At seven in the morning, Tiantian got up on time and did a simple wash. As soon as she pulled out the suitcase and bedding, she heard Chen Dongyang talking to the boss.
This person, she had told him she didn't need him to see her off, yet he still came?
Tiantian placed the four-piece bedding set on the suitcase and struggled downstairs. Chen Dongyang heard the movement, rushed up three steps at a time, and blocked her.
"How heavy is that? Why didn't you call me? Quick, let go, I'll take it."
Chen Dongyang took the suitcase and walked ahead, going downstairs.
The boss smiled at the two of them. Tiantian handed him the room key, and the boss handed her back the deposit.
"We welcome you to come again in the future."
Chen Dongyang put the suitcase in the trunk, then came over to greet Tiantian, "Let's go have some breakfast first, there's still plenty of time."
After all, one has to eat to live, so Tiantian didn't argue with him and followed his steps across the street.
There were pan-fried buns, soy milk, fritters, and clear noodle soup. Chen Dongyang asked her what she wanted to eat.
Tiantian had no appetite and asked for two pan-fried buns. Chen Dongyang thought it was too little, so he ordered a bowl of tofu pudding for her and ordered a bowl of clear noodle soup for himself.
They sat facing each other, and the food was served quickly.
This was Tiantian's first time seeing this kind of breakfast shop, using plastic bowls.
Moreover, the bowls were white, with oil stains on the rims, and the plastic spoons were yellowed, having been in the mouths of who knows how many diners.
She felt a wave of nausea.
"Won't you get infectious diseases eating like this? I'm not eating."
At the same time, she was also worried about Chen Dongyang.
"You shouldn't eat either. You'll be poisoned by the plastic bowls even if you don't get an infectious disease."
To be honest, the hygienic conditions at these small stalls were indeed worrying, especially in small towns.
The boss, to save costs, was even reluctant to use disposable meal boxes.
He understood Tiantian's concern but also didn't want to waste food.
"Okay, after this meal, I won't eat out anymore. I'll cook myself."
"If you find the tofu pudding dirty, you can eat the buns."
Tiantian wrapped the buns in a plastic bag and began to eat slowly.
Chen Dongyang always looked ravenous. He picked up his noodles and shoveled them into his mouth in large bites. In less than two minutes, he finished.
The two of them drove to the school. Tiantian thought it was very far, which was why he insisted on driving her, but it turned out to be less than a five-minute journey.
The school wasn't solemn or majestic. If it weren't for the difference between the large iron gate and the doors of the surrounding residential houses, one would hardly notice it.
On both sides of the iron gate hung white wooden signs, on which were written in block letters with black paint: Qing Shui Town First Hope Primary School.
Tiantian was a bit surprised. Wasn't this the school that her daddy and mommy built through charity? Why did they spend the money, and the school turned out like this?
There were no security guards at the entrance, and the large iron gate was open. Chen Dongyang drove his car straight in.
Hearing the car, the principal, holding a bowl, came out to greet them.
Upon seeing Chen Dongyang, he immediately beamed, "Xiao Chen, you're here."
Chen Dongyang greeted the principal familiarly, then turned to look at Tiantian.
She was dressed even more conservatively than yesterday, in a white T-shirt, loose jeans, and sneakers, with a simple ponytail.
She looked exactly like a university student who had just graduated.
The principal immediately recognized her as a volunteer teacher. So beautiful, so young. He put the bowl down on the ground, wiped his hands on his clothes, and happily reached out towards Tiantian.
"Is this the new teacher? I am the principal of this school, my surname is Zhang. Welcome, welcome."
Principal Zhang was around fifty years old, dressed very simply: a polo shirt, cheap suit pants, and grayish sandals. He looked very kind and honest.
He was quite different from the shrewd businessmen she had met yesterday. Tiantian had a good first impression of him.
After a polite handshake and exchanging names, the principal asked if they had eaten and led them towards the cafeteria.
Tiantian said she had already eaten.
"But you still need to see it, to see what the cafeteria looks like."
Chen Dongyang pushed Tiantian towards the cafeteria. Before they even reached the entrance, they could hear the noisy, childish voices from inside.
The students were eating breakfast here? Tiantian was a little surprised.
While she was still surprised, they had already arrived at the cafeteria entrance.
It was a spacious, large room filled with abandoned, peeling wooden desks. Boys and girls of all sizes, holding bowls of various shapes, were hunched over the tables, chatting and eating.
The scene was very lively and full of youthful energy.
As Tiantian watched, the principal walked a few steps inside and called out to a few adults sitting among the students.
"Teacher Li, Teacher Wang, Teacher Tang, please come here for a moment."
Those called were the three existing female teachers in the school, all dressed similarly to Tiantian.
Plain T-shirts, jeans, and sandals, with simple ponytails.
Two of them were very young, while the other looked like she was in her thirties or forties.
The three approached, and the principal introduced them.
"These are the current teachers in our school. This is our new Teacher Jiang. You'll be colleagues from now on, so get acquainted and look out for each other."
The two young female teachers were also here to volunteer, but their motivations differed from Tiantian's; they were aiming for better job prospects after graduation.
The older teacher was a local and had been teaching for many years.
Originally, everyone's conditions were similar. Upon suddenly seeing Tiantian, who was as beautiful as a celestial being, with such a young and handsome man accompanying her, their feelings became complicated.
After another round of self-introductions, Tiantian told them that they would all be colleagues from now on and asked for their guidance.
Two of the teachers nodded. However, the young Teacher Tang noticed Chen Dongyang.
"What about him? Is he not here to be a teacher?"
"Oh, he's not. He is..."
The principal then remembered to ask Chen Dongyang.
"You and Teacher Jiang are...?"
Chen Dongyang wasn't sure if Tiantian still acknowledged him and, fearing he might displease her, dared not speak carelessly. He looked at Tiantian.
Tiantian thought for a moment and said, "He'll be leaving in a couple of days."
So that's how it was. Teacher Tang finally showed a kind smile.
As they were introducing themselves, they didn't notice that the originally noisy sounds had gradually quieted down.
There weren't many outsiders in the small town to begin with. The arrival of these two outstanding individuals made the children very curious.
As if seeing movie stars, they stared at Tiantian and Chen Dongyang with curiosity.
Before they had seen enough, Chen Dongyang called Tiantian to leave.
"I'll take your luggage to the dormitory. You can stay here today."
Tiantian said goodbye to everyone and went to settle her luggage first. The principal walked out with them.
"I see, Teacher Jiang. Because our school is really short of teachers, and since you're already here and there's nothing else to do, you can start teaching right after you unpack your luggage."
"It's not easy to teach the first and second grades. Teacher Wang has more experience, so we'll assign them to her. Teacher Tang and Teacher Zhang will teach the third, fourth, and fifth grades, as they are familiar with them, so we won't change. You'll directly teach the sixth grade."
With Tiantian's academic qualifications, teaching a mere sixth grade wouldn't be a problem.
However, it was her first time teaching, and she hadn't had time to prepare her lessons. She didn't even know what chapter they were up to, and she was supposed to start now?