Chapter 5

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Protagonist:

Lin Hao

The next day, golden sunlight fell gently upon the campus like fine gauze, draping the entire school in a warm and brilliant glow. Zhong Yi strode forward with determined steps, full of spirit as he began his brand-new teaching career.

In class, Zhong Yi explained mathematics knowledge with great passion, his voice clear and powerful, as if it could penetrate every student's heart.

After one class, it had to be said, Mi Tao indeed had a talent for mathematics; what Zhong Yi taught in class, she understood at once.

Whenever Zhong Yi posed a question, Mi Tao was always able to quickly raise her little hand and answer with clear and accurate words.

Looking at Mi Tao's intelligent eyes and quick reactions, Zhong Yi was very delighted in his heart.

He couldn't help but think to himself: "This child is truly a fine seedling; if properly cultivated, her future is limitless. Perhaps she could become a brilliant star in the field of mathematics."

However, regarding the side quest, Zhong Yi currently had no clue.

Cultivate Mi Tao into a high-end mathematics talent? What does high-end mean? To what level must she be cultivated?

Zhong Yi was just an elementary school mathematics teacher and couldn't accompany Mi Tao to university; it had to be said the system was sometimes quite pitiless.

During the break, Zhong Yi furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought: "This is truly a difficult problem; I must think of a good solution."

One week later, after the two morning classes ended, Zhong Yi came to Director Wang's office again.

He held in his hand a plan for the Mathematics Interest Group, a plan Zhong Yi had devised after racking his brains for a whole week.

Zhong Yi wanted to use the interest group to openly teach Mi Tao more advanced mathematics knowledge; of course, this group was completely voluntary and open to all students of Grade 5 Class One and Class Two, though Zhong Yi's primary target was Mi Tao.

Director Wang took the application and looked at it carefully, his brow slightly furrowed, and asked Zhong Yi doubtfully: "Teacher Zhong, why do you want to set up such an interest group?"

Zhong Yi had long prepared his words; he answered unhurriedly: "Director, although our school is currently implementing the policy of quality education, most students finish school after three in the afternoon, and most parents have enrolled their children in cram schools, even more than one. This way, the children get no rest after school; why not have our school run an interest class, letting the children learn content they are truly interested in? Wouldn't that be better? Moreover, this could also improve the students' learning enthusiasm and cultivate their comprehensive qualities."

Director Wang nodded slightly, then asked again: "Then isn't this just a cram school for the school?"

Zhong Yi hurriedly denied it, saying anxiously: "No, no, no, Director Wang, you misunderstand. My interest group mainly aims to expand the students' mathematical thinking, not to teach textbook knowledge. I want the children to truly love mathematics, not to cope with exams. We can stimulate the children's learning interest and creativity through fun math games, math competitions, and so on."

Zhong Yi hadn't finished speaking when Director Wang interrupted him; Director Wang handed Zhong Yi a document and said: "Teacher Zhong, take a look at this first."

After taking it, Zhong Yi discovered it was a document issued by the Municipal Education Bureau regarding school "Little Guardian Classes," asking each school to come up with its own plan, select a few classes for a trial, and see if it was feasible.

Zhong Yi's eyes lit up; "Little Guardian Class" would also work; then he could "smuggle in private goods." Hehe, this way he could both complete the school's task and cultivate Mi Tao.

While Zhong Yi read the document, Director Wang explained beside him: "The Education Bureau leaders have received multiple reports from parents that schools now let out too early in the afternoon; parents haven't finished work, and for parents whose elders aren't around to pick up their children, there's no way to fetch them. So the leaders researched this plan. However, during the trial period, participation is entirely voluntary for teachers, with no subsidy, and systematic teaching is not allowed; you can supervise the children in completing homework assigned by teachers, or organize some games, outdoor activities, and the like."

