Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

Logically speaking, a female teacher like He Lin, whose mere shout could make even the head of the teaching department tremble, should have triggered her underlying code at this moment:

How dare you talk to a teacher like that?

This has always been her standard approach to dealing with this group of elementary school students.

Suppress your identity, unleash your emotions, and let out a roar.

Even the worst child will become listless.

A mere group of immature children have absolutely no room to challenge the authority of their homeroom teacher.

However, Li Zhao is different.

His remarks were inappropriate; they didn't sound like something a child would say.

Although He Lin did not immediately understand the meaning behind Li Zhao's words, she instinctively sensed Li Zhao's dissatisfaction and the oppressive feeling of "reason".

She had no doubt that what she said next would be immediately seized upon and used against her in public.

"Li Zhao, how dare you speak to your teacher like that?"

A girl with a small ponytail suddenly stood up; it was class monitor Ma Yingying.

"This is none of your business. Sit down."

Li Zhao's voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

Ma Yingying was about to panic, and she stomped her foot, flung her hand, and turned around in a signature move.

"Class monitor, this is none of your business, sit down," He Lin said.

Ma Yingying sat down.

"Li Zhao, come to my office after school," He Lin said expressionlessly, then gave Huang Keyun a smile, "Teacher Huang, let's start class."

The whole class was still in a daze.

A state of wanting to stir up trouble but not daring to.

Elementary school students are definitely more well-behaved. If it were middle or high school, they'd be making a ruckus right now. As for university...

This class should start with at least a 20-minute discussion.

"This is about the National English Competition..."

"No need to mention it, Teacher Huang, let's start class."

"Okay, sure."

Li Zhao didn't seem to care, and was still reciting classical poems and prose from his Chinese language textbook.

Huang Keyun ignored it completely and continued teaching as usual.

Chen Nian was stunned; his mouth was agape enough to fit an apple.

Li Zhao first corrected the homeroom teacher, then told the class monitor to sit down, and now let Teacher Huang teach the class.

The key point is that both teachers listened?

This is an extreme example of consecration rituals. Is this some kind of advanced knowledge system?

Chen Nian, of course, couldn't understand; privileges don't just fall from the sky.

From the moment Li Zhao demonstrated English proficiency sufficient to win first prize in the national competition, he had special privileges whenever it involved the national English competition.

While I don't want to deny Huang Keyun's efforts in helping Li Zhao participate in the finals, this result is not because the school gave Huang face, but because the school leaders also hoped for good results.

Privileges stem from resources, and Li Zhao's resource is himself.

There were two consecutive English classes, and Huang Keyun sat directly on the podium during the break, so the class's desire to discuss was suppressed, and they were unusually silent.

Li Zhao chuckled inwardly. This Teacher Huang was really afraid that if he heard something unpleasant, he would act impulsively and refuse to participate.

After class, Li Zhao followed Huang Keyun toward the teachers' office.

Huang Keyun didn't say a word the whole way.

She realized that she really couldn't understand the child at all.

If other children could be valued by the teacher and squeeze out others to enter the finals, they might have been overjoyed by such a privilege.

This kid not only rejected PUA immediately, but he also anticipated the public opinion problem and put pressure on the teacher instead.

He Lin's reckless and attention-seeking remarks left even He Lin at a loss for words. Li Zhao, however, quickly patched up the issue by mentioning "withdrawing from the competition," "perfect score," and "school," ignoring "Teacher Huang's special efforts." This immediately made her own participation seem legitimate, while she appeared humble on the surface and expressed her dissatisfaction by interrupting He Lin's actions.

Upon analysis, it's impossible to explain it as something that only a shrewd person could do.

He Lin was a shrewd and capable person in Huang Keyun's eyes, but in this small exchange that afternoon, Li Zhao actually made her seem childish.

What's going on, Keyun? She's just a sixth-grade elementary school student. Isn't the filter a bit too thick?

Once inside the office, she pretended to be busy with her own work, but actually blocked out all other noise and focused on recording the conversation between Li Zhao and He Lin.

"Li Zhao, do you know why I called you here?" He Lin asked in a low voice as she tidied the table.

"Teacher He wants to apologize to me."

"?" He Lin's hand paused, her expression already showing a hint of anger. "I'll apologize? Li Zhao, you can't become arrogant because of an English competition..."

"Teacher He," Li Zhao interrupted expressionlessly, "Don't treat me like a child. When you brought up my participation in the competition, didn't you consider the possibility that people would think I got in through connections? The school's English department and Teacher Huang have their own judgment on what my perfect score reflects. I had no intention of participating; I only agreed after receiving a promise from the school that they would help me avoid gossip. Your words in the classroom wasted the school's efforts."

