Liu Jun was a bit curious: "Teacher, how is Xu Changsheng doing now?"
"There are less than a hundred days until the college entrance exam. I lent Xu Changsheng money to take out a loan for an Intelligent Brain. I was worried he might join a cult, reading the four evil books circulating on the dark web, or cultivate some evil brain techniques, but fortunately, it's just a bit of mental instability."
Si Anhe's expression was gentle, unable to bear the thought of her students falling at the last moment of their senior year.
"You brat, don't change the subject, we're talking about you now!"
Si Anhe scolded with a smile:
"I've watched the three of you grow up. You all have good potential, and your characters are decent. You all have the possibility of breaking through the third tier. You've come this far, so don't fall at the last sprint."
Saying she watched Liu Jun and the other two grow up wasn't wrong.
After Si Anhe graduated from high school, she was assigned to teach at Rehe Thirteen Middle School as their middle school head teacher.
Then she followed them as they advanced all the way.
Three years of middle school, three years of high school.
Altogether, she accompanied these students through the most important six years of their lives.
"What are your plans after graduation?"
Si Anhe said, "I have some recommendation letters from Rehe Thirteen Middle School. You can try applying to be a middle school teacher."
These words surprised Liu Jun a bit.
High school graduates here immediately work for the city.
And being a middle school teacher is one of the best jobs.
"Isn't it nice? High salary, good benefits, and you can invest in students."
Si Anhe smiled proudly and said:
"Most middle school students are twelve years old, right when their early-thirties parents have just passed away."
"They are isolated and without relatives, at their most vulnerable, and you, as their head teacher, take them from middle school to high school, building a deep bond, which is also an investment."
"Just like our teacher did for us back then?" Liu Jun asked in surprise.
"Yes."
Si Anhe smiled, showing a touch of nostalgia, "Back then the teacher was also an eighteen-year-old high school graduate. I still remember six years ago, I took care of you twelve-year-old brats,
your three parents had just passed away, Li Feng spent his days playing basketball to vent, Zou Anmeng cried terribly, while you remained silent."
Liu Jun's expression showed a flicker of emotion as he recalled the past.
Si Anhe indeed became their guardian and treated them well.
The order in this city was indeed quite well-established.
Most local students become orphans in middle school, and it was the right time for high school graduate teachers to step in.
Even if it was for investment, they would take good care of these little leeks, treating them like family.
Big leeks taking care of little leeks, old leads new, highlighting a sense of care!
"It was really tough taking care of you kids back then. I was still a kid myself."
"But it's indeed a form of investment, aside from the team that grows up from childhood, teachers are the closest candidates for building a power base after they become successful."
"As a teacher, if even one student from a class becomes a Thunder Realm master, it changes the trajectory of your life."
Si Anhe, herself, may not be able to break through the third tier, but she can invest in the potential third-tier students.
And now, she is spending money to recommend a group of students she sees potential in, to secure them middle school teaching positions.
Expanding her network because they too will teach students, doubling the chances of success.
Currently, her financial situation is good.
The loan for the second-tier Intelligent Brain was repaid long ago by her parents' generation, and her realm is at a bottleneck; breaking through the third tier requires an epiphany.
It might occur in the next moment, or it might never happen in a lifetime.
The third tier is very tough!
Tough enough to cause despair.
With some extra money in her hands and no advancement in her cultivation, she can only invest.
But students like the Study Committee Member Li Chengshan, who aren't from poor families, don't need investment. Her target investments are promising, talented students from poor backgrounds.
Six years of teaching, often visiting their homes like a parent, was enough for her to understand a person's character.
She just went to Xu Changsheng to make an investment, then visited the campus beauty, and after some thought, she came here.
Liu Jun, despite not being the best-qualified among the poor students, needed her help the most now.
Because he fell ill and took a leave at the most critical time.
Just like how she helped Xu Changsheng.
"I understand, teacher, your great kindness cannot be thanked with words."
Liu Jun didn't say much, even though Si Anhe had her own interests, the kindness was genuine.
And even she knows that this investment might be in vain, yet the students genuinely benefit from her.
Her investment would give the students a better life in the next ten years, helping them secure good jobs, and increasing their chances to break through.
This is essentially a charitable act.
To be honest, Si Anhe is probably the only benefactor the students of senior-year class three might encounter in their entire lives.
Although Liu Jun had already broken through the third tier, he accepted the teacher's goodwill.
"Don't get too cocky, it's just a recommendation, whether or not you can pass the assessment is up to you, the assessment for teaching positions is very strict."
Listening to the rain outside the window, Si Anhe shook her head and sighed:
"How many six years are there in a lifetime? My first six years were spent with you, next I will return to middle school and continue teaching for the last six years."
After speaking, the living room fell silent for a while.
"I graduated from high school at eighteen, I'm twenty-four now, and after the next six years, I'll be thirty. This is my last chance."
"Whether it's my own breakthrough, the first batch of invested students breaking through, or the second batch of invested students, the hopes are slim even with a wide net."
Si Anhe felt a heavy burden.
Not only because the first batch of children she guided is going their separate ways and entering society but also because of her uncertainty about the future.
In this city, people like them are constantly overextending their lives, seeing the future clearly yet unable to reach it.
Looking at Si Anhe's exquisitely made-up face, Liu Jun suddenly felt a bit of sorrow.
