From a county-level lecture hall to a nationally renowned teacher

一

In May, there are thirty days left until the college entrance examination.

Lin Zhiyuan wrote the number on the blackboard in the classroom. The moment the chalk fell, the classroom was so quiet you could hear someone breathing. Thirty days, seven hundred and twenty hours, forty-three thousand two hundred minutes. This was the final leg of their high school journey.

"I won't be teaching any new material for the last thirty days," Lin Zhiyuan said. "You can review on your own, and feel free to ask me any questions. But I want to remind you of three things."

He held up three fingers.

"First, stop doing new problems. Review the problems you've already solved, especially the ones you got wrong. The college entrance exam doesn't test whether you can solve new problems, it tests whether you can solve the problems you should have solved correctly."

"Second, adjust your biological clock. Starting today, you must be in bed before 10:30 pm every night. Let your body adapt to the exam schedule."

"Third, maintain a stable mindset. The college entrance exam is important, but it's not everything in life. Doing well is great, of course. If you don't do well, there are still many other options. Don't put all your eggs in one basket with this one exam."

He lowered his hand and looked at the students below. Fifty-six faces, fifty-six pairs of eyes. Some were nodding, some were taking notes, and some were lost in thought. He said nothing more, turned, and walked out of the classroom.

The sunlight was perfect in the corridor. The sycamore leaves were already quite thick, rustling in the wind. He stood at the end of the corridor, looking at the playground. Several students were running, lap after lap, as if chasing something.

My phone vibrated. It was a text message from Su Wanqing: "How's your revision going?"

He replied, "It's alright. The students are more nervous than I am."

"Don't overwork yourself. Your health is important."

"Okay. You too."

He put his phone in his pocket and took a deep breath. The air in May was filled with the scent of flowers, the smell of fresh grass, and the warmth of sunlight on concrete. He had spent five years at this school, and he had grown accustomed to these smells. Soon he would be leaving, and he suddenly felt a pang of reluctance.

two

In mid-May, Lin Zhiyuan did something.

He asked each student to write him a letter, anonymously, without their names. They could write anything they wanted—worries about the college entrance exam, expectations for the future, opinions about their teachers, or reluctance to part with their classmates. Anything was fine; they could write whatever they wanted.

He was startled when the letters arrived. Fifty-six letters, a thick stack. He spent an entire night reading them, sitting under the desk lamp in his office, opening and reading each letter one by one.

Some letters were very long, three pages long, densely packed with writing, like a short essay. Some letters were very short, just one line: "Thank you, Teacher Lin." Some letters were written very carefully, with neat handwriting, each stroke deliberate. Some letters were written very hastily, as if they dared not spend too much time on them, afraid of being discovered.

As he read, his eyes welled up with tears.

An unsigned letter read: "Teacher Lin, I used to hate Chinese class and thought it was a waste of time. You made me realize that Chinese is not just about exams; it's about life, about people's hearts, and about those unspoken words. Thank you for teaching me these things."

Another letter read: "Ms. Lin, you are the most dedicated teacher I have ever met. You are fair to everyone, regardless of their grades. You have never given up on me, even though my grades were not good. Thank you."

Another letter read: "Teacher Lin, we are very sad to see you go as you are being transferred. But you should go; your wife is waiting for you in the city. We wish you all the best at your new school. We will miss you."

Lin Zhiyuan read the letters over and over again, then neatly put them away in a drawer. This drawer contained all the letters and greeting cards he had received over the past five years, from Zhou Haitao's first letter to these anonymous letters. They were his most precious treasures since becoming a teacher.

three

The final mock exam will be held in late May.

After the results were released, Lin Zhiyuan organized the data. Overall, the class average score had increased by more than twenty points compared to the mock exam, ranking first among science classes. However, he was more concerned about the progress of each student.

Zhang Yiming's insomnia is cured. Following Lin Zhiyuan's advice, he went to bed before 10 PM every day, which improved his sleep quality and made him feel much better during the day. In the recent mock exam, he ranked eighth in his grade, improving several places from his previous ranking.

There was another girl named Wang Yutong, whose grades had always been mediocre, but this time she suddenly ranked 30th in the grade. Lin Zhiyuan called her to his office and asked her what happened. She said, "Teacher Lin, I've recently been reading 'Ordinary World,' which you recommended, and I feel that Sun Shao-ping had such a hard life. Compared to him, what are my hardships?"

Lin Zhiyuan smiled. He knew this wasn't the main reason, but he didn't deny the impact of reading. The power of language isn't immediate; it slowly permeates, suddenly taking effect at some unexpected moment.

"Keep it up," he said. "Don't let your guard down."

"Teacher Lin, I won't let you down."

"You have never let me down."

Wang Yutong's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked out of the office.

four

On June 1st, Lin Zhiyuan gave a final pep talk in the classroom.

He stood on the podium, looking at the fifty-six faces below. Some were nervous, some calm, some excited, and some numb. He took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Classmates, today is our last class of high school. The next time we meet will be in the college entrance examination hall."

He paused, looking at them.

