"Your brother tells me you’re going to be living with your professor for half a month. Remember to help out with chores and not get on your professor’s bad side, okay?" He Teng and Zhilan’s father advised her first, but instantly changed his approach, saying, "No, if she treats you badly, don’t keep quiet just because she’s your professor. I’ve heard many city people are arrogant and look down on villagers; they often bully them..."
"Dad, don’t worry, the professor’s a good person. You don’t need to worry about me being bullied." As it was a holiday, student dormitories certainly wouldn’t allow people to stay. Thus, Zhilan had to choose between the Lin Family’s home or her professor’s place in staff housing.
Considering the fact that Lin Family’s house is often empty and that living with her professor is more convenient, Zhilan chose the latter. This way, she could practice English with her professor anytime, anytime, improving her adaptability and spoken language skills. Also, she could ask the professor about anything she doesn’t understand whenever she had free time.
Studying and living with her professor for ten days brought about rapid improvements for Zhilan. Her professor was someone who shared everything she knew, as long as Zhilan was willing to learn.
In terms of foreign languages, perhaps due to her talent or her own hard work and diligence, Zhilan managed to complete a study plan of fifteen days in just ten days.
Once she had learned all that she had to learn, her professor encouraged Zhilan to return home early to be with her family. Leaving a phone number for Zhilan’s home, she told Zhilan she would let her know when it was time to return.
After getting a few textbooks from her professor, and saying goodbye to her, Zhilan brought quite a few of her things to the train station. But on a whim, she decided to visit He Teng at his troop first. She didn’t call He Teng to pick her up. Instead, she hired a car to take her to the entrance of He Teng’s barracks.
Zhilan just showed up without notice, a move that both surprised and frustrated He Teng.
"Next time you come, call ahead of time. With so much stuff, how did you get here?" He Teng instantly took all of Zhilan’s things, saying "For the next couple of days, there’s going to be a second round of special training in the army, and I have to go into the mountain."
"I’m only staying for two days. I bought a train ticket back home for the day after tomorrow, in the afternoon!" Zhilan nodded, "You go ahead with your training. I’m going to be at the barracks with Ya’nan. I won’t be bored!"
Even though Zhilan said these words confidently, she was secretly praying that He Teng wouldn’t have his special training the next day. She had just arrived, and it would be so unlucky.
Luckily, He Teng confirmed, "The training is in two days, just right. On the day you leave, I’ll arrange for someone to take you to the train station."
Zhilan breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, it doesn’t look like I’m that unlucky!"
With that, she laughed, and showed off to He Teng what she had learned in the past few days, particularly the fact that she finished the professor’s fifteen-day study plan in just ten days.
Finally, He Teng understood why Zhilan, who should’ve been focused on her studies, suddenly showed up at the barracks with her luggage as if she was moving. Now it made sense - she was returning home early.