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

一

On the eighth day of the first lunar month in 2010, senior high school students started school.

He Xiaohe was the first to arrive at the classroom. When Lin Zhiyuan walked into the teaching building at seven o'clock in the morning, he saw her already sitting at her seat memorizing English words. She was wearing her faded school uniform, her hair was tied up tightly, and a well-worn vocabulary book was open in front of her.

"Happy New Year," Lin Zhiyuan said.

"Happy New Year, Teacher Lin." She looked up, smiled, and then lowered her head to continue reciting.

Lin Zhiyuan didn't disturb her. He went into his office, turned on the light, and cracked the window open. The early spring breeze blew in, cool and carrying the smell of gunpowder from firecrackers. He sat down, opened his lesson plan, and prepared for today's class. This was his sixth consecutive year teaching senior high school students. From the county to the city, from humanities classes to science classes, from regular classes to honors classes, he had seen off one graduating class after another, watching them enter university, step into society, and embark on their own lives.

He Xiaohe was the student he met in the city who most resembled Zhou Haitao. Not in terms of grades—while Zhou Haitao's grades were good, they weren't nearly as outstanding as He Xiaohe's. From her first to second year of high school, He Xiaohe improved with every exam, rising from 38th to 25th in the grade, from 25th to 18th, and from 18th to 12th. In the final exam of the second semester of her second year, she ranked ninth in the grade. This was the first time she had broken into the top ten.

When she came to pick up her transcript, Lin Zhiyuan said, "He Xiaohe, you're one step closer to Peking University."

"That's not enough," she said. "Peking University only admits thirty students from our province. I need to be in the top three to be confident of admission."

You have one year left.

"A year goes by quickly." She looked at Lin Zhiyuan, her eyes showing a maturity beyond her years. "Teacher Lin, I won't let you down."

You never let me down.

She smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth, then turned and ran away.

two

In early March, Lin Zhiyuan received a letter from Su Hang in Beijing.

The letter was long, three pages long. Su Hang said that after returning from XZ, he was like a completely different person. He stayed in LS for half a month, walking around Barkhor Street every day, watching the people prostrating themselves in prayer. He said he had never seen anyone like that before—ragged and travel-worn, but with a kind of enviable peace in their eyes.

"Teacher Lin, I used to think that the meaning of life was to get into a good university, find a good job, and make a lot of money. After spending half a month in XZ, I feel that none of that matters anymore. Those people have nothing, but they are happier than anyone else. I'm wondering, what are we really pursuing?"

When Lin Zhiyuan read this passage, he put down the letter and looked out the window. The sycamore trees hadn't sprouted yet, their bare branches swaying in the wind. He thought back to his youth, when he had also pondered these questions. Later, he stopped thinking about them because he had found the answer—to be a teacher, to teach students. That was his purpose.

He continued reading.

"Professor Lin, I've decided to change my major. I'm not going to study architecture anymore; I'm going to study education. I want to be a teacher. A teacher like you."

Lin Zhiyuan was stunned. His hand holding the letter trembled. Su Hang, Su Hang from Tsinghua University, Su Hang, the silver medalist in the National Physics Competition, wanted to switch majors to education.

He picked up his phone and dialed Su Hang's number.

"Su Hang, I received your letter."

"Teacher Lin, do you think I'm crazy?"

"No. I just want to ask you, have you thought this through?"

"I've thought it through. Teacher Lin, when I was in XZ, I met a volunteer teacher. She was from Beijing, a graduate of Peking University, and taught in XZ for three years. I asked her why she didn't go back to Beijing, and she said, 'They need me here.' Teacher Lin, those words hit me like a sledgehammer, waking me up. I've always been thinking about what I need, but I've never thought about how others might need me."

Lin Zhiyuan remained silent for a long time.

"Su Hang, whatever decision you make, I will support you."

"Teacher Lin, I'm afraid my parents won't agree."

"I'll talk to your parents."

"Thank you, Teacher Lin."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhiyuan sat in his office for a long time. He recalled Su Hang sitting on the riverbank, and the calm yet resolute tone in his voice when he said, "I want to go to XZ." He had thought Su Hang's actions were just a momentary impulse, but now it seemed that it wasn't an impulse, but a search. He had found it.

three

In mid-March, He Xiaohe came to Lin Zhiyuan to ask for leave.

"Teacher Lin, I would like to ask for two days off."

"What's wrong?"

"My grandma is sick. My mom is hospitalized in the city hospital, and my dad is out of town and can't come back. I need to go back to take care of her."

Lin Zhiyuan looked at her. She had dark circles under her eyes, chapped lips, and a pale complexion.

Which hospital is your grandmother in?

"County People's Hospital".

"Are you going back alone?"

"Um."

Lin Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said, "I'll take you back."

"No need, Teacher Lin, I can manage on my own."

"I'm worried about you going alone. It's been a while since I've been back to the county town, so I'll take this opportunity to visit some old friends."

He Xiaohe didn't refuse again. She lowered her head and whispered, "Thank you, Teacher Lin."

