Chapter 98 Marriage Proposal
When Tao Shouxin saw that the person coming was the department head Huang Jiafa, he seemed to have sensed something and quickly walked forward to greet him.
"Director Huang, what's the good news?"
Huang Jiafa was beaming with joy, his slightly plump face was covered in sweat. He lowered his voice and said, "The postgraduate entrance examination results are out. Let's go inside and talk."
When Tao Shouxin heard this, he turned and looked at Tao Nanfeng.
What else doesn't Tao Nanfeng understand? Now that the postgraduate entrance examination results are out, she must have passed!
She was told before that she would be exempted from the test, but Tao Nanfeng insisted on taking the test herself. As God rewards hard work, it seems that her results are not bad.
Tao Shouxin and Huang Jiafa walked side by side. Tao Nanfeng ran home, quickly opened the courtyard gate and the door of the room, made tea in advance, and waited for his father and Teacher Huang to come in.
After entering the house, Huang Jiafa sat down on the sofa and said excitedly: "Professor Tao, you really underestimated Nanfeng. What place do you think she got in the exam this time?"
Tao Shouxin asked tentatively: "Top ten?"
Huang Jiafa laughed: "More than that! She is ranked third. With her grades, she will definitely be admitted."
Tao Shouxin was very happy, but he didn't dare to show it too much, so he pursed his lips and smiled: "Thank you, thank you! This is really good news."
Huang Jiafa took the green tea from Tao Nanfeng, took a sip, and was a little surprised: "This is the new tea this year, it tastes very good, and it has a sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance. Where did you get it from?"
Tao Nanfeng smiled and took out an iron box from the cupboard, which contained about two taels of today's Mingqian tea.
"Uncle Huang, this is the new Guishan tea produced in Yuanhou Village. You can take it back and try it."
To the north of Yuanhou Village is Guishan Mountain, which is home to many wild osmanthus trees and tea trees. The villagers' homemade green tea has a sweet osmanthus fragrance. After tasting it, Tao Nanfeng went to the village chief and bought a pound of it.
Huang Jiafa didn't say anything polite and accepted the gift with a smile.
"This September, Nanfeng will be able to enter the university for graduate studies. By then, his household registration will be transferred back, and he won't have to endure hardships on the farm anymore. After graduating from graduate school, he can stay on as a teacher at the university and take over your father's job. How about that?"
Tao Nanfeng smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Huang."
After a few pleasantries, Huang Jiafa coughed twice and finally stated the purpose of his visit.
"Lao Tao, this is what's going on. Seeing that your Nanfeng's grades are so high, do you want to give up that exemption from the exam?"
Tao Shouxin was stunned for a moment: "Why, Director Huang, do you want to take care of someone?"
Huang Jiafa rubbed his hands, obviously feeling a little ashamed of asking for indicators. After all, Tao Shouxin treated everyone to dinner and drinks for his daughter, and Tao Nanfeng had won the national silver medal in design, so it was legitimate for him to win the indicator.
To give up this quota now, Tao Shouxin needs to go with him to the school admissions office to explain the situation and write a report, which is very troublesome.
Huang Jiafa sighed and took out a thick large kraft paper envelope. The calligraphy on the envelope was vigorous and powerful, which immediately attracted Tao Shouxin's attention.
Huang Jiafa placed the envelope on the coffee table and motioned Tao Shouxin to open it while explaining.
"This is a letter sent to me by a candidate from a remote mountainous area in northwestern Hubei after he applied for graduate school. His name is Fan Zhicheng. He has been interested in ancient architecture since he was a child. He is from Jiangcheng. He did not finish his first year of high school and was involved in the Movement. Because he has an older sister at home, he took the initiative to sign up to go to the countryside and was assigned to a remote mountainous area as an educated youth."
Tao Shouxin opened the envelope and pulled out a thick stack of letter paper and a self-bound booklet.
"I'd like to make it clear that I don't know this candidate, nor is he a relative of mine. I want to get him a chance to be exempted from the test. I really value his talent. Look, look—"
Tao Shouxin unfolded the stack of letter papers.
——All of them are hand-drawn architectural drawings and line drawings of buildings, with beautiful and lifelike lines.
Tao Shouxin's eyes lit up: "This child has a foundation in painting, a strong sense of perspective, and steady lines. He is indeed a good candidate."
Huang Jiafa was happy to receive Tao Shouxin's affirmation. He opened the booklet and put it in front of Tao Shouxin.
"Look, this is the information he collected during his spare time from visiting various places in northwestern Hubei, including Tujia stilt houses, memorial archways, and ancient houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The building plans, structural features, and local customs are all recorded in this booklet."
Tao Shouxin was very surprised and couldn't put the booklet down. He said, "This is very rare information. I was planning to compile "Records of Folk Houses in Northwest Hubei" two years ago. Not bad, not bad! This kid is a very good scientific research talent."
Huang Jiafa saw that Tao Shouxin was interested in the talent he recommended, so he continued the previous topic.
"The results of the postgraduate entrance examination are out. Fan Zhicheng scored very high in his major, but his English and political science scores were completely poor. He ranked 77th and was not admitted at all."
Tao Shouxin carefully looked at Fan Zhicheng's work and listened to Huang Jiafa's words, but did not express his opinion immediately.
"After all, he only studied in the first year of high school, so his basic knowledge is not good. He is 27 years old this year. He registered for the college entrance examination last year, but he knew that he had no chance. Later, he found out that he could apply for the postgraduate entrance examination with the same academic qualifications, so he tried to get a recommendation from his employer and registered.
After receiving the admission ticket sent by our school in March, he also received the news that he failed the college entrance examination, so he devoted all his efforts to preparing for our school's postgraduate examination. I don't know where he got my name from, but he selected a selection of his own works and sent them to me, with a very sincere letter attached, expressing that he had learned calligraphy and painting from his elders since he was a child, had a good artistic foundation, and hoped to be able to study for a master's degree in architecture at our Jiangcheng Architectural University. ”
Tao Shouxin took out two pages from the stack of letter paper.
Huang Jiafa said, "Yes, this is the letter he wrote. Lao Tao, please take a look and then make a decision."
Tao Shouxin nodded and began to read carefully.
After reading it, he sighed and handed the letter to Tao Nanfeng: "Nanfeng, take a look too. This kid really likes architecture. It's rare to have such a sincere desire to learn."
Tao Nanfeng stood aside and listened to his father talking to Director Huang, and was also very curious about who this Fan Zhicheng was. She took the letter and was attracted by the elegant calligraphy at first sight.
No wonder he is said to have been practicing calligraphy since childhood, this is a skill he has acquired since childhood.
If it weren't for that movement, he would probably have finished high school, gone to college, and been engaged in his favorite career.
In the letter, Fan Zhicheng first briefly introduced himself, enthusiastically wrote on paper his love for architecture, especially ancient architecture, and finally sincerely expressed his self-recommendation.
——Dear Professor Huang, I am from Jiangcheng, a city with a history. Mountains, famous buildings, alleys, old houses, the mighty Yangtze River, as well as breakfast, famous snacks, and delicacies...
In the twelve years since I left Jiangcheng, there has not been a single day that I have not missed the mountains and rivers, my family, the neighborhoods, alleys, and cobblestone roads of Jiangcheng.
I work in infrastructure on a farm in northwestern Hubei, and in my spare time I search for interesting old houses, ancient buildings, and residents. It is this love that supports me to live a happy and fulfilling life.
I hope to have the honor of becoming a graduate student at Jiangcheng Architecture University, systematically learn architectural professional knowledge from the teachers, and contribute my own strength to the construction cause of the motherland in the future. ”
Seeing this, Tao Nanfeng was also moved.
This Fan Zhicheng actually worked as an educated youth on the farm for twelve years!
From 1966 to 1978, during those long twelve years, his youth and sweat were spent on that hard-working mountain farm.
Even so, his love for architecture remains unchanged.
She raised her head and met her father's eyes, and saw admiration in each other's eyes.
Tao Shouxin said to Huang Jiafa: "Have you seen his application information? Is everything true?"
Huang Jiafa nodded: "He is indeed a candidate from Quanshan Farm in Gaochuan County, western Hubei, and his ancestral home is Jiangcheng. His calligraphy, paintings, and books cannot be faked."
Tao Shouxin stood up and said: "I advise God to shake himself up and send down talents regardless of their background. Fan Zhicheng is a talent, so give him this exemption from the test."
Huang Jiafa stood up excitedly: "Old Tao, be righteous, let's go!"
The two professors, who were in their forties or fifties, didn't care that it was lunch time. They packed up the documents on the table, walked out arm in arm, and went to see the person in charge of the admissions office.
Looking at the two of them talking as they walked, and their excited expressions about discovering an architectural talent, Tao Nanfeng felt warm inside.
After having a quick meal in the cafeteria, Tao Nanfeng sat by the window and wrote a letter to Xiangbei.
"The main structure of the house has been repaired, and we are going to paint the walls and lay wooden floors. My dad and I went to the trust store today to buy a full set of furniture, which will be delivered next Sunday. By then, the floor installation will be completed, and only the yard will be slowly repaired."
I had just started writing the letter when I heard Xiangbei's voice coming from outside the yard.
“South wind…South wind!”
Tao Nanfeng thought he was hallucinating, so he put down his pen and listened carefully. He was immediately overjoyed and ran out in a hurry.
In the darkness of night, outside the courtyard gate.
Xiangbei's tall figure was standing there.
Tao Nanfeng smiled with curved eyebrows, ran over to open the gate, and resisted the desire to throw herself into his arms, and asked: "Why did you come today? You didn't even send a telegram to tell me."
Xiangbei looked down at this face that was glowing with joy, and it seemed as if pink bubbles were popping up in his heart.
The strands of hair on Tao Nanfeng's forehead kept fluttering in front of Xiangbei's eyes, making Xiangbei feel itchy. He raised his hand and playfully tucked the strand of hair behind his ear, and said softly, "My parents are coming together to propose marriage."
Tao Nanfeng looked behind him and said, "Your parents are here. Where are they?"
Xiangbei said: "I will put them in the guesthouse first. My mother said that they must change into new clothes after traveling all the way. After all, it is their first time to visit, and they are a little nervous and afraid of being rude."
Tao Nanfeng bit her lip and gave him a reproachful look: "Why are there so many etiquettes? My father and I ate so many meals at your house when we were on the farm."
Xiangbei sighed, "The older generation is particular, so let them be. My mother felt a little dizzy after riding in my car and vomited twice. It would be better for her to rest in the guesthouse first."
Tao Nanfeng felt a little sorry for making his elders travel so long: "My dad is out on business. I'll go visit your parents first. Please wait."
Without waiting for Xiangbei to speak, Tao Nanfeng turned around and walked into the house.
She changed into a long dress, fixed her makeup in front of the mirror, thought she looked good, and prepared to go out.
Just as he reached the door, Xiangbei hugged him and gave him a passionate and long kiss. The overwhelming tenderness and affection made Tao Nanfeng's legs go weak.
When the kiss ended, Xiangbei looked at Tao Nanfeng with a hoarse voice.
"You've worked hard all this time. It must be tiring to decorate the house?"
Tao Nanfeng buried her head in his chest, smiling: "It's okay, I like building houses, and this is our house."
The author has something to say:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
