Sure, here is the line-by-line translation:
Nick's mom had been thinking about this issue all night.
The next morning, she got up early and, taking advantage of her morning walk, went to her sister's house.
Nick's mom's last name is Liu, and her name is Yvette. When she was young, people at school called her Little Liu Teacher; now she's Old Liu Teacher.
Similarly, her sister, Joan Lawson, attended the country's most prestigious medical university when she was young and worked in the OB-GYN department at the most famous hospital in the Southern Region after graduating.
She later returned to her hometown from the South as a high-level talent specially recruited by the municipal committee of River City. Upon returning, she was appointed as a senior chief OB-GYN physician at River City Hospital, specializing in obstetrics.
She has extensive experience with difficult and critical obstetric cases.
In a third-tier city like River City, such a person is almost a household name.
Kenneth Osborne is so good at studying; everyone says it's because of the good genes from Nick's mom's side.
Because decades ago, Nick's mom's sister, Joan Lawson, was a well-known female scholar in the area.
When Nick's mom and dad were in school, their grades were average. Nick's dad has no siblings, so if we trace the "study genes" of Kenneth, they only lead back to Nick's mom's sister, Joan Lawson.
When Nick's mom arrived at Joan's house, their family had just woken up.
Today, Joan didn't have to work and was resting at home. With the whole family there, they were preparing to clean up and get ready for the new year.
She usually has a very busy work schedule with limited time to rest.
However, Joan has a deep sisterly bond with Nick's mom. Seeing her sister arrive and knowing she wouldn't visit for no reason, she immediately put down her chores and said to her husband and son, "Your aunt is here; I'm going out with her for a walk and will also buy some new year's groceries. You two tidy up your rooms and then find a housekeeper to clean the windows, floors, and bathroom."
Joan's husband agreed quickly and smiled at Nick's mom, saying, "Old Liu Teacher is here. I heard Kenneth is back home?"
Nick's mom had something on her mind, so she casually responded a few words and went out with Joan.
River City isn't very big; it's about a fifteen-minute walk from Joan's community to the market.
Usually, she drives, but seeing that Nick's mom seemed to have something to say today, she decided not to drive and walked with her towards the market.
Seeing few people on the street, Nick's mom reassured herself and said to Joan, "Sister, A-yuan is going to the movies with Sarah Newman today."
"That sounds great!" Joan also cherishes her nephew Kenneth and immediately said, "The Newman family is pretty good; they are the wealthiest in our city. I've met Sarah Newman once. She's quite pretty. Is she in her senior year?"
"Yes... she's about to take the college entrance exam, and her mom is already matchmaking. What a big heart..." Nick's mom sneered dismissively, "But it's not like it's my child taking the exam, so it's none of my business."
"They might not even need to take the exam..." Joan chuckled mysteriously, glanced around, leaned closer to Nick's mom, and whispered, "I heard Mrs. Newman plans to send her daughter abroad for undergraduate studies. She arranged for a recommendation letter last year and is almost ready to go."
"Huh?" Nick's mom was incredulous, frowning deeply, "Then her daughter is about to go abroad; how can she date my Ayuan?"
"Isn't Kenneth also going abroad?" Joan raised an eyebrow, "Isn't he about to graduate with dual degrees for both undergraduate and master's?"
"…Well, he is, but I haven't heard Ayuan mention wanting to study abroad." Nick's mom was indifferent. "Besides, I only have this one son. If he goes so far away, what will his dad and I do? It's absolutely impossible."
Joan smiled but didn't pursue the topic further, instead asking, "So why did you come to me? What's this about?"
"Oh, here's the thing." Nick's mom snapped back to focus and said seriously, "The Newman family is all about business and values horoscopes. Can you help me find a way to have them check Kenneth and Sarah's compatibility, casually?"
Joan was startled, thinking she'd misheard, "What did you say?"
"I said, have them check their horoscopes for compatibility," Nick's mom said confidently, looking at Joan, "You're Kenneth's aunt; you must help with this, just quietly pass the word. And if Sarah is going to study abroad, I really need to consider this; it's best to break them up now!"
