Chapter 134: The Volunteer Teacher

Ming Han told Su Yan about his decision to volunteer as a teacher. Su Yan expressed her immense support.

"I never imagined my lazy son would do something so soul-stirring." Su Yan’s eyes were slightly moist.

Ming Han knew that Su Yan must have been watching too many tragic documentaries about children in mountain regions lately...

Their destination was an extremely remote mountain area, almost entirely isolated from the outside world. The only way to reach it was to charter a van. The mountain roads were rugged, narrow enough to accommodate only one vehicle at a time.

Ming Han packed two sets of clothes, some daily necessities, and a basketball before setting off.

Upon arriving at the agreed-upon location, he found Su Lei accompanied by two students he didn't recognize—a senior boy and a senior girl. The senior girl wasn't exactly a beauty, but she had a very delicate and refined appearance.

She looked at Ming Han with some surprise. "Su Lei, did you trick our school's little celebrity into coming to the countryside?"

It turned out that the two seniors were classmates of Su Lei’s cohort.

Ming Han felt a bit bashful. "You're teasing me, Senior. Helping others is the glorious quality of us Young Pioneers."

The senior girl was stunned. "Young Pioneers?"

"Yes! It seems our junior is truly an excellent successor to socialism!" The senior girl was visibly moved.

The four of them traveled in a single car, driven by Su Lei’s father, a professor, who personally took them to the mountain region. Su Lei’s father was a renowned university professor with numerous achievements, a recipient of the State Council special allowance. He had long been involved in aid activities for that mountain region, donating hundreds of thousands in money and clothing over the years. This volunteer teaching program had been his idea; he always believed that cultivating his daughter’s character was of the utmost importance.

When he saw Ming Han, his eyes were full of approval. "Young people of your age are rarely willing to do this kind of work without pay or tangible benefits. You are truly remarkable!"

Hearing Professor Su’s praise, Ming Han felt a bit shy.

The senior girl beside him teased, "He’s an outstanding Young Pioneer who still wears his red scarf!"

Professor Su laughed heartily.

After driving for five full hours, Ming Han and the others finally reached the village.

This place seemed completely cut off from the outside world; as far as the eye could see, there were only dilapidated thatched cottages. The most luxurious building in the entire village was the school, which had been built with government funding a few years prior as the first concrete structure.

Seeing Professor Su arrive, the village head came to the entrance of the village to welcome them.

"Hello, Professor!"

Professor Su warmly asked after the village head’s health and then inquired about the children's studies.

The village head shook his head helplessly. "It’s very bad. For the past two years, no teachers have been willing to come here to teach; the conditions are just too harsh. I’ve been teaching the children math and Chinese myself. You know, a senile old man like me can barely manage teaching them addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. But teaching them Chinese is truly torture. To this day, I don't understand the point of those ancient poems. They are so convoluted."

The village head’s self-deprecating remark made Professor Su sigh deeply.

To describe this place as a "backwater" would not be an exaggeration. The most valuable thing in the village was likely the shared old ox.

Professor Su comforted him, "Let’s use this summer vacation to have these students make up for the lessons the children have missed!"

The village head bowed to thank everyone. "I only hope that our next generation can walk out of these mountains and see the wider world. If they stay here, their lives will just be more of the same."

The village head had lived for over sixty years in this tiny place. He had seen too much birth, aging, sickness, and death, and too many absurd things caused by poverty and ignorance.

The volunteering trip was scheduled for a month, so the village head arranged for the four of them to stay in the school dormitory. It was already the best living environment in the entire village.

"I’m afraid you will have to endure some hardship during this time," the village head said, looking a bit guilty.

Su Lei didn't mind at all and waved her hand. "It's fine, we love this kind of life close to nature."

The senior girl next to her nodded repeatedly. "Air without smog or car exhaust is exactly what I’ve been longing for! It can purify my soul."

The village head was taken aback, wondering what this girl was talking about—mentioning something like a soul. He shook his head and left.

The four of them tidied up their beds and lay down, feeling lazy.

"I’m going to be a teacher. I’m so excited!" The senior girl was already lost in a pleasant dream. "I will definitely build a deep bond with those little brats, haha!"

Honestly, Ming Han was also looking forward to the volunteer life. The innocent smiles of mountain children from television programs filled his mind. Under the sunshine, how harmonious it would be to play "Eagle Catches the Chick" with those children!

But generally speaking, there is a huge gap between reality and ideals.

The next day, the village head solemnly gathered all the children in the village at the school.

"Students, a group of excellent teachers has come to our school to tutor you. I hope you will all cherish this hard-won learning opportunity."

As the village head finished speaking, the four volunteer teachers walked out together. "Hello, children!"

However, they did not hear the thunderous applause and cheers they had imagined. The group of children just stood there, looking at them with indifference.

Oh my god! The script was not going as expected! All four volunteer teachers were a bit bewildered.

A small child with dark skin but very bright eyes stepped forward voluntarily. He said with disdain, "Village head, what is the purpose of these teachers coming this year? Is it for extra credit or to get a professional title?"

Ming Han was astonished. Hearing this from a child of only ten or so made him feel a profound sense of irony.

It seemed that many previous volunteer teachers had left a poor impression on them.

The village head was somewhat angry. "Xiao Hei, shut up."

The village head naturally understood that many people came here only to make their resumes look more impressive and would leave the moment their time was up. Those teachers had treated their stay as a perfunctory chore, just idling away the days. But the village head was powerless to change it. Conditions were so poor, and everyone had their own desires—who wouldn't want good food and comfort?

The child stopped talking but didn't look at the four teachers again.

The senior girl, who had been so excited before, felt as if she had been doused with cold water, filled with disappointment. These children were just not very cute at all!

Su Lei remained the calmest. She smiled at everyone and said, "Regardless, as students, you must come to school for lessons starting tomorrow."

"Lessons aren't fun..." a child complained.

Su Lei remained sweet. "I can play the guitar for you all!"

As she spoke, Su Lei took out the guitar she had brought and played on the spot.

It was a classic melody, "Sunshine Always Follows the Rain."

This time, Ming Han did not sing along, because the power of the melody was enough to make everyone listen with rapt attention.