Ari simply asked when she could start w.

  The principal replied, "You start right now. First, familiarize yourself with our school, the staff, and the students to see where you begin. Once we have time, we’ll sign a tract. But let me make it clear—the sary for substitute teachers isn’t much, only 1,800 yuan per month."

  "That’s wonderful!" Ari said enthusiastically.

  The principal was momentarily speechless. Is this the so-called "silly and sweet type"? How could ahink 1,800 yuan was "wonderful"? That wouldn’t even cover rent and meals! What the principal didn’t realize was that Ari thought 1,800 yuan could buy plenty of statioo give to students, making her genuinely excited.

  The school had a severe she of English teachers because they couldn’t retain talent. Fresh graduates with English degrees all flocked to big cities for better opportunities, and the school didn’t offer permaeag positions. Who would willingly stay to teach? The avaible teag resources were all trated on the graduating csses. Furthermore, since Ari wasn’t professionally trained as a teacher, the principal assigned her to the 8th-grade group to temporarily teae css as a trial.

  What the principal uimated was Ari’s abilities. Despite holding a Singaporean passport, she had received her primary and sedary education in a and was very familiar with the system.

  During the st period of the m, Css 5 of the 8th grade reparing for an English css. Their previous English teacher had left, and a substitute teacher was temporarily c the css, but the workload was overwhelming, leaving her hoarse.

  When the bell rang, the homeroom teacher, the principal, and a stylish, cheerful, aiful young woman walked into the .

  The students looked at one another, puzzled. What’s with the formal lineup? What’s happening?

  Only Yi Nuannuan reized the woman as the person she had lunch with the day before, and a faint sense of excitement stirred in her heart. However, she had no oo share her secret with and had to keep it to herself.

  The principal spoke first, introdug the eacher. "This is Teacher Ou, a fn teacher specially hired by our school. I’d like to emphasize that she’s an iional schor and a graduate of Prion Uy. Let’s give her a warm wele."

  The students cpped enthusiastically as Teacher Ou began her self-introdu—in fluent Ameri English. It was a stark trast to the heavily ated English of their previous teachers. The students listened ily but struggled to fully uand what she was saying.

  The homeroom teacher then added, "Students, pay attention. Teacher Ou’s teag methods may differ from other teachers, but this is a rare opportunity, so make the most of it."

  After their remarks, the homeroom teacher and principal left, leaving Teacher Ou aloh the css.

  "Don’t be nervous," Teacher Ou said. "My name is Ou Li, but you call me Teacher Ou. However, I’d prefer if you called me Ari. Now, I’d like to invite one of you to introduce yourself in English—just oence. Anything will do."

  The student who was called upon stood up nervously and stammered, "Ma na mu yi si Li Xiaoming…"

  Ari chuckled and said, "I used to be a student at Fudan High School. Although our textbooks were different, the basics were the same. I still remember the first time I went abroad and had to introduce myself…"

  She was a natural storyteller, seamlessly embedding English knowledge into vivid aes that captivated the students. Even those who disliked English found themselves listening attentively.

  After sharing two short stories, Ari asked, "Why do you think we o learn English? Let’s hear from the English css representative."

  However, the English css representative, Yin Weiran, was currently in the hospital with a fractured ankle and couldn’t respond. So, Ari asked the css monitor to speak instead.

  Feng Xiaoxiao stood up, his mind w quickly. Handsome and intelligent, he had ied both his appearand sharp wit from his father. The current situation was different from the norm. If the principal, homeroom teacher, lish teacher had asked this question, the answers would vary: for the principal, it would be "to tribute to a’s rise"; for the homeroom teacher, it would be "to perform well on the high school entrance exam"; and for the English teacher, it would be "because English is the most widely used nguage in the world, and mastering it is a basic skill."

  But the person asking was a fn teacher—a young and seemingly unventional one. So, Feng Xiaoxiao decided to give a prehensive ahat would leave no room for debate.

  "First, mastering a fn nguage is a practical skill that aids in iional unication. Sed, English is a core subject that carries signifit weight in high school and college entrance exams, and we eveo take nguage proficy tests in uy or for studying abroad. Lastly, learning English sharpens our thinking—using a different nguage and culture to approach problems gives us a new perspective on the world."

  These words were borrowed from his father, Ma Xiaowei, who oftehem to educate him. They were lofty and insightful enough to impress everyo the academy. After delivering his speech, Feng Xiaoxiao gnced modestly at his cssmates before sitting down.

  Ari gave him a thumbs-up. "The css monitor’s answer was very thh. Let’s give him a round of appuse."

  After the appuse subsided, Ari asked if anyone else had any thoughts. No one raised their hand.

  Ari tinued, "The css monitor covered the most important points, but I’d like to add something. Learning a fn nguage—not just English but also uages—goes beyond practical bes. It allows us to appreciate beauty, experieher civilizations, and uand the vastness of the world and the diversity of humanity."

  "For example, some words exist in fn nguages but require entire senteo describe in ese. Take the Swedish word mangata, which refers to the road-like refle of the moonlight on water. Doesn’t it evoke a serene aiful atmosphere? Or the Spanish word sobremesa, which describes the time spent chatting with panions after a meal. Spaniards love to chat, eating and drinking while versing. When they get tired, they grab more food and tinue. Ask your fathers tonight if they’ve experiehis during their drinking sessions."

  The students burst into ughter. Many men in the shipyard district loved to drink heavily, bragging and chatting about everything from national affairs to trivial gossip. It was indeed a perfect description of that post-drinking downtime.

