Chapter 286 - Going to Peking University’s Chinese Department as a Lecturer! (1/2)

Beijing, at night.

It was already past 11 P.M. by the time he reached Cais.h.i.+kou.

The cold wind was blowing on the streets. The temperature here was colder than it was in the South.

Zhang Ye found his way through the dark to his parent’s district. He looked up and saw their apartment lights were still on. His father and mother were obviously still up waiting for him to return. Zhang Ye suddenly had a feeling of homecoming. He stepped into the building and quickly climbed up the staircase. He was humming “Wis.h.i.+ng We Last Forever” as he ran up.

Dong, dong, dong.

He knocked on the door and it opened up very quickly.

“Dad, Mom” Zhang Ye smiled, “Happy New Year.”

Mom pulled him into the house, “Come in first, isn’t it cold outside?”

Zhang Ye put down his bags and took off his coat, “It’s OK. It’s warm enough at home, has the central heating started already?”

“Look at the date. The heating has been turned on since the 12th.” Mom squinted at him, “Beijing is still better, right? There’s no central heating in Shanghai.”

Zhang Ye had deep feelings about this, “Yes, we can only use the air-conditioner over there. Switching it on room by room, I was really not used to it. It feels very different from the warmth of central heating. It just didn’t feel right. The air outside is so damp that I get gooseb.u.mps. Hai, don’t talk about it anymore.” Having arrived home, Zhang Ye felt that everything was good and pleasing to him, “Also, unless the sun is s.h.i.+ning directly, the clothes hung outside won’t get dry. Even if it gets dry, there’s a mildew smell that sticks to it. The air there is too damp, we’d have to use a clothes dryer to dry the laundry. It’s really troublesome.”

Mom probably missed him a lot and said, “Then don’t go back.”

Zhang Ye smiled, “I have to return after the lunar new year at latest. There’s still work waiting for me. This year, I’m definitely staying home for it. I managed to get many days off.”

His dad got up from the sofa, “Have you eaten?”

“I had something on the flight back, but I’m still hungry.” Zhang Ye said.

Dad instructed, “Bring some warm water for our son and heat up the leftover food too.”

Mom made a sound and stared, “You’re commanding me now? Why don’t you go instead.”

Dad looked up and said, “You heat up the leftovers. We are having a father and son talk about his work. What do you know?”

“As if only you understand, hmph. Our son’s now a big star, a famous host. Do you still think he needs your advice?” Mom nagged as she went to heat up the food for him.

After eating, his father and mother started asking him about his job.

Zhang Ye did not wish to talk about his work, as he was afraid he would worry them. So he answered them superficially and changed the topic, “Where will we be going tomorrow for the New Year?”

Mom scooped some dishes for him while saying, “We went to your paternal Grandma’s place this afternoon. Only you were not there. Tomorrow we will be spending the day with your maternal grandparents, but they will be coming to our house instead. Don’t laze in bed tomorrow. Wake up early and help me buy groceries and prepare food. When my family comes over, we’ll need to feed over a dozen mouths. That’s not simple work.”

Zhang Ye said shamelessly, “I won’t be able to wake up.”

Mom could not help but hit him on his head, “You’re lazy!”

Dad said, “Little Ye has been busily working outside for so long. Let him rest a little, it’s rare for him to get days off.”

“You make it sound so simple. Are you going to help me buy groceries and cook then? You wouldn’t even help!” Mom rolled her eyes, “Just my luck to have encountered you father and son duo!”

After eating.

Zhang Ye picked up the dishes to wash.

“Little Ye, your dad and I will be turning in already.” Mom yawned, “Huu, I still have to battle to fight tomorrow. It’s really not easy having a festive holiday get together.”

His dad also stretched himself and went to the bathroom for a shower.

Then Zhang Ye suddenly remembered. Turning his head, “Dad, Mum, wait a while. I have something to discuss with you both in a bit.”

Dad asked curiously, “What’s the matter?”

“If you have anything to say, spit it out. I’m tired.” Mom said curling her lips.

Zhang Ye continued was.h.i.+ng the dishes and said, “Earlier on the plane, I met someone called Wu Zeqing. She said she was…..”

Before he could finish, his mother and father interrupted him.

“Wu Zeqing? The one from Peking University?” Mom said stunned.

Dad obviously knew who she was, “That Vice President of Peking University?”

Zhang Ye blinked, “You know?”

Dad said, “I don’t know what she looks like, but I know she’s a woman and rather pretty. She’s one of the youngest presidents of an elite school. She did not come through the education system so she can’t be considered as someone who is in the literary field. She came through as a civil servant instead and transferred from the Education Bureau to Peking University. Didn’t they mention her on the news before? Did you not see that? Although she came through the civil service system, her literary skills were rated very highly too. She has published a large number of works and the television even stated that she was a practiced calligrapher too? She’s a person who has a lot of prestige within the education world.”

Mom nodded and asked him, “You met her?”

Zhang Ye laughed and said, “More than met her, we chatted for a long time on the plane. After we landed, she suddenly invited me to go teach at Peking University.”

Dad was stunned, “Ah?”

Mom was also stunned, “Go teach at Peking University? Invited you to teach what?”

Zhang Ye replied, “The Department of Chinese Language. I don’t know what I’ll be teaching though. It’ll definitely be either Chinese culture and poetry or Chinese history, stuff like that. I wouldn’t know how to teach other things anyway.”