The salty life in Life of Pi

Chapter 34: The Debate between Arts and Science
A delicate balance seemed to have been reached between the three. Deng Xiaoqi favored Qian Sanyi a little more, but would occasionally care about Jiang Tianhao. The relationship between Qian Sanyi and Jiang Tianhao had eased a lot because of the previous injury while playing basketball. At least they would not quarrel when they met, but would compete secretly.

Soon, the second movie began. This time the movie was much better. It was "Interstellar". Wu Xianyu had also seen it in his previous life, but did not understand it. This time, he had a different feeling.

At first, Lin Miaomiao asked a lot of questions, but she stopped after watching for a while because Wu Xianyu didn't understand either. The classroom was extremely quiet with only the sound of the movie. Lin Miaomiao didn't even eat her snacks.

After the movie, it was time for lunch. Along the way, Lin Miaomiao looked dazed, as if she had not yet come out of the movie. When she returned to the classroom in the afternoon, Lin Miaomiao sighed.

“This movie also has a threshold for watching.”

It was another afternoon of movies. When it was almost time for dinner, Lao Zhao walked into the classroom with his hands behind his back. The movie seemed to be almost over, so he stood at the door and watched the last part.

After the class, I drew up the curtains and posted the report card on the blackboard.
"Classmates, the results are out and they are still very stable. The class rankings have not changed much. Please remember to pack up when you return to the dormitory tonight and pack the things you want to take home in advance."

After explaining some things, as the bell rang, Lao Zhao did not stay any longer and walked out of the classroom. The students could no longer wait and came forward to see the grades and rankings, but Wu Xianyu had no interest and walked out of the classroom through the back door to eat in the cafeteria.

While eating, I felt someone touching my waist. I turned around and saw that it was Lin Miaomiao. Seeing Wu Xianyu looking at me, Lin Miaomiao whispered

"I looked at the rankings. I'm fifth and you're fourth. What the hell? You've always beaten me. This is the second time."

"Just get an average grade, don't worry about the details"

“But I feel more and more tired from studying, and I feel like I won’t be able to hold on any longer.”

Lin Miaomiao sighed. She still felt a little stressed about science.

"That's normal. Otherwise, why would we divide students into arts and science in the second year of high school? We can just choose the major when the time comes."

Hearing Wu Xianyu's words, Lin Miaomiao's heart skipped a beat. She remembered her mother's fantasy that she had always wanted to study science, and she felt a little depressed.

Sure enough, the scene was peaceful during the parent-teacher meeting in the daytime, but it changed when we got home and talked about liberal arts and science.

Lin Miaomiao stated the facts and reasoned that she was really not suitable for science.
"Mom, look at my science scores in the final exam. They are much lower than those in liberal arts. How can I possibly study science? Isn't that pushing me into a fire pit?"

"That's just a little bit lower. Once you study science, you can definitely catch up by using the time you previously spent studying arts."

Wang Shengnan had no expression on her face and was still picking up food for Lin Miaomiao. Lin Dawei tried to speak several times to ease the atmosphere but was stopped by Wang Shengnan.

Lin Miaomiao's chest was heaving with anger, and she slammed her chopsticks on the table with a firm attitude.
"I'll be frank. I've reached my limit in science and can't study any more. When I sign up, I'll only apply for liberal arts. I won't apply for science no matter what."

"you dare!"

"Why shouldn't I? I am responsible for my own future. When the time comes, the school will ask us about our wishes. You can't change it even if you want to."

Wang Shengnan was so angry that she slammed her chopsticks.

"I'm going to say this today. You must study science."

Seeing the mother and daughter fighting against each other, Lin Dawei was miserable. Seeing Lin Miaomiao stand up, put on her coat, took her phone and slammed the door and left, Lin Dawei could no longer bear it and complained to Wang Shengnan.

"If the child wants to learn literature, let her learn it. Interest is the best teacher. If she has no interest, she won't be able to learn even if you force her."

"You've been to college, too. Don't you know how easy it is to find a job in science? Those jobs are all high-paying. I'm doing this for her own good."

Wang Shengnan did not give in at all and her reasons were very sufficient: it would be easier to find a job if one studied a good major in college.

Lin Dawei stood up, his facial features huddled together.

"Look how angry you are with your child now. It's pitch black outside in this cold weather, and you're not afraid of anything happening."

"Then go find it quickly."

Wang Shengnan, who was reminded, felt a little nervous and got angry at Lin Dawei.

Lin Dawei didn't bother with her, put on his coat and walked out of the house.

