I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 2: Modern Times

I’m alive!

These past few days, he hadn’t eaten his fill even once at the Zhao estate.

Zheng Fa felt a bit ashamed. After experiencing various delicious foods in this world, going back to eating pigweed was hard to stomach… Luxury spoils the palate.

As for things like cured meat, which tasted better, he always left them for his sister and mother. Indulging in lavish food here while competing for scarce morsels in the other world would just feel wrong.

Five years ago, after his father’s death, he cried all night until he fell into an exhausted sleep, only to wake up in a strange, wondrous place.

Since then, every seven days, he would visit this world in his dreams, then return to the original one after seven days—an experience akin to the "transmigration" told in this world's tales, only he was a foreigner in a so-called "body traversal."

From that point, he spent seven days feasting in this world, before returning to the Xuanyi Realm—what people from that world called it—where he would endure near-starvation for seven days. Now, he had become used to it.

Zheng Fa rubbed his slightly full stomach and stepped out of his home.

Others might consider the place outdated and inferior to newer complexes, but Zheng Fa was content. Having grown up in homes built from mud bricks mixed with straw, the sight of pristine walls and gleaming windows in this world made him feel like he had entered a paradise.

Not to mention electric lights, TVs, cars, and phones—all ordinary here but wonders to him.

After gaining some understanding of this world, he had initially believed it to be the "immortal realm" storytellers described at the market—where iron birds flew at speeds impossible to fathom, and tiny screens could reveal events from a thousand miles away.

But deeper knowledge revealed these people were merely mortals, their bodies even frailer than those in his original world.

Zheng Fa's family had tilled land for generations as tenant farmers of the Zhao family, an esteemed clan known for martial excellence, with some gifted members even joining legendary sects. But in this world, cultivation didn’t exist, and martial arts were confined to TV or satirical videos.

Still, Zheng Fa didn't look down on this world’s people. To achieve such wondrous feats with mortal bodies was, in his eyes, even more admirable.

Now, he was a senior student at Qingshui High School, living in an apartment just five minutes from the classrooms.

When he arrived at the classroom door, a boy sitting by the front row near the entrance called out, "Zheng Fa, Mr. Chen wants to see you!"

“Got it!” Zheng Fa responded, placing his backpack on his seat. He heard the boy ask, "What did you do?"

Zheng Fa wondered the same thing, nervous.

Mr. Chen was their homeroom and language teacher.

Being summoned to the teacher’s office first thing in the morning was nerve-wracking, even for a transmigrant.

He pushed open the scuffed yellow door to find Mr. Chen’s bald head gleaming in the morning light by the nearest desk.

“Mr. Chen.”

“Zheng Fa, come in and sit!”

Relieved by Mr. Chen’s friendly demeanor, Zheng Fa sat down with his legs together, hands resting on his knees, doing his best to appear obedient.

“What are you so tense about?” Mr. Chen chuckled at his posture. “I just wanted to ask what university plans you have now that you're in senior year.”

“I…” Caught off guard by the question, Zheng Fa struggled to respond.

“Normally, teachers don’t pry into these matters; it’s up to students and their families. But given your unique situation…”

Mr. Chen didn’t finish, but Zheng Fa understood—he had crossed over at twelve or thirteen, inheriting an identity in this world as an orphan.

His parents here, both Qingshui High School teachers, had died in a car accident, a fate more tragic than in the Xuanyi Realm. But the safety nets here were better.

The school supported him as a teacher’s child, waiving tuition fees so he could continue his education. The community offered subsidies, and with the inheritance and home his parents left, his life, though not affluent, was stable.

Compared to the hardship his family faced in the other world, this place was a haven.

The teachers, including Mr. Chen, knew of his background, showing care and avoiding discussions about family in front of him out of sympathy or professional camaraderie.

Though he had never experienced life with this world’s parents, he felt grateful, even if the emotions weren't deep. This kindness was something Zheng Fa acknowledged.

