Teacher Qin Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Early Bird

Due to the incident with Tang Ya, Li Yulan, who was supposed to take maternity leave later, no longer had the heart to stay at school. Although the relevant authorities later explained that Tang Ya had only suffered minor surface injuries and nothing serious had happened, Li Yulan couldn’t help but feel that her own actions had led the student to experience such a terrifying ordeal.

Li Yulan was about to become a mother, and as a pregnant woman, she was more sensitive and prone to overthinking and mood swings than before. The day the authorities came to her home to investigate was a weekend, and her husband was by her side.

A slightly older man placed the evidence gathered from the tunnel that day in front of Li Yulan and her husband. He tapped on the wooden coffee table. Teacher Li, these are photos my colleagues took at the scene. We’re here today to learn more about what happened that day. Don’t be nervous; just chat with us casually.

Li Yulan would never forget those photos: pages of punishment lines scattered on the ground, soaked by rain and crushed underfoot.

You should all know by now that Teacher Li won’t be able to continue your lessons due to her pregnancy. A woman leaned over to take a piece of white chalk from the box on the podium, turned around, and wrote two elegant characters on the blackboard—Qin Qing.

The students below fixed their eyes on the two characters Qin Qing had written and shouted in unison, drawing out the last syllable, We know—

My name is Qin Qing. In school, I am the teacher and you are the students. You can call me Teacher Qin. Qin Qing turned around and continued with a smile, In private, we can also be friends. Of course, besides academic matters, if you have any problems or just want to chat, you can come find me. My office is in the same spot where Teacher Li used to be.

Seeing that Qin Qing wasn’t like the other fierce teachers and spoke gently and kindly, a mischievous student spoke up, Teacher Qin, did you just graduate?

Qin Qing gave an affirmative hum. That’s right. So, if you have older brothers or sisters at home, they should be around the same age as me.

Oh— Another long, drawn-out sound followed, sounding somewhat amusing. Qin Qing shifted her posture, leaning against the side of the podium to make herself appear more approachable. Questions were thrown at her one after another. Qin Qing had only recently graduated from university and was twenty-three years old. During her internship, she had spent time in classrooms and taught a few lessons, but she had mostly spent her time observing. Since it was just an internship, she had left after a few months. In the future, they would be worlds apart; who would even remember whom?

Therefore, Qin Qing hadn’t put much effort into interacting with students back then. This time was different. This was her first job after graduation, and she had chosen to return to Linqi County, her hometown.

Teacher Qin, do you have a boyfriend? The voices below gradually grew rowdy. Someone blurted out the question, and in an instant, the entire classroom became excited.

Qin Qing stood up straight from the side of the podium, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had underestimated these kids. She picked up the class roster from the podium and shook it, quieting the commotion in the room. Alright, alright. We’ve been chatting for so long, and you’ve been the only ones asking questions. I don’t even know your names yet. Qin Qing walked to the center of the podium. Let me get to know you first. How about this: when I call your name, just raise your hand to let me know. You don’t need to stand up.

The roster was arranged according to the overall results of the last monthly exam. Gu Yuwei’s grades weren’t among the top in the class; at most, they were slightly above average. By the time she reached Gu Yuwei’s name, she had already called nearly half the class.

Gu Yuwei. Qin Qing raised her eyes and scanned from the left side of the class to the right, her gaze landing on the person who had raised her hand. Snickers immediately broke out in the classroom. After all, none of them had forgotten the early bird Qin Qing had caught when she first entered the room.

Gu Yuwei pursed her lips and met Qin Qing’s gaze.

Qin Qing had been a student herself once; how could she not see through the spectator mentality of these kids? Student Gu Yuwei, Qin Qing called again, pausing for a moment. Gu Yuwei didn’t understand what Qin Qing meant, but she had no choice but to slowly stand up from her seat under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Sit down! Qin Qing found it a bit funny. She had only called the name again because she had a deeper impression of this student, and she hadn’t expected her to actually stand up. Gu Yuwei froze for a moment and sat back down awkwardly. Then, Qin Qing’s voice came from the podium again. It’s a very nice name. Student Gu Yuwei, come find me after class to get your eraser.

Qin Qing felt that since the girl had already stood up, it wouldn’t be right not to say something, so she mentioned it casually. She didn’t expect that as soon as she spoke, the laughter in the class would grow even louder.

Li Mei, who sat next to Gu Yuwei, whispered sympathetically, Yuwei, you’re in for it now! You ran right into the line of fire just as Teacher Qin arrived. Good luck, brave warrior! Li Mei made a cupped-fist salute toward Gu Yuwei.

Gu Yuwei curled her lips bitterly. Yeah, this is going to be fun. Remember to burn some spirit money for me.

Hehe, just kidding. I think Teacher Qin seems quite nice. She’s pretty and gentle, not like those fierce teachers. You’ll definitely be fine. Stay calm, stay calm. Li Mei burst into a giggle and reached out to pat Gu Yuwei’s shoulder.

