He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

The two girls blushed and lowered their heads, remaining silent.

Someone nearby muttered quietly, "Gu Bei, what you said makes sense...it really did come from Class One."

"It's not that it makes sense, it's just how it is." Gu Bei leaned back. "We, the people of Class Two, will protect our own. Let's not let outsiders laugh at us."

The class monitor told Sun Xiulan about what had happened in the class that afternoon.

The next day, before morning self-study, Sun Xiulan walked into the classroom.

She didn't start scolding anyone. She simply wrote two lines on the blackboard:

"A teacher's role is to impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts."

"This is why scholars are fond of asking questions, good at thinking, and free from doubt."

After finishing writing, she put down the chalk, turned around to face the whole class, and gave a deep, sweeping look.

"I heard people saying—'Her voice isn't loud, but every word is as heavy as a weight—that it's abnormal for students in our class to ask substitute teachers questions after class."

The classroom was completely silent.

"I'd like to ask: When did it become something that needs to be discussed when students ask teachers questions?"

Her gaze swept over the students in the front row who had their heads down and dared not look at her. Her tone was calm but unquestionable:

"Shen Tang got first place in the transfer exam. She asked the substitute teacher for help with further questions after class; that's called being studious and ambitious. If you can also get first place in all subjects, you can ask them for help too—I won't stop you, I'll encourage you."

She paused.

"But if anyone wastes their energy gossiping, spreading rumors, and stirring up trouble—" Sun Xiulan's voice turned cold, "then I suggest you use that energy on your studies. There are still three weeks until the midterm exams; your report cards will tell you everything then."

After saying that, she opened her lesson plan: "Turn to page forty-two. Class begins."

It doesn't name names or criticize specific individuals, but it's more effective than naming names—because everyone knows what they're hiding.

From that day on, the rumors about Shen Tang within Class Two basically disappeared.

After Gu Bei's words and Teacher Sun's morning self-study session, the students realized the true nature of the matter: outsiders were stirring up trouble, and they almost became pawns in it.

No one would do something that involves dignity again.

Shen Yao sat in the classroom, flipping through her book with a rustling sound, her face expressionless.

Gu Bei! It's all his fault! He turned the rumors into a conflict between classes, pointing the finger at Class One, and at her. The students in Class Two realized what was happening, and their eyes turned wary as they looked at themselves.

I guess I'll just have to stay put for the next few days and see how things go.

Military compound.

Liu Fang, having been around for a few years, wasn't foolish enough to spread rumors as blatantly as Shen Yao. She simply mentioned it casually while chatting with some familiar military wives:

"When I came back that evening, I saw Tangtang standing at the door talking to a young male teacher. It was already dark, and the two of them were chatting and laughing. The man was quite young and looked very refined."

She added, "I didn't think much of it—they were just asking for help. It was just that scene… a man and a woman standing at the doorway in the dark; at first glance, you'd think they were a young couple."

He smiled after speaking, picked up his teacup, and drank some water.

She was stating the facts—but selectively presenting them from a particular perspective. This perspective gave people room to use their imaginations, and people's imaginations became incredibly rich.

She thought that even if she couldn't shake Shen Tang's power, she could at least disgust her. But she didn't expect the military wives to react differently.

"Oh, Tangtang with a male teacher? A young one?" The round-faced woman's eyes lit up, but not in a gossipy way; rather, they lit up as if she had sensed the presence of a matchmaker.

"Oh dear, Tangtang's reached the age where she should be looking for a partner," another sister-in-law chimed in. "She's eighteen this year, right? It's time to arrange a marriage."

"Yes, yes, the teacher is great! Cultured! A perfect match for Tangtang!"

Liu Fang paused for a moment as she held the teacup.

This... is not the reaction she wanted.

"Wait, wait, wait," Liu Fang quickly tried to cover up, "But Tangtang lives in Commander Mu's courtyard, so how can she be with men outside—"

"So what? Didn't Commander Mu deny the engagement?" The round-faced woman waved her hand dismissively. "Tangtang has nowhere to stay. If she doesn't stay at the commander's house, is she supposed to stay at yours? Besides, everyone knows Tangtang is a cousin registered under his name. Since Commander Mu himself said he doesn't acknowledge it, Tangtang's marriage is her own business. What's wrong with young women interacting with young people?"

"Exactly!" the woman next to her chimed in. "Look at Tangtang's qualities—she can cook, she can heal, her grades are good, and she's beautiful. She won't have to worry about getting married. If that teacher is a good person and comes from a respectable family, we could try to find out more about him."

"Hey, do you think Commander Mu knows about this? As his older brother, he should at least keep an eye on things, right?"

"Why should we interfere? They themselves said they wouldn't acknowledge the engagement, so why should we meddle in their sister's dating life? That's too domineering."

The sisters-in-law chatted amongst themselves, and the topic had changed from "Shen Tang's ambiguous relationship with a man" to "When will Shen Tang find a boyfriend?" "What are the male teacher's conditions like?" "Should we introduce him to Tang Tang?"

Liu Fang sat beside her, her smile somewhat stiff.

Her carefully crafted "hint" has completely lost its meaning.

Mu Qinghan denies the engagement. Shen Tang is her cousin. It's only natural for a cousin to find a partner. The teacher is a good person and cultured. They are a good match.

This logic is impeccable in the eyes of the military wives in the compound.

It was even more outrageous than she had expected—no one thought Shen Tang was indecent—on the contrary, everyone thought Tangtang should find a good family. They even started enthusiastically discussing whether to act as matchmakers for Shen Tang.

This wouldn't be the case with anyone else; they're just biased! They're biased towards Shen Tang!

Watching everyone's enthusiastic discussion, Liu Fang felt a tightness in her chest. She took a deep breath, picked up her teacup, and stood up: "I'll go check the fire. You guys continue."

As she turned to leave, the smile on her face finally crumbled.

These stupid women.

They were all fooled by Shen Tang's petty favors!

She was so angry her chest ached. This woman was just making things difficult for her! Ever since that woman came to the compound, nothing had gone smoothly for her!

She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her flesh.

Calm down, calm down. She tried to quell her anger.

Let them talk. If it really works out, it won't do her any harm. As long as Shen Tang gets married, she won't be in her way in the courtyard anymore, and Shen Tang won't be able to continue massaging Mu Qinghan's legs.

Which man could tolerate his wife giving massages to other men?

In that case, Mu Qinghan will recover more slowly.

It's a good thing for me too.

……

Gu Bei heard about this matchmaking incident from his mother.

Although his family had moved out of the compound, his mother would sometimes chat with the women from the compound. That day at dinner, she casually mentioned, "Isn't Shen Tang from your class getting close to a male teacher? Several of the women in the compound are saying they want to play matchmaker for her."

Gu Bei almost spat out his rice.

The next day at school, he told Shen Tang about it during break.

"Let me tell you, over at the compound—" He lowered his voice, his expression complicated, "several of the older women are talking about you and Teacher Lu. But not badly—they think you two are a good match and want to play matchmaker for you."

Shen Tang was drinking water and almost choked when she heard this.

"What?"

"Really." Gu Bei had an expression that said, "I know it's absurd, but it's the truth." "My mom said it. Everyone's saying Commander Mu doesn't acknowledge the engagement, you're single, Teacher Lu is single, it's a good match..."

Shen Tang: "…………"