jumps, and some leg stretches.

In theory, swimming and basketball can also help with height growth, but one is too troublesome, and he doesn't know how to play the other.

My height hasn't changed in the past few days, but my jumping ability has visibly increased. The effect of the [Extreme Wristband] in breaking limits is hard to quantify, and it may take some time for it to produce a qualitative change.

Today, I'm still at No. 99 Luochuan Road, teaching students. I'm a roaming jungler with a microphone, randomly picking a few unlucky elites to 1v1 and flame them.

The course has only been running for a short time, so we don't know how much the students' grades have improved, but in terms of their learning attitude, Utopia has got it down perfectly, and you could even say the effect is immediate.

Many children were still eager to continue learning after returning home. With the support of various factors, they were indeed engaged in learning in the utopia, which restrained their playful hearts. The positive feedback from what they learned made them want to continue to improve even after leaving.

Even the most hopeless underachievers will be so excited they can't sleep when they discover they've actually become stronger.

However, the increasing number of parents blocking the entrance to register has affected the order of Utopia to some extent and is too noisy. At Zhai Da's instruction, Fan Junwei found a small storefront nearby, which will be used specifically to receive parents in the future.

Collect money on the side.

At 6 p.m., Zhai Da said to Ding Rong in the office, "Teacher Ding, could you cover my class for me? I have something to do tonight."

Ding Rong said, rather speechless, "I'm about to go crazy. How could I hear that from my own student?"

Just two months ago, I was still in the office reprimanding Zhai Da for his attitude towards learning, and now I'm actually substituting for him in class.

It's truly a case of thirty years in Henan, thirty years in Hebei.

Zhai Da chuckled: "I'll pay you back when you need something later."

Before leaving, Zhai Da exchanged a glance with Lu Wei, who was still in session, through the door. After leaving Utopia, he bought some gifts at a small shop at the intersection and got into a taxi.

The taxi slowly started moving. Zhai Da gave an address, and the taxi driver, while shifting gears, asked, "Young man, where do you live?"

Zhai Da shook his head: "My classmate's house."

"Your classmate's family is rich!"

Zhai Da didn't intend to chat much, but the taxi driver's passive skill was "automatic conversation," saying that the neighborhood was full of prominent people from Dongyang County, how powerful they were, and that his uncle's aunt's daughter's godfather lived there.

Even though Zhai Da didn't say a word, he kept nagging the whole way.

The residential area where Lu Siwen lives is called "Yahu Fangshu". Back then, there was a small natural lake in this location, which was formed by the accumulation of a tributary of the Xinyi River that flows through Dongyang County. You could also call it a pond.

Zhai Da remembers that it smelled pretty bad when he was a child.

However, seven or eight years ago, the developer took a liking to this terrain and acquired the land at a low price in exchange for the additional development of public areas. They built this villa area, and the original pond was expanded many times over. One side is connected to "Yahu Fangshu" and the other side has a park square.

Young people would never be interested in a place like a square, especially since it's far away. Zhai Da hadn't been there for years, but it's a holy site for square dancing in Dongyang, where countless elderly people arrive by tricycle after nightfall.

Turn the volume up to the maximum and dance the wildest dance.

Embracing someone else's spouse, reminiscing about one's own youth.

If it weren't for its distance from the villa area, and the fact that "Yahu Fangshu" has excellent greenery that helps block out noise, the price of the property could be much lower.

Upon arrival at the destination, a place inaccessible to taxis, Ms. Lu Siwen, the resident, had been eagerly awaiting arrival at the entrance of the community since early morning.

Today, Lu Siwen looked exceptionally beautiful in a pale yellow dress that shone brightly in the sunlight. She wore a woven sun hat, and when she raised her hand to wave, the hem of her dress opened slightly, like a small yellow flower blooming on the beach.

"Zhai! Over here!"

She even opened the car door for Zhai Da, saying, "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to find it, so I came to pick you up~"

"I'll help you carry your things!"

The hem of her skirt blossomed even more, and then, like butterflies, it fluttered around Zhai Da, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right.

After the two left, the taxi driver was stunned for a moment: "Holy crap, that young man..."

Zhai Da followed Lu Siwen inside. The density of the residential area was very low, like a park. Of course, you wouldn't need to do that if you wanted to surprise a soul from the future.

Lu Siwen, carrying Zhai Da's gift, skipped along excitedly: "Editor-in-Chief Lou arrived this afternoon and is having tea with my dad. Aunt Liu made pizza tonight."

"Is Aunt Liu really that awesome?"

Is she a Chinese aunt?
Zhai Da felt that Lu Siwen was noticeably more lively than before, probably because the pressure that had been hanging over her head and the subtle conflict with her mother had been resolved.

This girl, who was already as lively as a deer, has now completely unleashed her true nature.

They walk by hopping, taking two steps at a time.

Upon arriving at a three-story villa, the female owner, Qian Yarong, was actually there to greet him at the door. This was the first time Zhai Da had ever seen her like this.

