bacchusnovels Chapter 486 Home Visit in Progress
Chapter 486 Home Visit in Progress
Chapter 486 Home Visit in Progress
The most pressing question facing Sean now is what to wear.
The black robe gave him a serious look; he didn't want to leave Qiu Zhang's parents with a stereotypical impression.
Besides, this is a home visit after all. Although it is not entirely private, there is no need to make it seem like a formal academic conference.
Sean frowned and began picking out suitable clothes from the closet.
The dark blue robe is nice; the color is calm and understated, without being too flashy.
However, whenever Sean wore the dark blue robe, he couldn't help but associate himself with the serious-looking businessmen in suits on TV.
Wearing it always gives him the illusion that "work is done," and he would rather not have that feeling.
He then turned his gaze to the other side—gray and khaki clothing.
Both are composed, yet appear more natural and intimate.
Gray clothes give a feeling of gentleness, low-keyness, and a more refined academic temperament; khaki, on the other hand, gives a relaxed yet elegant image, which is neither deliberate nor too casual in this occasion.
Sean stood in front of the wardrobe, his fingers lightly touching the two colors of clothing, lost in thought.
Ultimately, khaki was chosen.
Sean wore a khaki robe with dark trousers, looking both natural and dignified, exuding a friendly yet refined air.
He walked to the mirror and adjusted his collar and cuffs.
"Looks good."
After making a final confirmation in his mind, Sean picked up the gift he had prepared beforehand—a bottle of fine whiskey.
Through Qiu Zhang's words, he learned that Qiu Zhang's father enjoyed a drink, while Qiu Zhang's mother preferred small, exquisite objects. Therefore, he also brought some small ornaments he had bought while traveling around the world as a supplement to the gifts.
The winter sun outside was dim, the snow on the street had long been trampled into mud, and the air carried a chilly freshness.
Cho Chang's house isn't far from the Ministry of Magic; it's about a 20-minute walk. (Presumably to make it convenient for Mrs. Chang to get to work every day without having to deal with the terrible Floo Powder.)
Along the way, Sean noticed that the shop windows on both sides of London had been decorated for the holidays, and the colorful Christmas lights made the city look like a dream world.
London is great—
This only applies to those who don't live in London or are just tourists.
On the way, Sean kept thinking about what kind of people Cho Chang's parents were.
Until the doorbell was pressed.
Qiu Zhang's house is very lively today.
Mrs. Zhang got up very early. Today was not only the day she was to receive Sean, but also the second day since Cho Chang returned.
She was busy and happy, and the sound of stir-frying and the aroma of food came from the kitchen early in the morning.
She hadn't cooked some of the traditional hometown dishes in a long time, so she practiced them yesterday afternoon.
Fortunately, my skills aren't too rusty.
Qiu Zhang was busy tidying up the details of her home, making sure every corner looked neat and cozy.
Especially the messy books on the coffee table, and in addition, she spread a light-colored velvet blanket on the sofa.
Professor Phillips is visiting our home for the first time, so we can't leave a bad impression.
She thought so.
"Professor, is there anything you're particularly sensitive about?"
Mr. Zhang, who was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, looked up at his daughter.
Qiu Zhang shook his head, but then seemed to remember something and added, "The professor likes to drink, and he really wants to get drunk once, Dad."
Qiu Zhangsa remained completely unfazed by this lie.
However, Mr. Zhang did not notice anything unusual. Instead, he put his glasses into his breast pocket, put down his newspaper, and asked seriously.
"Leave it to me," Mr. Zhang said confidently, patting his chest.
Qiu Zhang nodded, slightly hesitantly, "Yes, he mentioned in class that he likes to drink to celebrate special occasions, and he especially wants to experience Eastern-style alcohol."
"Leave it to me," Mr. Zhang patted his chest and assured his daughter.
For Asian families, there is always some baijiu (Chinese liquor) at home—not only to enhance the flavor of cooking, but also because it is often mentioned at gatherings with friends.
There are always some foreigners who are reckless and want to challenge the drinking habits of the East.
