Chapter 4: The Date

Seeing Zhou Shuo staring at her intently, with a thoughtful look, Li Zhi frowned and glared at him fiercely, then began to look around the Zhou family's living room, swaying her head from side to side.

Zhou's mother and Aunt Liu chatted for a while, then slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Oh, we've been talking so much, everyone must be hungry, right? Let's eat, let's eat!"

Only then did everyone, as if receiving an order, pick up their bowls and chopsticks and start eating. After a few bites, Zhou's mother, holding her bowl, asked Aunt Liu, "What is Li Zhi doing now?"

Aunt Liu sighed and said, "She insisted on going to high school instead of a vocational school when I suggested it. She didn't get into college after graduation and is now unemployed at home. Oh, I heard that your son Zhou works as a teacher at the Second High School. Could you help her find a job?"

"About that—" Zhou's mother glanced at Zhou Shuo and asked, "Son, what do you think?"

Zhou Shuo scratched his head, thinking that his position was about to be taken over, and where could he find connections to arrange a job for someone else? But he couldn't reveal the truth, or the matchmaking would fall through, and his parents would worry along with him.

He reluctantly said, "I'll try, but I can't promise anything."

Zhou Shuo ate the meal as if sitting on pins and needles until Aunt Liu and her daughter left.

As soon as Zhou's mother saw the guests off, she turned around, grabbed Zhou Shuo, and asked, "How was it, son? Isn't Li Zhi a good match?" She nodded to herself, saying, "I think she's great. She's pretty, polite, and considerate. You should try harder and bring me a daughter-in-law soon, got it?"

Zhou Shuo, caught between laughter and tears, said, "Mom, we don't even know if she likes me!"

Zhou's mother glared at him and huffed, "My son is a college graduate and a teacher at the Second High School. He's not bad-looking. Why wouldn't she like him?"

Zhou Shuo, helpless, said, "These things are hard to predict."

Zhou's mother reached out, grabbed Zhou Shuo's ear, and pulled him close, saying, "If I say it's a sure thing, it's a sure-thing! Be more proactive, get closer to her. Girls are shy, she might say yes. And pay attention to Li Zhi's job, see if there are any opportunities at your school... It doesn't matter if there are any; just visit Aunt Liu's house more often, and it will work out!"

Zhou Shuo, leaning against his mother, moaned, "Ouch, ouch! Mom, be gentle!"

Zhou's mother glared at him and nodded, "Remember what I said?"

Zhou Shuo quickly nodded, "R-remembered!"

Satisfied, Zhou's mother let go and said, "Go, do what you need to do!"

Zhou Shuo rubbed his ear and went back to his bedroom. Sitting on a stool, he thought, he had no real impression of Li Zhi in his memory. It was uncertain whether she liked him at all, so it was better not to get his hopes up...

The next morning, Zhou's mother, beaming with joy, pulled Zhou Shuo aside and said, "Aunt Liu is very satisfied with you. You should hurry up and get married next year, and give me a grandson the year after. Got it?"

Zhou Shuo, taken aback, said, "Mom, are you raising pigs? You even know when they'll be ready for market?"

Zhou's mother slapped his buttocks and said angrily, "If you were a pig, I'd have an easier time. I've already arranged a meeting with Li Zhi for today. Got it?"

Zhou Shuo, surprised by his mother's efficiency, had no choice but to agree, "Got it, got it!"

With time to spare, Zhou Shuo obediently dressed up, putting on his "battle uniform" that he only wore during holidays, and even borrowed a white steel Shanghai watch from his father.

Zhou's mother patted his suit, stepped back to examine him, and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Remember, as a man, you need to be proactive. Girls are shy. My son is so handsome; if you're a little more attentive, no girl can resist."

With that, Zhou's mother, eager to see her son off, pushed him out the door.

Walking down the street, Zhou Shuo couldn't help but sigh. It was almost the 21st century, and he was still facing an arranged marriage. At least it was a step up from the old days, where they would be sent directly to the bridal chamber, now they were sent to a date...

The meeting place was set at the largest Beihu Park in Xiucheng. Zhou Shuo took a bus to the west gate of Beihu Park. From a distance, he saw a figure in white standing under the famous hundred-year-old locust tree at the entrance of Beihu Park. The summer breeze blew, making her hair and the hem of her dress flutter in the wind.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Zhou Shuo ran a few steps, slightly out of breath.

Li Zhi, with her hands behind her back, looked Zhou Shuo up and down. He was over ten centimeters taller than her, making her feel a bit inferior.

When Li Zhi smiled, her eyes formed a beautiful crescent moon. She shook the book in her hand and said, "I haven't been waiting long. I was reading a book, so time passed quickly."