The next morning, Lin Zhiyuan rode his electric scooter, taking He Xiaohe to the bus station. The two boarded the bus back to the county town. The bus wasn't crowded. He Xiaohe sat by the window, staring blankly out the window. Lin Zhiyuan sat beside her, saying nothing.

"Teacher Lin," she suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

Why are you so kind to us?

Lin Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said, "Because someone else has been kind to me too."

"Who?"

"My teacher. His surname was Chen, and he has passed away."

He Xiaohe turned to look at him, her eyes filled with curiosity and heartache.

"What kind of person is he?"

"An ordinary teacher. He taught his whole life, without much money or fame. But he changed the lives of many people." Lin Zhiyuan looked out the window. "He was also my teacher."

He Xiaohe remained silent for a long time before saying, "Teacher Lin, you will also change the fate of many people."

"Maybe. But that's their own effort. I was just watching from the sidelines."

four

He Xiaohe's grandmother was staying in the internal medicine ward of the county hospital. Lin Zhiyuan escorted her to the hospital entrance but didn't go inside. He stood at the hospital entrance for a while, then turned and went to the county's No. 1 Middle School.

The school was still the same. The sycamore trees were beginning to sprout, tender green leaves swaying gently in the wind. People were running on the playground, lap after lap, as if chasing something. He walked in, but Old Zhong, the gatekeeper, didn't recognize him—it was someone else.

He went up to the teaching building and went to the Chinese language department office. Wang Jianguo wasn't there; his desk was empty. A young female teacher was sitting in Wang Jianguo's seat, preparing a lesson. Lin Zhiyuan didn't disturb her and turned to leave.

He stood on the playground for a while, then left.

On the bus back to the city, he sent Wang Jianguo a text message: "Old Wang, I went back to the county town today, you weren't there."

After a while, Wang Jianguo replied: "I'm in the city. My wife is sick and hospitalized in the city hospital."

Lin Zhiyuan was taken aback: "What illness?"

"Cholecystitis. Surgery is needed."

Which hospital?

"The First People's Hospital of the City".

Lin Zhiyuan stared at his phone screen, his heart tightening. The First People's Hospital of the city was the hospital where Su Wanqing worked.

I'll come see you tonight.

He hung up the phone and looked out the window. Fields, villages, and hills flashed by frame by frame, like a slow-motion film. He thought of Chen Mingyuan, Shen Ruohan, and the days he spent at the county's No. 1 High School. Time flies; in the blink of an eye, he had been away from the county for five years.

五

That evening, Lin Zhiyuan went to the First People's Hospital of the city.

Wang Jianguo's wife, Zhang Lihua, was in the surgical ward and was scheduled for surgery the next day. When Lin Zhiyuan arrived, Wang Jianguo was sitting by the bedside, holding Zhang Lihua's hand. Zhang Lihua's complexion was not good; she looked sallow, but her spirits were still high.

"Zhiyuan, you're here." Wang Jianguo stood up and patted him on the shoulder.

"Sister-in-law, how are you feeling?" Lin Zhiyuan asked.

"It's alright. I'm just a little scared." Zhang Lihua smiled. "I'm Old Wang's only daughter-in-law. What will he do if I'm gone?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Cholecystitis is a minor surgery; you'll be fine after the procedure."

Wang Jianguo glared at her from the side: "Did you hear that? Teacher Lin already said it's a minor surgery."

Zhang Lihua smiled, but as she smiled, her eyes reddened.

Lin Zhiyuan sat in the ward for a while, then walked into the corridor with Wang Jianguo.

"Zhiyuan, how are you doing in the city?" Wang Jianguo asked.

"It's alright. Senior year of high school, busy."

"How is your student, He Xiaohe?"

"I'm a senior in high school now. My goal is Peking University."

"Peking University?" Wang Jianguo whistled. "Your students are all incredibly talented. Zhou Haitao is a Peking University graduate student, Suzhou and Hangzhou are Tsinghua Universities, and now another Peking University graduate is here."

"I haven't passed the exam yet."

"You'll definitely pass the exam. I trust your teaching skills."

The two remained silent for a moment. The corridor was quiet, save for the ringing of the telephone at the nurses' station.

"Old Wang, any news about Shen Ruohan lately?"

"Yes. She got married in the provincial capital to an editor at a publishing house. She's doing quite well."

"That's good."

"Zhiyuan, do you think it's worth it for people like us to spend our whole lives in school?"

Lin Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said, "Whether it's worth it or not depends not on what we get, but on what the students get."

Wang Jianguo looked at him and smiled: "You're starting to sound more and more like Teacher Chen."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. The tone, the expression, even the way they frown are similar."

Lin Zhiyuan remained silent. He recalled Chen Mingyuan standing in the corridor watching the snow, and the way he had told him to "teach well." Teacher Chen, did you see that? Your student was also teaching another student.

六

In early April, Su Hang's parents called Lin Zhiyuan.

"Professor Lin, Su Hang wants to change his major, but we disagree. Could you please help us persuade him?"

Lin Zhiyuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Why do you disagree?"

"It's so much better for him to study architecture. Tsinghua University's architecture department is the best in the country. He can become an architect after graduation, which is so respectable. What future can he have studying education and becoming a teacher?"

