Chapter 023

The iron gate of the compound was locked.

Chu Xia followed Lin Xiaohan through the threshing ground, heading toward Secretary Liu’s home.

Since Lin Xiaohan didn’t hand over the watch and the clock oil for her to take alone, Chu Xia didn’t think it was because he wanted to keep her company. More likely, he didn’t want her stealing credit or attention in front of Secretary Liu.

But Chu Xia didn’t care about that. She never intended to take any credit in the first place—she had only wanted to help, simply and sincerely. After all, everything involving the school concerned her too.

The two of them arrived together at Secretary Liu’s house with their bags on their backs. Lin Xiaohan returned the watch and clock oil, then exchanged a few polite words with the secretary. Chu Xia naturally chimed in with a few lines as well.

Secretary Liu was full of praise for both of them.

After the compliments, he couldn’t help but sigh and say, “If the other ten young people were all like you two, we’d be so much more at ease. You should help keep an eye on them—encourage them to make progress with you. After all, you’re all from the city, around the same age, easier to talk to.”

This kind of thankless task wasn’t something you could just agree to lightly.

Chu Xia was still thinking about how to politely decline, planning to suggest someone else take on the responsibility. But Lin Xiaohan spoke up first:

“Secretary Liu, I don’t think you need to worry too much. They’re just young and like to play around a bit. What young person doesn’t have a few little flaws? I think it’s all pretty normal—not a big deal. Also, we haven’t been down here long. They’re just not fully adjusted yet. Once they settle in, I’m sure things will get better. For now, they’re all doing quite well—aside from the occasional laziness, I don’t see any major issues.”

Secretary Liu found Lin Xiaohan’s words reasonable—after all, they were still young.

Seeing the secretary agree, Lin Xiaohan took the opportunity to add a few more lines, fully putting the man at ease and convincing him there was no real problem.

With nothing else left to say, Secretary Liu warmly invited Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan to stay for dinner.

Naturally, the two politely declined.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they left the compound with their schoolbags on their backs.

Because of the enrollment and the afternoon’s school opening ceremony, more of the villagers now recognized Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan—not just the ones they usually worked with.

When the locals saw them, they’d call out with a smile, “Teacher Tang! Teacher Lin!”

After a few greetings, seeing that no one else was around, Chu Xia turned to Lin Xiaohan and asked, “Do you really believe Han Ting and the others are just being playful? That their flaws are just minor ones, and they don’t need any supervision or discipline? That once they get used to village life, everything will be fine and there won’t be any more problems?”

Lin Xiaohan’s expression at that moment was completely different from how he looked in front of Secretary Liu.

He replied with an emotionless voice and expression, “I don’t believe that.”

Even if their flaws were minor, that didn’t mean there were no problems at all.

Chu Xia stared at him, caught off guard.

So earlier, when he downplayed the issues in front of Secretary Liu—was he protecting Han Ting and the others, helping them maintain a good impression?

That couldn’t be it. Lin Xiaohan wasn’t the type to play the “nice guy.”

He must have had another reason.

Chu Xia thought it through again, digging deeper.

Then it dawned on her—Lin Xiaohan probably said what he did to completely ease Secretary Liu’s mind, so he’d stop worrying and leave Han Ting and the others alone.

By downplaying their issues, he made it seem like there was nothing serious going on. Naturally, the secretary wouldn’t spend time or energy worrying about them—he had enough on his plate already.

But if he had believed there was a serious issue, he might have stepped in early, using special measures to keep them in line.

If someone had taken the time to manage them, maybe Han Ting and the others could at least get through this period in a somewhat stable way.

But if they’re left unchecked, it’s highly likely things will go seriously wrong.

Lin Xiaohan’s real intention was probably to have the brigade stop supervising Han Ting and the others—to let them be, until things blew up.

Chu Xia held her breath lightly and couldn’t help feeling that Lin Xiaohan’s thinking was a little terrifying in its depth.

Still, she tightened her grip on her backpack straps and said nothing.

She walked silently beside Lin Xiaohan.

After some hesitation and inner struggle, she finally steeled herself: Forget it. She’d better not meddle. If she tried and failed, she’d just end up getting dragged into the mess, hated from all sides. It was better to act like she didn’t know anything, and quietly play the role of an onlooker.

People like Han Ting—those who championed “freedom,” flaunted their individuality, and resisted control—weren’t likely to accept discipline under current circumstances. All they’d do was complain.

Unless they took a serious fall, they wouldn’t recognize reality.

Back at the educated youth dorm.

Everything was business as usual. Life went on.

Chu Xia kept to herself—eating her own meals, sleeping in her own bed.

She had no emotional attachment to the dorm. To her, it was just a place to eat and sleep.

There weren’t enough houses in the village—nowhere else to live.

If she had the option, she would definitely have preferred to move out.

Since she couldn’t, the best she could do was keep a low profile.

Suddenly, the blaring of an alarm clock shattered the early morning calm of the dorm.

While the others groaned their way out of bed, Chu Xia returned to her room to grab her backpack, slung it over her shoulders, and quickly headed out the door.

Once outside the fenced courtyard, she quickened her pace and caught up to Lin Xiaohan.

Slightly out of breath, she asked, “When you teach the first class later, can I sit in the back of the classroom and watch? I want to learn how you teach.”

Lin Xiaohan didn’t slow his steps. “Suit yourself,” he replied.

Chu Xia let out a small breath of relief. “Thanks.”

They walked to the school together, but it felt different this time.

Before, their visits had all been about enrollment. Today, real classes were about to begin.

Since it was still early, both of them took some time to get ready and mentally prepare themselves.