"Three years ago, when you walked into this school, you were just little kids. Now, you've grown up. In these three years, I've criticized you, praised you, sometimes been strict with you, and sometimes too lenient. Anyway, three years have passed."

He picked up the chalk and wrote a line on the blackboard: "The sea is wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly."

"This is for you. After the college entrance exam, you will go to different cities, attend different universities, and meet different people. Your lives will have endless possibilities. No matter what you do in the future, I hope you remember three things."

He held up three fingers.

"First, be a kind person. No matter how the world changes, kindness will always be the most important quality."

"Second, be a person with principles. Don't sell out your principles for personal gain, and don't abandon your conscience because of pressure."

"Third, be a person who loves life. No matter what difficulties you encounter, never lose your love for life. Reading, traveling, making friends, eating good food, and seeing beautiful things are just as important as getting into university."

He lowered his hand and looked at the students below.

"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. Good luck to you both."

He bowed deeply.

Applause erupted in the classroom. Fifty-six people, fifty-six hands, clapping the loudest. Some girls were crying, some boys were wiping away tears. Lin Zhiyuan stood on the podium, his eyes red, but he didn't let the students see.

He turned around and wrote a sentence on the blackboard:

Until we meet again.

Then he walked out of the classroom.

五

June 7th, the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao).

Lin Zhiyuan put on that red T-shirt again. He stood at the school gate, watching his students enter the examination hall. Zhang Yiming was the first to arrive, wearing a white T-shirt, looking very energetic, and his dark circles were gone. Wang Yutong was the second to arrive, holding a Chinese textbook and still flipping through it. The other students arrived one after another, some smiling, some silent, and some hugging their parents.

"Teacher Lin, I'm going in." Zhang Yiming walked up to him and extended his hand.

Lin Zhiyuan grasped his hand: "Keep going. You can do it."

"thank you."

Zhang Yiming turned and walked into the examination room. His back was straight, and his steps were steady, like a person who had truly grown up.

Wang Yutong walked over and handed him her Chinese textbook: "Teacher Lin, this book is for you. My notes are in it."

Lin Zhiyuan took the textbook, opened it, and saw a line written on the title page: "Thank you, Teacher Lin. —Wang Yutong"

"Wouldn't it be better if you kept it as a souvenir?"

"Keep this as a souvenir. You taught me to read."

After saying that, Wang Yutong ran away into the examination room without looking back.

Lin Zhiyuan stood at the school gate, textbook in hand, standing there like a tree. The sun rose, its warmth bathing him. He watched the students entering the examination hall and silently wished them good luck.

六

The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) ended on June 9th.

When the last exam was over, students poured out of the exam hall like a tide. Some were laughing, some were crying, some were screaming, and some were hugging. Lin Zhiyuan stood at the school gate, watching all of this, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe.

Zhang Yiming was the first to run out, ran up to him, and shouted, "Teacher Lin, I've finished the exam!"

"How are you feeling?"

"It's alright! It's all filled up anyway!"

"That's good."

When Wang Yutong came out, her eyes were red. Lin Zhiyuan asked her what was wrong, and she said, "Nothing, I just feel it's all too fast."

"Yes, it's gone by too fast," Lin Zhiyuan said. "Three years have passed just like that."

That evening, Lin Zhiyuan returned to his dorm and sat on his bed, lost in thought for a long time. The dorm was quiet; so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat. He picked up his phone and sent Su Wanqing a text message: "Exams are over."

A little while later, a text message came back: "You've worked hard. Get a good night's sleep tonight."

He didn't get a good night's sleep. He lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. His mind was filled with images from the past three years—his first time walking into this dormitory, his first time standing on the podium and shouting "Tongqiu!" (meaning "Together"), his first time grading Zhou Haitao's essay, his first parent-teacher meeting, and his first time sending students to the exam hall. These images played on repeat in his mind like a movie, over and over again, until dawn was approaching, when he finally drifted off to sleep.

Seven

On June 23, the results of the college entrance examination were released.

Lin Zhiyuan sat in front of his computer in his office, refreshing the score-checking website again and again. The website was lagging and kept spinning. His heart was pounding, and his palms were sweaty.

The first call was from Zhang Yiming.

"Teacher Lin! I got 612 points!" His voice screamed into the phone, almost deafening Lin Zhiyuan.

"Congratulations!" Lin Zhiyuan's heart beat even faster.

"Ms. Lin, thank you so much! I wouldn't have done so well on the test if you hadn't reminded me to pay attention to sleep!"

The second call was from Wang Yutong. She scored 588 points, 30 points higher than her mock exam.

"Teacher Lin, I passed the exam!" Her voice trembled. "I got into a university in the provincial capital!"

"congratulations!"

"Thank you, Ms. Lin. Did you keep that textbook?"

"I'll keep it. I'll always keep it."

A sobbing sound came from the other end of the phone. Lin Zhiyuan's eyes welled up with tears as he listened to the sobbing.

The calls kept coming in, some with good news, some with bad news, some with tears, some with laughter. He answered them one by one, responding to each one. By the time he finished the last call, it was almost noon. He put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and let out a deep breath.

