Xu Yao was relaxing in the chair in front of the desk. The computer in front of him was open, but it stayed on the desktop with no page open.
He casually glanced at Zheng Hua's mobile phone screen, ignored Zheng Hua's question, and asked instead: "Why are you looking at my Moments?"
Zheng Hua felt that what he said was strange: "I didn't read it. Someone else just sent it to me."
"Besides, aren't you just posting this in Moments for others to see?"
Xu Yao couldn't deny it.
Zheng Hua said: "Did you know that someone came to ask me if you are in love?"
Xu Yao had never thought about this, and his hands paused slightly when he heard a certain word.
Zheng Hua also began to feel something was wrong, and looked at him with an inquiring look: "You're not really in love, are you?"
Zheng Hua thought about it and still thought it was impossible: "Why didn't I know?"
Xu Yao clicked his fingers twice on the computer keyboard. He did not deny the other question, but asked: "Do you know whether I am in love or not has any direct relationship?"
Zheng Hua said matter-of-factly: "If you stay with me every day, I will know immediately if you are in love, unless you are dating online."
The term "online dating" doesn't fit Xu Yao at all.
Xu Yao raised his eyelids and looked at him, and said frankly: "Not now."
Not now.
There is a lot of information contained in these four words.
Zheng Hua's reading comprehension was not bad, and he couldn't hide his surprise when he looked at Xu Yao.
"What's the meaning?"
"Do you really have any idea about this?"
"Who?"
Xu Yao didn't fully understand it himself, and he couldn't answer Zheng Hua's questions for the time being.
Although many people are paying attention to Xu Yao's circle of friends, Xu Yao doesn't care much about what others think and still doesn't stop sharing every day.
Meng Yao's life is peaceful but also full of expectations.
Halfway through the new week, this morning, Meng Yao was grading yesterday's homework in the office room. Suddenly a student ran up and told her in a panic that there was a fight in the classroom.
Meng Yao has never encountered such a situation since working at Sunshine Primary School. The students are young, but family reasons allow them to learn to be sensible early. Meng Yao didn't even react when he heard the word "fight".
She was stunned for two seconds before throwing down her pen and rushing to the classroom. Ask students about their situation while walking.
For students who have just entered the second grade, the situation is not clear.
Meng Yao only heard from the students that Zhang Ping was the one who made the first move.
When Meng Yao heard the name Zhang Ping, she immediately thought of the home visit she and Xu Yao made to his house at the end of the summer vacation. Zhang Ping's parents flashed in her mind, a couple who seemed to be a perfect match.
The classroom was noisy. It was recess time. Children in the next class heard the noise and gathered around the windows and doorways to look in curiously. When the student came to the office to call her, other teachers came first and separated the two children who were entangled in the classroom. When Meng Yao arrived in the classroom, she saw the two little boys being restrained. One of them had an unconvinced expression, and the other had tears in his eyes, but his face was full of stubbornness and refused to let the tears fall. The two just stared at each other.
Meng Yao glanced at them.
A teacher was verbally criticizing and educating them. When asked about the reason for the fight, no one would say anything.
This class was mainly in charge of Meng Yao. After Meng Yao arrived, the other teachers told Meng Yao what they learned. It was time to start class, and the teachers led the students from other classes outside the window.
This class happened to be Meng Yao's class. Meng Yao came in a hurry and didn't bring any books. She asked a student to go to the office to help her get something. She stayed in the classroom and planned to deal with the fight first.
She checked first and found that neither child was injured. Then he asked them why they were fighting.
Her tone was quite gentle, but the two fighting children still didn't want to say anything.
Meng Yao couldn't find out the reason from the person involved, so he didn't force himself and directly asked other witnesses in the classroom.
If there is a dispute in the classroom, there must be someone next to you who knows the whole story.
Everyone, you look at me and I look at you. Meng Yao was gentle, but not without momentum. After a while, a bolder girl finally glanced at the two fighting people and said, "Teacher, they are fighting because Liu Jie said Zhang Ping's mother doesn't want him anymore."
Meng Yao was stunned for a second and frowned subconsciously.
This is so hurtful. Zhang Ping clenched his fists, gasping for air, his eyes red, like a little lion about to get angry.
And because the most sensitive part was touched, his whole body shivered fragilely.
Without thinking, Meng Yao approached him and reached out to hug him.
Before his hand touched Zhang Ping, Zhang Ping took a step back.
"No." When he spoke, his voice was choked with sobs. He glared at Liu Jie and other people, making a defensive posture, as if a person was resisting everything, and said word by word, "My mother didn't want her." I."
