Chapter 181: New Era's Education Choice

Zhao Jianguo still stood on the roof, holding onto the iron frame. The broadcaster's casing was a bit hot, and water trickled down the bracket, dripping onto his shoes. He lowered his head to look at the twins in his arms; the two children were sleeping soundly, their faces pressed against his chest, breathing evenly.

In the distance, streetlights shone, and the air no longer carried that indescribable sense of oppression. The earlier confrontation had ended, but he knew clearly in his heart that this was only the beginning.

The system interface suddenly popped up, a line of text appearing before his eyes: "Spacetime anchor point fluctuation detected in 1985; recommend activating long-term response mechanism."

Immediately after, another line appeared: "Mission update: Establish a transmigrant education system."

He stared at those two lines for a long time.

A breeze blew in from the alley mouth, carrying moisture. He slowly detached the broadcaster from its bracket, folded it, and tucked it into his arms. Then, supporting one child with each hand, he stepped down the ladder one rung at a time. His steps were steady, no slipping.

Jia Dongxu was still guarding the modified instrument in the courtyard, the electric wires not yet retracted. Seeing Zhao Jianguo come down, he hurried forward: "How is it? Any response from the system?"

"Yes." Zhao Jianguo handed the twins to Jia Dongxu, "It's no longer a combat mission; it's an education mission."

"Education?" Jia Dongxu blinked, "Now we're doing this?"

"Exactly because now we must." Zhao Jianguo straightened his shoulders, scanning the surroundings, "We've blocked one invasion, but that doesn't mean we'll be this lucky next time. The true line of defense isn't equipment, nor the broadcaster—it's people."

Jia Dongxu said nothing, just lowered his head to look at the child in his arms.

The next morning, the sun had just risen. Zhao Jianguo rehung the display board on the wall. The wooden sign reading "Gaokao Museum" had been wiped clean, and beneath it several new sheets were pinned, listing the names of students he had helped over the years.

He Yushui walked into the courtyard carrying a cloth bundle, her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a washed‑out blue cloth shirt. Seeing Zhao Jianguo busy, she approached and asked, "Starting class again?"

"Not just class." Zhao Jianguo pointed at the board, "We need to build our own teaching system."

"What do you mean?"

"It means you can't keep figuring things out alone in the classroom." Zhao Jianguo turned to face her, "Among the children you teach, three have already entered normal school. Your method deserves to be known by more people."

He Yushui blinked, a little disbelieving: "You mean… let me take the lead in doing research?"

"Exactly." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "Set up a 'Siheyuan Teaching Method Research Society,' with you as the head. Summarize experience, write textbooks, train teachers."

She bit her lip, her voice softer: "Can I really do it?"

"You can." Zhao Jianguo spoke firmly, "You're not an ordinary teacher; you're the first female college graduate to walk out of here. You represent another possibility."

At that moment Jia Dongxu arrived, holding a letter. He came in a hurry, sweat beading on his forehead: "Just received a notice; the university sent a letter hiring me as a special‑appointment professor to teach the mechanical and electronic applications course."

"Really?" He Yushui's eyes lit up, "You're going to teach college students?"

"They said they valued my earlier 'Gaokao‑exclusive ruler' and my improvements to the detector." Jia Dongxu smiled, "I never thought a worker could stand on a university podium."

Zhao Jianguo patted his shoulder: "What does this show? Knowledge doesn't discriminate by origin. You're no longer just a technician; you're someone who can influence the next generation."

The three stood under the old locust tree, sunlight filtering through.

Zhao Jianguo said, "We'll split into two tracks. You take charge of the 'Future Technology Lecture Hall,' focusing on teaching young people hands‑on skills, especially electricians and mechanical work. He Yushui's side will concentrate on teaching theory and teacher training. We won't rely on resources from above; we'll build our own platform."

Jia Dongxu frowned, "But what about the textbooks? Lesson plans? We can't just rely on talking, can we?"

"We can record them." He Yushui immediately replied, "The factory has a recorder; I can record the lectures and then compile them into text. We can also form study groups to listen and critique each other."