Seeing his silence, Mr. Chen continued, “What do you have in mind? Share it, and I’ll help you think it over.”

Zheng Fa felt sincerely appreciative.

Despite his gruff appearance, Mr. Chen was dedicated. It wasn’t even 7 a.m., yet he was already in the office. Zheng Fa knew he did this almost daily.

“I want to study physics,” Zheng Fa said. He had thought about university before.

Maybe studying wasn’t enjoyable for most teens here, but Zheng Fa cherished the opportunity.

He’d only attended a year of basic schooling as a child and hadn’t loved it then, preferring farm work. But after his father’s accident, losing the chance for school made him yearn for it.

In the estate, only Steward Wang's son, Wang Gui, finished basic education and was later chosen as the Seventh young master’s attendant.

Other kids couldn’t afford schooling, making them envious of Wang Gui.

Zheng Fa more so.

With the opportunity for formal schooling here and even university—this world’s pinnacle of learning—he naturally yearned for it.

Physics… It was his best subject. Plus, he was genuinely intrigued by the mysteries of "science."

This world’s history amazed him. A few centuries ago, it was as bleak as the Xuanyi Realm, without any cultivation or martial prowess.

This world had transformed dramatically within a few centuries, and he believed science was the core reason behind it.

He admired it with a fervent curiosity and respect.

“Physics? Going down the academic path?” Mr. Chen pondered. Given Zheng Fa’s modest background, academics could be a solid choice.

“Any universities in mind?”

“Jiangnan University.”@@novelbin@@

“Jiangnan?” Mr. Chen gave him a look. “That’s tough. Your current grades… it’s a long shot.”

He didn’t sound hopeful.

But as he watched Zheng Fa leave, a satisfied smile appeared on Mr. Chen’s face.

The female teacher at the opposite desk asked, “Is that the child of the late Mr. Zheng?”

“Yes,” Mr. Chen nodded.

A hint of sympathy crossed her face. “I heard his grades weren’t great before. He only got into this high school because he’s an orphan, right?”

“His grades were bad when he started,” Mr. Chen said with a touch of pride. “None of the other homeroom teachers wanted him, so he ended up in my class.”

“Then Jiangnan University really is tough!” The female teacher nodded.

Jiangnan University was a top ten school in the country, especially famous for its physics program.

“You don’t understand this kid. From freshman to senior year, his scores have shot up. Freshman year, he was at the bottom. Sophomore year, he was middle of the pack. Now, as a senior, he occasionally makes the top ten.”

The woman was astonished. “Improving that fast? Then there’s hope for Jiangnan?”

Mr. Chen shook his head. “No, it’s a bit late. He’s still about twenty points short… What a shame.”

…

Zheng Fa didn’t know about Mr. Chen’s mix of praise and regret.

In this world, he was alone, aware of how limited his information was.

All he could do was focus on hard work.

He had lunch in the school cafeteria as usual. Across from him sat his desk mate and friend—Wang Chen.

Wang Chen looked at the food on his tray, face full of despair. “Does the cafeteria chef’s family grow eggplants? How do we get eggplant and green beans every day?”

He glanced at the other dishes. The hollow greens looked like they’d been through a battle.

A single bristle stood defiantly on the red-braised pork.

“Are the kitchen staff all related to the principal? These dishes have been the same from freshman to senior year and somehow still taste awful. They must really stick to their principles!” He glanced at Zheng Fa. “Join me to buy some bread after this, will you?”

Across from him, Zheng Fa mixed the sauce from the pork into his rice, stirred it, and took the final mouthful with an expression of near-reverence.

After swallowing, he raised his head as if hearing Wang Chen for the first time, eyes slightly puzzled. “Not eating?”

Seeing Zheng Fa’s plate, cleaned to the last grain, and comparing it to his own barely-touched food, Wang Chen’s mouth twitched, doubting himself.

Was it really that good?

He took a few bites with his eyes closed…

Ugh!