Chapter 135: Education Awaiting Revival Amidst a Hundred Neglects

That afternoon, the City Lord's mansion issued a notice.

【Xuanwu City Recruitment Notice】

【To preserve human civilization and keep the spark of wisdom alive, following the City Lord's decision, Xuanwu City will officially establish Xuanwu Xiao Xue, Xuanwu Chu Zhong, and Xuanwu Gao Zhong. Now open to the whole city, we are recruiting teachers for all subjects.】

【1. Positions:】

【1. Elementary Department: Chinese, math, PE, history, and politics teachers, several positions.】

【2. Middle and High School Department: Chinese, math, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, PE, history, and politics teachers, several positions.】

【2. Requirements:】

【Anyone who held a teaching qualification before the apocalypse, or has a college degree or higher in a relevant field, may apply.】

【3. Salary and benefits:】

【Upon hiring, elementary department teachers receive a base salary of 1000 Xuanwu Currency per month; middle and high school teachers receive 1200 Xuanwu Currency per month. Outstanding performers receive preferential treatment, with no upper limit!】

The whole Xuanwu City exploded in an uproar!

"What? Hiring teachers? One month… a thousand Xuanwu Currency?!"

A construction worker wolfing down food in the canteen heard the broadcast; the steamed bun stuffed in his mouth almost shot out.

"I… I didn't mishear, did I? A thousand?! I bust my ass on the construction site and only make three hundred a month—what justifies a teacher getting that much?!"

His fellow workers nearby were also indignant.

After all, in the apocalypse, strength is the sole measure of everything.

How could such a "refined" job of teaching possibly compare to labor that fills the stomach and combat that saves lives?

However, when this notice reached the ears of former intellectuals, it provoked a completely different reaction.

In Xi Ping Zhen, a shabby two-story building.

An elderly man with deep myopia glasses and white hair was intently listening to the sound from the broadcast outside the window.

His name is Chen Jingzhi; before the apocalypse, he was a physics professor at Su Cheng Da Xue.

After the apocalypse, his vast knowledge became worthless.

Had the City Lord not taken him in out of kindness, he would likely have starved to death in some unknown corner.

After arriving in Xuanwu City, being old and frail and unable to do heavy work, he could only do light odd-jobs in the Logistics Department, receiving the minimum subsistence wage each month, just scraping by.

He had thought he'd spend the rest of his life like that.

But now…

"Physics… teacher…"

Chen Jingzhi's eyes unexpectedly reddened.

It wasn't the money he cared about.

What he valued was the long-lost respect!

As it turned out…

As it turned out, in this era knowledge still has value!

"I… I want to sign up!"

Chen Jingzhi could no longer suppress his inner excitement.

At the same time, inside the textile factory in Dong Xing Zhen.

A young woman about twenty-five or twenty-six, with a delicate appearance and gentle demeanor.

Her name is Lin Wan'er; before the apocalypse, she was a recent college graduate who had been a substitute Chinese teacher at a rural elementary school.

After arriving in Xuanwu City, she was assigned to the textile factory, where her daily work consisted of facing machines and repeating tedious textile motions.

She often dreamed, late at night, of returning to the podium and seeing the innocent, eager faces of children.

"Chinese teacher…"

Lin Wan'er halted her work, staring blankly out the window with tears glimmering in her eyes.

"I… I can still… be a teacher?"

Go!

You must go!

For a moment, the entire Xuanwu City was seething with undercurrents because of this recruitment notice.

At the Central Plaza, the makeshift recruitment point was already crowded with people.

Unlike any previous hiring drive, most of those who came today appeared refined and scholarly, some even physically frail "cultured people."

Many of them still wore ill-fitting work uniforms, yet their eyes all shone with an inexplicable light.

The person in charge of this recruitment was Sun Hao, whom Lin Yue had specially transferred from the Finance Department.

This smiling tiger looked at the crowd before him, his grin brighter than usual.

"Next!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs.

An elderly man with white hair, wearing reading glasses, and stooped, shuffled out from the crowd.

Indeed, it was the former physics professor of Su Cheng Da Xue, Chen Jingzhi.

"Old… sir, are you also here to apply?"

Sun Hao looked at his frail, wind‑blown appearance, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"Exactly."

Chen Jingzhi adjusted the glasses on his nose and, trembling, pulled out a worn, yellowed red little book from his pocket.

That was his teaching qualification certificate.

Sun Hao took the document, opened it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

【Name: Chen Jingzhi】

【Major: Theoretical Physics】

【Title: Professor, PhD Supervisor】

……

"You…… you are Professor Chen Jingzhi?!"

Sun Hao's voice changed tone.

Although he is not engaged in scientific research, he has still heard of this Tai Shan Bei Dou-level physics expert from Su Cheng Da Xue!

Never would I have imagined that such a national treasure-level figure would actually be standing right before me!

Moreover…… looking at his attire, it seems he is not doing well in Xuanwu City.

"That's me."

Chen Jingzhi nodded, a faint gloom flickering in his eyes.

Back then, he too was highly respected, with students all over the world.

But in this apocalypse, he has fallen to such a state.

"Chen…… Old Chen! Please sit down! Please sit down!"

Sun Hao's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn in an instant; he fumbled to bring over a chair and personally helped Chen Jingzhi sit down.

"You old sir, coming to apply as a teacher—what more registration is needed! I decide that you are directly in charge of our high school physics!"

Chen Jingzhi's sudden appearance caused a considerable stir at the recruitment site.

Many who had lived in Suchen recognized this venerable authority in physics, and they exclaimed in disbelief.

And those ordinary residents who had originally been somewhat dissatisfied, upon hearing that even a 'national treasure'-level professor had come to apply, also fell silent.

Joking aside, with someone of this stature showing up, even a higher salary would be justified!

With Chen Jingzhi as this 'living signboard,' the subsequent recruitment process went unusually smoothly.

Lin Wan'er, the former rural substitute teacher, also mustered courage and submitted her resume.

Although she was only a substitute teacher without formal teaching certification, her neat handwriting and the genuine passion for education on her resume ultimately moved Sun Hao.

"Little girl, although your qualifications are lacking, but given this heart of yours, start as an intern teacher for primary school Chinese. Work hard, and there will be plenty of chances to become permanent later!"

"Thank you! Thank you, Department Head Sun!"

Lin Wan'er excitedly bowed repeatedly to Sun Hao.

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