"You lied!" The boy named Liu Jie suddenly said loudly and confidently.
"Your mother just doesn't want you anymore!"
"Liu Jie!" Meng Yao scolded.
Zhang Ping couldn't bear it anymore and rushed forward again.
Meng Yao reacted in an instant, and she grabbed Zhang Ping in time, both to stop him and to comfort him. Meng Yao looked at Liu Jie, with no expression on his face and cold eyes, and asked, "Who allowed you to say such things?"
Liu Jie was unconvinced and raised his head to defend himself. Meng Yao stared at him closely, not giving him a chance to speak, and continued: "Did the teacher teach you that you can attack your classmates with words?"
"Or do you think it's right to talk about your classmates casually? Is it interesting? Is it fun? Do you feel complacent?"
Meng Yao had never lost his temper or said harsh words in front of students, and this was the first time he showed anger with a cold face.
She has always felt that these children are not easy, and she loves them from the bottom of her heart. She also believes that as a teacher, you should show your best side to the students.
In the eyes of students, she is indeed gentle and patient. She is a teacher that everyone likes and wants to get close to.
Therefore, when she lost her gentleness and turned cold and angry, everyone was frightened.
Liu Jie blushed and did not dare to speak. Meng Yao had a rare sense of sharpness in his body and his gaze was very oppressive. He asked Liu Jie to apologize to Zhang Ping.
In the minds of some children, apologizing in this situation is tantamount to showing weakness. Liu Jie was unwilling to do so. He didn't know where the grievance came from, and his eyes were red, and he said stubbornly: "What I said is the truth."
Meng Yao became even more angry. He looked at him and asked, "Is it up to you to judge the facts? Can you use your judgment to hurt others at will?"
Meng Yao had a tough attitude: "You have to apologize if you hurt others."
Liu Jie looked at Meng Yao. He probably didn't expect that the teacher would treat him like this. He was scared and guilty. He suddenly started crying, but he couldn't open his mouth to say sorry.
The student who helped Meng Yao get the books came back. The atmosphere in the classroom was tense. He was afraid to speak. He gently placed Meng Yao's books on the podium and quickly returned to his seat.
He still had to go to class. Meng Yao did not let the situation remain deadlocked. Liu Jie was still unwilling to apologize, but as a teacher, Meng Yao had the responsibility to teach him and punished him by asking him to stand against the wall outside the classroom.
She patted Zhang Ping's back gently, probably feeling that someone was on his side. Zhang Ping felt safe in Meng Yao, and this time he did not resist her touch. His body was still trembling. Keep your head down and don't look at anyone. The classroom was quiet, he cried very quietly, and Meng Yao heard him say he wanted to go home.
His mood had not yet stabilized. At this time, Meng Yao was not at all worried about letting him go home alone. Half persuading and half comforting, he finally let him sit down in his seat.
Before the official class, Meng Yao taught the children a word called "be careful in your words and deeds." She explained the meaning of the word and warned everyone seriously: Your light words may bring indelible consequences to others. s damage.
The children in the classroom have just entered the second grade. They are less than ten years old. They are young and have low perception of many things. Their values have not been shaped yet. But Meng Yao wants to tell them that being young does not mean that you can say whatever you want. Say anything and do anything.
People must be responsible for what they say and do, no matter what age they are.
After class, Meng Yao observed Zhang Ping's condition. He calmed down a lot and did not ask to go home. He just lay on the desk without energy. Meng Yao gave him space to be quiet for a while without disturbing him. She walked out of the classroom and called Liu Jie, who was standing against the wall outside the door, to talk in the office.
This matter was considered serious to Meng Yao.
Liu Jie stood outside the classroom for one class and his mood had stabilized. He was very nervous when he followed Meng Yao to the office. He probably realized his mistake but didn't have the courage to admit it.
Meng Yao didn't necessarily scold him. Although she was angry when she heard Liu Jie say hurtful words and spoke in a strong tone when she knew what happened, her purpose was to hope that Liu Jie would realize her Make mistakes and correct them.
In addition to being reasonable when she called him to the office, she also didn't want Liu Jie to have any knots in his heart because of what happened today.
Meng Yao likes to talk to students on an equal footing. When she returned to the office, she brought a stool from the side for Liu Jie to sit on. Liu Jie looked uneasy. After sitting down, Meng Yao did not speak immediately. Instead, he unscrewed the bottle cap and took a drink of water before talking to Liu Jie about the matter. She said a lot of reasons and asked Liu Jie to think from his perspective. Her tone was gentler than before, but she still insisted on asking Liu Jie to apologize.