Along the way, Lin Dawei kept making phone calls, but Lin Miaomiao's phone kept saying that the call could not be connected. His mood became worse and worse. When passing by a beef soup restaurant, Lin Dawei heard a familiar voice, stopped, turned around and went into the store.

Lin Miaomiao was sitting in the store, with a bowl of beef soup and some pastries in front of her. A boy's voice was coming from her phone.
"The arts and sciences shouldn't be discussed separately. Why do you think high schools have to be divided into arts and sciences?"

Lin Miaomiao answered while snoring at her fans

"Because everyone thinks differently, some people are not born to be suitable for science"

"Well, there are reasons for this. The distribution of men and women in various majors in universities can also lead to this conclusion. I remember that Auntie is a university teacher, so why can't you turn around?"

Lin Dawei sat in front of Lin Miaomiao and waved to the boss to give him the same one as Lin Miaomiao. Seeing her father, Lin Miaomiao rolled her eyes and said nothing. She answered Wu Xianyu.

"She just thinks too much. She thinks my grades are good now, so she wants me to study science."

Without expressing any opinion on what Lin Miaomiao said, Wu Xianyu continued
"Then here's another reason. Have you noticed that it's easy to find a job after graduating from a science major, and the salary is not low? But for liberal arts majors, some majors don't even require academic qualifications but work experience. This is another reason why Auntie must make you study science."

After hearing this, Lin Miaomiao remained silent and ate her vermicelli with big mouthfuls. Lin Dawei on the opposite side glanced at the name "Salted Fish" on his phone and remained quiet.

After a while, Lin Miaomiao seemed to have thought of something and asked Wu Xianyu

“Then why do you want to study liberal arts?”

“I’m lazy”

The answer to the question appeared almost immediately. Lin Miaomiao seemed to have guessed the answer. She hummed twice and said nothing, but Wu Xianyu hadn't finished speaking yet.

"But there is another reason. I have already decided what major I want to study and what job I want to do in the future. In short, the purpose of our studies is to get a good job and make life better for ourselves and our families. Since I have already decided what I want to do, it is only natural for me to study liberal arts."

"What major do you want to study? What kind of job do you want to do?"

Lin Miaomiao is very interested in what Wu Xianyu wants to do in the future.

"Translation, I want to learn at least two languages. English is a must, after all, English is the common language in many countries. I want to learn one of German or Russian." "Wow"

With a sigh, Lin Miaomiao still admired Wu Xianyu for thinking so far.

"No wonder you are so good at English, it turns out you have already made preparations. I haven't figured out what I want to do yet, I just keep studying."

Lin Dawei was also a little surprised that Wu Xianyu thought so far ahead, but what Wu Xianyu said was very right. Isn't it just for a good job to study hard for ten years?

"Actually, I don't approve of you studying science either. After all, science and engineering are inseparable. Science is all about academic research. Do you think you can sit still?"

"No, with my personality, it would be like killing me if I were to do research."

"Not bad, you have some self-awareness. Then let's go to the engineering department. Can you accept working on a construction site?"

Lin Miaomiao didn't need to answer, Wu Xianyu had already answered for her

"Of course not. After all, which girl doesn't want to be pretty? Below science is medicine. I don't know if you have heard of the saying, "If you persuade someone to study medicine, God will strike you with lightning."

Lin Miaomiao laughed, quickly swallowed the biscuit in her mouth, and drank a mouthful of soup.
"I can already tell from this sentence how difficult it is to study medicine."

"Yes, studying medicine is difficult. If you have nothing to do, go online and you will find that the textbooks of medical students are taller than they are tall. Some of them have to study for a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, and then go to the hospital for training. Other jobs have basic wages after training, but they have to pay the hospital money. Moreover, if a doctor wants to be able to work independently, he has to work for several years. It may take more than ten years before he can be truly self-sufficient. So I have always admired people who study medicine, but I would never study medicine."

Wu Xianyu said this completely from his heart. One of his high school classmates studied medicine at Southeast University. He remembered that some time before he traveled through time, he was still seeing him posting on his space, complaining that there were too many things to learn and too little hair. Now he has gradually grown into a person that patients trust.

Lin Miaomiao, who had already finished her meal, propped her chin up with her phone and sighed.

"Isn't there any easier job?"

"Yes, jobs for liberal arts majors are very easy, and some may even be unemployed right after graduation."

Wu Xianyu stabbed others mercilessly. He believed that every job has advantages and disadvantages. The more disadvantages a job has, the higher the salary generally is. The fewer disadvantages a job has, the fewer advantages it has.

