Chapter 11 - The Substitute Teacher at the Academy

Ari simply asked when she could start working.

The principal replied, "You can start right now. First, familiarize yourself with our school, the staff, and the students to see where you can begin. Once we have time, we'll sign a contract. But let me make it clear—the salary for substitute teachers isn't much, only 1,800 yuan per month."

"That's wonderful!" Ari said enthusiastically.

The principal was momentarily speechless. Is this the so-called "silly and sweet type"? How could anyone think 1,800 yuan was "wonderful"? That wouldn't even cover rent and meals! What the principal didn't realize was that Ari thought 1,800 yuan could buy plenty of stationery to give to students, making her genuinely excited.

The school had a severe shortage of English teachers because they couldn't retain talent. Fresh graduates with English degrees all flocked to big cities for better opportunities, and the school didn't offer permanent teaching positions. Who would willingly stay to teach? The available teaching resources were all concentrated on the graduating classes. Furthermore, since Ari wasn't professionally trained as a teacher, the principal assigned her to the 8th-grade group to temporarily teach one class as a trial.

What the principal underestimated was Ari's abilities. Despite holding a Singaporean passport, she had received her primary and secondary education in China and was very familiar with the system.

During the last period of the morning, Class 5 of the 8th grade was preparing for an English class. Their previous English teacher had left, and a substitute teacher was temporarily covering the class, but the workload was overwhelming, leaving her hoarse.

When the bell rang, the homeroom teacher, the principal, and a stylish, cheerful, and beautiful young woman walked into the classroom.

The students looked at one another, puzzled. What's with the formal lineup? What's happening?

Only Yi Nuannuan recognized the woman as the person she had lunch with the day before, and a faint sense of excitement stirred in her heart. However, she had no one to share her secret with and had to keep it to herself.

The principal spoke first, introducing the new teacher. "This is Teacher Ou, a foreign teacher specially hired by our school. I'd like to emphasize that she's an international scholar and a graduate of Princeton University. Let's give her a warm welcome."

The students clapped enthusiastically as Teacher Ou began her self-introduction—in fluent American English. It was a stark contrast to the heavily accented English of their previous teachers. The students listened intently but struggled to fully understand what she was saying.

The homeroom teacher then added, "Students, pay attention. Teacher Ou's teaching methods may differ from other teachers, but this is a rare opportunity, so make the most of it."

After their remarks, the homeroom teacher and principal left, leaving Teacher Ou alone with the class.

"Don't be nervous," Teacher Ou said. "My name is Ou Li, but you can call me Teacher Ou. However, I'd prefer if you called me Ari. Now, I'd like to invite one of you to introduce yourself in English—just one sentence. Anything will do."

The student who was called upon stood up nervously and stammered, "Ma na mu yi si Li Xiaoming…"

Ari chuckled and said, "I used to be a student at Fudan High School. Although our textbooks were different, the basics were the same. I still remember the first time I went abroad and had to introduce myself…"

She was a natural storyteller, seamlessly embedding English knowledge into vivid anecdotes that captivated the students. Even those who disliked English found themselves listening attentively.

After sharing two short stories, Ari asked, "Why do you think we need to learn English? Let's hear from the English class representative."

However, the English class representative, Yin Weiran, was currently in the hospital with a fractured ankle and couldn't respond. So, Ari asked the class monitor to speak instead.

Feng Xiaoxiao stood up, his mind working quickly. Handsome and intelligent, he had inherited both his appearance and sharp wit from his father. The current situation was different from the norm. If the principal, homeroom teacher, or English teacher had asked this question, the answers would vary: for the principal, it would be "to contribute to China's rise"; for the homeroom teacher, it would be "to perform well on the high school entrance exam"; and for the English teacher, it would be "because English is the most widely used language in the world, and mastering it is a basic skill."

But the person asking was a foreign teacher—a young and seemingly unconventional one. So, Feng Xiaoxiao decided to give a comprehensive answer that would leave no room for debate.

"First, mastering a foreign language is a practical skill that aids in international communication. Second, English is a core subject that carries significant weight in high school and college entrance exams, and we even need to take language proficiency tests in university or for studying abroad. Lastly, learning English sharpens our thinking—using a different language and culture to approach problems gives us a new perspective on the world."

These words were borrowed from his father, Ma Xiaowei, who often used them to educate him. They were lofty and insightful enough to impress everyone at the academy. After delivering his speech, Feng Xiaoxiao glanced modestly at his classmates before sitting down.

Ari gave him a thumbs-up. "The class monitor's answer was very thorough. Let's give him a round of applause."

After the applause subsided, Ari asked if anyone else had any thoughts. No one raised their hand.

Ari continued, "The class monitor covered the most important points, but I'd like to add something. Learning a foreign language—not just English but also other languages—goes beyond practical benefits. It allows us to appreciate beauty, experience other civilizations, and understand the vastness of the world and the diversity of humanity."

"For example, some words exist in foreign languages but require entire sentences to describe in Chinese. Take the Swedish word mangata, which refers to the road-like reflection of the moonlight on water. Doesn't it evoke a serene and beautiful atmosphere? Or the Spanish word sobremesa, which describes the time spent chatting with companions after a meal. Spaniards love to chat, eating and drinking while conversing. When they get tired, they grab more food and continue. Ask your fathers tonight if they've experienced this during their drinking sessions."

The students burst into laughter. Many men in the shipyard district loved to drink heavily, bragging and chatting about everything from national affairs to trivial gossip. It was indeed a perfect description of that post-drinking downtime.

