The entire school faculty and students numbered just over two thousand. After this year's expansion, the student population nearly doubled. The small sports field was almost unable to accommodate everyone.
Following tradition, the principal spoke first, then the department leaders. Their speeches were all similar, encouraging students to study hard and strive for success. The opening ceremony lasted for over an hour, after which everyone dispersed and returned to their respective classes.
After collecting their books, students were free to move about. The weather was too hot, so Chen Lishu packed her books into her shoulder bag. Just as she was about to return to the dormitory with Zhang Xue, her counselor called her over, asking her to visit Chen Yin's office.
"Xue'er, you go back to the dormitory first. I'll be back shortly," Chen Lishu said to Zhang Xue before heading upstairs.
"How was it? Did you have a fulfilling holiday?" Chen Yin asked with a smile, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk as she entered.
Chen Lishu sat down and replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, teacher. It was alright."
Chen Yin nodded. "Our school has enrolled many more students this year, and we are experiencing a shortage of foreign language teachers. The department leaders approached me to see if there were any outstanding students in our major who could take on some teaching responsibilities for introductory English courses for lower-grade students. You were the first person I thought of."
Chen Lishu was quite startled by his words. "Teacher, I am still a student myself. How can I have the ability to teach others? I'm definitely not capable." Besides, she had only attended classes for half a semester in total.
Chen Yin motioned for her not to worry and then smiled. "Don't underestimate yourself. You have experience running the English corner, and you passed the oral exemption exam at the end of last semester, didn't you? Your final exam scores were also good. The school has its considerations and won't ask you to take on major courses directly. It would be just one introductory class per week. What do you think?"
Sensing her hesitation, Chen Yin changed his approach. "Have you thought about what you want to do after graduation? If not, you might consider my suggestion. Start as a teaching assistant. Based on your academic performance, staying on at the university after graduation would be a natural progression. Isn't this an additional opportunity?"
Staying on at the university? Chen Lishu was taken aback.
To be honest, she hadn't considered it at all. After all, there were still over three years until graduation, and she hadn't even thought about what job she wanted after graduating.
"You don't need to reply to me right away. Go back and think about it, and let me know your decision tomorrow."
"Thank you, teacher," Chen Lishu stood up, thanked Chen Yin, and then left his office.
After a night of careful consideration, Chen Lishu decided to accept Chen Yin's offer.
At first, her sole intention in attending university was to fulfill a long-held aspiration. However, as Chen Yin had said, this was indeed an opportunity, and being a teacher wasn't bad, especially a university teacher. With limited class hours each week, she would have more free time.
After Chen Lishu agreed, the school quickly arranged a trial lecture for her. Chen Lishu took this trial lecture very seriously, preparing for a full week. She had expected to be nervous when stepping onto the podium for the first time, but the moment she stood there, she suddenly felt at ease.
The trial lecture was very successful, and the school began assigning her courses. Every Wednesday afternoon, she would teach an introductory English class to the newly enrolled students in the mathematics department.
When her classmates learned that she had been appointed as a teaching assistant, their reactions varied. Most were envious and congratulatory. A very few, like Sun Ling, were both jealous and angry, occasionally making snide remarks.
"What's so great about being a teaching assistant? It's not like Yu Wei got the first-class scholarship. Some people don't know how they curried favor with the teacher to get this assistant position. Do they really think everyone wants it?"
Zhang Xue couldn't stand her envious demeanor and couldn't help but retort, "Sun Ling, why do you always bring up Jiang Yu Wei? Lishu, at least she earned a second-class scholarship through her own merit. With your grades, which are practically scraping the bottom, don't you have any self-awareness? Do you really think others don't know how you got your third-class scholarship?"
Sun Ling, who was combing her hair at her seat, became enraged upon hearing Zhang Xue's words. She slammed the wooden comb onto the table with a "pa" sound and glared at Zhang Xue, "My grades are all earned through my own abilities. You, who are almost last in the grade, have the nerve to say all this?"
Yang Lili, who was beside them, paused her turning of pages at hearing her words. She bit her lip hard, barely managing to hold back tears of grievance.
During the exam, Sun Ling had snatched her test paper, causing her to miss two questions. Ironically, Sun Ling, the plagiarist, had scored two more points than her. Yang Lili's score could only rank fourth.
"You clearly copied..."
Zhang Xue was so angry she wanted to say Sun Ling copied Yang Lili, but Chen Lishu stopped her. She reluctantly swallowed her words.
Seeing that she had fallen silent, Sun Ling's expression became even more triumphant. She took a dress from the bedside, held it up in front of the others to show them, "Hey, do you think this dress of mine looks good? My cousin is a manager at the Yimin Store. This is a rare piece of foreign trade goods, eighteen yuan. My scholarship money has a few yuan left. How about I treat you all to dinner at the cafeteria later?"
Upon hearing that she was treating them, Li He and the others immediately gathered around. "Sun Ling, your dress is really beautiful. It suits you perfectly."
"I want to buy one too, but it's too expensive."
"..."
Listening to their conversation, Yang Lili's fingernails dug into her flesh. Twenty-odd yuan could be her entire food budget for two months, but for someone like Sun Ling, it was just a dress.
Chen Lishu glanced at the silent Yang Lili, unsure of what to say.
Time flew by, and it was the weekend. Chen Lishu went to Chen Liyuan's school to pick her up to go home together.
"How is it? Are you adapting well to school life?"
Chen Liyuan smiled and nodded. "It's not bad. I'm the youngest in our dormitory, so everyone takes good care of me."
Chen Lishu nodded, relieved that she wasn't being bullied.
When they arrived home, Gu Xingdong still hadn't returned. It had been almost a month. When he left, he had only said he had temporary duties. Chen Lishu hadn't expected him to be gone for so long.
"Sister is back?" Zhao Guiying came out holding the family's youngest son. Seeing her picking vegetables, she greeted her with a smile.
"Sister-in-law," Chen Lishu called out with a smile, her gaze falling on the two half-grown boys running over in the distance. She couldn't help but pause.
Zhao Guiying noticed her confusion and smiled. "Sister, you probably don't know yet, but a primary school has been built in our military family housing area. Starting this fall, the children in our compound can also go to school."
Chen Lishu smiled. "That's really great."
"Indeed. As soon as I heard the news, I wrote to my hometown and asked someone to bring the two boys over. After all, it's best for a family to be together."
After a few more words, Chen Lishu finally finished picking the vegetables. She bid farewell to Zhao Guiying and went inside to cook.