She wore a little black dress, a relatively formal outfit for entertaining guests. Although she was not young, she maintained a good figure with curves in all the right places.

"Xiao Zhai is here, why are you still bringing anything? This kid..."

Zhai Da handed over a gift: "You should always bring something when you visit someone's home."

As usual, six walnuts are the starting point.

Qian Yarong laughed and said, "It's obvious that Siwen wanted to drink this. Did this girl call you?"

Actually, no, it was just high-EQ social interaction, making it seem like he was satisfied with the small gift. This is almost an instinct for business people.

Having experienced so many changes, her opinion of Zhai Da has long since changed.

Even without the title of "top scholar," being able to start a business and publish a book at this age is admirable, and he is an outstanding young man who should spend more time with his daughter.

Upon entering the house, the entryway alone was about ten or twenty square meters. In the huge open kitchen, the legendary Aunt Liu was busy at work, but upon hearing the door open, she still turned around, lowered her hands, smiled, and greeted us.

Qian Yarong led him to the tea room, where Lu Zetao and Lou En were drinking tea.

Lu Zetao stood up and said cheerfully, "Our rising star writer has arrived?"

Zhai Daye also laughed and said, "I've come to pay a visit to the writer Lao Xiu!"

The two were quite familiar with each other, especially their conversation under the overpass, which had long since transcended the age limit.

"This must be Editor-in-Chief Lou, hello."

"Hello, Teacher Zhai, it's great to finally meet you."

Compared to the handsome older man Lu Zetao, Lou En's appearance is much more ordinary. He is in his fifties, balding prematurely in his prime, and already showing signs of developing male pattern baldness, but he manages to look quite presentable.

The Mediterranean Sea is the Mediterranean Sea, but people divert water from the south to the north, so the water from the left side is combed to the right side, which blocks the view. As long as you don't sit in strong sunlight, it's not very noticeable.

There was no concept of a separate space for men, so Lu Siwen and Qian Yarong sat down as well. Lu Zetao, as the host, began to brew tea, filling a small Ru kiln teacup with Pu'er tea that had been hyped up to exorbitant prices in the past two years. This stuff is really something else; nobody used to drink it, but suddenly it has become a collectible and an investment.

Every market trend has its purpose; someone's wallet ends up in someone else's pocket.

The conversation naturally began with congratulations to the top scorers in the college entrance examination, and we talked about this topic for more than ten minutes, which was quite pleasant.

The crowd was slightly surprised but also understood Zhai Da's plan to apply to Harbin Institute of Technology. At this score, choosing is more important than being chosen, and resources are more important than fame.

Tsinghua and Peking Universities are indeed strong, but how much can they dedicate to a single student? Once you're in, isn't it still just about the library, the cafeteria, attendance taking, and final exams?

On the contrary, the "one policy per student" offered by Harbin Institute of Technology sounds more tempting.

Lu Siwen sat obediently next to Lu Zetao. When her father was engrossed in his conversation and forgot about it, she would naturally refill everyone's tea. She was quite skilled with the complicated Kung Fu tea set, using each tool just right, even elegantly.

Perhaps due to the special occasion, she automatically switched to the state she was in when socializing with her parents, showing a completely different side of herself.

Perhaps she could be described as a lady from a prominent family.

Halfway through their conversation, a whole box of "The Long Road of Lu" was placed next to the tea table. It must have been brought by Lou En. Zhai Da picked up a copy and said, "Thank you for your support, Uncle Lu. I heard from Editor-in-Chief Lou that you ordered 300 copies?"

Lu Zetao said with great enthusiasm, "I plan to give some to some of my friends so they can see what a good work looks like."

As she spoke, she stood up and took out three more books from the bookshelf behind her: "I'll give them away with my work. By the way, Xiao Zhai hasn't read my books yet, so I'll give you a few this time."

Zhai Da took it and looked at it.

"Cows, Widows, and Tractors"

If there were no summer, would autumn have no yesterday?

The Indescribable Novel

Each one is of unclear meaning.
What is this?
I was about to say some compliments, but after one look, I decided to keep them to myself.

Lou En, ever the seasoned one, said naturally, "I still remember President Lu's works vividly; I still keep a copy by my bedside."

That's the truth. If you put it under the bedside table, isn't it still a bedside table?

Zhai Da pointed curiously at "The Indescribable Novel": "Is this a suspense novel?"

"No, it's a romance story about a love affair in the twilight of life."

"The cow, the widow, and the tractor... it must be a period drama, right? Like a story from the 'S' and 'X' era?"

"No, that was my first collection of poems, containing thirty-two modern poems."

Zhai Da:
Lu Siwen felt her face burning hotter than a teacup. Her father's books were so difficult that even his own daughter couldn't finish reading them.

Zhai Da still carefully put it away, after all, he hadn't seen it before, right?
It's so bad that he could use it to make unruly students in Utopia read aloud as punishment.

Qian Yarong checked the time and invited everyone to the restaurant for dinner, where they took their seats one by one.

