"Teacher, this is the book you lent me last time. I've finished reading it and brought it back to you," Chen Lishu said, taking a foreign language book out of her satchel.
At that time, many foreign language books were labeled as banned. Foreign language teachers in various universities walked a tightrope. Even university libraries had few foreign books and materials. The one Chen Lishu was returning was one that Chen Yin-chu had managed to collect.
"You finished it so quickly?" Chen Yin-chu took the book she handed him. "Don't tell me you just skimmed through it. Don't be fooled by it being just a collection of short stories; many of the sentences and grammar here are quite typical."
"Mmm," Chen Lishu nodded. "Don't worry, Teacher, I've taken notes."
As Chen Lishu spoke, her gaze fell upon Chen Yin-chu's desk. Seeing the large amount of teaching materials laid out there, her expression became a little moved.
Under the influence of the "extreme leftist ideology" at the time, there was widespread opposition to 'feudalism, capitalism, and revisionism,' and English textbooks were distorted beyond recognition.
Now that the college entrance examinations had been reinstated, the country was gradually paying more attention to foreign languages, making textbooks particularly important.
However, the department's teaching resources were limited, and Chen Yin-chu could only do as much preparation as possible in his spare time.
"Back then, limited by the era, the selection of textbook readings had many taboos. Some were even cut to fit, altered beyond recognition. Now that the situation has changed, I've been thinking of preparing as much as I can," Chen Yin-chu explained when he saw her looking at his desk.
Chen Lishu asked curiously, "Is the teacher compiling textbooks?"
Chen Yin-chu smiled and nodded. "The school has this idea. Xiao Chen, as a student, do you have any thoughts on this?"
Everyone was crossing the river by feeling the stones. Should they improve upon the existing foundation or make drastic changes? Chen Yin-chu suddenly wanted to hear the thoughts of the student in front of him.
After all, the future era belonged to the youth, and her entrance exam scores were excellent. In their few interactions, he had also sensed that this student had many advanced ideas and insights.
Chen Lishu had never encountered such things before. Her understanding of teaching was mostly derived from her children's textbooks in her past life.
However, since Chen Yin-chu asked, she began to think very seriously.
"With the development of the times, I think the selection of materials should be diverse and ideally interesting," Chen Lishu said, smiling a little shyly. "After all, it's not about academic research. To be honest, I can't really get through things that are too dry."
Chen Yin-chu nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"Another point is speaking ability and communicative ability. There's too much 'mute English' now. As the saying goes, 'learn for application, learn and apply flexibly.' If it can't be applied in practice, then learning English has little meaning."
"Yes, on this point, your ideas, Xiao Chen, coincide with mine," Chen Yin-chu said excitedly. "I've been struggling with how to solve this problem."
He still vividly remembered the English introduction session at the beginning of the semester.
"You could set up English listening classes and English corners."
"What are English corners?"
"They are activities for practicing English speaking to improve speaking ability." Then, Chen Lishu explained roughly what she knew to Chen Yin-chu.
As she explained, Chen Yin-chu's eyes lit up brighter and brighter. By the time Chen Lishu finished, he was so excited that he stood up. "I need to write down everything you've said. Xiao Chen, your suggestion is truly excellent."
"Why are you writing again? Come and eat quickly." Han Xiu-yun came to call them for dinner. Seeing her husband busy again, she was a little displeased.
"Don't rush, it'll be done soon." Chen Yin-chu finished writing the last word and sat down at the table with them.
The meal was simple. Han Xiu-yun stir-fried shredded potatoes, and there was also stir-fried cabbage with black fungus.
"Sister-in-law, the shredded potatoes you made are so crispy and delicious."
Hearing her praise, Han Xiu-yun was very happy and said with a smile, "Soak them in water before stir-frying to remove the starch. That way, the shredded potatoes will naturally be much crispier. Let me tell you, Xiao Chen, the most important thing in making this dish is..."
"The child has come for a rare visit. If you only listen to yourself talk, will she eat or not?"
"My talking doesn't prevent her from eating. You, you can always pull people into conversation, but I can't say a few more words?"
"..."
The meal, with Chen Lishu's company, became more flavorful than before. The elderly couple unconsciously ate half a bowl more rice.
When they emerged from the faculty dormitory, it was almost dark.
"Lishu, you're back? Have you eaten dinner?" Zhang Xue asked, concerned as she saw her enter. "If you haven't, I still have two pieces of kernel cookies."
Chen Lishu hung her satchel on the head of the bed and smiled. "I've eaten, thank you."
Zhang Xue smiled. "Why are you being so polite with me?"
"Besides, she not only ate, but by the looks of it, she ate at Professor Chen's place, didn't she?" Sun Ling interjected. "Zhang Xue, only you are foolish enough to be so nice to her. She's long since taken things and gone to curry favor with the professor behind your back."
Hearing her words, Chen Lishu's movements paused. Then, pretending nothing was amiss, she bent down to get a washbasin from under the bed.
Seeing her actions, Zhang Xue leaned out of the bed. "Lishu, I have hot water in my thermos. I just refilled it at dinner."
Chen Lishu smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Seeing that they were completely ignoring her, Sun Ling was furious. "Being kind is seen as an ass's liver and lungs. No wonder people use you like a fool."
After saying that, she still felt indignant. Seeing Chen Lishu approach, she spat towards the outside of the bed. "Don't think you're so great just because you have a seductive face that makes other boys flock around you. Besides that face, you're nothing. You think by giving a couple of things to flatter the professor, you can stay at the university? I'm telling you, they look at professional grades. With your little ability, you should just go home and farm."
"Slap!"
As soon as Sun Ling finished speaking, she was suddenly slapped hard across the face. She was stunned for a moment, covering her face and looking at Chen Lishu in disbelief. "How dare you hit me?"
Chen Lishu looked down at her and said coldly, "What's wrong with hitting you? I'm telling you, it's because I'm too lenient. I should have beaten you when you tried to give me laxatives. You're always calling me a country bumpkin, a peasant. Do you want to live in the same dormitory as me? The great leader said that revolutionary work has no distinction between high or low, no matter of nobility or lowliness. Without us, the vast laboring people in the countryside, what would you eat? What would you drink? Without all this, what are you so proud of?"