NABC Chapter 411: 411: Contradiction
Chapter 411: 411: Contradiction
Chapter 411: Chapter 411: Contradiction
“Mm!” Lan Yudie nodded and said, “Xiao Han is a very low-profile person.”
“That’s good to hear!” Mother Lan seemed to be deep in thought.
“Mom, look, this is the bag Xiao Han gave you, and there’s also a necklace!” Lan Yudie hurriedly took out the gifts. Mother Lan’s face lit up with anticipation, and when she saw the glittering jewelry necklace, her eyes immediately brightened as she excitedly said, “It’s beautiful, so pretty!”
A smile appeared on the corners of Mother Lan’s mouth.
............
In the living room.
...
Xiao Han was feeling slightly awkward because Lan’s father kept sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper; after a brief greeting, he had remained silent. Xiao Han could only sit on the sofa, looking left and right. The two men sitting on the sofa were indeed quite quiet.
Lan’s father continued to sit on the sofa reading the newspaper, occasionally taking puffs of his cigarette.
After a long while, he finally put down the newspaper and stubbed out his cigarette. He glanced at Xiao Han and asked, “I heard you’re still a freshman?”
“Yes!” Xiao Han nodded seriously and said, “I am Lan Yudie’s student.”
“Quite frank, I see.” Lan’s father sneered as he heard this, and then said, “A student chasing after his teacher? That’s quite novel.”
“I...” Xiao Han’s face turned slightly red. He took a deep breath and then said, “Uncle, I think that love does not distinguish age or class. Nor should a teacher-student relationship stand in the way. We live in an enlightened world, a very open world. Therefore, we should not view the world through a narrow lens.”
“Are you saying that my view is narrow?” Lan’s father asked with a smile.
“No, not at all!” Xiao Han quickly shook his head, then said, “I mean that the world has become open, and we should look at the world with open eyes. In the past, a relationship between a teacher and a student was taboo. But now, it’s different, the world has accepted everything with a tolerant heart. Not to mention a teacher-student relationship, even same-sex marriage is legal in foreign countries. So, we should not confine our thinking to the past.”
“Hmph!” Lan’s father snorted and said, “I’ve been through life, I understand it well. I absolutely forbid teacher-student relationships.”
Xiao Han frowned; Lan’s father was unwavering, and if he continued to argue, they might fall out. So, Xiao Han had to maintain his silence. Seeing that Xiao Han did not rebut him, Lan’s father found it somewhat boring. He glanced at Xiao Han and continued, “How are things at school for you?”
Since the other party didn’t argue, he could only try to understand Xiao Han’s situation.
“Pretty good.” Xiao Han nodded and said, “I’m among the top of my class.”
“Mm!” Lan’s father nodded and asked, “I heard you are this year’s national top scorer of the college entrance exam? The first in history to get a perfect score?”
Lan Yudie pursed her lips and then said, “What do you suggest we do then? Are you insisting that Xiao Han drop out?”
“That’s not what I mean!” Lan’s father shook his head quickly, saying, “I’m just rationally analyzing the problem for you. The reason I was adamant that you two break up was because I was afraid that being together would draw the school’s attention and affect your master’s-Ph.D. program results, understand?”
“Dad, the school already knows,” Lan Yudie moved closer, then sat down beside Lan’s father, speaking excitedly. “Principal Chen has tacitly agreed. Although some old professors in the school think it’s not very appropriate, the school generally acknowledges it. As long as Xiao Han and I don’t show such a relationship in our studies, the school basically won’t interfere.”
“Hmm!” Lan’s father nodded slightly before saying, “Since that’s the case, then I can’t be bothered to intervene.”
“You should not intervene in the first place!” Mother Lan’s face blossomed into a smile. The future son-in-law had arrived bearing so many gifts, all things she liked. She went to the room and brought out two soft-case Chunghwa cigarettes, saying, “Look, the child bought good tobacco and liquor for you.”
“Really?” Lan’s father glanced at it, then said, “Alright, put them away. I’ll send them to Director Zhang’s house later.”
“Why can’t you just enjoy it?” Mother Lan immediately felt displeased upon hearing this. “The child brought gifts for our house, why should you send them to Director Zhang?”
“We have to please the superiors!” Lan’s father shook his head helplessly, saying, “I’ve been honest all my life, speaking my mind. It’s only now in my old age that I’ve realized one thing, which is to go with the flow. Perhaps I can take advantage of my time before retirement to get a little promotion, which would lead to much better benefits after retiring.”
Lan’s father had already decided to gift the cigarettes and alcohol to Director Zhang. And that latest model Apple phone would be a gift for Director Zhang’s son. He hoped to exchange these gifts for a higher position. After all, he had been sitting in the same position for far too long and was hoping to move.
Mother Lan smiled faintly, then spoke, “You’re just realizing this now? How did I advise you when we first got married? You wouldn’t stop, and even offended the bureau chief. Now, are you happy? Making you sit on a cold bench as a section chief for life. Doesn’t it upset you?”
“Yes!” Lan’s father smiled wryly, saying, “What can I do when our national conditions are such? What can I do when our country is like this? I can only go with the flow, only follow the general direction.”
“I’ll go make dinner,” Mother Lan said, getting up immediately.
“Mom, let me help you!” Lan Yudie hurriedly followed.
The once bustling living room suddenly became quiet.
Lan’s father seemed to lower his guard against Xiao Han, no longer questioning Xiao Han’s background and connections. Instead, he began to talk with him about some current news, discussing international affairs. Lan’s father wanted to probe and test Xiao Han’s awareness of the news. However, Xiao Han was quick on the uptake. Although he didn’t follow the news closely, his memory for information was nearly photographic. He had installed a NetEase News app on his phone and would spend ten minutes a day browsing the news content there.
A retentive memory for what he read.
Lan’s father and Xiao Han conversed almost exuberantly, touching on a wide range of topics. Xiao Han also tried his best to cater to Lan’s father’s interests, discussing everything under the sun.
“I didn’t expect you to be so concerned with the news!” Lan’s father exclaimed. “Students like you are rare nowadays. Most kids would be reading novels, playing games, or chasing girls at school. Xiao Han, to be frank, I initially thought you were that kind of person. I thought you took pride in dating female teachers. That’s why I was especially against you and Little Butterfly being together. Now it seems my perception may have been wrong.”
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