Ari picked up a piece of chalk and wrote "木漏れ日" on the blackboard. "This is Japanese, pronounced komorebi. It refers to sunlight filtering through the leaves. Isn't it beautiful, peaceful, and poetic?"

The students nodded instinctively.

"So, if you have the opportunity and ability, learn more languages to understand the world better. Now, let's return to English…" Ari finally circled back, reigniting the students' enthusiasm and interest in learning.

Outside the classroom, the principal nodded in satisfaction. This foreign teacher was indeed skilled—she understood the essence of education. First, you had to make students willing to listen to you; otherwise, no matter how well you spoke, it would fall on deaf ears. Winning the trust and favor of 14- and 15-year-olds, who were often rebellious, wasn't easy, but Teacher Ou Li had managed to do it.

For the students of Class 5, a subject they once dreaded had flown by. In the blink of an eye, the lesson was over, and they had already grown fond of their new teacher. Their previous English teacher was a 48-year-old woman in menopause who loved to criticize and humiliate students, often calling them to the blackboard just to embarrass them. As a result, the students were terrified of English. But Teacher Ari? She was gentle, kind, and more like an older sister. She didn't shout or scold, let alone humiliate anyone. Everyone loved her classes.

At lunchtime, most of the students, whose parents worked at the shipyard, ate and rested at school while their parents ate in the factory cafeteria. However, since the school cafeteria was under renovation, students had to bring their own lunches. As a teacher, Ari wasn't restricted and could eat elsewhere, but she insisted on joining the students.

The students warmly welcomed Ari to eat with them. Feng Xiaoxiao suggested, "Why don't we have a big communal meal? Let's push the tables together and share our food. We can host a welcome party for Teacher Ari."

Everyone enthusiastically agreed, thinking it was both meaningful and fun.

Yi Nuannuan was incredibly embarrassed. This was the kind of moment she feared most. Today's lunch had been prepared by her grandmother, packed in an aluminum lunchbox as old as her mother. Inside, there was plain rice and a few overcooked green beans lying limp on top. It wasn't her grandmother's fault—this was just how their family usually ate. On the rare occasion they had meat, it was always meager, just slivers or thin slices.

The students noisily pushed their desks together, combining them into four large tables based on their seating groups. Everyone placed their lunchboxes on the shared tables, and drinks were pooled together. There was an assortment of milk, sodas, and tea drinks—it looked like a miniature food and beverage expo.

Yi Nuannuan shrank into the least conspicuous corner, keeping her lunchbox covered with its lid, trying to hide it from view. Fortunately, Yin Weiran wasn't present. Without their ringleader, Jane Shiyu and Mei Xin seemed to have lost their backbone, like puppets without their manipulative master. They didn't stir up any trouble.

The atmosphere at the tables was both formal and lively. Everyone sat upright, their expressions both excited and serious. Feng Xiaoxiao stood up, holding a glass bottle of Perrier water, preparing to give a toast on behalf of the class. His gesture mirrored his father, Ma Xiaowei, whom he'd often observed giving eloquent speeches at dinner parties. Feng Xiaoxiao had clearly inherited the knack for it.

Just as he was about to speak, the school's gatekeeper entered. He scanned the room briefly and then placed a cloth bag in front of Yi Nuannuan without saying a word before walking out.

All eyes immediately turned toward Yi Nuannuan in the corner. With everyone staring, she had no choice but to open it.

Reluctantly, she untied the bag beneath their collective gaze. The thick material of the bag provided excellent insulation. Inside was a three-layer lunchbox set. Slowly, she opened each layer.

The first layer revealed rosemary-crusted crispy beef ribs, scallion-seasoned broad beans, and three fresh, vibrant green asparagus spears. The second layer contained fragrant Thai jasmine rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds. The third layer held peeled orange slices and cherry tomatoes, neatly arranged and wrapped in cling film to retain their moisture. Additionally, there was a small insulated container filled with chicken soup and a box of fresh milk.

It wasn't ostentatious because of the expense of the ingredients but rather because of the effort that had gone into preparing it. Every item was portioned perfectly for a middle school girl's appetite. The meal was balanced, with meat, dairy, and fruit, and the presentation was immaculate. It was clear that whoever prepared this lunch did so with the utmost care and love.

Ari exclaimed in admiration, "What a thoughtful and beautifully prepared lunch! Your mom must be such a kind and gentle person."

This casual compliment struck Yi Nuannuan squarely in the heart. If her mother were still alive, she might indeed have prepared such a lunch for her. But her mother was in heaven—how could it possibly be her?

Yi Nuannuan couldn't hold back anymore. Tears streamed down her face as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

Ari panicked, not knowing what she had said wrong. She looked to the class monitor for help. Feng Xiaoxiao leaned in and whispered, "Teacher, Yi Nuannuan's mother has passed away, and I heard her father isn't around either."

In an instant, Ari felt a searing, heart-wrenching sadness. She pulled Yi Nuannuan into her arms without saying a word, holding her close to offer comfort. Tears rolled down Ari's cheeks as well.

Yi Nuannuan hadn't been held like this in a long time, and it only made her cry harder.

A strange but soothing warmth began to rise in her heart. It was as if her mother were truly holding her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt consoled. Gradually, her wailing turned into soft sobs, and then it stopped entirely. She apologized to everyone around her.

Ari wiped her tears and said warmly, "It's okay. Let's eat."

Yi Nuannuan placed her beautifully prepared, nutritionally balanced lunchbox in a prominent spot on the table. For the first time, she felt an unprecedented sense of security and dignity. In that moment, it was as if her mother and father were right there by her side.

[--------------------------------------------]

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! 

Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy