At four in the afternoon, in the Grade 1 teachers' office.
The air was as heavy as a water-logged sponge.
Over twenty Grade 1 homeroom teachers sat around a massive conference table, most of them showing the fatigue of an afternoon spent in meetings. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, cutting through the smoky air in dappled bands, illuminating each person's serious or numb face.
Yang Mingyu sat quietly in a corner, like a stone blending into the background.
He didn't fidget anxiously trying to fit in with the group like other new teachers, nor did he proactively strike up conversations with anyone. He simply listened and observed.
Most of the faces here were incredibly familiar to him.
Sitting at the head of the table, slowly blowing tea leaves in his thermos, was the Grade Level Head, a good-natured old man on the verge of retirement who just wanted to avoid any trouble. To his left, sitting upright with a serious expression, was the homeroom teacher of Class 2, a strong woman known for her rigorous academic approach…
And sitting in the first seat to the right of the Grade Level Head, the man in a crisp white shirt, with meticulously combed hair, a slightly upturned chin, and a subtle sense of superiority in his eyes, was Liu Feng.
He was the homeroom teacher of Class 1, the elite class that the entire school watched closely.
The content of the meeting was no different from Yang Mingyu's memories.
It began with the Grade Level Head reading a half-hour of dull opening-of-school work arrangements, emphasizing discipline, safety, and various teaching metrics. Then, it moved into the segment where the homeroom teachers 'exchanged' teaching experiences.
This so-called 'exchange' quickly devolved into Liu Feng's solo 'performance'.
“…The situation in our class, overall, is still quite good.” Liu Feng cleared his throat, leaned back slightly in his chair, and said in a seemingly humble but actually boastful tone, “The students all have very strong foundations, and their initiative in learning is also very high. Of course, we can't let our guard down. The first goal I set for them is that within one week of school starting, they must preview all of the first semester's math and physics. Next week, our class will have an internal diagnostic test.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the office was filled with low gasps of admiration and agreement.
“Ah, as expected of the elite class!”
“The soldiers Teacher Liu leads are just different!”
“Previewing half a semester of science in one week? That learning ability is too strong!”
Liu Feng thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being the center of attention. He waved his hand modestly, but his face showed an irrepressible smugness: “Oh, it's nothing, it's mainly the children's self-discipline. As teachers, we just need to give them proper guidance and firmly establish their study habits from the very beginning. It's like building a house; the foundation must be laid straight and stable. If the foundation is crooked, no matter how much effort you put in later, it will all be in vain.”
He picked up his teacup and took a sip of water, but then his tone suddenly shifted, and his gaze subtly flickered towards Yang Mingyu in the corner.
“Of course, I've also heard that some of our younger teachers are full of energy and ideas. They don't like to follow our 'foundation-building' old ways and prefer to try some… hmm, 'innovations'.”
He deliberately emphasized the word “innovations,” and the sarcasm embedded in it was clear even to the slow-witted.
The atmosphere in the office instantly became a bit subtle.
Everyone's eyes subconsciously darted back and forth between Liu Feng and Yang Mingyu.
Stories of Yang Mingyu 'playing tricks' in Class 14 had long spread like wildfire among the teachers through various channels. Some treated it as a joke, others thought it was grandstanding, but Liu Feng was the first to dare to bring it up directly in a public setting.
Wang Haide sat not far away, a barely perceptible cold smile playing on his lips. He held his teacup, adopting a detached, 'watching the show' posture. He wanted Liu Feng, that 'old fox,' to give Yang Mingyu, this 'greenhorn,' a good dressing down.
Yang Mingyu remained expressionless, as if the “young teacher” Liu Feng spoke of had nothing to do with him.
His calmness, in Liu Feng's eyes, was a silent provocation.
Liu Feng put down his teacup, his voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone in the office to hear distinctly.
“I personally believe that teaching is a very serious matter, and there's no room for anything superficial. Especially when dealing with students who have poor foundations and bad habits, we should be more down-to-earth, starting with the most basic discipline and making up for the simplest knowledge points.”
“And not resorting to some crooked ways, grandstanding.”
The eight characters “crooked ways, grandstanding” were spoken heavily and slowly, like two slaps, harshly aimed at Yang Mingyu.
The air in the office completely froze.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see the show. They wanted to see what kind of awkward and embarrassed expression this new young man would have when facing such merciless criticism from an elder.
However, there was still no expression on Yang Mingyu's face. He didn't even raise an eyelid, merely continuing to write something in his notebook with his pen.
This complete disregard made Liu Feng's carefully prepared dressing-down feel like a punch thrown into cotton, an indescribably unpleasant sensation. His face instantly darkened.
“Teacher Yang!”
Liu Feng finally tore off his mask of false civility and called out his name directly.
Swish!
Everyone's eyes, like searchlights, instantly focused on Yang Mingyu.
Yang Mingyu then slowly raised his head, meeting Liu Feng's angry and contemptuous eyes, and calmly asked, “Teacher Liu, do you need something?”
That look, as if he had just come back to his senses, only made Liu Feng even more furious.
“I don't need anything.” Liu Feng sneered, his tone sharp and sarcastic, “I'm just a little curious. Teacher Yang, I hear you can predict the future?”
“Hah…” A wave of suppressed snickering rippled through the office.
“I heard from students that today in class, you 'spoiled' everyone's future?” Liu Feng leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing Yang Mingyu from head to toe, “Since you're so amazing, can you 'spoil' it for all of us too?”
He paused, every word filled with provocation.
“Tell us, how many students in your Class 14 will pass the first monthly exam next month?”
This question was extremely malicious.
Everyone knew what kind of foundation Class 14 had. Forget passing; if half the class scored double digits, it would be a miracle.
Liu Feng's question wasn't a question at all, but a public humiliation.
Low chuckles rose and fell in the office.
Wang Haide watched the scene with schadenfreude, just waiting for Yang Mingyu to turn red and be unable to respond.
Under everyone's gaze, amidst the room full of mockery and sneers, the calmness on Yang Mingyu's face finally showed a slight change.
He didn't get angry, nor did he look embarrassed.
He simply, slowly, put down his pen, and then straightened his slightly slender back.
He met Liu Feng's gaze, he met everyone's gaze, and a smile that no one understood slowly appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He was going to fight back.