Level three, I just reached it today.
And this homeroom teacher, even countless people in Rehe City, are struggling, sinking.
My breakthrough to level three is enough for many people to curry favor, it's the kind of family background that can last for hundreds of years, attracting countless followers.
Indeed, a transmigrator without a golden finger is nothing more than a beast of burden!
"By the way, did you have any thoughts today?"
Si Anhe is very smart, genuine emotions can bring people closer and eliminate barriers, but it must not be overdone.
You must both show students the cruelty of society and give them enough confidence!
This is the teaching method she has deduced through study and research.
Liu Jun said, "I haven't read any books today."
"That's perfect, I'll take you to read, a private tutorial, for today's lesson, you must listen carefully."
Si Anhe's Intelligent Brain is a good model among the second tiers, originating from a Marquis in modern history.
Buried in a special way, the body did not decompose, excavated by modern tomb raiders during archaeological digs.
Soon the private tutorial began.
During the tutoring, Liu Jun also experienced a wave of modern history, felt the one hundred and three years of the Marquis' life, a life of wealth and grandeur, surging and majestic.
This autobiography book was rich in content.
In this dream of life, Liu Jun felt the splendor and luxury, the bold life of a commanding officer, the heroic spirit of battles.
When Liu Jun opened his eyes again, only a brief lunch break had passed.
This dramatic life was long-lasting, compared to the Phoenix Butterfly's short dozen years, it lacked a sense of reality.
Because this book is a dead book, while the Amber Swallowtail Butterfly is a living, growing Saint in the Mushroom Soup World.
"Today's lesson is over."
"Poor people have no shortcuts, we have no capital to travel thousands of miles, to be travelers of the world, to meet all kinds of people, nor do we have the qualification to experience and comprehend the Dao, to see into our wisdom."
"We are bound by school and work, trapped on the limited ground beneath our feet, the only shortcut to shattering our understanding is to read more books."
"Spending a little time reading to experience a Saint's lifetime of wisdom, isn't that a great deal?"
"Today, we are born in a better era, books are no longer mere text, they allow a livelier experience of life and death, joy and sorrow, to concentrate one's spirit and energy!"
"The teacher hopes you won't tread on the evil path, won't read the four great evil books, and will be a person with principles."
Si Anhe constantly reminded them.
...
Descending the stairs, Si Anhe raised an umbrella and walked into the rain.
"That boy Liu Jun has always been steady, indeed he hasn't been slacking off at home this time, still studying diligently, and even advanced a small level."
She displayed a slight expression of relief,
"I noticed since middle school, his spirit has been strong naturally, mature for his age, but unfortunately lacked resources."
"Like Li Chengshan, who seems to advance quickly in the early stages because he has enough resources, but he is too impetuous. Remember, it's the ten years after graduation spent earning money that are the real marathon."
"If money could guarantee breakthrough in this world, Thunder Realm masters would be as common as the hair on an ox."
In her eyes, Liu Jun is a good prospect for a student of literature.
But everything depends on his own diligence in cultivation, reading to nurture his spirit, fundamentally it is a matter of personal mindset.
For this batch of students, she can only do so much.
"Helping others, I'm also helping myself."
"In reading, just seek a clear conscience without guilt."
Gazing at the rain in the sky, she faintly sensed her thoughts becoming clearer, stepping another step closer to that threshold.
She showed a wry smile,
"Indeed, having a clear conscience costs money!"
In this world, who doesn't want to be a good person?
Who doesn't want to be an enlightened student? But having money is a prerequisite for these pursuits.
...
After bidding farewell to Si Anhe, Liu Jun's life returned to its usual tranquility.
Originally thought she was here to urge him back to school, who knew it was a good thing coming to him, arranging a good job for him.
Though it didn't mean much to him now.
Still, a young teacher truly takes their students as friends, sparing no effort in running around.
Liu Jun could vaguely guess her thoughts, as a teacher, the first batch of students always holds a "first love" sentiment.
But if it were a veteran teacher...
Hmm.
The average lifespan in Rehe City is very low, so there are no aged teachers.
Everyone dies in their youthful, passionate, striving years, without the midlife worries of being laid off at thirty like in a past life.
"I performed well in class just now, the teacher didn't urge me to go back, even implying I could always study at home."
To him, school already feels like a prison.
Having updated his vanishing talent, Liu Jun is confident that aside from the top echelon in this city, no one else can see the secrets of his body.
"Next, I can stay home and continue nurturing my Mushroom Soup."
"A few days of AFK can yield a mushroom talent, maybe in two months, I can sweep through various companies, with no rivals."
"But one person might get ganged up on, that's where the value of Mushroom Soup comes in, raising a Mushroom Soup World within, maintaining an army, not seeking to counterattack humanity, only for self-preservation!"
He's not really intent on being an antisocial demon, bringing plague and disaster to the world.
However, having his own mushroom army is unnecessary, yet indispensable!
As his thoughts returned, Liu Jun's gaze fell on the Mushroom Soup, a sudden flash of surprise appeared,
"Hey, hey, how come my [Middle Wisdom] mushroom in the Mushroom Soup is gone again?"
Instinctively, he silently looked at a certain silly butterfly.
"It's you again, the mushroom thief, have you started to smarten up?"