After Transmigrating for the Third Time, the Real Young Master Decides to Slouch - Chapter 5

Jiang Zao adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose; he still wasn’t quite used to them.

The glasses had been prepared by Rong Jingcheng. After cutting his bangs, Rong Jingcheng had scrutinized him for a long time before taking out a pair of non-prescription black-framed glasses and putting them on him, saying with a smile that this way, no one would covet Xiao Zao’s beauty.

Although Jiang Zao found his words disgusting, looking at his full face in the mirror, he realized that having nothing to shield it would indeed lead to predictable trouble, so he didn’t refuse the glasses.

Today was the first day of school. The morning study bell had just rung, and a few stray students who hadn’t entered their classrooms picked up their pace. Jiang Zao stood outside the door of Class 19, Grade 11, adjusted his glasses again, and walked in.

He stood on the podium and looked around. Since the class was formed by splitting up existing ones, the number of students was small—only twenty-four including the newly joined Jiang Tong and Lu She—and there were only two girls.

Jiang Zao raised an eyebrow. Counting himself, the number of people in the classroom didn’t even break double digits. Most were either chatting or playing on their phones.

Taking another look, the only person in the front row was Jiang Tong. In the very last row sat a clean-cut boy who looked quite good in his white shirt, resting his chin on his hand and staring at Jiang Zao’s back. When Jiang Tong turned around, his eyes met the boy’s; Jiang Tong froze, then quickly turned back with his head down, his lips pouting high.

Jiang Zao sighed inwardly. What kind of youth school drama is playing out here?

He tapped the podium twice to get everyone’s attention. Jiang Zao opened his mouth and introduced himself: “I am your new head teacher, and I will also be teaching you Chinese. My name is Jiang Zao.”

He wrote his name on the whiteboard and picked up the roster: “I’ll take attendance now. Please raise your hand when your name is called—Dai Chu.”

The girl sitting by the window reading a book raised her hand without even looking up.

“Fang Han.”

No response. Jiang Zao made a mark on the roster and continued: “Guan Junjie.”

Still no response. Jiang Zao made another mark.

He continued down the list. There were more silences than responses. Jiang Zao remained unhurried and calm until he reached the last two names: “Jiang Tong.”

Jiang Tong raised his hand high and shouted energetically: “Here!”

Jiang Zao gave him a smiling glance and read the final name: “Lu She.”

“Here.” The boy in the white shirt in the back row raised his hand.

Jiang Zao set the roster down, unscrewed the lid of his thermos, took a sip of water, and then said: “The absenteeism rate in this class is very high. I hope those present can contact the students who didn’t show up—”

A jingle of accessories sounded. A girl dressed fashionably—looking like anything but a student—stood outside the door. She froze upon seeing Jiang Zao on the podium, then broke into a flowery smile: “Could it be that you’re our new head teacher?”

“Yes.” Jiang Zao glanced at the roster. “Song Jintong?”

The girl raised her hand in a V-sign: “That’s right, I’m Song Jintong. Hello, teacher!”

The girl’s lively and cheerful voice could easily brighten one’s mood, but Jiang Zao simply spoke in a flat tone: “You’re late. Watch out next time. Come in.”

Song Jintong’s smile froze for a split second before becoming even more radiant. She walked in, looked at the seats, and said to Jiang Zao: “Teacher, where do I sit? My old seat is taken!”

She pointed a finger at Dai Chu. Dai Chu looked up at her briefly, made no move, and went back to her book.

Song Jintong looked at Jiang Zao with a smile, implying: Teacher, you have to solve this for me.

Jiang Tong watched nervously. Is the “showdown” coming this early? Can Brother handle it? Should I do something? But what could I do?

The others also put down what they were doing and watched mischievously. Although they didn’t know much about this new head teacher, his steady tone, moderate speed of speech, and conservative dress gave the impression that he was introverted and good-natured—in other words, he had no deterrent power.

So, how would he respond? Would he cry?

Jiang Zao’s response was simple: “School just started, and I haven’t arranged the seating yet. Find any seat for now, and I’ll arrange permanent seating later based on the situation.”

Song Jintong curled her lip and let out a faint “tch,” followed immediately by a sweet smile: “Okay then, let me see where would be a good place to sit…”

A boy raised his hand high and shouted, “Sister Tong, sit here with me! We’re missing a person for cards.”

Song Jintong looked disgusted: “No way. You’re a bunch of boys; you stink.”

She looked around and saw Lu She in the back row. Her eyes lit up, and she ran over with a jingle: “Oh, isn’t this the great scholar Lu? Why did you come to our class? No one is sitting here, right? Can I sit next to you?”

Lu She capped his pen, pushed his exercise book to the empty half of the desk, and said in a lukewarm tone: “No.”

“Haha, Sister Tong got rejected!” The boy who had just invited her started jeering with those around him.

Song Jintong turned back and shot him a glare: “Zhou Yuan, do you want to die?”

Zhou Yuan sat lazily with his hands behind his head, smiling fearlessly: “Sister Tong, I’m not the one who rejected you. It’s no use getting mad at me.”

“I think you just haven’t been taught a lesson by me all summer and your skin is getting itchy.” Song Jintong rushed over and started pummeling him.

The others were either doing their own thing or laughing while watching the farce.

If one word could describe what was happening in this classroom, it was “out of control.”

With the head teacher sitting right there, for the students to lose control like this was nothing short of a failure of duty. But Jiang Zao just stood on the podium, watching quietly with no intention of stopping them—he even let out a lazy yawn.