By this time Zhong Yi had roughly finished browsing the document content; he looked up at Director Wang and said: "Director, if I give the students one or two fun math problems, that shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Director Wang pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "It should be no big problem, after all it's still the trial stage; if someone has objections, we can change it later. However, Teacher Zhong, you can't go too far, after all this is the trial stage; we still need to be cautious."

Zhong Yi happily said: "Alright then, Director Wang, I'll take this job; just place it in Grade 5 Class One and Class Two. Other teachers who don't want to be on duty can leave it all to me; anyway, I'm alone now, with nothing to do when I go back."

Director Wang happily said: "Alright; I was just worrying about who to find to trial the classes. Although the higher authorities haven't required every school to run trial Little Guardian Classes, not doing it would certainly be inappropriate. Then I'll trouble you, Teacher Zhong; rest assured, whenever I have time I'll come to cover your shift; I can't let you bear all the hardship alone."

Zhong Yi was not polite, saying: "Then I'll thank Director Wang first; I'll go back now."

Director Wang said: "Alright, you go back first. I'll send the notice in the group later; if teachers from other classes are also willing to participate, we'll do it together; if not, then it'll be your Grade 5 Class One and Class Two."

Zhong Yi nodded and left the office; Director Wang then sent the electronic version of the notice to the group, and also stated the school's requirements.

After Director Wang sent the notice to the group, the teachers' mobile phones rang with notification sounds one after another. For a while, discussion voices rose in every office.

"This Little Guardian Class isn't easy to handle; no subsidy and it takes up our own time," said one teacher, frowning.

"Exactly; the teaching tasks are already heavy enough; where's the energy to manage the Little Guardian Class?" another teacher chimed in.

"And systematic teaching isn't allowed; what effect can that have? It's purely a waste of time helping parents babysit," complained a young teacher.

The teachers spoke one after another, all expressing their reluctance toward the Little Guardian Class.

Some teachers even began discussing how to shirk this task from Director Wang.

"Why don't we all go find Director Wang and say we're really too busy?" one teacher suggested.

"I think that works; whoever wants to do this Little Guardian Class can do it; anyway, I don't want to participate," another teacher immediately echoed.

However, some teachers took a wait-and-see attitude: "Let's see the situation first; maybe there will be some adjustments later; besides, the group said voluntary sign-up, so if we just don't sign up, it's fine."

Until the afternoon, apart from Zhong Yi, not a single teacher signed up.

Zhong Yi sat at his own desk, feeling somewhat uneasy in his heart. He began to wonder if he had become the "bird that sticks its head out"? That wasn't good; after all, the protruding beam rots first.

Zhong Yi annoyedly patted his forehead, thinking to himself: "Oh no, why was I so impulsive? I just said those things this morning; now I can't go find Director Wang to withdraw it. From now on, I can't be so impulsive when doing things; I need to think deeply and carefully."

Actually, there were still a few teachers in the school who wanted to sign up, such as Zhang Xue'er.

Zhang Xue'er looked at the notice, feeling somewhat moved in her heart. She felt this was a good opportunity to temper herself and do more for the students.

But after hearing her colleagues' discussion, she also shrank back.

The colleagues advised her one after another: "Teacher Zhang, don't be silly; this Little Guardian Class has no subsidy and is tiring; why go be that bird that sticks its head out?"

Zhang Xue'er hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gave up the idea of signing up.

By the next day, still no one had signed up in the group.

But at ten o'clock in the morning, Director Wang posted in the group that the trial Little Guardian Class was set for Grade 5 Class One and Class Two, but didn't write which teacher had signed up; naturally, others thought it was the class teachers of the two classes who had signed up.

This scared Song Jie out of a jump; facing his colleagues' puzzled gazes, he had a hundred mouths but could not explain. Song Jie thought: "What's going on? How did it get set on our class? I don't want to take on this trouble."

Looking around and not finding Zhang Xue'er, he hurriedly turned and went himself to Director Wang's office.

At the doorway, Song Jie didn't knock; he pushed the door open and shouted: "Uncle, how was my Class Two selected? You can't screw me over."