Chapter 2

After studying for a while longer, Zhang Xuan found that all the books in the library were like flowers seen through mist and the moon viewed from the water; he couldn’t get a hold of them. He lost interest and his spirit withdrew from the sea of consciousness.

"It’s time for lunch. I’ll try to trick a couple more in the afternoon!"

Looking out the window, the sun was already at its zenith. In the morning, a total of eighteen students had come, but he only accepted one as a disciple. The probability was really low. The afternoon couldn’t continue like this. No matter what, he was a穿越者 (穿越者 means someone who has traveled through time or space, often used in the context of a person from the modern world who finds themselves in a historical or fantasy setting). If he couldn’t even trick an ancient person, how could he have the face to say he lived in an era of advanced information?

Stretching lazily, he walked out of his lecture hall and slowly entered the college cafeteria.

Like the universities of his previous life, the Hongtian Academy’s cafeteria was very spacious, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of students for meals at the same time. Feeling great after recruiting a student, Zhang Xuan ordered a few more dishes and found a corner to feast.

"Isn’t that Teacher Zhang?"

Just as he was enjoying his meal, a voice sounded. Looking up, he saw a young man smiling at him, but it was a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Teacher Cao?" Zhang Xuan recognized him.

Teacher Cao, named Cao Xiong, had entered the academy with him and always liked to compare himself, then take the opportunity to belittle him.

His predecessor couldn’t bear the various taunts and died drunk, and Cao Xiong must have had a hand in the pressure he endured.

"Today is the day for new students to report and choose their teachers. How did it go? You still have the mood to eat here, so it must be going well! Look, these are the new students I’ve recruited, twelve in total. I’m taking them for a meal and then arranging their accommodation!"

Teacher Cao’s face was full of superiority as he pointed behind him, openly boasting.

Indeed, he had come to show off.

There was no particular enmity between him and Zhang Xuan. Since they had entered the school at the same time, it was natural for them to be compared. As the latter was a failed example, he naturally wanted to show off his superiority.

Sure enough, a group of young people followed behind him, all energetic and curious about the new environment.

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Teacher Zhang Xuan, a celebrity of our academy. Oh, he’s the only one in the history of the academy to score zero in the teacher evaluation! He’s made history!"

Teacher Cao introduced him to the group.

"Scored zero in the teacher evaluation?"

"Ah, I heard about it when I came. His students went into a mental frenzy and almost became crippled!"

"I also heard about it. Many people told me before I came not to choose him as a teacher, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to practice and it would be like committing suicide!"

"I didn’t expect it to be him. He looks quite kind!"

...

Upon hearing Cao Xiong’s introduction, the students began to discuss.

The teacher evaluation was a comprehensive assessment of various factors, with multiple items combined for a unified score. Among them, student evaluations also counted. As long as a teacher had students, there would be a score. To get a zero directly was a historical breakthrough.

"Finished with the introduction?"

Faced with the students’ discussions, Zhang Xuan didn’t feel angry.

The one who scored zero was the previous Zhang Xuan, not him.

However, although he wasn’t angry, he was still very annoyed by Cao Xiong’s behavior of belittling others to elevate himself. He waved his hand casually, "If you’re done with the introduction, you can scram. Don’t waste my time eating!"

He didn’t expect that after revealing his history, this guy didn’t show any sign of embarrassment and even told him to scram. Cao Xiong’s face turned unpleasant, and he waved his hand, revealing the dignity of a teacher, "Scoring zero in the teacher evaluation and breaking the academy’s record, don’t you have any sense of shame?"

"Shame? Why should I feel ashamed? As you said, I broke history and became a celebrity. The new students all know who I am, but what about you?" Zhang Xuan pointed at the many students behind Cao Xiong, "What did you score in the teacher evaluation? Do they know? Did they know who you were before coming to the academy? If you hadn’t tried so hard to recruit them, even inviting them to meals, do you think they would have chosen you as their teacher? As a teacher, you have no reputation at all, and you’re showing off to me? What are you showing off?"

"Uh?"

If someone scored zero in the teacher evaluation, they would definitely hide their head, afraid of losing face. This guy, however, was proud and self-satisfied. Those who didn’t score zero were the ones being looked down upon.

Cao Xiong was almost driven mad.

This guy’s heart was too big! The key was... with such a score, where did he get the capital to be proud?

The students standing behind him also looked at each other, completely stunned.

Where was his sense of shame?

This teacher... was too shameless!

For Zhang Xuan, what was shame or face? What a joke. In the era he lived in, some stars did anything to rise to fame, no matter how embarrassing or exaggerated. They didn’t feel ashamed about nude photos, gossip, or various scandals. He had only scored zero in the teacher evaluation, which was nothing.

Cao Xiong’s face turned red with anger, "A teacher should focus on teaching. I won’t argue with you today. When you recruit students, we can compete to see who is better at teaching!"

With that, he turned to leave.

Just then, a conversation between a man and a woman sounded from behind.

"That teacher is really good, and his personality is nice..."

A呆萌 (dāi méng, meaning "cute and innocent") female voice sounded, full of hesitation.