Fortunately, Liu Jie also realized his mistake and agreed with Meng Yao's guidance.
Before leaving the office, he asked Meng Yao uneasily, what if Zhang Ping didn't forgive him?
Meng Yao thought for a while and told him: "It is Zhang Ping's right to choose to forgive or not to forgive, but apologizing is your attitude."
Liu Jie seemed to understand.
After Liu Jie returned to the classroom, Meng Yao was sitting in the office. There were still uncorrected homework on her desk. Meng Yao held a red ballpoint pen and still couldn't help but think about Zhang Ping.
What happened when Liu Jie said Zhang Ping’s mother didn’t want him anymore?
She actually thought about asking Liu Jie just now, but she didn't want to mention it in front of the students again.
During lunch, a teacher asked Meng Yao if the matter had been resolved. Meng Yao said that Liu Jie apologized between the two children.
"That's fine." The old teacher said, "Poor baby."
There were many students present at the time, and other teachers also heard some rumors afterwards.
Feng Xiao asked: "Is it really like what another student said?"
The old teacher said: "There is no smoke without smoke."
Meng Yao pursed his lips and said nothing.
On this day, Meng Yao would always pay more attention to Zhang Ping's condition. The child sat slumped in his seat and did not play with his classmates.
When school was over in the afternoon, Zhang Ping stayed in the classroom and refused to leave.
During the morning fight, he told Meng Yao that he wanted to go home, but when it was time to get out of school, he refused to go back.
Meng Yao leaned over to talk to him, but he also refused to communicate. I'm afraid my parents will worry if I don't see my children coming home. Meng Yao discussed with him: "How about the teacher call your father and tell him?"
Zhang Ping also shook his head.
He tugged on Meng Yao's clothes and looked up at Meng Yao. With tears in his eyes, he choked and said, "I don't want to go back... I'm scared."
Meng Yao looked at him, feeling a little sour in his heart.
She couldn't figure out why she was afraid, and thought it might be a bit cruel to Zhang Ping.
She could only keep comforting Zhang Ping and coaxing him in a low voice. When he slowly calmed down, she offered to take him home.
It took a long time for Zhang Ping to accept this plan.
On the way to send Zhang Ping home, Meng Yao kept holding Zhang Ping's hand. Zhang Ping was in a low mood. Meng Yao wanted to divert his attention, pointing to a few clusters of small blue-purple flowers on the roadside, and asked him if he could explain it to the teacher and tell him what kind of flowers they were.
Something that even the teacher didn't know caught Zhang Ping's attention.
He glanced in the direction of Meng Yao's finger, without even needing to identify it, and whispered: "Gentian flower."
"Gentian flower? So beautiful."
Meng Yao shook his hand and said, "Teacher, let me test you. Do you know what the language of flowers is?"
"Flower language?" Zhang Ping sounded confused.
"Well." Meng Yao explained, "Many flowers have their own meanings, such as dandelions, whose flower language is freedom."
Zhang Ping took the initiative and asked: "What about the gentian flower?"
He became interested, and Meng Yao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The teacher doesn't know either, but it doesn't matter, let's check."
Meng Yao took out his mobile phone from his pocket with his other hand and opened Baidu. The signal in the field was poor and the page was not displayed for a long time.
Zhang Ping was too tall to see the content on his phone, but Meng Yao looked at ease and said, "I found it, teacher, let's take a look. The flower language of gentian is bravery."
"brave?"
"Well, be brave." Meng Yao turned off his phone and said, "The teacher wants to pick a flower that represents bravery and give it to you."
After she finished speaking, she really picked a small gentian flower on the roadside and gave it to Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping received the teacher's gift and held it cherished in his hands with a faint smile on his face.
It's a pity that this smile didn't last long and disappeared when we arrived at the door of the house.
Zhang Ping's mother happened to be sitting on a low stool at the door, choosing vegetables. When she saw Zhang Ping and Meng Yao stand up, Zhang Ping looked at his mother as if she was about to cry again. Zhang Ping's mother pulled off a rag from the bamboo pole next to her and wiped her hands. She didn't notice anything strange about Zhang Ping and just asked Meng Yao, "What's the matter, teacher?"
Zhang Ping turned to look at Meng Yao, looking very nervous. Meng Yao was silent for a moment, shook his head and smiled: "Nothing to do, I'll take a walk and see Zhang Ping back by the way."
