Chapter 794 - 763: Rebellious Disciple
Mei Ru Xue looked out of the car window and said softly, "We’re in the car, don’t talk nonsense."
Xu Chunliang said, "Next time we meet, let me learn how Director Mei is so smooth."
Mei Ru Xue responded with a hum, hurriedly hung up the phone, but quickly sent Xu Chunliang a string of little heart emojis on WeChat.
Xu Chunliang’s excited little hand shook, and he accidentally sent a lewd emoji rubbing its butt.
Mei Ru Xue replied, "Do it again and I’ll block you."
Xu Chunliang messaged again and again.
Of course, Mei Ru Xue wouldn’t actually block him, but she didn’t reply again either, to prevent him from doing something even more outrageous. It wasn’t dislike, but more that her heart was beating wildly because of him, and whenever she closed her eyes, she thought of him.
Xu Chunliang checked his messages and saw an update from Fan Lidada about the progress of the BBQ City project. Since he was already out, he didn’t bother with the work in Dongzhou. Let others fight over the political achievements. At Xu Chunliang’s current level, political achievements were just a waste to him.
In the afternoon of the next day, Xu Chunliang arrived early at Shuren Middle School, specially wore a white shirt, put on blue-light blocking glasses, and carried teaching materials, looking elegant and refined.
When Xu Chunliang appeared in the principal’s office, Principal Chen Yunsheng got up to greet him, "Teacher Xu is here!"
Seeing Xu Chunliang with that appearance, Chen Yunsheng was quite satisfied, feeling half relieved of his initial worry.
Xu Chunliang shook hands with Chen Yunsheng and said, "I came a bit early. It’s my first time as a substitute teacher, so I hope Principal Chen can remind me of any points to note."
Chen Yunsheng said, "You’re being modest, Teacher Xu, please have a seat."
Xu Chunliang sat down, and Chen Yunsheng handed him a bottle of water, "Teacher Xu, there’s not much to note. We have invited many excellent professionals from various fields to give lessons to the students, hoping to stimulate their interest and tap their potential. These kids are generally of good quality."
Xu Chunliang smiled, "I heard Shuren Middle School is full of privileged kids with strong personalities."
Chen Yunsheng laughed heartily, "There is indeed such talk in society, maybe because Shuren is a private school where the fees are relatively high. Having strong personalities isn’t a bad thing. We implement a dual-track education system, cultivating students to handle both domestic college entrance exams and international university admissions. If every child becomes a cookie-cutter exam machine, that would be the sorrow of us educators."
Chen Yunsheng didn’t expect Xu Chunliang to bring great surprises, after all, it was just a tutorial class, and students came voluntarily.
At 2:30 in the afternoon, Xu Chunliang walked boldly into Classroom 7 with a folder in hand.
Xu Chunliang arrived at the classroom door, noticed the half-open door, and judged there was likely an ambush.
Ji Jiajia isn’t someone to be trifled with, and Shuren Middle School students aren’t easy to manage. Previously, students even teamed up to bully Fu Xuedong, and it was he who solved it.
Xu Chunliang glanced around, then used the pointer to tap the door lightly. Sure enough, after a slight shift of the door, a basin of water poured down from above.
The classroom erupted in cheers of success from those who had set the trap, but the cheers quickly died down when they realized it failed, with water splashing onto the ground instead, the green bucket rolling away.
Xu Chunliang walked into the classroom unscathed, cutting a dashing, scholarly figure that instantly captured the eyes of all the girls.
"Wow! The new teacher is so handsome!"
"Handsome, my foot! He’s got the face of a playboy!" muttered a chubby student full of freckles under her breath.
Xu Chunliang smiled at everyone. There were quite a few attending today, and he spotted Ji Jiajia and Fu Xuedong in the back row. Fu Xuedong was evidently under Ji Jiajia’s thumb, sitting up straight with an odd expression, his mouth twitching as if to warn Xu Chunliang to be careful.
Xu Chunliang adjusted his glasses.
The girls were once again ensnared in a collective daydream. Ji Jiajia murmured, "He’s really full of himself, using every trick to get me here for class."
Fu Xuedong whispered, "The teacher did it all for your sake... ouch..." as Ji Jiajia stepped on his foot.
Xu Chunliang, while adjusting his glasses, spotted the trap: a thin string tied about a foot off the ground. If he weren’t careful, he would trip the mechanism hidden above.
Xu Chunliang walked over with deliberate steps, trampling the string to set off the mechanism.
The classroom was filled with cheers.
A box, triggered by the string, opened and poured countless chalk pieces and erasers towards Xu Chunliang from above. Twirling his folder like a spinning top, Xu Chunliang deflected the falling chalk pieces. Spotting an eraser, he swung his folder like a paddle, hitting it in mid-air.
The eraser spun towards the back row, where an amused Ji Jiajia realized the target too late. The eraser slammed into her forehead like a heavy slap, causing her some pain. Covered in chalk dust, half her face looked like it belonged to a clown.
Xu Chunliang calmly walked to the podium, smiling at the scheming students who had tried to see him embarrassed, "In this day and age, still using such outdated tricks? I thought Shuren Middle School students were much smarter and impressive. Clearly, your reputation exceeds reality."
Ji Jiajia started coughing, choking on chalk dust.
Xu Chunliang kicked back his chair, sending it tumbling apart, shaking his head, "I shouldn’t tell you this, but I’ve already played all these tricks to death."
He glanced at the podium, "If I’m not wrong, there’s something in the drawer too?"
Silence fell over the room. Actually, most people here today were just here to watch the show. Ji Jiajia tried to prank the teacher; without spectators, it would feel like something was missing. Without her prior mobilization, this class wouldn’t have so many attendees.
Xu Chunliang said, "Let me guess, is it a snake or a mouse inside?"
He pulled open the drawer, and a jade-patterned snake stuck its head out, flicking its tongue.
Xu Chunliang laughed. The jade-patterned snake is non-venomous, with a purplish-gray back, three black spots on its head, and a grayish-white belly with alternating black cross-stripes. It usually lives in hilly woodland areas, preying on lizards and rodents.
Xu Chunliang reached out and touched the snake’s head. The jade-patterned snake affectionately licked his fingers with its bright red tongue.
The group of students were all stunned. This teacher wasn’t afraid of snakes at all. Little did they know that he was a master of handling snakes.
Xu Chunliang said to the jade-patterned snake, "Good boy, who brought you here? Go find them."
The students looked at Xu Chunliang, thinking this guy must be an idiot. How could a snake understand human language?
Xu Chunliang placed the jade-patterned snake on the ground, and it slithered around the classroom. Many students were afraid of snakes, and some shivered when the snake came near them.
The jade-patterned snake went up to the freckled chubby student’s side. The chubby student was terrified, his head drooping; he was the one who had bought the snake.
Xu Chunliang said, "Playing with these things is risky. Just because it doesn’t bite me doesn’t mean it won’t hurt you."
The chubby student trembled, "The snake is not mine... not mine..."
Xu Chunliang said, "This is called a jade-patterned snake. It hates students who lie the most."
As soon as he finished speaking, the snake bit the chubby student’s butt, and he screamed, "Mama! It’s biting me, it’s biting me!" He jumped up from his seat, hopping around as the jade-patterned snake held onto his butt without letting go.
Everyone found the scene both funny and frightening, thankful that they weren’t the ones getting bitten.
Xu Chunliang said, "Just tell the truth. Lying is not what a good student does."
The chubby student wailed, "It was me, I put the snake in your drawer."
Strangely enough, as soon as he admitted it, the jade-patterned snake let go and slithered back to Xu Chunliang, coiling in a corner of the podium.
The chubby student held his butt, "Teacher, I might be poisoned, I need to go to the hospital."
Xu Chunliang glared, "Sit down!"
The chubby student pouted, "But my butt hurts!"
The whole class erupted in laughter.
Xu Chunliang said, "I told you it’s non-venomous. Just sit quietly and listen to the lesson. Whatever it is, it can wait until class is over."
Xu Chunliang said, "Now let’s begin the lesson. Hello, students!"
The room went silent.
Xu Chunliang was a bit displeased, "Where’s your manners? I’m greeting you!"
"Hello, teacher!" the group of children responded as if waking from a dream.
Xu Chunliang said, "First, let me introduce myself. My name is Xu Chunliang!" He picked up the chalk and wrote three strong characters on the blackboard: "Remember well, once a teacher always a father. Starting today, you must learn to respect your teachers. From today, I will treat you like my family..."
Principal Chen and Star Fund’s representative Yang Qingming were watching the classroom through the monitor. This young man was quite something.
Yang Qingming smiled, "Teacher Xu is indeed impressive. We’ve been at our wits’ end about getting our young lady to school."
Principal Chen sighed inwardly. It was fine when Ji Jiajia wasn’t around, but now that she’s here, Shuren’s campus will have no peace. He smiled wryly, "Unfortunately, we don’t have any other teachers like Xu Chunliang at our school."
Yang Qingming said, "Try to find a solution. Miss Ji being willing to return to school is a promising step."
Principal Chen thought it’s a step forward for Yang, but for us staff, she’s a terror. The previous principal was reportedly dismissed because of her.
Principal Chen said, "Looks like I’ll often have to invite Teacher Xu over to teach these kids."
Xu Chunliang’s calligraphy class lasted an hour. All the students behaved, including the chubby one, who endured his butt pain and sat through the class.
After class, Xu Chunliang instructed the chubby student to go to the infirmary for disinfection and release the snake.
Fu Xuedong came over, apologetically, "Master, I intended to inform you, but..."
Just then, the disheveled Ji Jiajia stormed over, glaring at Fu Xuedong, "Traitor!"
Xu Chunliang said, "You rebellious disciple, bullying your junior is nothing to be proud of. If you have the guts, face me instead?"