Chapter 1: The Bond Has Been Severed

Zhu Daodong had received his transfer order to Shumu Ridge Middle School half a month ago, but during this half month, he had been living in a daze, like a walking corpse, because he had broken up with his girlfriend!

These days, he still occasionally felt a dull pain at the back of his head, but Zhu Daodong paid no attention to it. The greatest sorrow is the death of the heart. He didn't even go to the hospital for a check-up, letting himself be left to his own devices. When the pain became unbearable, he would buy a bottle of alcohol, drink it alone, and the alcohol could not only numb his spirit but also alleviate the physical pain...

Zhu Daodong was a graduate of the 1986 class from the Ancient South Province Normal University. If he had followed the allocation, he would generally have been sent back to his hometown, Furong County. However, because of his girlfriend, Tang Xiaoli, Zhu Daodong voluntarily requested to be assigned to Yuhua County, which borders Furong County. Tang Xiaoli's father was the deputy director of the Yuhua County Education Bureau. At graduation, Tang Xiaoli asked Zhu Daodong to be assigned back to Yuhua County with her, saying that with her father's connections, both of them could stay in the county town to teach.

Being able to work with his lover, Zhu Daodong was willing to accept it without any complaints, even if it was the most remote small village. However, in August, after he received a call from the personnel department of the county education bureau, he learned that only he had been assigned to the most remote Shumu Ridge Middle School in Yuhua County.

Tang Xiaoli, on the other hand, had not been assigned yet. Later, Zhu Daodong found out that she had been sent to the city for training. Being selected for training after starting work meant a promotion. Now, before she even started working, she was sent for training. Would she still work with him in the future? Even if Zhu Daodong was slow, he could still see through this.

Zhu Daodong went to find Tang Xiaoli's father, Tang Taojiang. Deputy Director Tang was completely different from the enthusiastic welcome he had given him six months ago when Tang Xiaoli brought him home. He had a business-like attitude, saying that the principal of Shumu Ridge Middle School, Liu Tao, valued talent, and the school had developed well in recent years. Principal Liu had specifically requested him. He then looked ashamed, saying that he was just a deputy, with little influence, and the new county magistrate had personally overseen the allocation of graduates, leaving him helpless. He advised Zhu Daodong to work hard and achieve results, and then look for opportunities to transfer back to the county town.

Zhu Daodong was speechless at the time. The deputy director, who had put aside his dignity to explain to him, made him, a peasant's son with no relatives or friends in Yuhua County, feel helpless. What could he do now that everything was settled?

Zhu Daodong didn't really care where he worked; he just wanted to be with Tang Xiaoli. Whether it was Shumu Ridge Middle School or Huashan Ridge Middle School, he would be very willing. It seemed that Director Tang had also seen through Zhu Daodong's thoughts. He took out a letter from his drawer, saying it was from Xiaoli.

After receiving the letter, Zhu Daodong couldn't bear to stay and talk with Tang Taojiang any longer. The hypocrisy on Deputy Director Tang's face made him very uncomfortable. He quickly left his office and opened the letter. The handwriting was very familiar, but it contained only a few short lines: "Daodong, I'm sorry, let's break up! Xiaoli."

These few lines felt like a thousand pounds, hitting Zhu Daodong's heart heavily. His face suddenly turned pale, and he felt dizzy and disoriented, his mind blank. He fell backward straight, and behind him were the concrete steps of the county education bureau's office building. Zhu Daodong's back of the head hit the steps hard, and he immediately fainted.

When he woke up, he found himself back in Tang Taojiang's office. When he fainted, Tang Taojiang heard the commotion outside and initially didn't want to help. However, since Zhu Daodong was a stranger in Yuhua County with no relatives or friends, and his only girlfriend had just broken up with him, and he had just left his office, if anything happened, it would be troublesome for Deputy Director Tang. Therefore, he had someone carry Zhu Daodong to the sofa in his office.

"Are you feeling better? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Tang Taojiang asked with a "concerned" look.

It was more accurate to say that Tang Taojiang was concerned about himself. As long as Zhu Daodong was fine, the matter would be over, and it would have nothing to do with him. As for going to the hospital, it would only happen if Zhu Daodong didn't wake up before he left work. Now that he saw Zhu Daodong awake, Tang Taojiang felt relieved. His question was clear: Do you want to go to the hospital? If you do, go by yourself. This also implied that if there were no problems, he should leave, as this was an office, not a hospital, and he couldn't stay here forever.

"I'm fine, thank you," Zhu Daodong replied. Although he didn't fully understand Tang Taojiang's intentions, he subconsciously felt that staying any longer would be awkward. Since his daughter had already broken up with him, why should he persist in staying?

After receiving the transfer order, Zhu Daodong returned to his hometown. The personnel department told him to report by September 1st, which was still half a month away. Zhu Daodong didn't want to stay in Yuhua County for even a moment. He almost fled back to his hometown in Furong County.

The half month passed quickly. The next day was the start of the school year, and today he had to report to Shumu Ridge Middle School. Under the worried gazes of his parents, Zhu Daodong left his hometown with a simple bag. Both of his parents were farmers, and their son's admission to a provincial university had made them proud in the village. However, now that their son had graduated and started working, they noticed his mood had suddenly become low. Was it because of work?

However, they didn't ask, only giving their son more silent care and love. They tried not to make him do any farm work and even let him drink as he pleased. His mother wanted to say a few words, but his father sternly stopped her. Their son had grown up, like a young eagle with strong wings. Let him face the hardships on his own; perhaps this would be best for his future.

Zhu Daodong had long noticed his parents' worry but didn't want to talk about it. He preferred to cry in his bed rather than tell them the whole story. When he graduated, his parents had hoped he would be assigned back to Furong, close to home, so they could take care of each other. However, he had been determined to go to Yuhua County and told his parents he had found a girlfriend. They immediately changed their attitude, supporting him wholeheartedly.

At the time, Zhu Daodong had noticed his parents' hesitation. He understood their thoughts; they wanted to see their future daughter-in-law. He didn't say anything then, but he had planned to bring Tang Xiaoli back to Furong during the New Year to meet his parents. But now... everything was impossible.

It took more than an hour to reach Huangtu Ridge Township, where he took a bus to the county town and then transferred to a bus to Yuhua County. By the time he reached Yuhua County, it was already past three in the afternoon. The last bus to Shumu Ridge Township left at 4:30 PM. Zhu Daodong didn't want to waste any more time. Everything was over; would a relationship obtained through begging last? Now, he just wanted to leave the county as soon as possible, away from this place of heartbreak.

Shumu Ridge Middle School was the best middle school in Shumu Ridge Township, with over 600 students, nearly half of whom lived on campus. Although it was the best middle school in the township, Shumu Ridge Township was not the best in Yuhua County; it was one of the worst. Therefore, even though Shumu Ridge Middle School was the best in the township, its teaching conditions were only average.

Looking at the school gateless Shumu Ridge Middle School, Zhu Daodong suddenly remembered Tang Taojiang's words: "Shumu Ridge Middle School has developed well in recent years." Is this what development looks like? Zhu Daodong sneered, paused for a moment, and then entered the school. This would be his home and workplace for the next few years, perhaps even the next few decades. But at this moment, Zhu Daodong had no intention of looking around the school. His heart was numb, and even if he spent the rest of his life here, it wouldn't stir any emotions in him.