Chapter 430: 430: Return to No. 1 Middle School
Chapter 430: Chapter 430: Return to No. 1 Middle School
“Wow…” Chen Zihan, who had stopped crying, suddenly burst into tears. Her sobs grew louder, and everyone around stared at Xiao Han, apparently convinced that he was bullying her. They all looked at him with unfriendly eyes.
“Don’t cry,” Xiao Han hurried to soothe her. “If you keep crying, they might start hitting me.”
“Let them hit you!” Chen Zihan spoke through her sobs. “You were already bullying me. Who asked you to make me upset, to break my heart?”
“Yes, yes, yes, I’m sorry!” Xiao Han quickly apologized.
“You haven’t wronged me,” Chen Zihan stopped crying and said. “I want to go back to school for a walk. Can you come with me?”
“Sure!” Xiao Han nodded.
Chen Zihan quickly wiped away her tears, then said happily, “You’re really going to accompany me?”
“Of course.” Xiao Han immediately nodded and then added, “I’d definitely be willing to accompany you.”
The two hurried out of the coffee shop. Xiao Han had planned to drive, but then he remembered his car was parked in Fuxing Community. He had no choice but to hail a taxi to Linjiang No.1 Middle School.
Although the university was on holiday, the middle schools were not. It was the time of the year when schools were busy with final exams. When Xiao Han and Chen Zihan arrived at the school, the gate was firmly closed. Standing at the entrance, Chen Zihan looked at the pool by the door.
“Do you remember this pool?” Chen Zihan asked Xiao Han with a smile.
“I remember!” Xiao Han nodded, then said, “It was right here that Liao Zhijie threw me into the pool, and you stood up for me and scolded him.”
“Mmm!” Chen Zihan nodded, “But after that incident, I noticed you changed. Not only did your grades improve more and more, but you also became increasingly charismatic and attractive.”
“Really?” Xiao Han laughed upon hearing this. “Haven’t I always been attractive?”
“Vain!” Chen Zihan snorted lightly and said, “Don’t you know? Throughout high school, you were an unknown presence. It wasn’t until the second term of senior year that you started to exert yourself. Many people couldn’t believe it was true; even I found it hard to believe. However, I knew you had the strength because you were our Wangjiang District’s top scholar. You were once the pride of the people of Wangjiang District, and you still are.”
“Xiao Han?” Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
Xiao Han turned his head to look and saw a familiar figure. He exclaimed in surprise, “Teacher Liu?”
“Oh, it really is you guys?” Liu Jinmei riding an electric scooter approached the school gate, surprised, and said, “Come… come, let’s sit in my office.”
“Sure!” Xiao Han nodded, having found no excuse to enter the school until now.
Liu Jinmei quickly parked her electric scooter in the bike shed. Then she took off her leather gloves, her hands red with cold. In the dead of winter, riding a scooter was very cold, and her cheeks were chapped from the cold. Liu Jinmei’s smile was incredibly friendly. He had never noticed it when he was in school, but now, seeing her suddenly, he realized how kind and approachable Liu Jinmei truly was.
“Teacher Liu, are you doing well?” Xiao Han asked.
“Pretty well.” Liu Jinmei nodded and said, “Xiao Han, I’ve really benefited from your light. Ever since you were my student, I’ve now been promoted to the head of the grade group. My treatment has improved. Now when I go out, people call me ‘Top Scholar Teacher’. Also, this year I was once again selected as a national outstanding teacher. I just returned from receiving the award in Beijing…”
In her speech, there was no hiding the pride and sense of honor Liu Jinmei felt for her student Xiao Han.
Chen Zihan, however, wasn’t mentioned by her.
That’s because Chen Zihan didn’t take the national college entrance exams but went directly to Shanghai to sit for Harvard University’s examination. She was eventually admitted to Harvard University. However, domestic universities did not understand much about these accomplishments, so the schools they highlighted were primarily those based on domestic college admissions.
“Zi Han, how are you doing now?” Liu Jinmei asked.
“Teacher Liu, I’m also doing quite well,” Chen Zihan nodded.
“I heard you got into Harvard University?” Liu Jinmei asked with a smile.
“Yes!” Chen Zihan nodded, very modestly.
“Well, that’s good too,” Liu Jinmei smiled and said. “My students are scattered all over the world.”
However, Liu Jinmei clearly took more pride in Xiao Han, because, after all, Xiao Han’s impact within the country was undeniable. Xiao Han’s record-breaking achievements immediately turned Linjiang No.1 Middle School into a national model school, prompting the Ministry of Education to organize several rounds of teacher training seminars there. Liu Jinmei became one of their training teachers, serving educators from across the nation.