Of the fifty-six students, fifty-two were admitted to undergraduate programs. Eighteen were admitted to first-tier universities, twenty-four to second-tier universities, and ten to third-tier universities. This was his best result in his five-year teaching career.

He stood up and walked to the window. The sycamore trees outside swayed in the wind, their leaves rustling. The sunlight was bright, shining on the exterior walls of the teaching building and gilding the old structure with a golden hue.

He stood there and watched for a long time.

Eight

In early July, Lin Zhiyuan completed the transfer procedures.

He packed his belongings in the dormitory piece by piece. Books, lesson plans, students' letters, photos, and greeting cards filled two large boxes. Clothes and bedding were packed into a woven bag. The rice cooker belonged to Su Wanqing, and he was taking it with him. The copy of "Ordinary World" that Zhou Haitao had returned, with "Thank you, Teacher Lin" written on the title page, was also to be taken. The collection of Hai Zi's poems that Chen Yutong had returned, with "Facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming" written on the title page, was also to be taken.

He stood in the empty dormitory, looking at the room he had lived in for five years. The plaster on the walls was peeling again, two panes of glass in the windows had been replaced, and the bed frame still creaked. When he first arrived, he thought the room was incredibly dilapidated. Now that he was leaving, he suddenly felt a little reluctant to go.

Wang Jianguo came to help him move his things. The two of them each carried a box from the dormitory to the school gate. Wang Jianguo's motorcycle was parked at the gate, with a rope tied to the back seat.

"Zhiyuan, are you really leaving?"

"I really have to go."

"Will you come back in the future?"

"Come back. My parents are still in the county town, I'll definitely come back often."

Wang Jianguo nodded without saying anything more. He tied the box to the motorcycle and dusted off his hands.

"Let's go, I'll take you to the station."

Lin Zhiyuan took one last look back at the school. The words "Anyuan County No. 1 Middle School" on the school gate gleamed golden in the sunlight. The teaching buildings, the playground, the sycamore trees, the canteen, the dormitories—everything was still there, nothing had changed. What had changed was him. Five years ago, he walked into this school alone with his luggage. Five years later, he left with a heart full of memories.

He turned around and got on the motorcycle.

The motorcycle started up, rumbling loudly. The wind whistled past his ears, making the leaves of the sycamore trees rustle. Lin Zhiyuan turned around, watching the school grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared at the end of the street.

He turned back and looked ahead. The road was long and winding, stretching into the distance.

nine

On July 15th, Lin Zhiyuan reported to his new school.

The new school is in the city, called Yucai Middle School, a provincial key middle school. The campus is very large, two or three times larger than the county's No. 1 Middle School. The teaching buildings are new, the playground is made of synthetic material, and the library is a separate building. Lin Zhiyuan walked around the campus like a freshman, looking around and finding everything new and exciting.

The registration process was very simple. The staff in the personnel department reviewed his materials and said, "Mr. Lin, you have excellent qualifications, and our principal values ​​you highly. Welcome to Yucai School."

"Thanks."

He was assigned to teach Chinese to two classes in the second year of high school, but he wasn't a homeroom teacher. The principal said, "Take this year to get used to it, and you can be a homeroom teacher next year."

He agreed.

The new office was on the fourth floor; it was large and had central air conditioning. He found his desk and laid out his things one by one—pen holder, teacup, the copy of "Ordinary World," the collection of Hai Zi's poems, letters and photos from his students. He clipped the photos under the glass panel of his desk, just like before.

The teacher sitting opposite him, surnamed Zheng, was in her forties and taught math. She noticed Lin Zhiyuan arranging photos and leaned over to look at them: "Are these all your students?"

"Yes. From the previous year."

"You two seem to have a good relationship, right?"

"very good."

Teacher Zheng smiled and said, "The best reward for a teacher is the affection of their students."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded. He knew she was right.

Ten

In late July, Lin Zhiyuan and Su Wanqing rented an apartment in the city.

The apartment wasn't big, just two bedrooms and a living room, located in an older neighborhood. The furniture belonged to the landlord; it was a bit old, but usable. Su Wanqing spent a weekend cleaning the apartment thoroughly and bought new bed sheets, curtains, and tableware.

"This is our home now," she said.

Lin Zhiyuan stood in the living room, looking at the small space, a warm feeling welling up inside him. Five years had passed; he and Su Wanqing were finally no longer living apart. Five years had passed; they finally had their own home.

"Su Wanqing".

"Um?"

"Thank you."

"You're here again." Su Wanqing laughed. "If you say thank you again, I'll get angry."

Lin Zhiyuan walked over and hugged her from behind. Her body was warm, and her hair smelled of shampoo.

"Wife," he said.

Su Wanqing's body stiffened for a moment, then went limp.

"What did you call me?"

"Wife."

Su Wanqing didn't turn around, but Lin Zhiyuan could feel that her ears had turned red.

The sunlight outside the window was beautiful, shining brightly on the floor. In the distance, cicadas chirped, one call after another, as if they were calling out something. Lin Zhiyuan held Su Wanqing in his arms, standing in their little home, feeling that this moment was wonderful, so wonderful that he wanted to save it for later.