The Best Time (2)
He had not understood it back then, but when he remembered it again now, he had really deserved those beatings.
Teacher Tang laughed loudly and said, “It’s not like that. What is past is past. People’s lives are very long, and many things can happen. When I was young, I was quite a scoundrel. ”
“!!!” Jiang Xing was taken aback and confused.
What was this shocking news? Was Teacher Tang a scoundrel like him before??!!
Jiang Xing immediately widened his eyes as if waiting for a story.
Teacher Tang didn’t mind and said slowly, “I was younger than you at the time, and I was also very wayward. By chance, I ran into the Down to the Countryside Movement1—”
“What do you mean by Down to the Countryside Movement?” Jiang Xiaoman suddenly asked with a milky voice.
Jiang Xing lowered his head and saw that she had already obediently moved a small chair by herself and was resting her cheeks in her hands, waiting for a storytime.
“Don’t talk!” Jiang Xing immediately covered her mouth with his hand, and Jiang Xiaoman could only nod.
Teacher Tang continued to tell the story of a distant time.
It had been too long that he almost forgot.
During the Down to the Countryside Movement, he was only a little younger than Jiang Xing, an age where he still didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. There was nothing to do in the village. Either work or cause trouble.
Later, Teacher Tang met an older man who participated in the Down to the Countryside Movement.
The older man was a scholar, intellectual, and gentleman.
But back in those days, intellectuals didn’t have a good life, especially those who were his age. The other educated youths had fellow villagers help build them houses to live in. But intellectuals like him could only live in the cowshed.
The older man lived a hard life, but he was content and optimistic. There were many books in his cowshed, all of which he treated like treasures. Teacher Tang had too much spare time back then and liked to talk to him whenever he was free.
“…he was the teacher that enlightened me.” Teacher Tang said. “Later on, I had a change of heart for the better and got myself a teaching certificate, and became a teacher here. There is an old saying; the prodigal son who repented is worth more than gold. No matter how old you are, there is always still a chance, and the best time is now.”
Jiang Xing was stunned.
He didn’t expect that the Teacher Tang that looked so gentle and amiable, had such a history. After all, he didn’t look like a scoundrel at all.
Jiang Xing’s eye sockets were a little hot, and he felt very emotional. For a while, he was silent and did not know what to say.
Jiang Xiaoman was blinking her eyes while her small hands supported her chins, asking, “So Teacher Tang taught my mother just like Teacher’s teacher?”
The teacher’s teacher was referring to the old man living in the cowshed.
Teacher Tang laughed and said, “No, that kid Jiang Yue had a good fate. She was smart and clever, driven, and willing to work hard. Very good.”
When Jiang Yue was eavesdropping, the principal wanted to drive her away, but Teacher Tang asked to let her stay.
When the school first started, Teacher Tang was the only teacher there. Later on, it slowly developed. The principal had high respect for him and gave him a face.
They turned a blind eye and let Jiang Yue eavesdrop for a long time until finally, the Jiangs paid the tuition, and Jiang Yue was yet able to enter the classroom.
Jiang Xiaoman said. “Teacher Tang is really a good person.”
“I’m just an ordinary person.” Teacher Tang sighed. He took off his reading glasses and wiped them off, and asked, “What are Jiang Xing’s plans in the future?”
“Ah…I…” Jiang Xing also became more severe and said solemnly. “I plan to make a break for it in the city. The transportation fleet here will continue; I’ve hired someone to take care of it, so it doesn’t need me to supervise it anymore.”
When Jiang Xing said that, Jiang Xiaoman remembered her business and became very excited. “Teacher Tang, I’m going to the kindergarten in the city.”
After she said that, she suddenly felt at a loss again.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_to_the_Countryside_Movement
Want to read more chapters and support us? Please consider becoming a patron to read up to 24 chapters in advance!
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter