I'm a senior in high school, and the Emperor Development System has arrived!

Chapter 53 That Tight Feeling You Out-of-Province People Don't Understand

Guangya Railway Station.

While playfully interacting with Jiang Xia and waiting to enter the station, Chen Zhou suddenly received a system notification:

During the academy examinations, Your Majesty displayed exceptional talent in English, earning a top grade. However, based on Your Majesty's past performance, many ministers suspected you of cheating, though few believed them.

[Your Majesty, we urge you to appease the court and gain the trust of your ministers.]

[Reward: 400 Imperial Prestige]

Upon seeing this task, a string of question marks slowly appeared above Chen Zhou's head.

What was his English score?

They're actually questioning his excrement!
Absolutely abominable!
Once he returns after claiming the prize, he'll show these sluts what true power is!

Just as Chen Zhou's thoughts were wandering, Jiang Xia passed through the ticket gate and called out to him:
"Hey, stop daydreaming and get your tickets checked!"

"oh oh!"

Chen Zhou quickly stepped forward, swiped his ID card, and underwent facial recognition.

Wait, why is Daniel Wu on the screen?

Is there something wrong with this instrument?
"Beep, recognition successful!"

Oh, it was me.

That's fine.

After boarding the train with Jiang Xia and finding their seats, Chen Zhou nodded in satisfaction at the window seat.

Not bad, we've got a top-tier account.

Chen Zhou sat down and looked at the couple sitting opposite him.

They looked like they were already working, their faces bearing the marks of life's hardships.

The man had slightly fair skin, a slightly overweight build, wore round-framed glasses, and had a full beard around his chin.

The classic feminine features of Fu Shou'er are currently at odds with the bearded man:

"Then explain why the male model I ordered yesterday hit me."

The bearded man touched his nose:
"I don't know either. He's the one who hit you. Why should I explain?"

Fu Shou'er gritted her teeth and said:

"Don't think I don't know you've come out of the closet. I only used your WeChat records to record things."

The bearded man blushed and said something like, "You people from other provinces wouldn't understand that firmness" and "We're lip-to-lip friends."

Anyway, Jiang Xia on the other side was stunned.

However, after a moment's thought, Chen Zhou understood.

The story is roughly this: last night at the bar, she picked up a male model and ended up picking up her husband's mistress, and today she's turning around and blaming him.

It seems that when looking for a partner, one should avoid the Chinese version of Fu Shou'er and the Sichuan version of Ruby Lin.

The risk is relatively high.

Sigh, Zhao Lei told everyone a few years ago when he sang "Chengdu" that it's not just the wine from last night that brings tears to people's eyes.

Why do some people still not believe it?

Jiang Xia became increasingly confused as she listened, so she took out her phone and asked Chen Zhou for help.

Chen Zhou recounted what had happened.

Jiang Xia looked horrified and sent a WeChat message:

Is the outside world so abstract?

Chen Zhou also remarked with emotion:

"This is the world of the strong!"

The drive from Guangya to the provincial capital takes two hours, and listening to the Chinese version of Fu Shou'er and the Sichuan version of Ruby Lin arguing the whole way didn't feel boring at all.

"Beer, soft drinks, mineral water, peanuts, melon seeds, eight-treasure porridge, and those in front, please tuck your legs in a bit!"

During this time, a shopping cart came by, and Chen Zhou scanned the code to buy a pack of pickled chicken feet, intending to share one chicken foot with Jiang Xia, but was politely refused.

Jiang Xia said with a smile:

"I bought a box of pickled chicken feet and got arrested. They said I was trafficking cultural relics. Can you guess what happened?"

Chen Zhou nonchalantly sucked on the chicken feet:

"For just a few dollars, you can eat the same chickens as Empress Dowager Cixi. That's an immense imperial favor. What more could you ask for?"

Jiang Xia remained silent, but upon reflection, she realized there was some truth to it. Chen Zhou slurped up a chicken foot, watching the scenery outside the window change from farmland to high-rise buildings.

As the train slowly slowed down, the two prepared to get off, only to witness a boy being whipped with a belt by his father for being naughty.

