“So the student got so flustered he kicked his slipper right into your bowl?”
Jin Ran couldn’t help but laugh.
Thanks to her vivid imagination, just listening to Wang Chen’s description made her feel like she was witnessing the scene. Just imagine—you’re happily eating noodles, and suddenly a slipper descends from the sky—
Pfft! She couldn’t hold back another burst of laughter.
Beside her, Xu Zhen watched her normally introverted, homebody cousin suddenly transform into a sunny, cheerful guy and found it almost too much to bear.
While she did hope her cousin could win Ranran over, honestly speaking, a girl as beautiful and outstanding as Jin Ran might not necessarily be interested in Wang Chen.
As she pondered this, the conversation quickly moved on to other topics.
Wang Chen sighed. “Our school’s been having a bit of a rough time lately. First, hiring was difficult, and now even the director of academic affairs is leaving.”
“Why is the director leaving so suddenly?” Both Jin Ran and Xu Zhen were surprised. After all, in public schools, the director of academic affairs was usually appointed directly by the education bureau. They were responsible for overseeing teaching management, curriculum implementation, and teacher development, holding a mid-level administrative position in the school’s organizational structure and typically reported directly to the principal or the vice principal in charge of academics. (Note 1)
Jin Ran considered one possibility. “Is it a personnel adjustment?”
Wang Chen nodded, then shook his head. “Seems like it was due to failing an assessment. He lost a school partnership, and with changes in the leadership team, the former director ended up being rotated out. From what I heard, the principal plans to have the school nominate someone internally this time, which will then be reported to the education bureau for review and approval.”
As a fellow young teacher who had arrived a year earlier, Wang Chen had already built up his own information network. Seeing their interest, he couldn’t help but share a bit more.
“It’s true. Several companies were planning to donate labs to the school, but the director, for some reason, deliberately delayed the signing process. That caused the companies to withdraw their funding. By the time the principal found out, it was too late. So, in a fit of anger, he announced that regardless of age or gender, anyone with the ability would have a chance to become the director of academic affairs.”
Amid their shocked gasps, Wang Chen joked, “What do you think about me running for director? Remember to vote for me if I do!”
Xu Zhen immediately rolled her eyes. “You, as director? Don’t get lectured by the director instead!”
Neither of the cousins took the matter seriously. Only Jin Ran’s eyes flickered, genuinely intrigued.
Comparing an ordinary teacher to the director of academic affairs, the latter naturally carried more weight. Jin Ran chose to take the teacher certification exam for stability, but at the same time, she wasn’t someone who pursued stability above all else.
She could change her college application decision on the very day she submitted it, and she could decisively join the civil service exam craze upon realizing her job prospects were poor.
Although that decision led to her getting into a car accident and an unfortunate transmigration into this book, Jin Ran was never one to stubbornly cling to her own opinions. She wasn’t afraid of hardship; she only feared efforts without reward. And the teaching profession happened to avoid such risks.
Faced with two rivers to cross—one clear and shallow, where you could see the bottom, and the other deeper, fraught with difficulties but not life-threatening, potentially holding treasure on the other side—she would undoubtedly choose the second without hesitation.
After all, life is short. Why not pursue boundless achievements within its limited span? If you have no such pursuits, that’s fine too—don’t you like your salary? The director of academic affairs handles both teaching and administration, with a salary twice that of an ordinary teacher!
The more Jin Ran thought about it, the better it seemed. In a short time, she had already mapped out a career path for promotion and salary increases: from substitute teacher, to passing the exam for a formal teaching position, to promotion to director of academic affairs, and finally aiming for vice principal. Even if she failed, it didn’t matter. Besides gaining rich experience, she had nothing to lose!
So, after Wang Chen finished speaking, she couldn’t help but ask, “What are the specific requirements for nominating the director of academic affairs?”
Hearing this, Wang Chen was taken aback, realizing she was genuinely interested. “I’m not sure about the details. I’ll look into it for you when we get back.”
Jin Ran happily thanked him.
To express her gratitude, she went to the serving window and got Mr. Wang an extra portion of braised pork ribs.
Crack.
At a small table in the cafeteria, the pair of chopsticks in Jiang Xuli’s hands suddenly snapped in half.
Chen Xunliang, munching on the last piece of cabbage, stared in disbelief. “Whoa, the quality of the cafeteria chopsticks is terrible.” He swiftly snatched the braised pork piece that had been halfway to Jiang Xuli’s mouth. “Don’t let it go to waste, I’ll eat it for you!”