Zhang Ping's mother nodded, then her eyes fell on Zhang Ping and said to him: "Say goodbye to the teacher and go in to do your homework."
Zhang Ping said goodbye to Meng Yao obediently.
He walked into the house and looked back at Meng Yao and his mother several times.
Meng Yao knew what he was worried about, and gave him a comforting smile. Zhang Ping walked into the house and could not see his figure. Meng Yao was hesitating whether to chat with Zhang Ping's mother about today's affairs for a while, or to leave. This is a family matter after all.
Zhang Ping's mother is not an enthusiastic person. This was discovered during Meng Yao's home visit. During Meng Yao's hesitation, he heard her say: "Teacher, I will see you off."
This sentence, or to be precise, this attitude surprised Meng Yao.
Perhaps due to the impact of today's events, Meng Yao still wanted to know the situation from the side. Zhang Ping was in the house. The door was not a good place to talk, so Meng Yao did not refuse.
She and Zhang Ping's mother walked together, each with her own thoughts, walking very slowly. Zhang Ping's mother remained silent. Meng Yao wanted to break the silence and asked tentatively: "Isn't Zhang Ping's father at home?"
Zhang Ping's mother said calmly: "He was working in the mountains and came back very late."
Meng Yao noticed that Zhang Ping's mother had been wiping her hands. There was dirt left on her hands when choosing vegetables. She seemed very concerned about this. Not only that, there were traces of farm work on her hands, which were rough and hard to ignore. Meng Yao turned his head and could see more clearly that Zhang Ping's mother had good-looking features, but her skin was no longer delicate and delicate.
Meng Yao always felt that there was a sense of disharmony in her, and she could not integrate into this mountain village even after living here for many years.
Meng Yao hesitated and told her: "Zhang Ping got into a fight with his classmates at school today."
Zhang Ping's mother paused.
Meng Yao said: "The reason is..."
She felt a little embarrassed to talk about it, and Zhang Ping's mother answered: "It's because of the matter between me and his father."
"That's how it is in a small place. You can't hide anything and it spreads everywhere." Zhang Ping's mother said coldly.
Meng Yao didn't answer.
Zhang Ping's mother said again: "I'm leaving."
There was a sense of relief in her voice.
Meng Yao was startled, not sure if he understood the wrong meaning, and turned to look at her.
Zhang Ping's mother looked forward and recalled without emotion: "Zhang Ping's father and I met in a factory in Guangdong. I was eighteen years old that year and didn't go to college. I met him while working in the factory. I was young at the time. I didn't understand anything, but I fell in love with him because he was good-looking and a nice person. I wanted to marry him no matter what. I knew his family was poor, but I didn't care about that at that time. My parents didn't agree, so I was determined to go with him. , I broke off my relationship with my family, and I got married without any gift, no wedding, and not even a decent house.”
"Because I'm not old enough, I don't have a marriage certificate."
"I remember when I first came here, my legs were numb from sitting in the car, but I was also very happy. So what if it's far away? So what if I'm poor?"
"We had a very good relationship at that time, and soon we had Zhang Ping. I thought this was happiness. But slowly, the relationship changed. Because I was poor, I didn't have a few good meals, so forget it. While I was pregnant, I still had to work, wash and cook, and take care of his parents... I remember after giving birth to Zhang Ping, Zhang Ping had a high fever in the middle of the night and kept crying. I was so scared that I asked Zhang Ping's father to take him to the hospital. But he said the hospital was too far away, so in the end he only found a village doctor."
"That day I suddenly felt that this place was actually very scary. It was difficult for outside information to get in, and it was difficult for people inside to get out."
"I kept working every day, and I almost forgot what I was like before I came here. I started to miss my parents. When I think of them, I blame them, myself, and Zhangping's father. Then I understood , like this kind of thing, it comes and goes quickly. Without feelings, I suddenly don’t know what I want from him."
"Teacher Meng." She remembered Meng Yao's last name because she was deeply impressed by this new teacher.
She is beautiful, elegant and educated, and is equally out of place in this mountain village.
Meng Yao was stuck in the story, heard her calling him, and looked at her.
"Why are you here?" Zhang Ping's mother advised her in a kind-hearted tone, "This is not a good place."
"I've heard about another female teacher in your school. The news started spreading in the village when she first arrived. She came after Tan Hong."
"When I heard about this, I felt that the girl looked very similar to me."
"She is as young and ignorant as I was. She doesn't know that only the stupidest people can do things when they come here because of love."
There was a deep sadness in Zhang Ping's mother's tone: "Poverty will kill love."