Chen Zhou's lips twitched:

"Truly, a father's love is as vast as a mountain... a landslide."

Jiang Xia chuckled softly as she watched the boy groaning on the ground.
"And you're telling me, you were just as naughty as him when you were little. When Uncle Hu took us fishing, he wanted to find a good fishing spot and test the water quality. He turned around and saw you peeing upstream."

When Chen Zhou's dark past was mentioned, Jiang Xia immediately became energetic, and his eyes lit up.

Chen Fang, Jiang Cheng, and Hu Jing were classmates and friends who joined the army together after graduating from high school, but their fates differed.

Chen Fang retired from the army and became a stay-at-home husband, while Hu Jing left the military to start a business and is now a small entrepreneur.

Only Jiang Cheng remained in the army, and he is now a battalion-level officer.

However, considering the timeline, if he can't make any further progress, he'll soon be reaching retirement age.

Listening to Jiang Xia talk about his embarrassing past, Chen Zhou awkwardly laughed:

"Isn't boy's urine very nutritious?"

However, seeing that Jiang Xia mentioned Hu Jing, Chen Zhou also took the opportunity to explain that Hu Jing's son was sick:
"By the way, Uncle Hu's son is sick, and the whole family is going to Beijing to take care of him. My parents told me that his daughter will be staying at our house for a while."

"Is Hu Maomao sick? Is it serious?"

Jiang Xia was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and clutched the hem of her skirt as she recalled:
"Uncle Hu's daughter? I don't seem to remember her."

Chen Zhou replied:
“My dad didn’t say in detail, but judging from the situation, he must be quite ill.”

Compared to the Hu and Chen families, the Hu and Jiang families were not close.

According to Chen Fang, it seems that Hu Jing and Jiang Cheng both pursued Jiang Xia's mother, which caused their relationship to become strained.

Fortunately, Chen Fang mediated, and at least they didn't fall out.

Back then, Jiang Xia's mother was a famous beauty in the surrounding area, but unfortunately, she died young.

As far as Chen Zhou could remember, Hu Jing had visited his home quite a few times, but he usually came alone, only occasionally bringing his son.

As for his daughter, neither Jiang Xia nor Chen Zhou had ever met her.

Chen Zhou couldn't explain the reason either.

The adult world is just too complicated.

The two chatted as they followed Gaode Maps navigation to transfer from the train station to Metro Line 2.

The Suo Xingfu Lottery Center is not far from the train station. After passing Dinggong Road South, Yongshu Road, and Bayi Square, you will arrive at Fuzhou Road. From there, it is a 300-meter walk.

It takes about 14 minutes.

At the subway gate, the two had no cash on them and after some fiddling, they finally found the Jiangxi Tong Code in Alipay.

Then--

"Beep, student card!"

Chen Zhou added his own voice-over effects as he walked through the gate.

Jiang Xia looked at him, her eyes filled with concern.

Suddenly she looked at the subway line and said:
"After we claim the prize, shall we go check out the Tengwang Pavilion?"

Chen Zhou nodded and said:
"Sure, let's do some sightseeing along the way. Our return tickets aren't until this afternoon anyway."

Soon, the subway arrived at the station, and an announcement was made:

"Passengers, please allow passengers to disembark first before boarding, and watch your step."

On weekdays, the subway is not crowded.

After the two had traveled two stops, a young man wearing a baseball cap and frameless glasses sat down next to Chen Zhou, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

After what seemed like a long period of mental preparation, the man in the baseball cap cautiously asked the two of them:
"Are you... a couple?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xia and Chen Zhou exchanged a slightly surprised glance, then shook their heads and said:

"No, what's wrong?"

The man in the baseball cap seemed relieved and smiled at Chen Zhou:
"Well, I quite like you, you're handsome. Have you ever considered dating someone like me?"

Three question marks appeared above Chen Zhou's head.

Another Nantong?

Am I some kind of magnet?
The book includes illustrations for key parts; those who have already finished reading can go back and take a look. Remember to refresh the page first!

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(End of this chapter)