Chapter 137: The Results Are In
At that moment, all eyes fell on Zhou Chengguo.
Li Dongliang frowned. "Teacher Xiao Zhou, did you say you disagree?"
But it was clearly Zhou Chengguo’s idea to recommend Su Zhaozhao for the position.
He really didn’t understand why Zhou Chengguo had suddenly changed his mind.
"I just think... isn’t this assessment a little too simple? Our English isn’t the best. Even if she was just spouting gibberish, we wouldn’t know what it meant. We should find someone more skilled in English to test her."
Facing everyone’s surprised stares, Zhou Chengguo coughed and his mind started racing.
’If Su Zhaozhao passes the interview, doesn’t that mean I’ll lose the bet?’
’Doesn’t that mean I’ll have to leave the military base elementary school?’
’No...’
’I worked so hard to get this position!’
’I only need to work here for one more year, and then I can transfer to a better district to teach.’
’Besides, the girl I like is here.’
’Jobs are all assigned these days. If I resign from the military base elementary school on my own initiative, what excuse could I possibly use?’
Zhou Chengguo didn’t know, but just the thought of it was unbearable.
"Mr. Zhou, are you saying our skills aren’t up to par?" The department head whose English proficiency had been questioned looked livid.
He might not have been a top expert, but his English was the best in the entire military base elementary school.
He had even conversed with foreigners before and often watched movies in English to keep up his skills.
How could he not tell whether Su Zhaozhao’s spoken English was good or not?
"No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that our school has very strict requirements for its teachers. This Su Zhaozhao only graduated from junior high, so I’m just worried she’ll hold our students back." Zhou Chengguo denied it hastily. "After all, a formative teacher is incredibly important. They can influence a child for their entire life. What if she’s a bad teacher?"
Hearing Zhou Chengguo’s words, Su Zhaozhao immediately smiled. "Mr. Zhou, are you talking about yourself?"
Zhou Chengguo remembered Su Zhaozhao’s comment about him being unfit to be a teacher, and his expression turned cold. ’What is this woman so smug about?’
But he was genuinely surprised. He never expected Su Zhaozhao’s English to be so good!
She didn’t seem like someone who’d only finished junior high. Just looking at her beautiful English handwriting, it was clear she must have been studying the language for a very, very long time.
’Could it be that she tricked me from the very beginning?’
’She knew everything all along. She made the bet with me on purpose, knowing I would definitely lose.’
"As it happens, I knew some teachers would surely question my abilities, so I’ve prepared the material for my first English lesson today. How about this? You can all pretend to be my students, and I’ll be your teacher." Su Zhaozhao smiled. "Alright, everyone, please take your seats. I’m your English teacher, and I’m very happy to be teaching you all."
The previous night, Su Zhaozhao had specifically looked up teacher training videos and memorized them.
Thankfully, her memory was quite good. She was now replicating the lesson she had memorized from the course materials last night.
In an instant, she had drawn all the teachers present into her lesson.
Zhou Chengguo’s face grew paler and paler. If he’d had any room to argue before, he had absolutely none now.
After all, the content of Su Zhaozhao’s lesson was flexible, lively, and quite interesting.
To be honest, even someone who disliked Su Zhaozhao as much as he did had to admit that her teaching was exceptionally dynamic.
Meanwhile, Xie Huaizhen, who was standing outside the door, also had his gaze fixed on Su Zhaozhao.
His eyes narrowed, as if he were seeing Su Zhaozhao for the very first time.
He didn’t understand. When had Su Zhaozhao become so capable?
How could she give a lesson that was so good—so flexible, lively, and vivid?
The English words tumbled from her lips, flowing so smoothly it was as if it were her native language.
And her posture as she taught seemed so practiced, as if she had already been a teacher for a long time...
’Is this really the Su Zhaozhao I know?’
’The one who, because his family had fallen on hard times, immediately broke off their engagement and even cursed them, calling them ’a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh’?’
Although these words were relayed to them by Su Zhaozhao’s stepmother, her stepmother had said it was all Su Zhaozhao’s intention.
Xie Huaizhen’s thin lips pressed into a tight line, and his hands at his sides clenched into fists.
’Which one is the real Su Zhaozhao?’
’When she bullies Zhou Chengguo, is it really like he says—that she’s just being unreasonable—or is there another reason behind it?’
Just then, the sound of applause from inside interrupted Xie Huaizhen’s thoughts.
"Teacher Su, welcome to the military base elementary school as our new English teacher! When can you start? How about tomorrow? We still need to make a plan and decide which classes you’ll teach." Li Dongliang extended his hand and shook Su Zhaozhao’s.
He already had no objections to Su Zhaozhao becoming a teacher at their school.
But after watching Su Zhaozhao teach a lesson just now, he was even more eager for her to join them immediately.
Missing out on someone with such talent would truly be a loss for the military base elementary school.
"I think I’ll need a day to prepare," Su Zhaozhao said.
"That’s fine too. The school is about to start summer vacation anyway. Teacher Su, if you’re not in a hurry, you could also start at the beginning of next semester," Li Dongliang suddenly realized.
They needed a teacher, but summer vacation was also about to begin.
"However, there are remedial classes during the summer break..." Li Dongliang mused for a moment.
"That’s fine. Principal, you can make the arrangements. I’m flexible," Su Zhaozhao said.
Li Dongliang was very pleased with Su Zhaozhao. The young woman was not only highly skilled in her field, but she also had a good, easygoing personality.
’I wonder who her fiancé is?’
’He must be a capable soldier from the military base, I imagine?’
"In that case, Teacher Su, please come by the day after tomorrow, and I’ll tell you the plan."
"Alrighty."
Su Zhaozhao agreed with a bright smile.
And just like that, the matter was settled.
Su Zhaozhao turned to look at the pale-faced Zhou Chengguo. She said to him, "Mr. Zhou, let’s go."
She turned and walked out without a backward glance.
Zhou Chengguo watched Su Zhaozhao’s retreating back, and in that moment, he felt how surprisingly powerful that woman was.
She looked delicate, but her aura was like that of a queen.
’I was wrong...’
’I initially thought Su Zhaozhao was just an illiterate fool. English is so difficult, how could she possibly know it?’
’But now, it turns out she not only knows it, but she’s better than everyone else here.’
’Even I, a college graduate, am not as skilled as Su Zhaozhao.’
’How is that possible?’
’She clearly only graduated from junior high...’
Zhou Chengguo followed Su Zhaozhao out with unsteady steps.
When Su Zhaozhao came out, she nodded at Xie Huaizhen. "You should be clear on the results now. You’re not going to be biased and help your friend, are you?"
Xie Huaizhen’s brow furrowed at Su Zhaozhao’s words.
’So, in Su Zhaozhao’s mind, I’m that despicable? Someone who favors his own over what’s right?’