Rebirth of Wu Tong

chapter Five

Acting on impulse, Wu Tong immediately caressed her chest, silently reciting the incantation that opened the portal, and made her way to the hall. She vividly remembered in her previous life, stumbling upon a dilapidated jar tucked away in an inconspicuous corner beneath the Eight Immortals table in the hall. It contained seeds even the elders in the village couldn't identify. Intrigued, she experimented with planting and tenderly cared for them, hoping these unknown seeds would bloom into beautiful flowers and bear sweet fruits. However, much like her pure first love, these seeds failed to sprout even a tender shoot, let alone blossom and bear fruit. In her anguish, she considered these seeds as objects for venting frustration and hatred, convinced they were ominous. This belief persisted, contributing to the rift between her and Yue Lei, who was originally close to her. In reality, she was unwilling to accept the truth, refusing to acknowledge that her perfect knight had resorted to unscrupulous means for the sake of his future. Remembering how she, with hatred, had poured those seeds into a burning heap of dry leaves, laughing and crying hysterically, she now found it pitiable and laughable!

Wu Tong successfully retrieved the jar of unidentified seeds, cradling it carefully. After silently apologizing a few times in her heart, she proceeded to the dilapidated and cluttered storage room, fetching a shovel and a bucket filled halfway with water. With utmost care, she returned to her room. Juggling these items, she felt a bit nervous, having been too engrossed in curiosity earlier and forgetting to test if she could bring things into the space. Fortune favored Wu Tong once again; she could indeed bring items into the space. This discovery heightened her already eager anticipation.

Having stored everything in the space, the shovel, water bucket, and more, Wu Tong, confident that Chu Qing wouldn't notice, slipped into her blankets for a nap. Her body was still weary from the earlier activities. As expected, not long after, a satisfied Wu Tong drifted into a deep sleep.

In the following days, Wu Tong had no time to inspect the results of her labor as she and Chu Qing began their teaching positions at the school. Compared to Chu Qing's exuberance and excitement, Wu Tong remained composed. The school was far from normal, bordering on distorted. Teachers dared not earnestly teach or encourage students, as any grudge from a student could result in baseless accusations and miserable torment. With the Cultural Revolution still almost eight months away from the downfall of the "g**g of Four" on October 6, 1976, Wu Tong, who had suffered enough from the indolent students in her previous life, harbored no fondness for the upcoming "first job." However, facing the exceptionally excited Chu Qing, she didn't know how to warn her. After dropping a few subtle hints and seeing Chu Qing's pensive expression, the excitement waned, and Wu Tong could finally relax.

Prepared mentally and armed with resilience, Wu Tong calmly headed to the only primary school in the nearby villages, the Red Flag Elementary School, where she was about to take up her position. It could hardly be called a school – a small courtyard with three drafty rooms. The surrounding dilapidated earthen walls were almost in ruins. The mischievous children, avoiding the main entrance, climbed over the walls, turning the already fragile structure into a complete ruin. The stern and red-faced illiterate principal wasn't afraid to discipline these children, chasing them with a stick. Several children ended up crying bitterly from the beating, but it did little to curb the prevailing misbehavior. Now, only the wall with the dilapidated wooden door remained somewhat intact; the rest of the structure was in disrepair.

Entering the fifth grade classroom, Wu Tong found only a handful of students. She hadn't harbored high expectations and, unlike Qian, wasn't disappointed or disheartened. Instead, she felt genuinely happy, unwilling to deal with these unruly kids who refused to appreciate the precious opportunity for education. Their future was in their own hands, and if they failed to cherish this invaluable chance to learn, they would regret it later, a fate of their own making. If she were still the impulsive and passionate girl from her previous life, she might have racked her brains to make them realize the importance of knowledge. However, after enduring criticism and torment, she had lost the courage and perseverance of her former self.

But there was an exception in this class, someone Wu Tong had noticed in her previous life. This boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old, usually silent, was exceptionally diligent when it came to studying. Despite his small and skinny frame, there was a chilling fierceness about his face, making him unapproachable. This is why, despite being an outsider, no one dared to bully him. In her past life, when she desperately tried to lead these children, poisoned by the times, onto the right path, it backfired, almost leading to her public condemnation. At that critical moment, the fierce boy single-handedly faced a dozen or so half-sized troublemakers, wielding a brick to defend himself. Although he inflicted injuries, he also sustained severe wounds. Due to his deceased father saving the village captain's life, the incident was inexplicably resolved, and since then, Wu Tong treated him like a younger brother, imparting knowledge and looking after him.

Seeing her "life-saving benefactor" again, Wu Tong was delighted, and her aversion to the job lessened.

"All right, it's time for class now. Let's get to know each other. I'll start with a self-introduction. I'm Wu Tong, and from now on, I'll be your math teacher. If you have any questions about your studies, feel free to ask me. Now, why don't you introduce yourselves? Let's start with that student over there..." Wu Tong wore a warm smile, her tone sincere, as if she hadn't noticed that most students were absent for no apparent reason. This surprised the students who had prepared to stand up for their absent classmates, unjustly accused by the teacher. However, seeing this new teacher, not only beautiful and articulate in Mandarin but also good-natured, they were overjoyed and actively responded to Teacher Wu's call, introducing themselves.

These children, whether enthusiastic, shy, or stuttering, completed their introductions. Finally, it was the turn of the seemingly ferocious yet internally soft(?) boy.

"Wan Qing." His voice was cold, indifferent, short, and powerful, with an evident attitude of keeping everyone at a distance. This stance left Wu Tong frozen in place, wanting to approach but unsure how.

Wu Tong's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. In a more friendly and gentle tone, as if coaxing a child, she asked, "Wan Qing? What a majestic name. Can you tell the teacher the meaning of the two characters?"

A subsequent silence made Wu Tong feel awkward, but considering the boy's pitiful background, she understood. In an era marked by widespread poverty, even intact families struggled to make ends meet, let alone an orphan like him. Starting life on his own at such a young age, he had to fight for survival. His reserved and silent nature was understandable.

The other students, initially anticipating Wan Qing's embarrassment, were disappointed when they

saw the teacher's helpless smile. Turning away, Wu Tong walked to the podium and began the lesson. They were now certain that the new teacher, Wu Tong, was a soft touch with no temper. It seemed they wouldn't have to attend every class, as the teacher couldn't do much to them!