The Lu family had a long table, with Lu Zetao in the middle, his wife and daughter on his right, and Lou En and Zhai Da on his left, arranged according to seniority.

Just before the meal, Qian Yarong took a moment to say, "Xiao Zhai, I heard from Siwen that you're starting a tutoring business, offering tutoring services for college application?"

"correct."

"To be honest, Siwen's life was disrupted after she changed her plans to attend university in China. The more she researched filling out the application, the more complicated it became. I came here today to consult with you."

Zhai Da recalled Lu Siwen's score. In fact, Lu Siwen reported it as soon as the scores were released, but he was blocked at the door and couldn't even say congratulations.

"If I remember correctly, 412 points. That's two points higher than the estimated score, right?"

Qian Yarong nodded and patted Lu Siwen's head with satisfaction: "Yes, this child is quite promising. In the last month, his score improved by more than 20 points."

Lu Siwen raised her hand and said, "It was Zhai who helped me. He taught me university study methods and even gave me his predictions for essay topics."

Qian Yarong exclaimed in surprise, "Is that so? You should thank Zhai properly then."

Lu Siwen thought about it and realized it was true. He hadn't thought about it before and only said that he would give his pen to Zhai Da later, but now he realized that was obviously not enough.

There should be more to it!

Meanwhile, Zhai Da was already thinking about Lu Siwen's volunteering.

His mind had been filled with volunteer-related knowledge lately, and combined with his memories of this summer from his previous life, he quickly identified a favorable piece of information.

"Siwen's interests are definitely in the field of literature."

Qian Yarong: "Yes, but we've discussed it. Interests and majors don't have to be completely related. For example, English majors are also acceptable, and Siwen's English is very good."

Zhai Da thought for a moment and said:

"This score isn't a sure thing, but it might give me a chance to get into the Chinese Literature Department at Peking University."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked over in surprise, even the usually composed Lu Zetao widened his eyes.

He asked urgently, "Xiao Zhai, is this really true?"

Zhai Da stroked his chin: "The admission score for Peking University this year is expected to be around 415, but this is an average value, not an absolute value. It also means that there will be higher or lower scores. There are many factors that affect the admission score, such as different majors and different admission batches."

I explained a lot to a family who didn't quite understand the rules; explaining this thing clearly is inherently complicated.

But no one was impatient, and no one interrupted even after the dishes had been served.

The Chinese Department of Peking University is one of the best in the country and a cradle of writers, with extremely high academic prestige. Industry insiders like Lu Zetao and Lou En are well aware of this.

For example, Zhou Shuren taught in the Chinese Department of Peking University.

Of course, domestic university education "emphasizes science and neglects humanities", so even though Peking University's Chinese Department has a century-long reputation, its admission scores are far lower than those of key science majors, and can even be said to be slightly lower.

"Siwen's required grades are all A, right?"

Qian Yarong quickly replied, "Yes, I got an A+ in elective history."

Zhai Da stroked his chin:
"I think a score of 412 is not very safe for the first batch of admissions, but the new admissions rules in 08 will be more chaotic. If you get an A+ in electives, the probability of getting into the second batch is very high."

Qian Yarong immediately pressed, "How big is it?"

"It's difficult to quantify. It's roughly 70%."

This is quite high, and although it's unclear whether it's accurate, it's still exciting news.

Lu Zetao immediately asked with concern, "How do we make up the remaining 30%?"

Zhai Dacheng said sincerely, "There is no way to make up the 30%, and unlike in foreign countries, there are no recommendation letters. I can only say that I should collect as much information as possible, make a more accurate judgment, and then plan my way out."

Lu Zetao could hardly suppress the smile on his face.
The writer Lao Tzu's daughter is a graduate of the Chinese Literature Department at Peking University. What do you call that? You call it inherited talent!

He can keep bragging like that until he's seventy.

He had previously worried that Zhai Da would recommend Lu Siwen to a university in Northeast China because of his position at Harbin Institute of Technology, but now it seems he had clearly underestimated the top student.

The advice given was entirely for Lu Siwen's benefit.

But this means Zhai Da and Siwen will be far apart, and it's uncertain how long this relationship can last.

Enough, let the young people handle their own affairs.

There's still plenty of time. You can talk about your "starting point in life" after graduating from university. If you continue your studies, it could be many more years.

At the dinner table, Lu Siwen seemed to have little concept of distance, asking, "Is the distance between Beijing and Harbin far?"

Lu Zetao said, "It's about a thousand kilometers."

Lu Siwen asked in surprise, "It's so far, how long would it take to fly there?"

Lou En said, "I've sat here before, for about an hour and a half."

Lu Siwen patted her chest and said, "Well, it's good that taking the subway in Shanghai used to take more than an hour, but the flight only takes an hour and a half, so it's not far."

He then looked at Qian Yarong and asked, "Mom, can I go to Harbin every weekend from now on?"

Qian Yarong's voice rose several octaves: "Each one??"

"Yes?"

Are you trying to rack up airline miles here?!

　A long chapter of 5,000 words, please vote with monthly tickets!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)