Chapter 97

It didn't take a week; after just two days of classes, Bak realized that this thin, middle-aged man surnamed Cheng was definitely not a teacher. No teacher from any school would curse from start to finish like this.

To quote the young trainees in the class: "His attitude is just like the foremen on our construction sites!"

Indeed, some of these young trainees had worked on construction sites, where they had seen plenty of foremen and project managers. Only later in life did they realize that knowledge is power, and they wanted to save up their wages to learn some skills. They were all too familiar with Mr. Cheng's style.

Despite his sharp-tongued and cunning nature, Mr. Cheng's teachings were practical and useful, so everyone had to endure it. Every day in class, they had to listen to his endless cursing and scolding.

"You're all ignorant outsiders. Talking too much is useless. Do you know ergonomics? You definitely don't, so just memorize the data. The average shoulder width is 500. 500 what? I don't specify units, so it's millimeters! Get lost!"

"The width of a person sitting down is 700, and the depth is 430. For two people walking side by side, you need to leave a width of 1230 to 1520... Get lost! I can do addition, 700 plus 700 is more than 1230. Can't you at least turn your shoulders when you walk? Commercial space is precious; do you even know that? Can you afford a house? You probably don't even dare to ask about housing prices. A necessary passage is 1.5 times the width of a person!"

"The diameter of a small round table for four people is usually 900, and a large table is 1200. If the table is any bigger, you need a Lazy Susan. Have you ever seen a Lazy Susan at home? You must be a waiter, right? You like big tables so much!"

"The size of a square dining table for home use is 900, and the length is 1400. Nowadays, city families with tables over 1800 are just showing off... Villas use 2200 tables... " Bak immediately thought of the ten-person dining table in his new home. No wonder Zhou Xiaoli felt uncomfortable with it from the beginning, but Bak liked it. Everyone couldn't explain why, but it turned out to be an issue of ergonomics. But why did he like it?

By Friday, Bak had nothing but admiration for Mr. Cheng. Despite his foul mouth, he knew all the data by heart. Over the past few days, Mr. Cheng had taught without any lesson plans or textbooks, just spouting off and cursing, covering everything from the size of beds to switch panels in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, all measured to the millimeter!

If just talking about these dimensions wasn't enough to fill an afternoon, Mr. Cheng then moved on to office spaces, meeting rooms, bank lobbies, real estate sales offices, hotel rooms, dance halls, mahjong rooms, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, department stores, supermarkets, electronics stores, clothing stores, beauty salons, gyms, hospitals, and jewelry stores!

Perhaps like He Qing, who became less nervous and shy when immersed in his field, Mr. Cheng unconsciously reduced his cursing once he got into the flow: "Restaurant spaces are the most complex. The size of tableware, wine bottles, and every item affects the final outcome of the renovation. Dimensions are the foundation of all design. Do you think it's okay to use disposable chopsticks at a street stall, but in a high-end restaurant, would you feel embarrassed if the chopstick space is too short? Do you believe the restaurant owner would smash the tableware cabinet on your head?!"

He then casually drew plates on the blackboard, various round plates, octagonal plates, and plates with edges, specifying their sizes. He explained the sizes of cold dishes, hot dishes, and soup bowls, how high they stack, and the storage space needed for a restaurant with a certain number of tables: "It depends on the type of restaurant. Chinese restaurants have soup spoons, clay pots, and steamers, while Western restaurants have fruit plates, sauce cups, boat-shaped bowls, square bowls, and condiment racks. Different Western restaurants have different condiment bottle styles and sizes. Ashtrays can't all be the same, right? Different restaurants need different ashtrays. In foreign countries, ashtrays are generally not allowed, but some places use cigar trays. How many people in China know how to smoke cigars? Don't act like you do..."

"Even the design of a wine cabinet must consider these precise dimensions. Whiskey bottles are usually 300 high, roll! Of course, in millimeters. Brandy bottles are 350. I don't know why they are that tall, but just remember! Beer bottles are 300, sweet wine bottles are 300, and Chinese liquor? Chinese liquor follows the height of whiskey!"

Bak was a bit shocked. He thought interior design was just about placing things in a space. It was simple in a bedroom or living room, but once it expanded to the entire field of interior design, it became very complex. To be a true designer, one must have a deep understanding of these dimensions and the details of daily life.

So, after a week of learning, he felt a bit overwhelmed. It was like being curious about something from the outside, but once you step inside, you realize how complicated and intricate it is.

Zhou Xiaoli, of course, noticed Bak's change in mood. He often had a book on hand, a book on ergonomics in interior design that he had bought himself. The data in the book was slightly different from what Mr. Cheng said, but it was clear that Mr. Cheng's off-the-cuff remarks were well-founded.

The black girl encouraged him: "Study hard; diligence is the only way to succeed. I have to work overtime this week and attend an outdoor housing fair on the weekend. It's going to be busy!" She hurriedly had Bak drop her off at the busiest commercial center and ran off. The pedestrian street in the center was off-limits to vehicles, including motorcycles.

Bak nodded, turned his car around, and went to find Fang Lingying.

Was this not considered cheating on his girlfriend with another girl? Bak convinced himself that he was treating his illness, even though Zhou Xiaoli didn't acknowledge that they were dating.

Bak and Fang Lingying hadn't been in much contact this week. They met once, as they were only separated by the gate of the art college. Bak bought two imitation guns from a place Hong Qi had mentioned, and the transaction was as secretive as a drug deal. It was a seemingly ordinary children's toy store. Bak went in, gave the code phrase, specified the models he wanted, paid, and was told to wait at the corner. A few minutes later, a salesperson rode by on a motorized scooter, threw a woven bag at him, and sped off!

Bak found it amusing and opened the bag on his Passat. Inside were two inverted boxes containing two plastic imitation long guns and two metal imitation pistols wrapped in newspapers, all for 1500 yuan.

He then bought various masks, holsters, belts, and other miscellaneous items online, which arrived and were packed into a black travel bag, the same one he had used to carry the million yuan and thrown into Fang Lingying's car.

The girl insisted on buying the camouflage uniforms herself, while Bak completed the rest.

Bak didn't have to expose these items and could go to the meeting place empty-handed.

The location was changed again, not at the rural villa.

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