  Ari picked up a piece of chalk and wrote "木漏れ日" on the bckboard. "This is Japanese, pronounced komorebi. It refers to sunlight filtering through the leaves. Isn’t it beautiful, peaceful, and poetic?"

  The students nodded instinctively.

  "So, if you have the opportunity and ability, learn muages to uand the world better. Now, let’s return to English…" Ari finally circled back, reigniting the students’ enthusiasm and i in learning.

  Outside the , the principal nodded in satisfa. This fn teacher was indeed skilled—she uood the essence of education. First, you had to make students willing to listen to you; otherwise, no matter how well you spoke, it would fall on deaf ears. Winning the trust and favor of 14- and 15-year-olds, who were often rebellious, wasn’t easy, but Teacher Ou Li had mao do it.

  For the students of Css 5, a subject they once dreaded had flown by. In the blink of ahe lesson was over, and they had already grown fond of their eacher. Their previous English teacher was a 48-year-old woman in menopause who loved to criticize and humiliate students, often calling them to the bckboard just to embarrass them. As a result, the students were terrified of English. But Teacher Ari? She was gentle, kind, and more like an older sister. She didn’t shout or scold, let alone humiliate anyone. Everyone loved her csses.

  At lunchtime, most of the students, whose parents worked at the shipyard, ate aed at school while their parents ate in the factory cafeteria. However, sihe school cafeteria was under renovation, students had t their own lunches. As a teacher, Ari wasn’t restricted and could eat elsewhere, but she insisted on joining the students.

  The students warmly weled Ari to eat with them. Feng Xiaoxiao suggested, "Why don’t we have a big unal meal? Let’s push the tables together and share our food. We host a wele party for Teacher Ari."

  Everyohusiastically agreed, thinking it was both meaningful and fun.

  Yi Nuannuan was incredibly embarrassed. This was the kind of moment she feared most. Today's lunch had been prepared by her grandmother, packed in an aluminum lunchbox as old as her mother. Ihere in rid a few overcooked green beans lying limp on top. It wasn’t her grandmother’s fault—this was just how their family usually ate. On the rare occasion they had meat, it was always meager, just slivers or thin slices.

  The students noisily pushed their desks together, bining them into fe tables based on their seating groups. Everyone pced their lunchboxes on the shared tables, and drinks were pooled together. There was an assortment of milk, sodas, and tea drinks—it looked like a miniature food and beverage expo.

  Yi Nuannuan shrank into the least spicuous er, keeping her lunchbox covered with its lid, trying to hide it from view. Fortunately, Yin Weiran wasn’t present. Without their ringleader, Jane Shiyu and Mei Xin seemed to have lost their bae, like puppets without their maniputive master. They didn’t stir up any trouble.

  The atmosphere at the tables was both formal and lively. Everyo upright, their expressions both excited and serious. Feng Xiaoxiao stood up, holding a gss bottle of Perrier water, preparing to give a toast on behalf of the css. His gesture mirrored his father, Ma Xiaowei, whom he'd often observed giving eloquent speeches at dinner parties. Feng Xiaoxiao had clearly ied the knack for it.

  Just as he was about to speak, the school’s gatekeeper entered. He sed the room briefly and then pced a cloth bag in front of Yi Nuannuan without saying a word before walking out.

  All eyes immediately turoward Yi Nuannuan in the er. With everyoaring, she had no choice but to open it.

  Relutly, she uhe bag beh their collective gaze. The thick material of the bag provided excellent insution. Inside was a three-yer lunchbox set. Slowly, she opened each yer.

  The first yer revealed rosemary-crusted crispy beef ribs, scallion-seasoned broad beans, and three fresh, vibrant green asparagus spears. The sed yer tained fragrant Thai jasmine rice sprinkled with bck sesame seeds. The third yer held peeled e slices and cherry tomatoes, ly arranged and ed in g film to retain their moisture. Additionally, there was a small insuted tainer filled with chi soup and a box of fresh milk.

  It wasn’t ostentatious because of the expense of the ingredients but rather because of the effort that had goo preparing it. Every item ortioned perfectly for a middle school girl’s appetite. The meal was banced, with meat, dairy, and fruit, and the presentation was immacute. It was clear that whoever prepared this lunch did so with the utmost care and love.

  Ari excimed in admiration, "What a thoughtful aifully prepared lunch! Your mom must be such a kind ale person."

  This casual pliment struck Yi Nuannuan squarely in the heart. If her mother were still alive, she might indeed have prepared such a lunch for her. But her mother was in heaven—how could it possibly be her?

  Yi Nuannuan couldn’t hold baymore. Tears streamed down her face as she broke into untrolble sobs.

  Ari panicked, not knowing what she had said wrong. She looked to the css monitor for help. Feng Xiaoxiao leaned in and whispered, "Teacher, Yi Nuannuan’s mother has passed away, and I heard her father isn’t arouher."

  In an instant, Ari felt a searing, heart-wreng sadness. She pulled Yi Nuannuan into her arms without saying a word, holding her close to offer fort. Tears rolled down Ari’s cheeks as well.

  Yi Nuannuan hadn’t been held like this in a long time, and it only made her cry harder.

  A stra soothing warmth began to rise in her heart. It was as if her mother were truly holding her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt soled. Gradually, her wailing turned into soft sobs, and then it stopped entirely. She apologized to everyone around her.

  Ari wiped her tears and said warmly, "It’s okay. Let’s eat."

  Yi Nuannuan pced her beautifully prepared, nutritionally banced lunchbox in a promi spot oable. For the first time, she felt an unpreted sense of security and dignity. In that moment, it was as if her mother and father were right there by her side.

  [--------------------------------------------]

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