"My second miss, just listen to me. The young master instructed me to have you choose Teacher Lu Xun as your teacher, but you didn’t listen and even deliberately sent me away. Fine, but why choose him..."

Then an old man’s voice sounded, full of helplessness.

"That teacher... isn’t as bad as you say. He... is a good person. He even gave me guidance, saying that... if I practice well, I can become the top student in the grade..." The female voice still carried hesitation.

"Top student in the grade? If you really learn from him, not going into a mental frenzy would be a good thing. Do you know who he is? The most famous waste of a teacher in the academy, who scored zero in the teacher evaluation last semester... My little ancestor, you should quickly withdraw, or the young master will definitely kill me if he finds out..."

"Brother!"

Hearing the old man mention the young master, the girl became afraid, her face twisting, unsure of what to do.

Hearing this, Cao Xiong, who was about to leave, brightened up and smiled at Zhang Xuan, who was eating, "Teacher Zhang, is this girl one of your newly recruited students? Ha, it doesn’t look good. She’s planning to withdraw!"

Teachers could choose students, and students could choose teachers.

If a student felt that a teacher wasn’t suitable, they could return the token given by the teacher.

Cao Xiong’s voice was loud, immediately drawing the attention of many people. The master and servant who were discussing also focused their gaze.

"Second miss, is this the teacher you just chose?" The old man’s gaze fell on Zhang Xuan.

"Yes!" The girl nodded.

The old man immediately stood up and walked to Zhang Xuan, "Teacher Zhang, our miss plans to withdraw from your course!"

"Lao Liu..." The girl, not expecting the old man to act so quickly, blushed and hurriedly walked forward, then turned to Zhang Xuan with a face full of apology, "Teacher, I..."

It was Wang Ying, the student Zhang Xuan had just recruited.

"Wang Ying, you know I don’t usually take students. I accepted you because we have a connection. Do you want to give up such a good opportunity? Do you know how many people want to be my students, but I don’t accept them?"

Zhang Xuan, of course, couldn’t let the hard-earned spot slip away, and put on an old and experienced demeanor.

"Damn..."

Hearing this, the people around who knew the truth all felt dizzy, almost fainting.

Brother, can you have some shame? You say you don’t usually take students, and that many people want to be your students... Clearly, it’s because you can’t get students, right?

"I, I’m not..."

Interrupted by his question, Wang Ying quickly waved her hands, but before she could finish, she was cut off.

"Yes!" Seeing the second miss’s indecisiveness, Lao Liu stepped forward, "Teacher Zhang, our second miss has decided to withdraw from your course. She finds it difficult to say it herself, so please help with the procedures!"

"Withdraw?" Zhang Xuan’s eyes flickered, "You need to think carefully. Withdrawing from a teacher will leave a bad reputation in the academy. In the future, no teacher will dare to accept you! Do you want to ruin your miss’s life because of your capriciousness? Can you bear the responsibility?"

"This..." Lao Liu was taken aback.

Students could withdraw from teachers, but doing so was an insult to the teacher. Moreover, if you could withdraw from one, you could withdraw from another. Generally, students with such a "blemish" would not be accepted by other teachers.

After all, being publicly insulted, no one would want to accept such a student. Moreover, accepting them would mean slapping another teacher in the face, and colleagues wouldn’t offend each other for the sake of a student.

Without a teacher, one’s life in the academy would be ruined.

Lao Liu, who had been aggressive just now, was at a loss for what to do after Zhang Xuan’s words.

He was just a servant, and if the second miss’s future was ruined, he would be blamed.

"Rest assured, your second miss has good talent. If I teach her well, she will definitely achieve good results..." Seeing his hesitation, Zhang Xuan began to use his persuasion skills again.

No way, a cooked duck can’t fly away!

"Hold it, who said no teacher would dare to accept her? Little girl, as long as you withdraw from this Teacher Zhang, I will immediately take you as my student!"

Before Zhang Xuan could finish speaking, Cao Xiong stepped forward, waving his hand.

He had just lost face to Zhang Xuan, and this was a chance he couldn’t let go.

"Cao Xiong, what are you doing?"

Zhang Xuan’s face darkened.

"What am I doing? A good seed shouldn’t be wasted. If she wants to withdraw from you, I will immediately accept her! She came to the academy to learn, of course, she should choose the best teacher who can guide her, not one who scored zero in the teacher evaluation!"

He chuckled, full of smugness.

"Are you openly抢学生 (抢学生 means "steal students")? Do you think I won’t report you to the administration?"

This was no longer just a matter of怄气 (怄气 means "venting anger" or "quarreling"), but openly抢学生 (抢学生 means "steal students")!

While the academy encouraged teachers to choose students freely, it did not advocate such reckless competition. If it happened, it would not only affect the relationship between teachers but also create chaos in the academy, affecting the atmosphere.

"抢学生 (抢学生 means "steal students")? You’re exaggerating. How about we have a live demonstration and fair competition, and let the student choose autonomously? Dare you accept?"

Cao Xiong said.