Chapter 113: The Divinely Blessed Worker

When Lin You returned, he saw Xia Yan standing with her hands on her hips, watching Wang Baoguo mumbling something. She looked so animated that she even raised her hand to tap Wang Baoguo a few times, really taking on the air of a teacher scolding a student.

Noticing Lin You entering the courtyard, Xia Yan quickly whispered to Wang Baoguo, "Alright, your big brother is back. Whatever we were talking about, you mustn’t let him find out, understood?!"

"Why not, sister-in-law?"

"I told you not to say anything, so just don’t. No more whys, just listen to me."

Wang Baoguo looked puzzled but nodded nonetheless.

"What are you two talking about?"

Lin You walked over curiously, eyeing them both.

"Nothing much. Baoguo wanted us to treat him to a meal alone, and he was about to order dishes just now. I got a bit upset and gave him a little lecture," Xia Yan lied smoothly, without a hint of embarrassment.

"Oh?"

Lin You immediately saw through her lie and turned his gaze to Wang Baoguo, who almost blurted out the truth when he caught Lin You’s look.

However, a warning glance from Xia Yan stopped him, and he quickly played along, "Sister-in-law, I just wanted to eat a few more dishes."

"If you want to eat more, cook for yourself. Don’t always make your poor wife work so hard."

Lin You didn’t probe further this time.

"Big brother, you weren’t like this before."

"That was before. Now, tell me, what’s the matter?"

"It’s about the military. I just attended a meeting at the military district, and there are some ideas to be conveyed to everyone. The district has new plans for the garrison. Our regiment will be stepping down from the mountain, to be replaced by the Third Regiment."

Wang Baoguo straightened his uniform, his earlier casual demeanor replaced by a serious expression.

Lin You wasn’t surprised. "So Commander Peng and the others have really decided?"

"Yes, I think so. The exact timing isn’t set yet, but it won’t be more than half a year. If it’s soon, it might be right after the New Year."

Xia Yan was taken aback. "What? Stepping down from the mountain?"

Lin You laughed at her. "What, you don’t want to leave?"

Xia Yan shook her head. "It’s not that. I just started getting used to life up here, so suddenly having to say goodbye is hard. Besides, didn’t you just find me a job down there?"

Lin You teased, "Then you can stay here when that happens."

"As long as you’re willing, I don’t mind," Xia Yan cleverly shot back.

"Can you two at least think about my feelings?" Wang Baoguo said, looking overwhelmed by their sudden display of affection.

***

A few days later, early in the morning, Xia Yan woke up bright and early and deliberately chose a newer set of clothes—today was her first day teaching at the school.

Lin Nuannuan was still being taken care of by the neighbor Wang Guilan for the day; after all, it wasn’t ideal to bring a child on the very first day.

Xia Yan tied her hair back in a neat ponytail, giving off a fresh and professional impression that caught many eyes along the way.

Upon arriving at the school, she first went to the principal’s office.

Principal Li, upon seeing Xia Yan, greeted her warmly, "Comrade Xia Yan, you’ve finally arrived."

"Principal Li, good to see you again."

Principal Li nodded. "Please have a seat. Xia Yan, I’m very grateful you could come to substitute. Teacher Yuan’s sudden resignation caught us off guard."

Xia Yan had a rough idea of what had happened with Yuan Xiangqin. After Li Yong’s visit and talks of divorce, Yuan Xiangqin probably felt too ashamed to stay at the garrison any longer.

"Principal Li, this is my first time teaching. If I don’t do well, please correct me."

Principal Li responded with a nod and personally showed her around the various classrooms.

When Lin Hongzhuo saw her, he excitedly shouted inside the classroom, "Look, Mom is here to teach us Chinese! She’s going to be our teacher from now on."

"From now on, call me Teacher Xia at school, got it?"

"Got it, Mom."

"Hmm?"

"I mean, Teacher Xia."

"Alright, off to class now."

After the tour, Xia Yan found out she would be teaching Chinese from first through fifth grade.

Back in the teachers’ office, Principal Li pointed to the desk near the door. “Teacher Xia, this will be your desk.”

Xia Yan recognized the spot—it was where Yuan Xiangqin used to sit.

There were only five desks in the office altogether.

She knew Zhou Weiguo; the others were teachers of physical education, art and music, and another math teacher.

Just then, Zhou Weiguo came in and smiled broadly upon seeing Xia Yan. "Teacher Xia, last time we met was at the parent meeting. I didn’t expect we’d be colleagues now."

"Teacher Zhou, I’ll have many questions for you in the future."

Principal Li, observing the two core teachers getting along well, felt reassured.

"Teacher Zhou, Teacher Xia, carry on chatting. When Teacher Hu and Teacher Jiang arrive later, please help with introductions."

Zhou Weiguo readily agreed.

Once Principal Li left, Xia Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Though courteous, she was still the leader, and her days as a worker had officially begun again.

"Teacher Xia, the textbooks on your desk were left by Teacher Yuan. The schedule is posted on the desk as well; you can have a look."

"Alright, Teacher Zhou. Since Teacher Yuan hasn’t been around lately, who’s been teaching Chinese?"

Xia Yan flipped through the textbooks, curious.

Zhou Weiguo poured a cup of water from a thermos. "Oh, that’s Teacher Hu from PE."

"What? The PE teacher teaches Chinese?"

Xia Yan recalled a familiar saying: your math teacher was the PE teacher? Now here, the PE teacher was teaching Chinese.

"Yeah, only Teacher Hu knows a bit. He’s like the tallest among the short ones. Teacher Jiang and the others know nothing about Chinese."

Zhou Weiguo joked.

Soon, the teachers who had finished classes returned, and Xia Yan was introduced to them. The other three were especially happy to see the Chinese teacher back, particularly Teacher Hu, who visibly relaxed.

After some exchanges, Xia Yan felt the office atmosphere was quite pleasant.

Before long, the class bell rang, and Xia Yan faced her first lesson.

Without preparation, the class felt a bit rushed.

It was a second-grade class; the children didn’t know a new teacher had arrived.

When Xia Yan entered, the children were stunned.

One brave girl with braided hair spoke up, "Sister, who are you? This is Teacher Hu’s class, and he’s really strict."

Xia Yan thought of the burly Teacher Hu, who did look intimidating. Smiling, she introduced herself, "Hello, students. I’m your new Chinese teacher. My surname is Xia, like ‘summer.’ You can call me Teacher Xia..."