It actually made sense; their horoscopes must indeed be "compatible."
Joan understood Nick's mom's intentions and thought deeply for a moment, saying, "This really needs careful planning. With the Newman family's status, we can't just refuse them directly. If they've taken a fancy to Kenneth, they should've reviewed him thoroughly. I wonder if they've already checked their horoscopes...?"
"They probably haven't. Mrs. Newman doesn't even know if her daughter can date my son yet; why would she immediately check their horoscopes? If they had already done it, why would I be asking you for help?"
Nick's mom stared at Joan, frowning, "Sister, you've always been smarter than me. Why can't you think this through?"
Joan smirked bitterly, "Who like you obsesses over their little family affairs all day? I also have work and need to see patients. You have no idea how mentally draining those obstetric cases are..."
"I'm not saying anything, but you're getting on in years; just let the younger ones deal with that mental strain. Why push yourself to be a hero? I still say you shouldn't have returned then. Weren't the big hospitals in the South better than what we have here?"
Nick's mom changed the topic as they reached the market entrance.
Joan, however, had no regrets at all; she squinted and smiled gently, saying, "The best decision I ever made in my life was coming back to my hometown to practice medicine and being able to take care of our parents until they passed."
The sisters' parents are gone now, with only the two of them as each other's family.
Nick's mom patted her shoulder, "Alright, it's the holiday season, let's not talk about this. Hurry and help me get the message across. I've already prepared Kenneth's birth date and eight characters."
Joan nodded, "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."
Nick's mom also said, "I'll tell Nick to make sure he checks it well."
Joan followed through with her actions.
After they returned home from grocery shopping, she picked up the phone and made several calls.
By not even two in the afternoon, Mrs. Newman had already caught wind of it and hesitantly asked her husband at home, "Old Newman, do you think this horoscope stuff is really effective?"
"Of course it's effective. This is something our ancestors left us; it's been around for thousands of years." Keith Newman was home, taking a break from the company today.
"Really? Then...should we check Sarah's and Kenneth's horoscopes for compatibility first? If they're not compatible, we should just give it up early..."
Mrs. Newman whispered close to Keith's ear, "Anyway, Sarah is going abroad, and I hear Kenneth's family doesn't want him to go abroad."
"Hmm..." Keith put down his newspaper and pondered for a moment, saying, "I hear Nick Zeller is skilled with Feng Shui and horoscopes for houses, but I don't deal in real estate, so I haven't interacted with him."
"But making such high-level acquaintances is always good. Why don't you go test him out first?"
"I get it." Mrs. Newman understood his implication, thinking that for added security, it wouldn't hurt to check.
Moreover, if it all leads to talks of marriage, checking horoscopes is inevitable.
They are merely advancing this part of the process.
Mrs. Newman, being an impatient person, immediately started contacting her network to ask if anyone knew someone particularly skilled in horoscope compatibility.
As soon as she asked, someone quickly advised, "Mrs. Newman, isn't there a Great Heavenly Master Zhang in our city? They say he's incredibly accurate with Feng Shui and horoscopes!"
"Great Heavenly Master Zhang?" Mrs. Newman was also aware of Nick Zeller's reputation and had been specially reminded by Keith. She replied immediately, "I know he's great with Feng Shui, but I've never heard of him doing horoscope compatibility!"
"It's not that he doesn't do it, but he looks down on such small business. However, your family is wealthy and not ordinary; maybe Great Heavenly Master Zhang will make an exception for you?"
The group chat was abuzz with suggestions, and Mrs. Newman grew more convinced. She promptly asked an intermediary for Kenneth's birth date and eight characters, then got Nick Zeller's phone number and made a call.
No sooner had Nick's mom finished calling Nick Zeller than Mrs. Newman's call came through.
Nick Zeller's heart was full of glee.
He thought he'd have to wait a couple of days, but it turned out they were both this eager!