The crowd still didn't understand how a university teacher could be so important. How exactly was he important? If they couldn't get him, they could just hire someone else; it all cost money anyway.
Seeing their confused expressions, Chen Lan decided to give them a lesson today, ha!
Clearing her throat, Chen Lan said, "Do you all know that our entire family is going to Jilin to farm?"
The crowd nodded in unison, "Yes!"
Chen Lan asked again, "Do you know how to farm?"
The crowd shook their heads in unison, "No!"
Chen Lan continued, "If you don't know, and I don't know, what do we do?"
Xiang Xi immediately chimed in, "I know! I know! Use machines to farm!"
Chen Lan nodded and continued, "Speaking of machines, I need to ask Comrade Xiang Xi, is it cheaper and more convenient to use oil for machines, or electricity?"
Xiang Xi replied, "Of course, it's electricity. Electricity is clean and convenient. I don't really know about saving money though?"
Chen Lan affirmed, "Using electricity is definitely more economical! Because I plan to use solar and wind power generators. Does the sun cost you money? Does the wind cost you money?"
The crowd shook their heads in unison again, "No!"
"Speaking of electricity, you should all know how important someone who can install a generator and appliances is."
Xiang Xi said, "There aren't many people who can install appliances, but he's not the only one. Why insist on him?"
Chen Lan explained, "It's not that we have to use him. The person we're looking for should be someone who easily accepts new technologies and new ideas, is meticulous in their work, has skills, understands rules, values discipline, is knowledgeable, and can guide us."
"His advantages are as follows:"
"1. He studied abroad in Country D for several years. He should easily accept new technologies and new ideas."
"2. Country D is a highly developed industrialized nation. The main source of electricity in Country D is wind power, accounting for 27.2% of the country's total electricity generation, followed by solar power at 10.5%. This is what we call knowledge."
"3. People in Country D are very meticulous. They don't focus on luxury, only on comfort. You can see this from how they emphasize cleanliness and neatness in their clothing. People raised in such a meticulous country are mostly meticulous in their work."
"4. People in Country D highly value rules and discipline, and are serious and responsible in everything they do. This is understanding rules and valuing discipline."
"5. He is a teacher at Imperial Capital University, teaching physics and chemistry. Physics and chemistry represent industry, and a teacher represents being able to teach you for free, which is a great deal. This is being able to guide and having skills."
"From these points, you can see that he is the most suitable person for our requirements, right?"
Hearing this, the crowd nodded in unison, "That's right."
Chen Lan seized the opportunity to encourage them, "Shouldn't we do whatever it takes to secure him?"
Comrade Xiang Xi asked again, "Do we really have to spare no expense?"
Chen Lan nodded emphatically, "Yes!"
"What does 'spare no expense' mean?" Xiang Xi was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Chen Lan replied very solemnly, "As long as it doesn't involve murder or arson, breaking the law, harming national interests, or harming our family's interests, everything else is negotiable."
Chen Lan added finally, "Even if it means providing for him in his old age, that's acceptable."
"Of course, the most, most important point is that he has to go to Jilin with us."
Chen Lan concluded, "I now announce that this glorious, arduous, difficult, and not easily accomplished mission is assigned to Comrade Chen Fu, Comrade Chen Xiangdong, and Comrade Chen Xiangxi."
Gurgle... gurgle... gurgle...
The crowd's stomachs rumbled.
Chen Lan waved her hand, "Meeting adjourned, let's go eat!"
The crowd laughed heartily and headed to the dining hall.
Chen Lan felt that the waiting days were long and agonizing. After three days of anxiously waiting, Chen Lan finally received news from Xiang Dong and Xiang Xi.
As soon as Xiang Xi entered the living room, he exclaimed, "Oh! Oh dear! I'm so tired and thirsty! Little Lan, hurry, hurry, pour your brother a cup of tea, I'm dying of thirst!"
Seeing his playful demeanor, Chen Lan felt a sense of relief. Things must be looking up, otherwise, Xiang Xi wouldn't be so smug.
Chen Lan quickly got up to pour a cup of tea for each of Xiang Dong and Xiang Xi, saying, "You've worked hard, Brother Xiang Dong, and you've worked hard, Little Watermelon."
Chen Lan patiently waited for the brothers to finish their tea and then asked eagerly, "Brother Xiang Dong, how did it go?"
Just as Xiang Dong was about to answer Chen Lan's question.
Xiang Xi interjected, "I know, I'll tell you. The person we found is a broker who deals in calligraphy and paintings. He's been in the cultural circles for a long time and is very familiar with the people and affairs there. So, from him, we got the basic information about that teacher in Imperial Capital, and he even ripped us off quite a bit."
"The teacher's surname is Zhou, his name is Zhou Jicheng. He's thirty-five years old, studied abroad in Country D for six years, returned to China at twenty-eight, and is currently working at Imperial Capital University, teaching both physics and chemistry."
"He has six people in his family: a wife, two sons, two daughters, and himself. He's the only one earning money to support the family, and their life is quite difficult."
"A few years ago, because his mother fell ill, he sold everything he could in the family. In the end, he had no choice but to be introduced to translate books for a publishing house, which is when you guys saw him a few times."
Chen Lan asked, "Did his mother have a very serious illness? One that could bankrupt a wealthy family? After all, his family was wealthy enough to send him abroad, so they should have had substantial savings, unless his mother's illness was extremely severe and drained money like water?"
Xiang Xi exaggeratedly gave Chen Lan a thumbs-up, "Little Lan, you're amazing! Truly amazing! You guessed it exactly."
Xiang Xi continued, "His mother had a life-threatening illness, asthma. It's fine when it's not acting up, but when it does, it's life-threatening. His mother's illness often requires a hospital visit. And what is a hospital if not a place where money flows like water!"
"Brother Xiang Dong, did you go look for Teacher Zhou Jicheng?" Chen Lan asked Xiang Dong.
Xiang Dong replied, "As soon as we got the news from the broker, we went to look for him with Father. We wanted to talk to him, but he refused to see us at first. We had no choice but to go back to the broker and ask him to mediate. Just to arrange a meeting. If we couldn't reach an agreement, we wouldn't bother him again. Only then did he agree to meet and talk."
"At first, we explained why we wanted to meet him, saying the main reason was to ask for his help in installing a dual solar and wind power generator. He flat-out refused to believe us, calling us daydreamers, and was about to kick us out. It was the broker who smoothed things over, saying whether it's true or not, they'll know after he comes to see. Only then did he agree to come to our house tomorrow to take a look."
"Little Lan, will your father-in-law really be able to buy the things for the house tomorrow?" Xiang Dong asked Chen Lan, looking at her anxiously.
Chen Lan nodded very confidently at Xiang Dong and Xiang Xi, saying, "No problem! And very dominantly, she added, "As long as he dares to come, I will definitely be able to stun him and make him obediently go to Jilin with us!"