64 Being a good student does not mean you can be a good partner
After returning to the Scream Youth Hostel, Xu Zhiqian went straight into the tiny bathroom that was less than one square meter and took a cold shower.
My mind is much clearer now.
Reflecting on what he had just said and done at the doorstep of Zhang Chenling's house, he couldn't help but ask himself: I, Xu Zhiqian, could have been upright, open and honest, so why did I behave so vulgarly and greasy?
An old dog in heat is just like that!
No wonder Zhang Chenling doesn’t like him, and no wonder the old lady hit him with a pot!
Even he hated the way he looked just now!
Hey! He sighed and walked out of the bathroom, his eyes falling on the small desk under the bed.
Tonight, he didn't have much time to reflect on his own stupidity; he had other things to do.
This matter may be more important than talking about love.
He sat down at the desk and picked up Professor Xu's book, which he had read to pieces - "The Latest Theoretical Research on Semiconductor Physics and Radio Frequency Circuits".
With only the last chapter left to read, he calmed down and became the diligent student in Professor Xu's class again.
…
After writing down the last point in his notebook, he opened a recently published paper by an American professor on his computer - "The Latest Research Progress on Low-Power Nanoscale Integrated Circuit Design."
After some comparison, he believed that although Professor Xu's research lacked laboratory data support, her theoretical foundation was very solid and not as backward as the department had previously commented. Moreover, some of her views were very forward-looking and coincided with the latest international research results.
He forwarded the research paper to his mobile phone, specially marked a few highlights, and planned to go to Professor Xu's house tomorrow to discuss it with her.
Ever since that academic discussion with Xu Zhiqian and the gift of his personally signed work, Professor Xu has become happier and more talkative at a noticeable rate.
Every time they help each other bathe, the master and apprentice spend more than half of the time discussing the most cutting-edge scientific research results and trends in the semiconductor field.
Once, Professor Xu was so excited that he gave a passionate speech: "Our country's semiconductor industry must not fall behind! We must not be strangled by Western countries!"
His hands flapped, creating waves in the bathtub.
Everyone, including Professor Xu's daughter, was stunned and couldn't believe their eyes: Is this still the same Professor Xu who was like a walking corpse all day long?
Once upon a time, her connection with the world was severed due to retirement. She could not find a sense of existence, so she shut herself off and lay in bed every day, waiting to die. At that time, who could have thought that there would be a day when she would see the light and rediscover the value and meaning of life!
There is no doubt that this is Xu Zhiqian's credit.
Faced with everyone's praise, he just smiled shyly, but kept silent about his plan - he wanted to help Professor Xu complete the book as soon as possible, and then return to school to fight for the opportunity to sponsor the publication!
To this end, he set a clear deadline and action plan, with the goal of completing the final revision of the book before the end of the year, obtaining the school's endorsement, and finalizing the publication.
He is making steady progress towards this goal.
However, Professor Xu, who is talking more and more, also has annoying moments - she has mentioned another of her favorite students, Lin Meiyi, to Xu Zhiqian more than once.
Every time he heard this woman's name, Xu Zhiqian couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
That’s right, the Lin Meiyi that Professor Xu can’t forget is Xu Zhiqian’s ex-wife.
However, Professor Xu was unaware of the affairs between his two beloved disciples, and he often talked about Lin Meiyi left and right.
Xu Zhiqian pretended to be confused and did not intend to confess.
He didn't want to break Professor Xu's filter for good students.
If she knew that these students, whom she once was proud of, showed the opposite of elegance and humility in the second half of their marriage, and displayed the worst selfishness, greed, indifference, and ruthlessness of human nature, she would probably be extremely disappointed.
Being a good student does not mean you can be a good partner.
However, to this day, Xu Zhiqian still refuses to curse his ex-wife with vulgar language like his childhood friend did. Even though he has cursed her in his heart, he knows that he also bears equal responsibility for this failed marriage.
He unconsciously fell into reminiscing about the past.
“Beep!”
Suddenly I heard someone behind me swiping a card to open the door. There was one ring but the door didn't open, then a second ring.
"Who is it?" He hurriedly stood up from the chair, almost hitting his head on the bed.
The person outside the door paused for half a second before answering: "Oh, sorry, I made a mistake!"
This was followed by the dull sound of luggage being dragged on the carpet, and soon, with a "click", the door of the next room opened and the man walked in dragging his luggage.
Then a cry of surprise reached Xu Zhiqian's ears: "Oh my god, this room is too small!"
The man's voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was.
After lunch, Zhang Chenling went to Grandma Ouyang's house alone.
The first bathing assistance in the afternoon was at three o'clock, so she had plenty of time.
Last night, she looked up online how to help elderly people with Alzheimer's disease take a bath. There were many personal experiences on Xiaohongshu, and she clicked on every post to read it.
My head immediately became twice as big!
It turns out that Alzheimer's patients generally resist taking a bath, and may even develop a fear of taking a bath, mainly due to memory confusion and cognitive bias caused by the disease:
They will forget the meaning and process of bathing, and their skin will be confused about the perception of cold and hot water. The bathroom is cramped and can easily cause them to feel claustrophobic. Moreover, they don’t want their children (other people in their cognition, or even strangers) to see their naked bodies.
After reading these experiences, Zhang Chenling realized that helping Grandma Ouyang take a bath would not be as easy as she had imagined!
But apart from enough love, patience, and the determination to remain unchanged in the face of change, there seems to be no better way to deal with it.
If there were, no one would go online to complain!
Zhang Chenling raised her hand and rang the doorbell, just in time to see Li Yuan opening the door happily. He was wearing a white shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, looking ready to go.
Zhang Chenling was surprised: "Where are you going?"
The smile on Li Yuan's face was brighter than the sun at seven or eight in the morning. "Sister Ling, I was just about to look for you! I wanted to ask, is it okay for you to help grandma bathe by yourself?"
Zhang Chenling shrugged. "Didn't your grandma tell you not to reach out? Then I'm the only one left!"
Li Yuan begged with a smile: "Can I go to the movies? I haven't been to the cinema for a long time!"
Who could say no to such a wonderful boy?
Zhang Chenling agreed with a smile, "Go ahead! Try to be back before 2:30, I have to work this afternoon!"
"Yeah!" Li Yuan ran out happily and soon disappeared.
When I walked into the living room, I saw Grandma Ouyang still wearing the black dress she wore last night, sitting upright in the middle of the living room, as if she had not moved.
However, her eyelids drooped a little, and her voice sounded much more mature. "Daughter, you're back? I thought you were captured by some hooligans last night. I was so scared that I couldn't sleep! Your brother slept like a dead pig!"
Zhang Chenling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She stepped forward and said, "Mom, let's go. I'll take you to take a bath!"
Upon hearing this, Grandma Ouyang immediately grabbed the front of her clothes with both hands, tucked her neck in, and shook her head, saying, "I don't want to take a bath! I don't want to take a bath!..."
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