Jiang Xuli felt a vein throbbing at his temple.
How did he end up with such a gluttonous friend!
He glanced again at his stepmother, laughing and chatting merrily with another man. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to pretend he hadn’t seen her.
It wasn’t like his dad would appreciate it anyway.
The memory of their confrontation at the hospital surfaced in his mind, and Jiang Xuli’s eyes gradually darkened.
Of course, the most important thing was that he knew nothing was going on between Jin Ran and the young man. But at that moment, he couldn’t help but secretly imagine his father being abandoned.
He wondered if that man could still maintain his usual air of being in complete control when that time came.
…
During the break between classes, the study committee member of Class 3 asked a few strong boys from the class to go to the office to collect books.
Jiang Xuli, who had been lying on his desk, stood up upon hearing this. “Count me in.”
The study committee member didn’t know why Jiang Xuli, who never participated in such things, volunteered. But seeing he did look strong, she nodded. “Third-floor math office. Don’t go to the wrong place. Be quick! On my way back, I saw students from Classes 5 and 6 already heading over!”
The school books were allocated in fixed quantities. While every student would get one, those who went late would have to take the leftovers—books with creases, torn, or stained. It didn’t affect their use, but it was always annoying.
A group of boys immediately filed out of the classroom.
Passing by Class 7, Jiang Xuli saw a crowd gathered at the door. The tall boy he had helped before was standing with his head down behind a young woman, while a punk-dressed man was speaking sternly beside them.
Jiang Xuli glanced a few times before losing interest and looked away.
In the afternoon, Jin Ran inquired with her colleagues and learned that the principal did indeed plan to nominate the director of academic affairs internally. However, no one knew exactly who would be nominated or how the selection process would work.
Though somewhat disappointed, Jin Ran remained calm. Her immediate priority was preparing for the upcoming teacher certification exam. Only after passing it and becoming a formal teacher would she qualify to compete for the director position later.
A sound came from outside. Jin Ran looked up to see a group of students appearing at the door. The boy at the front said, “Teacher, our homeroom teacher asked us to come collect books.”
Jin Ran was the only one in the office at the time. “What books?”
“The newly ordered ‘Complete Guide to the New Textbook’ and ‘Practice Drills for Small Questions.'”
Jin Ran pointed to the desk on the left. “Over there. You can go get them. Remember to queue up.”
The students filed in one after another. The Class 3 students were fine, having already seen Jin Ran in class. But students from other classes, seeing her for the first time, didn’t dare make noise and waited obediently in line.
Jiang Xuli bent down, pretending to pick out books. Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, he quietly approached Jin Ran and whispered, “I saw you in the cafeteria at noon today.”
Jin Ran looked puzzled. “Really? I heard the student cafeteria food is pretty good, so I went with a colleague to try it.”
However, there were so many people at the time that she hadn’t noticed Jiang Xuli.
Her expression curious, Jin Ran couldn’t figure out why this awkward high schooler had come to find her.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xuli quickly caught the key word: “Colleague?”
“Yeah, Mr. Wang from the sophomore year. He was the one who recommended me to the school in the first place.” She was genuinely curious and couldn’t help asking, “Student Jiang, do you have a question?”
So, he was a teacher at the school.
At that moment, Jiang Xuli felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Even though he’d talked about wanting to see his father’s downfall, in the end, he couldn’t bear the thought. Now, finally, he didn’t have to worry about coming home one day to find the old man losing his mind.
With the matter that had been weighing on his mind resolved, he felt much lighter. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask if the food was good.”
“It was alright.”
Even so, Jin Ran didn’t believe his excuse, but there was no need to pry. Teenagers having little secrets was normal.
Seeing he was about to leave, she naturally took a brand-new set of test papers from her drawer. “By the way, I heard you’re the top student in math in our class. I just prepared a diagnostic test. Take it back and finish it.”
Jiang Xuli: “…”
He regretted meddling.
…
Mingji Technology.
The phone lying beside Jiang Mingzuo suddenly vibrated.
Jin Ran: [Are you free now? (kitty peeking)]
[Are you busy?]
[If you see this, please reply. I have something to discuss with you.]
Jiang Mingzuo happened to catch the last message. He put down the document he was holding and unlocked his phone. In the short time, Jin Ran had sent three or four more messages. Additionally, a new group chat had appeared in his contacts list.
He paused, first opening Jin Ran’s chat window. [What is it?]