"No... I was just praising you, why are you..."

"These are things I only say to you privately. I didn't contradict you in class, did I?"

He Lin was somewhat relieved that she hadn't had a meltdown in class.

"As for the mistakes made by Xu Zhimo and Jin Yuelin, Professor He, you've mentioned them quite a bit in class. But I wouldn't correct them unless it was to distract you."

This statement struck a nerve with He Lin. Elementary school homeroom teachers have a high degree of authority, and their opinions are often "absolutely correct," unlike high school and university teachers, where a student's questioning of a teacher can be considered a positive outcome.

She knew the true extent of her past stories, and if Li Zhao were to issue a few more "corrections" like today, she wouldn't be able to handle it.

and many more?

He Lin's gaze changed slightly when she looked at Li Zhao.

Is this child threatening me?

But Li Zhao remained unmoved. "Teacher He, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

"...Let's go back."

[Make full use of the differences in how you handle things after rebirth, Happiness +1, Total 26]

Comfortable.

Huang Keyun was also very comfortable.

It turns out she wasn't the only one who couldn't handle Li Zhao.

The conversation was brief, but as soon as the elementary school students were dismissed, they scattered like birds and beasts. Stepping out of the office, Li Zhao could already feel the overwhelming desolation.

Okay, I still need to pick up my royalties, get my stock trading account, and figure out how to convince my parents with the planning drawings...

There's still a lot to do.

Back in the classroom, Chen Nian and He Shuyao looked up at the same time, while everyone else went back inside.

Chen Nian is working on the preliminary exam paper that Li Zhao brought back, while He Shuyao seems to be writing in her encrypted diary.

["Waiting for you after school", Happiness +1, Total 27]

"You haven't left yet?"

"We've been waiting for you." Chen Nian stood up and stretched. "Jiang Qi and Mingyu were also waiting for you, but Jiang Qi suddenly said today wasn't a good day to ask you questions, so she went back. Teacher He didn't criticize you, did he?"

"No, I told him not to think that elementary school students don't understand anything."

He Shuyao couldn't help but burst out laughing, and then immediately buried her head in packing her things.

Chen Nian blinked. "What do you understand? I don't understand at all!"

Li Zhao didn't respond, but glanced at the answers he had written on the loose-leaf paper. "Take the test paper back with you, I don't need it anymore."

"...I was just writing this for fun."

"Serious ambition is commendable." Li Zhao didn't say much more, packed his schoolbag, and called them to go home together.

"Li Zhao, Chen Nian, my dad is picking me up today, so I won't be going to the bus stop with you." He Shuyao quickly walked a few steps ahead of Li Zhao, waving goodbye as she spoke.

Then why are you still waiting for me?

"Wait a minute," Li Zhao quickly called out to He Shuyao.

Over there, the old gossip radar, sluggishly stacking test papers, resounded through the sky.

"What organization does your dad work for again?"

"From the Planning Bureau."

Huh? Li Zhao was shocked. He had returned to Xinbei to work on planning, but he had never heard of this Director He.

But then she realized that this was 2008. By the time Li Zhao returned from university, He Shuyao's father would have either not retired or had changed jobs.

Moreover, when he attended He Shuyao's funeral in his previous life, the old lady had a full head of white hair and looked extremely haggard. After that, she probably didn't have the energy to take charge of her work.

"Is there anything else?" He Shuyao didn't know why Li Zhao was lost in thought.

"Oh, no, be careful on the road."

"Oh, goodbye..."

"See you tomorrow." Li Zhao waved his hand.

After He Shuyao walked away for a while, Chen Nian jumped up and down a few times and arrived in front of Li Zhao, calling out, "Ah Zhao! Ah Zhao! Ah Zhao!"

"...Don't force conversation if you have nothing to say."

"No, why did you stop her and ask such a question? That's really ridiculous."

The internet slang that spanned two decades gave Li Zhao goosebumps with its strong old-fashioned flavor.

"Then what do you want me to ask?"

"Ask her, 'Uncle, could you give us a ride?'"

"..." Li Zhao began to worry about Chen Nian's future marriage prospects.

On their way back, Chen Nian kept repeating, like a broken record, the reactions of the other students after Li Zhao left the classroom, saying over and over again, "Ma Yingying stomped her feet and left on the spot."

Li Zhao was almost lost in thought when he suddenly heard Chen Nian shout, "Hey, the boss's here!"

"What boss?"

The old man who owned the grocery store selling mung bean soup was excitedly waving at Li Zhao and his friends, "Oh, kids, I've been waiting for you!"