Gu Yuwei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Well, I’ll take your word for it then. Li Mei laughed again.

Qin Qing didn’t teach a formal lesson during this period. It was her first time meeting the students, so it was meant for getting to know each other. The bell for the end of class suddenly rang amidst the laughter. Qin Qing stopped talking, bid the students farewell, and then picked up the eraser from the podium before walking toward the back of the classroom.

As she passed Gu Yuwei, Qin Qing deliberately paused. Gu Yuwei had already stood up, having a premonition that Qin Qing would come over. Qin Qing didn’t say anything and stepped out through the back door of the classroom. Gu Yuwei followed behind her, leaving the classroom under the gaze of the entire class.

The office for the Grade 8 English Department was not on the same floor as Gu Yuwei’s classroom; it was one floor up. The two of them went upstairs one after the other. As they entered the office, a chorus of greetings came from the teachers. How was it, Teacher Qin? Can you still handle those little rascals? The speaker was a male teacher who looked to be in his fifties, nearing retirement age.

Gu Yuwei had heard of him. He was the English teacher for Class 6 and Class 7, and his usual style was like that of an old kid. His classes were quite casual, so he was very popular among the Grade 8 students.

Qin Qing walked to her seat with a smile. Teacher Wang, you’re joking.

The two of them exchanged a few more pleasantries. After a few sentences, the old kid noticed Gu Yuwei behind Qin Qing. Realizing she had business to attend to, he stopped talking. Qin Qing finally sat down, placed the eraser on the desk, and looked up at Gu Yuwei with a smile. Student Gu Yuwei, right? I didn’t get the name wrong, did I? Qin Qing crossed her legs and leaned back in her swivel chair.

No. Gu Yuwei kept her head down, her gaze falling on Qin Qing’s high heels.

So, do you have an answer now? You haven’t answered that question yet. Qin Qing stared at Gu Yuwei with amusement. Gu Yuwei didn’t react for a moment. She looked up at Qin Qing and then shook her head. I know I was wrong, Teacher Qin.

Oh? What did you do wrong? Qin Qing continued to ask.

I… I… Gu Yuwei was momentarily speechless. I shouldn’t have been playing with my eraser instead of preparing for class after the bell rang.

Qin Qing nodded. She picked up the roster from the side of the desk and found the row for Gu Yuwei. I took a look at your previous English grades. Do you have anything to say? This was what Li Yulan had handed over to Qin Qing before she left. She now had the exam results for everyone in Class 1 from the time they entered Grade 7 until now.

Gu Yuwei lowered her head and remained silent. Qin Qing put down the roster, turned to look at Gu Yuwei, and slowly began to frown. Aren’t you hot? As Qin Qing spoke, she reached out to grab Gu Yuwei’s arm.

It was already June, yet Gu Yuwei was still wearing her autumn school uniform, her long sleeves never rolled up.

Gu Yuwei took a step back, avoiding Qin Qing’s hand. I’m not hot, Teacher Qin. Qin Qing’s hand met empty air, so she simply withdrew it, her curiosity about Gu Yuwei growing stronger. Class is about to start. How about this: you go back first. I’ll confiscate the eraser for now and keep this matter on record. If your grades improve by the next monthly exam, I’ll give it back to you. How does that sound?

Qin Qing smiled as she picked up the eraser and shook it at Gu Yuwei. The eraser was very ordinary, one might even say of poor quality.

Gu Yuwei glanced at the half-piece of eraser in Qin Qing’s hand and withdrew her gaze. Then, Teacher Qin, I’ll go back and prepare for class now. Qin Qing nodded and let Gu Yuwei leave. After Gu Yuwei left, Cao Xue, who sat at the desk opposite Qin Qing, leaned over and whispered, Xiao Qin, you can’t be like this with students. You have to be strict when it’s time to be strict. In a case like this, she should have been punished so she wouldn’t dare mess around before class again.

Qin Qing opened the drawer on the right side of her desk, put the eraser inside, and smiled. Teacher Cao is right. I’ll be sure to do that next time.

Cao Xue could hear the perfunctoriness in Qin Qing’s voice and rolled her eyes dismissively. Just as she was about to sit back, she heard Qin Qing ask, Teacher Cao, do you know about this child’s situation?

Who? Gu Yuwei? Cao Xue leaned over again. Seeing Qin Qing nod, she continued as if trying to remember something. Sigh, Xiao Qin, you’d better keep your distance from her. I heard her family situation isn’t very good. It’s a single-parent family, though I don’t know the specifics. Didn’t you see? She’s still wearing an autumn uniform in the middle of summer. It’s not that she doesn’t mind the heat; it’s that she doesn’t have a summer one at all. She only has two sets of autumn uniforms for the whole year. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Cao Xue clicked her tongue, then realized it wasn’t good to speak like that as a teacher and changed the subject. That’s just what I’ve heard, anyway. But the child is quite clean; her uniform has almost been washed white. Cao Xue shook her head with a smile and sat back.

Qin Qing said nothing, only staring blankly at the class roster.