Lin Dawei, who was sitting opposite Lin Miaomiao, couldn't help but laugh. Hearing another person's laughter, Wu Xianyu greeted him.
"Hey, this is uncle, good evening uncle"

"Hello, hello. What kind of job do you think is suitable for Miaomiao?"

Wu Xianyu on the other side of the phone changed his position on the sofa
"I think Lin Miaomiao is suitable for being a teacher. You must know her personality better than me. Do you think she can stay in an office? It's difficult, right? But being a teacher is different. The working hours are flexible. When you don't have your own classes, you can play all day long. You even have winter and summer vacations. This is something you can't even think about with other jobs."

Seeing Lin Miaomiao's eyes getting brighter and brighter, Lin Dawei continued to ask

"I've talked about the advantages, what about the disadvantages?"

"The downside is that the salary is low, far less than that of science and engineering jobs, and I even need support from my family."

Lin Dawei and Lin Miaomiao, who had a teacher at home, looked at each other and nodded silently.

"Everything has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is undeniable that being a teacher is easier than other jobs. Of course, the salary is lower, but there is another advantage."

Wu Xianyu's words attracted the attention of the father and daughter again. Lin Miaomiao was impatient.

"What else is there?"

"Miaomiao, you must know this benefit, hahahaha"

Wu Xianyu kept the secret and didn't say anything directly. Instead, he laughed. Lin Dawei seemed to have guessed something when he heard this gloating smile and chose to eat in silence.

Sure enough, Lin Miaomiao reacted quickly
"You don't mean to say it's convenient to take care of children?"

"Yes, this is also an advantage. Otherwise, if you look at those families where both husband and wife work, the children are raised by the older generation. You can tell at a glance that the children raised by the older generation are not so refined, and they will also learn the shortcomings of the older generation, such as catchphrases and bad habits. Maybe they can be corrected when they grow up, but there will definitely be an impact."

Lin Dawei thought about the children raised by the older generation in the community, who were indeed not that sophisticated. Some of them even learned to swear like the elderly. He nodded, agreeing with Wu Xianyu's statement.

Lin Miaomiao seemed to be thinking of some unpleasant memories, and her tone was quite weak.
"I feel sad when I think about this. From childhood to adulthood, I have holidays when she has holidays too. We have never had a real rest. She has to intervene in everything."

"Hey, then you should be a teacher."

Wu Xianyu's voice was full of ill intentions. Lin Miaomiao heard it and became slightly alert.

"why"

"Because I want to pass on this pain. After all, it will feel much better to see someone suffering the same pain as you."

Seeing Lin Miaomiao's thoughtful look, Lin Dawei felt a little pain in his teeth. Wu Xianyu was such a black-hearted guy.

After hanging up the phone, Wu Xianyu got up from the sofa and stretched. In fact, he felt that Lin Dawei was a bit too cowardly. According to his analysis, the main source of income for Lin Miaomiao's family should be Lin Dawei's salary. According to traditional families, men should have a lot of say. But how did it develop into a family where Wang Shengnan has the final say? It can only be that men do not care about things or do not know how to take care of things, which leads to the gradual transfer of the right to speak.

It is also possible that Wang Shengnan is too strong, and her personality complements Lin Dawei's, so it is indeed right for them to form a family.

Thinking about these things, Wu Xianyu returned to his room and prepared to go to bed.

On the other side, the father and daughter were walking after dinner. Lin Miaomiao was still unhappy with Wang Shengnan's dominance and kicked the stones on the road. Lin Dawei said soft words to her, but judging from the way Lin Miaomiao was resisting the small stones, she probably didn't listen.

Yawning, Lin Miaomiao felt sleepy and took Lin Dawei home.

"Okay, Dad, stop saying that. You've been saying these things for years. Your tongue isn't calloused yet my ears are. I've given in on other things, but I can't give in this time. This concerns my future. I don't want to be doing a job I don't like and cursing you two in my heart."

Hearing this, Lin Dawei felt bitter. His daughter had grown up and had her own ideas. She was becoming more and more like his wife. He was the only one stuck in the middle and felt uncomfortable.

Where did his well-behaved daughter go? Why did she change after entering high school? Suddenly, Lin Dawei thought of someone.
"Wu Xianyu"

Muttering the name silently in his heart, Lin Dawei felt that it was this black-hearted person who had corrupted his good daughter.

Wu Xianyu, whose mind was blank and ready to fall asleep, couldn't help but sneeze three times. After sniffing his nose, Wu Xianyu got dressed, got up, and drank a few cups of hot water. He lived alone, and if he got sick there was no one to take care of him.

(End of this chapter)