Lin Zhiyuan held his phone, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. He recalled how his mother had said the same thing when he turned down an offer from a private school in the provincial capital and returned to his county town—"What future can a teacher have?"

"Su Hang's mother, I have something to tell you."

"Please speak."

"I'm a teacher. Do you think I'm successful?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

"Teacher Lin, that's not what I meant..."

"I know. But I want to tell you that being a teacher is not a dead-end job. Being a teacher can change the lives of many people. Su Hang wanted to be a teacher not because he was incapable of doing anything else, but because he was capable of doing many things, yet he chose to do the most meaningful one."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Teacher Lin, let's think about it again."

"Okay. Call me when you've made up your mind."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhiyuan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He thought of his father. His father hadn't supported his becoming a teacher back then, but later he said, "Being a teacher is good; teachers are needed in every era." He hoped that Su Hang's parents could understand this as well.

Seven

In mid-April, Su Hang's parents called Lin Zhiyuan.

"Professor Lin, we've thought it through. If Su Hang wants to study education, then let him study it."

"thank you."

"We should be thanking you. Su Hang said that you helped him find his direction."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhiyuan sent Su Hang a text message: "Your parents agreed."

Su Hang replied, "Thank you, Teacher Lin. I will study hard."

Lin Zhiyuan replied, "You will become a good teacher."

Su Hang replied, "I will. Just like you."

Lin Zhiyuan looked at the words on the screen and smiled.

Eight

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

He Xiaohe's condition was getting better and better. Her grades had stabilized in the top five of her grade, and she ranked third in the last mock exam. Lin Zhiyuan felt much more at ease after seeing her report card.

"He Xiaohe, are you ready?"

"Ready?" Her eyes were bright, like two stars.

Are you nervous?

"A little. But I can control it."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded. He recalled his own college entrance exam, when he was in the same state—nervous, but not afraid. Because he knew he was prepared.

"He Xiaohe, I have something to tell you."

"Please speak."

"During the college entrance exam, don't think about the result. Just answer the questions you know how to do correctly and get the points you can. Leave the rest to luck."

"Teacher Lin, do you believe in luck?"

"I believe in hard work. But I believe even more in effort. If you work hard enough, luck will naturally come."

He Xiaohe looked at him and smiled.

"Teacher Lin, I will try my best."

"I know."

nine

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

Lin Zhiyuan, wearing that red T-shirt, stood at the entrance of Yucai Middle School. He Xiaohe was the first to arrive. She was wearing her faded school uniform and holding a transparent file bag containing her admission ticket, ID card, and several pens.

"Teacher Lin, I'm going in."

Go for it. Good luck.

When she reached the school gate, she stopped, turned around, and bowed to Lin Zhiyuan. Then she straightened up, turned around, and went inside.

Lin Zhiyuan stood at the school gate, watching her figure disappear into the crowd. The sun was blazing, making his eyes water. He squinted, standing there motionless.

Su Wanqing sent a text message: "The way you stand at the school gate looks like a statue."

He replied, "I am like a statue, guarding my students."

Su Wanqing replied, "Are you stupid?"

He replied, "Silly."

Ten

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

When He Xiaohe walked out of the examination room, it was raining. She didn't use an umbrella and just walked in the rain, her steps neither hurried nor slow. Lin Zhiyuan ran over with an umbrella and held it over her head.

"Why didn't you bring an umbrella?"

"I forgot."

"How did the exam go?"

"Not bad. Performed as expected."

Lin Zhiyuan looked at her. Her face was wet, and it was hard to tell whether it was rainwater or tears.

"He Xiaohe, no matter the outcome, you've done a fantastic job."

"Teacher Lin, I know."

She looked up at him and smiled. The smile held weariness, relief, and a touch of trepidation.

"Let's go, I'll take you home," Lin Zhiyuan said.

"Teacher Lin, I want to go somewhere."

"where?"

"School. I want to go see the classroom again."

Lin Zhiyuan paused for a moment, then nodded. The two of them, holding umbrellas, walked back to the school. The campus was quiet; all the students had left, and only a few cleaners were tidying up. They went up to the third floor and entered the classroom of Senior Three (7).

The classroom was empty. The desks and chairs were neatly arranged, and the blackboard still bore the notes from the last lesson—"Important Notes for the College Entrance Examination." He Xiaohe walked to her seat, sat down, and touched the desk.

"Teacher Lin, I've been sitting here for three years."

"Um."

"I probably won't come back again."

"I will come back. You'll get into Peking University, so you can come back to see me during your holidays."

He Xiaohe lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Teacher Lin, thank you."

"You're welcome. You'll grow up to be a very good person."

She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, but she didn't cry. She stood up, slung her backpack over her shoulder, walked to the door, stopped, turned around, and bowed deeply to Lin Zhiyuan.

Then she straightened up and left.

Lin Zhiyuan stood in the empty classroom, watching her figure disappear at the end of the corridor. The rain was still falling outside the window, pattering against the glass, making a soft, rustling sound, like someone whispering.

He stood there for a long time.