Then, at exactly 7:00 according to the horse-head clock, Lin Xiaohan picked up a small iron hammer and stepped outside the office. He raised his hand and struck the thick iron plate hanging under the eaves.

The hammer struck the iron with a crisp, resonant clang that rang out in the morning air.

After ten strikes, Lin Xiaohan returned to the office. Less than two minutes later, the children began to arrive.

Only a couple carried real backpacks—most had repurposed feed sacks or woven plastic bags as makeshift schoolbags.

Lin Xiaohan and Chu Xia rose and walked to the classroom.

Once all the children had arrived, the room buzzed with noise and excitement.

Lin Xiaohan clapped his hand on the desk to quiet the room.

Then he and Chu Xia took advantage of what was supposed to be the morning reading period to properly introduce themselves to their now-official students.

They began by giving their own introductions, asking the children to stop calling them “educated youth comrades” and instead use their new titles: “Teacher Tang” and “Teacher Lin.”

After their own introductions, they had the children stand up and introduce themselves one by one.

Most of the kids had never done anything like this before. Many were shy, awkward, and embarrassed, standing up to quickly mumble a soft, “My name is…”

Of course, there were also several mischievous ones. They stood up and proudly announced not only their names, but also which work team they came from—some even offered to perform, like re-enacting Guan Yu’s broadsword routine.

Spurred on by the cheeky kids and with some encouragement from Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan, the group gradually loosened up. Their voices got a little louder and their posture more confident during introductions.

After that, Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan went over the classroom rules.

Even though they’d promised during recruitment that they wouldn’t hit students, rules were still necessary.

Chu Xia spoke first:
“Everyone must remember: first, the class bell system. When you hear one strike—clang, clang, clang—that’s the prep bell. It means class is about to start, so get ready. Two strikes—clang clang, clang clang—means class is starting. And three strikes—clang clang clang, clang clang clang—means class is over. Got it?”

The children responded in unison, “Got it!”

Then Lin Xiaohan followed up:
“We promised during recruitment that we’d tell you stories, and we will. As school goes on, we’ll read you stories, and every week you’ll get to read comic booklets. But there are also rules in class that everyone must follow.”

“First: No being late, no leaving early, and no skipping class without a valid reason. If you’re sick or something important comes up at home, you can request leave.
Second: No whispering or chatting during class, no daydreaming. You must listen to the teacher carefully, and complete all homework seriously—we’ll be checking it.
Third: From now on, you’re classmates. Help each other, be kind and united. Don’t start fights over trivial matters, and absolutely no bullying or forming cliques.
Students who behave well will be rewarded. Those who don’t will face consequences. Understand?”

Again, the kids shouted, “Understood!”

Afterward, one of the kids asked, “What kind of punishment? Is it a spanking?”

Lin Xiaohan looked at the child and said, “We said we wouldn’t hit students, and we mean it. But there are other ways to punish. For example—standing in the corner, cleaning the classroom for a week… or even cleaning the toilets for a week.”

“Ahhh…” The children groaned in chorus.

The same child who asked earlier muttered, “That’s worse than a spanking!”

“Feels like we’ve been tricked!”

After letting the kids chatter freely for a while, Lin Xiaohan clapped the lectern again to quiet them down.

Now that everyone had a basic familiarity with each other and the school rules, and there was still time left in the class, they decided to go ahead and elect class leaders and divide up the duties for the daily chores.

Chu Xia said, “We need to elect one class monitor, one vice monitor, one study committee representative, four subject reps, and a labor committee member. We’ll do this through self-nomination—if you want the role, raise your hand. If more than one person wants the same role, we’ll vote, and the one with the most votes will get the position…”

…

By the time class leaders were elected and the duty groups assigned, the first period had just about ended.

Chu Xia checked the time in the office and rang the end-of-class bell right on schedule. She told the children they could rest for ten minutes and play in the schoolyard—but not leave the premises.

Seven minutes later, the preparatory bell rang.

The kids who were playing outside glanced at one another, then dashed back to the classroom.

As the official start-of-class bell rang, Lin Xiaohan entered the classroom holding his Chinese textbook and lesson notes.

The children stood and greeted him with a loud “Good morning, Teacher!” marking the official start of the very first class of their school life.

After ringing the bell, Chu Xia returned the small hammer to the office, then quietly slipped into the classroom through the back door. She took a seat at one of the desks in the back corner to observe Lin Xiaohan’s teaching along with the students.

While the children were learning the actual lesson content, Chu Xia was focused on learning how to teach.

For this kind of thing, half a lesson was usually enough to get the idea.

Eventually, she started to lose focus and, without realizing, began to daydream. She turned her head to look out the window—and just as her eyes landed outside, she saw someone crouched by the window, only the top of their head visible behind the wall.

Even though she couldn’t see the whole face, Chu Xia recognized her immediately.

It was that same girl who had carried a baby on her back and told stories by the pond—trying to sneak in for free lessons.

Who would’ve thought, even after being turned away, she’d come back to secretly eavesdrop on the class.

Seeing how seriously the girl was listening from outside, Chu Xia decided not to disturb her. She turned her gaze back to the front of the classroom and pretended not to notice the girl at the window.

When it felt like most of the period had passed, Chu Xia quietly left the classroom, intending to check the time in the office and ring the bell right on schedule. But when she stepped outside, the girl was already gone.

Chu Xia took a quiet breath and glanced toward the schoolyard gate.

Clang, clang, clang…

Clang, clang, clang…

The end-of-day bell echoed through the school. The children grabbed their backpacks and swarmed out of the classroom.

Under Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan’s direction, they lined up in the yard according to their production teams and marched out of the gate to head home.