If the college entrance examination made Xiao Han the country’s top celebrity, then Liu Jinmei was certainly the second. As Xiao Han’s class teacher and the teacher he was closest to, Xiao Han mentioned Liu Jinmei’s name multiple times in interviews, truly giving her an opportunity to shine. Liu Jinmei eagerly accepted interviews from the media, never turning any away. The media struggled to schedule interviews with her and to learn from her teaching experiences, going to great lengths, including offering envelopes of money just to be able to interview Liu Jinmei successfully.
Liu Jinmei was also a worldly person; she accepted red packets when given, and bore no resentment when not. Thus, Liu Jinmei enjoyed a good reputation in the press.
Liu Jinmei became famous overnight, and many educational institutions invited her to be their spokesperson, even willing to pay a hefty fee for her classes. Liu Jinmei did not refuse these opportunities. Whatever money was rightfully hers, she would not turn down. After all, ten years of work can sharpen a sword, a century to mold a person. Liu Jinmei had been teaching and nurturing students for decades, and this was the first top scholar she had cultivated. She knew she might never cultivate a second top scholar, so she seized the opportunity to make money. Of course, nobody stopped Liu Jinmei from making money. Although Liu Hengzhong knew about it, he did not try to dissuade her. Because this was what Liu Jinmei deserved.
In this society, actors earn more than anyone else. The incomes of scientists and teachers, however, are generally low. Therefore, no one thought that Liu Jinmei’s money-making was wrong. Compared to the wealth amassed by actors, what was the little money that Liu Jinmei earned?
“Teacher Liu, you’re now a nationally known teacher,” Chen Zihan said with a sweet smile, “We are all proud of you today.”
“No, no, no.” Liu Jinmei shook her head, “It should be the teacher who is proud of you.”
“Let’s not argue about it,” Xiao Han chuckled. “Teacher Liu is a conscientious teacher who has dedicated decades to teaching and educating students. It is only right that she has achieved what she has today.”
Liu Jinmei was genuinely touched. Her students’ words truly warmed her heart. Honestly, Liu Jinmei hadn’t expected to achieve such success. She also understood that everything she had today was brought to her by Xiao Han.
The group entered the office.
As the head of the grade group, Liu Jinmei had been assigned an independent office by the school. Although the office was only over ten square meters, the treatment was considered very good compared to other teachers.
“Please, have a seat,” Liu Jinmei smiled, “I’ll make you some tea!”
“Teacher Liu, you don’t have to go to such trouble,” Chen Zihan quickly demurred.
“No, today we are not in a teacher-student relationship but that of friends,” Liu Jinmei hurriedly waved her hand. “As friends, it’s only right for me to brew tea. Moreover, I plan to have Xiao Han give a speech to our senior three students this afternoon. What do you think…?”
“Sure,” Xiao Han did not refuse. Giving a speech to his juniors was the right thing to do.
Chen Zihan looked at Xiao Han with a smile, “Xiao Han, I’m really looking forward to your speech.”
“You two are a couple now, aren’t you?” Liu Jinmei asked curiously.
Chen Zihan clammed up, a blush spreading across her face. Seeing this, Liu Jinmei simply smiled without speaking. At this moment, Xiao Han awkwardly said, “Sort of.”
“That’s nice,” Liu Jinmei nodded, “For classmates to come together is a matter of good fortune. Cherish the time you have now.”
Liu Jinmei cheerfully brewed the tea.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the door: “Teacher Liu.”
“Principal Li is here?” Liu Jinmei quickly got up to open the door.
Sure enough, there stood Li Hengzhong, who said, “Is everything ready for next week’s final exams?”
“Yes, yes, everything’s ready,” Liu Jinmei nodded, “But let’s not rush into exam details just now. Look who’s here!”
Liu Jinmei hastily made way.
“Xiao Han?!” Li Hengzhong’s eyes lit up, and he stepped inside while exuberantly exclaiming.
Xiao Han quickly stood up and gave Li Hengzhong a hearty hug. The two were like old friends reunited, greeting each other with great warmth. Li Hengzhong eagerly asked, “You’re on holiday now, aren’t you? I guessed you wouldn’t be so heartless as to not visit us during your break.”
“Actually…” Xiao Han said awkwardly, “It was Chen Zihan’s idea to visit the school. I… I just got back today.”
“No matter, it’s good that you’re here,” Li Hengzhong took a deep breath, seemingly very satisfied. He looked at Xiao Han and remarked, “No wonder Teacher Liu was willing to take out her treasured Nanshan Xiaozhong Tea to make. She’s usually not so generous.”
“Haha…” Xiao Han immediately laughed.
“Principal Li, I just discussed with Xiao Han about having him give a speech to our senior three students!” Liu Jinmei chimed in. “I think the senior two students should also listen to Xiao Han’s speech.”
“But…” Liu Jinmei hesitated.
“All afternoon classes will be cancelled,” Li Hengzhong declared. “Also, make the multimedia classroom available. It can fit more than a thousand people from the two grades.”
“Sure,” Liu Jinmei nodded, “With your word, I will carry out the order without hesitation.”
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