Zhou Shuo, with his keen eyes, noticed the book cover and said in surprise, "You're reading 'DOS User's Guide'?"

Li Zhi frowned and said, "Yes, it's very difficult, and I can hardly understand it."

Zhou Shuo, curious, asked, "Can I borrow it? It's rare for a girl to read such a dry computer book."

Li Zhi readily handed the book to Zhou Shuo, who took it and examined it carefully. The book was quite thick, and it seemed Li Zhi had read it often. The bottom of the book was worn, making it thicker than before.

Seeing that Zhou Shuo wasn't in a hurry to open the book, Li Zhi explained, "I have a classmate whose family is with the railway. I heard there's a job opportunity, but you need to pass a new computer proficiency test and obtain a Level 2 certificate to qualify."

Li Zhi pouted and looked at the book in Zhou Shuo's hand, saying, "So, I have to force myself to read this boring book. Oh, you can't imagine how difficult it is."

Zhou Shuo, pointing to his nose, laughed and said, "If you don't understand, you can ask me. I might not know much about the railway, but I can confidently say I know about computers."

Li Zhi, with her mouth wide open, looked at Zhou Shuo in surprise and said, "You're a computer major?"

Zhou Shuo, smiling, nodded and said, "Aunt Liu didn't tell you? I graduated from the Computer Science program at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications last year."

Li Zhi exclaimed, "Oh!" almost jumping up, and grabbed Zhou Shuo's hand, saying, "That's great! I have so many questions, you must teach me!"

"Sure!" Zhou Shuo, patting his chest, promised, "This exam isn't that hard. I'll teach you, and you'll pass for sure."

Li Zhi raised her hands in joy and said, "Yay! That's great! We have a deal!"

Zhou Shuo, smiling, nodded, "We have a deal, don't worry!"

As Zhou Shuo and Li Zhi were chatting happily under the big locust tree, they suddenly heard a familiar scream from behind.

Zhou Shuo turned around and saw He Youyou being pushed to the ground by a man. He quickly ran over, stood between them, and said sternly, "Stop! Who are you, and what do you want?"

The man in front of Zhou Shuo looked good, except he was a bit shorter than Zhou Shuo. He had a fair complexion, regular features, and neatly combed hair. Compared to Zhou Shuo, he had a more somber demeanor.

The man looked at Zhou Shuo coldly and said, "This is none of your business, step aside."

Zhou Shuo, looking into the man's eyes, said seriously, "You're hurting my student, how is this not my business?"

The man looked Zhou Shuo up and down and said, "How do you teach? Your students still steal?"

Zhou Shuo bent down to help He Youyou up and turned around, angry, and said, "He Youyou is an excellent student. You say she stole from you? Do you have any evidence?"

The man pointed at He Youyou's hand and said disdainfully, "Evidence? The stolen goods are right there in her hand."

Zhou Shuo turned around and saw that He Youyou was indeed holding a newspaper-wrapped box. His face darkened as he asked He Youyou, "Whose box is this?"

He Youyou looked like she was about to cry, pursing her lips and looking at Zhou Shuo, and said shakily, "Teacher, you have to believe me, I'm not a thief! His name is Gao Shuai, the nephew of Gao Wendu, who is trying to take your position. This is evidence of his bribery to the Education Bureau's Director Wang! I took it when he was bribing him!"

Zhou Shuo, taken aback, looked at the man and said, "You're related to Director Gao?"

Gao Shuai was silent for a moment and then asked, "You're Zhou Shuo?"

Neither of them had expected that their long-distance competition would end in such a way.

Zhou Shuo sighed and said softly, "He Youyou is still a child. Why don't we just return the item and call it a day?"

Gao Shuai looked between Zhou Shuo and He Youyou for a moment, seemingly not wanting to make a big deal out of it, and nodded, "Alright, for Director Gao's sake, I won't pursue this matter."

Zhou Shuo breathed a sigh of relief and extended his hand to He Youyou, saying, "Come on, give me the item."

"No!" He Youyou hugged the paper package and shouted, "This is evidence of his bribery, why should I give it back!"

"He Youyou!" Zhou Shuo called her name angrily, saying, "I appreciate everything you've done, but stealing is wrong, no matter what!"

Zhou Shuo, heartbroken, looked at He Youyou, his proud student. The more he cared about her, the more he couldn't let her life be tarnished because of him. Besides, the paper package in her hand wouldn't prove anything and could only get her into trouble.

Zhou Shuo's anger frightened He Youyou, and tears streamed down her face. She shoved the paper package into Zhou Shuo's hands, burst into tears, and ran away.

Zhou Shuo silently returned the paper package to Gao Shuai and left.

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End of Chapter 4

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