Song Jintong’s “assault” on Zhou Yuan lasted for three minutes until she couldn’t continue. Their performance was meant to intimidate the new teacher and test his boundaries, but after testing for so long, the guy was still standing there perfectly fine, unbothered, as if watching a circus performance.

Song Jintong felt that she really did look like a clown right now.

She slapped Zhou Yuan on the head: “You’re so thick-skinned, my hands hurt from hitting you.”

“You’re the one who chose to hit me,” Zhou Yuan said innocently, his eyes also glancing toward Jiang Zao. With no reaction for this long, was his temper too good or did he just not care at all?

Song Jintong gave a cold snort and sat down in an empty seat nearby.

Everyone was now seated except for Jiang Zao.

Jiang Zao spoke: “Is everyone settled? Then I’ll continue.”

“I hope you all contact the people who didn’t show up and tell them to report as soon as possible,” Jiang Zao said.

No one reacted to his words. If it weren’t for the desire to see if the new head teacher was a man or a ghost, who would want to come to the classroom so early? They hadn’t even had enough sleep.

Jiang Zao continued: “After the opening ceremony later, I will take attendance one more time. Those who don’t show up won’t need to come anymore.”

“Oh?” Song Jintong raised her hand and asked innocently, “Teacher Jiang, what does that mean?”

“It means expulsion,” Jiang Zao explained.

A wave of boos followed. Expelling people just like that? Who did he think he was? Did he think they were toddlers who scared easily?

Jiang Zao smiled, gripping the roster. “Except for the two newly transferred students, everyone in this class is burdened with disciplinary records that meet the criteria for expulsion. So, don’t doubt my words. I am serious.”

The classroom fell into a heavy silence.

“You may have self-study now,” Jiang Zao said, looking at Jiang Tong. “Jiang Tong and Lu She, come with me to collect the new books.”

“Ah—okay!” Jiang Tong stood up immediately, and Lu She rose slowly as well.

Once they were out of the classroom and saw no one around, Jiang Tong finally had the chance to say the words he had been holding back: “Brother—”

Jiang Zao corrected him: “Call me ‘Teacher’ at school.”

“Oh.” Jiang Tong obediently changed his tune. “Teacher Jiang, are you really going to expel those who don’t show up?”

“It’s a bluff.”

“Eh?” Jiang Tong’s eyes widened. He had actually believed it.

Jiang Zao gave a small laugh. “You kids look like you fear nothing, but you become honest once you’re threatened with expulsion.”

“But if…” Jiang Tong asked worriedly, “what if someone actually doesn’t show up? What will you do?”

Jiang Zao thought for a moment. “I will suggest expulsion to the school. As for whether they actually carry it out, that’s not something I can decide.”

“How can you do that!” Jiang Tong grew anxious, grabbing Jiang Zao’s arm. “Brother, have you considered the consequences? If you go back on your word this time, they’ll know you’re a paper tiger and they won’t fear you. Your situation will be even harder later!”

The boy’s urgency and concern were conveyed through the grip on Jiang Zao’s arm. He patted his brother’s hand to comfort him: “It’s fine. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

“But—”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Zao ruffled his hair.

Jiang Tong stamped his foot in frustration.

Jiang Zao turned his head to look at the tall boy following silently behind them: “Lu She, right? I’m Jiang Tong’s older brother. I heard you’ve been taking care of him; I’ll thank you on his behalf.”

Lu She shook his head and said flatly, “It’s what I should do.”

Jiang Tong’s gaze moved between the two. He opened his mouth to speak but said nothing in the end.

Jiang Zao, pretending not to notice his small movements, asked Lu She with a smile: “I heard your grades are excellent—first in the grade? Good. The average score of our class will depend on you from now on.”

Lu She nodded once, taking it as a promise.

Jiang Zao asked again: “Tell me, do you have the confidence to become the top scholar (Zhuangyuan) to bring some honor to me, your teacher?”

Lu She was silent.

“No?” Jiang Zao sounded a bit disappointed. “Seems like you’re still lacking a bit of fire.”

Jiang Tong finally reached his limit and spoke up: “Brother—Teacher Jiang, we’re only in our second year of high school. Isn’t it too early to talk about the College Entrance Exam? And as for being the top scholar, don’t put so much pressure on him, okay!”

Jiang Zao stretched, his tone flat: “It’s not early. Goals should be established early; goals set at the last minute are usually not achieved. I’m doing this for his own good.”

“What ‘for his own good’?” Jiang Tong strongly disagreed. Just as he was about to say more, another voice spoke first.

“I can do it.” Lu She’s expression was calm, but his tone was full of ambition. “I can become the top scholar.”

“Very good.” Jiang Zao gave him a pat on the back with a smile. “You have spirit. I’ll be looking out for you.”

Seeing how like-minded they seemed, Jiang Tong felt even more deflated. His brother was a top student, and Lu She was a top student; he didn’t understand the world of geniuses.

“Alright, alright.” Jiang Zao patted Jiang Tong’s shoulder. “I’ll look out for you too. Don’t be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” Jiang Tong grumbled.

“Since you’re not jealous,” Jiang Zao took both their hands and put them together, “then get along well. You should cherish a rare friendship.”

Jiang Tong froze and looked at Lu She, who was looking back at him with a deep gaze. Jiang Tong lowered his head and whispered a quiet “okay.”

Jiang Zao shook his head with a secret smile. Ah, youth is truly overflowing.