Mr. Zhang thought so much that he even categorized Sean as one of the former.
In his opinion, when it comes to drinking, apart from the Russians in the north, few people can rival him.
Tracing his origins, his ancestral home is in Shandong.
Even though he was a second-generation Shandong immigrant to Britain, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. How could a foreigner possibly outdrink him in baijiu?
Alcohol and DNA are not much different; what flows in the blood will eventually be passed down.
Mr. Zhang had even begun to consider how to make Sean less embarrassed at the dinner table in a more dignified manner.
This is a science.
Some people clearly shouldn't drink, but once they start, they begin to show off, whether it's for face or out of vanity. They know they shouldn't drink anymore, but they still insist on drinking.
At this point, knowing how to say something tactful to give him a way out becomes a skill.
The reason behind this is not just for the other person's health, but more importantly, to prevent the other person from dying in front of one's eyes.
To be honest, this kind of thing is really unlucky.
Upon seeing his father's assurance, Qiu Zhang's eyes lit up instantly.
This was one of the reasons why she planned to host a dinner party for Professor Phillips at home.
As for drinking, she doesn't drink often, so how could she have gotten Professor Phillips drunk? However, at this time, a trustworthy outside helper is the best choice.
"Thank you, Dad." She smiled sweetly.
Meanwhile, Madam Zhang called Qiu Zhang to the kitchen.
While busy seasoning the dishes, she asked Cho Chang, "Do you think Professor Phillips will like today's dishes?"
"Yes, Mom. He'll definitely love your Kung Pao Chicken."
Unlike Mr. Zhang's composure, Mrs. Zhang was somewhat uneasy.
If we have to rank them by seniority, Sean is her superior at the Ministry of Magic. Although the gap in their positions is shallow, it's not entirely nonexistent.
Especially—
The other party also has another identity: his daughter's professor.
Women tend to overthink things, and the combination of these two identities actually created considerable pressure for her.
If these pressures were put into a notebook...
That's like putting two classic anime together: "Madam, you don't want to be involved in work-related matters—" "Madam, you don't want your daughter to be involved in school-related matters—"
After a long while, Mrs. Zhang, who had been busy in the kitchen, finally prepared a table of delicious dishes. The food on the table exuded an enticing aroma: stir-fried vegetables, braised pork, steamed fish, Kung Pao chicken, and a pot of warm tea.
Just the smell is enough to make your mouth water.
"Alright, it's time for lunch. Professor Phillips will be here soon."
Madam Zhang stood up, straightened her clothes, and wore a satisfied smile.
Qiu Zhang also stood up, looking at her reflection in the mirror with mixed feelings, making a final check on her outfit. Today she was wearing—
Ding dong.
The doorbell rang.
Sean has arrived.
Sean looked at Qiu Zhang, who opened the door for him, and his gaze involuntarily lingered on her.
She stood in the doorway, her light gray silk dress outlining her exquisite curves. The neckline design perfectly showcased her beautiful collarbones and the subtle cleavage. The skirt swayed gently with her movements, stopping just above her knees, revealing a section of her fair calves.
This outfit reminded Sean of a character who often appears in movies.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries and self-introductions, the group sat down at the dining table.
As dinner began, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
"Professor Phillips, how is Cho Chang doing at school?"
This is a question that seems to be raised by every parent in the East when they meet their child's teacher.
"Miss Cho Chang's performance at school is outstanding." Sean answered honestly to this question. "She not only excelled in the Triwizard Tournament but also performed exceptionally well in Quidditch, while simultaneously keeping up with her studies. Professor Flitwick has praised Cho Chang more than once. If she is interested in the Ministry of Magic after graduation, I will recommend her for a position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement—"
Hearing the first part of what was said, Madam Zhang only nodded slightly, but by the end, her eyes had completely lit up.
Admittedly, good grades do not guarantee a good job.
Many parents are concerned about their children's employment prospects.
To be honest, Mrs. Zhang really wanted Cho Chang to join the Ministry of Magic, which was largely due to her own experience working there.
So she leaned forward slightly, turned her head to look at Qiu Zhang, and spoke in a more friendly tone.
"The Ministry of Magic's Department of Law Enforcement? That's a very important department. Working there would be very promising. Cho Chang, you should really think this through!"
Qiu Zhang was stunned, his mind blank.
She was prepared for the professor's (her sweetheart's) praise, but she was still very touched when she heard it.
However, she had never considered her future career plans, especially the idea of working at the Ministry of Magic, which seemed far out of reach.
But Sean's suggestion tempted her. Would working under Professor Phillips bring her closer to him?
She looked up at her mother's expectant eyes and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Sean smiled and smoothed things over gently: "Of course, I'm just making a suggestion. Whether or not Miss Cho Chang goes to the Ministry of Magic depends on her own interests and choices. The Ministry of Magic has many departments, and the Department of Law Enforcement is just one of them. If Miss Cho Chang is interested in Quidditch, she can also join the Department of Physical Education, or various Quidditch teams; I can help her make connections. She has many options, and I believe she can find the path that best suits her."
Mrs. Zhang nodded, though she seemed very happy, she also appeared slightly anxious: "Yes, Cho Chang, your mother and father hope you have a bright future. The Ministry of Magic is a stable job, and you can help many people in need; it's really suitable for you."
Qiu Zhang finally came to her senses and smiled gently. "I understand, Mom. Thank you for your concern, but I haven't decided what to do yet." She tried to ease the tension, "However, I will definitely study hard."
The atmosphere relaxed slightly, and Sean smoothly changed the subject: "Miss Cho Chang's performance in Quidditch was, most importantly, outstanding."
Mrs. Zhang immediately smiled with satisfaction: "Oh, that? Cho Chang has loved Quidditch since she was little, especially flying. You know, when she was a child, she would drag us to the magic shop every day to look at flying brooms. She liked anything that could fly."
Qiu Zhang's cheeks flushed slightly, and he looked somewhat embarrassed.
Sean, Mrs. Zhang, and Mr. Zhang chatted casually.
We talked about the changes at Hogwarts over the years, the curse on the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Shaun's new book, and some interesting news from the Ministry of Magic recently.
Under Mrs. Zhang's deliberate guidance, the topic returned to the three-way battle for supremacy.
She seemed genuinely worried about her daughter's safety during the Triwizard Tournament. However, in the face of such a situation, Sean, whether he was one of the referees of the Triwizard Tournament, a professor at the school, or an official from the Ministry of Magic, repeatedly assured Mrs. Zhang.
Then, after some of the food had been eaten, the dining table gradually turned into a battleground between the two men.
Yes, seeing that Sean and he were getting more and more familiar with each other, Mr. Zhang took out a bottle of wine from under the table.
The packaging for this bottle of wine is just a small jar, nothing else.
Anyone who knows about liquor knows that, generally speaking, the simpler the packaging of baijiu (Chinese white liquor), the better the quality of the liquor.
Of course, this statement is not absolute; it still depends on one's own circumstances.
Under Sean's gaze, Mr. Zhang smiled slightly, made a soft hissing sound as he opened the jar, and then poured some wine into a glass.
"This is a specialty of our East, Professor Phillips, please try it." Mr. Zhang said, handing the glass to Sean. As if afraid Sean would misunderstand, he added, "I'm not pouring this because I'm stingy with wine, but because this wine is quite potent."
Mr. Zhang also encountered this kind of blindness at the very beginning.
When he served baijiu (Chinese white liquor) to some foreigners who had never seen it before, he only poured one sip. The foreigners thought they hadn't received any, which caused quite a few laughs.
Sean, being a native Easterner, would naturally make such a fool of himself.
In terms of understanding of the East alone, Yi is probably better than the other three people at this table combined.
Don't forget, in his previous life Sean worked in an office wearing a vest and carrying a thermos.
Sean took the glass, took a gentle sniff, and the aroma of the wine was enticing.
Watching Sean's actions, Mr. Zhang only felt that Sean was more professional than other foreigners, or perhaps "cautious" would be a more accurate description, completely unaware of what he was about to face—