"That's right." Zhao Jianguo nodded, "Technology and humanities must advance together; neither can be missing."

After noon, the two went their separate ways. Jia Dongxu returned to the laboratory to draw schematics, while He Yushui sat under the eaves flipping through her notes, murmuring "Enlightenment‑style Teaching," "Teach according to aptitude."

Zhao Jianguo climbed onto the roof with the twins in his arms.

He took out a small wooden gadget from the toolbox—a little top with a few lines carved on it and a thin stick inserted in the middle. This was his homemade "Spacetime Stabilizer" toy, actually a teaching aid used to simulate celestial motion.

He placed it on the ground and pushed it toward the children: "What I do every day is like planting a tree."

The twins opened their eyes wide, reaching out to grab the stick.

"When you plant a tree, you don't see the shade right away, but later people can enjoy the cool." Zhao Jianguo gently turned the disc, "Uncle fixes machines, Auntie teaches—both are preparing for the future."

The child seemed to half‑understand, but suddenly one stretched out a tiny hand, drawing a straight line in the air and muttering, "Assist… assist… line…"

Zhao Jianguo startled.

That was a phrase Jia Dongxu often said.

The other child immediately followed, using a finger to trace a crooked angle in the air.

Zhao Jianguo neither laughed nor praised; he simply watched silently.

He knew some things don't need forced instillation. As long as the environment is right, the seed will sprout on its own.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Jianguo's name appeared again on the system interface. A red light blinked once, positioned in the East City Direction.

Previously, seeing this would have made him tense, prompting immediate defensive preparations. Now he merely glanced at it and closed the interface.

He lifted the two children and let them sit on the roof's edge. The wind blew over them, and they giggled.

"You will also encounter such names in the future." Zhao Jianguo said softly, "But don't be afraid. As long as someone is willing to teach, no one can destroy the future."

At dusk, Jia Dongxu returned with a stack of schematics, his face excited: "I've sorted out the first semester's curriculum for the lecture hall. Classes will be held every Saturday afternoon, targeting young workers aged eighteen to thirty and unemployed students. The first lesson covers multimeter use; the second teaches simple circuit connections."

"What about the venue?" Zhao Jianguo asked.

"The factory has freed up a warehouse; it's enough." Jia Dongxu said, "I've also recruited several technical backbones as teaching assistants."

"And the teaching materials?"

"First print lecture notes." Jia Dongxu produced a small notebook, "I've already written the content for the first five lectures; He Yushui helped me polish the language."

Zhao Jianguo took the notebook and flipped through it; the handwriting was neat, the organization clear.

"This doesn't look like a worker's notebook; it looks like a university lecture plan."

"Of course." Jia Dongxu grinned, "I'm a professor now."

He Yushui also walked over, holding a few sheets of mimeograph paper: "I've compiled the experience of 'Mutual Aid Classroom Management.' I plan to start recruiting the first batch of trainees next week; they'll be substitute teachers from nearby elementary schools."

Zhao Jianguo looked at the two of them, said nothing, just nodded.

At nightfall, he went up onto the roof again.

This time there was no combat alarm, no enemy approaching—only the quiet courtyard, lit windows, and the faint sound of a radio drifting from afar.

He set the twins down, letting them play with the wooden top on the tiles. The wind lifted their hair, and their laughter floated down in fragments.

He stood beside them, gazing at the city lights.

The system interface reappeared, the prompt tone soft: "Education system construction progress: 2%."

Below there was another line of small text: "Estimated completion time: ten years."

He didn't think it was long.

Ten years ago, when he had just transmigrated here, he couldn't even light a coal stove. Now he can already see farther.

One of the Shuang Baotai suddenly stopped moving, looked up at the sky. His eyes appeared especially bright in the night.

The other child also looked up, raising his little hand and pointing somewhere.

Zhao Jianguo looked in the direction they were pointing.

There was nothing there, just a stretch of darkness.

But he noticed, on the inside of the child's wrist, a faint light flashed, like a star falling onto the skin.