"Miss, the courtyard where the Tong Sheng students live, the Tong Sheng students share a room, and a courtyard generally has more than ten rooms. This courtyard will be where you will live from now on."
The servant explained as they walked.
"Your room is Huang Zi Number 10, here is the room key, please take it."
Nian Jiaojiao took the key from the servant and found a plaque hanging on the door indicating that one person had already moved in.
It seemed her roommate had already settled in. With this thought, just as she was about to push the door open, it was opened from the inside.
The person who opened the door looked at Nian Jiaojiao's face and became somewhat excited:
"Jiaojiao!"
Nian Jiaojiao also showed a smile.
She never expected her roommate to be Tong Fu.
It was easier with an acquaintance. She had been a little worried about her roommate's personality, but now that concern was gone.
However, Tong Fu and I are really...
Fated...
Nian Jiaojiao sighed inwardly.
"Jiaojiao, so my roommate is you!"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
Seeing that she was still carrying her luggage, Tong Fu quickly asked her to put her belongings in the room and urged, "Quick, quick, quick, I woke up late and didn't have time to eat. You've reported today, so you have to formally start classes. Let me tell you, at Chenxiang Academy, never be late, especially for our class!"
Nian Jiaojiao was a little curious upon hearing this, but before she could ask for the reason, Tong Fu had already grabbed her and they were running out.
"Wait, wait, wait, I haven't changed into my academy uniform yet."
Nian Jiaojiao said, panting.
Tong Fu stopped, tilted her head, and after thinking for a moment, said, "The heavens and the earth are great, but being late is even greater. It's your first day of class, just explain it to the instructress."
After saying that, she pulled Nian Jiaojiao along and ran again.
Nian Jiaojiao looked at the back of Tong Fu's head and the fluttering ribbons, feeling a bit curious.
What kind of instructress could have trained a "slacker" like Tong Fu into a "model student" who was enthusiastic about attending classes?
As they passed other classrooms, some classes were scheduled to start earlier, and the voices of the instructresses could already be heard.
"Things have roots and branches, affairs have beginnings and ends. Knowing what comes first and what follows is close to the Dao."
The instructress's voice was deep and carried an ancient rhythm, as if taking Nian Jiaojiao back to ancient times in her previous life.
Then she heard the instructress ask, "Jinhua, you explain the meaning of this sentence."
The student who was called upon said, "Many things in the world have their roots and branches, and affairs have beginnings and ends. When we deal with such issues, we must know the order, and then we will not be far from the Dao."
"Yes, very good, you may sit."
Then came the instructress's continued comments and detailed explanations.
After passing through several courtyards and running down more than ten corridors, Nian Jiaojiao and Tong Fu finally reached their destination.
Nian Jiaojiao was panting.
This Chenxiang Academy was too big!
Moreover, the students' dormitories were far from the classrooms. Even at the speed they ran non-stop, it took them a quarter of an hour.
No wonder Tong Fu was in such a hurry.
At this time, it was not yet time for class in Huang Zi Class Seven, and the entire classroom was a bit noisy.
"Chen Ping, have you finished your homework?"
"I've finished it, but..."
"Ahhh, I'm finished, I haven't moved a single word."
...
As soon as Nian Jiaojiao entered the classroom, a rather sturdy, plump girl walked up to her and looked her up and down. "Are you new?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded and replied, "Greetings, senior sister."
Some of the students in the Tong Sheng class might have been "senior sisters" who had been in the academy for several years.
The plump girl was not satisfied with Nian Jiaojiao's proper and straightforward answer. "Hmph, another pedant, how boring."
Saying that, she actually trotted away.
Nian Jiaojiao was momentarily speechless.
Never mind, why should she, a twenty-something adult, argue with a child who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen?
Nian Jiaojiao looked around the classroom environment.
Well, it was quite serene.
There were about thirty-odd desks and chairs, with stationery laid out on them. There were four empty seats in the classroom, and Nian Jiaojiao casually chose an empty one to sit down.
Just as she was tidying up the somewhat messy items on the desk, Nian Jiaojiao heard someone exclaim, "Quick! The instructress is here!"
The students in the classroom instantly returned to their seats like startled birds, took out their books, and began to recite.
Nian Jiaojiao found this scene somewhat amusing.
A series of footsteps approached, and a woman with graying temples, about 60 years old, walked to the doorway and first issued a stern reprimand:
"Liu Zhuangshi! Didn't I tell you not to be noisy in the classroom? I can hear your voice from afar! You truly never learn!"
Liu Zhuangshi, the little chubby girl who had mocked Nian Jiaojiao as a "pedant" earlier, now contorted her face into a grimace and drooped her head.
At this moment, the instructress walked in. She looked at the students diligently reciting in the classroom and nodded with satisfaction.
After the instructress entered the room, she said, "Quiet!"
The reciting voices in the classroom stopped abruptly as if they had been trained.
Everyone looked towards the instructress in unison.
The instructress gestured towards the doorway and said, "Come in."
Immediately, three figures that Nian Jiaojiao found familiar walked in from the doorway.
The instructress introduced them to everyone:
"These three are Tong Sheng students who came from Shanshui Private School. They will be your classmates from now on."
After speaking, the instructress then said to the three new students, "Please introduce yourselves."
The three new students, dressed in casual clothes, stood tall and straight and began to introduce themselves:
"My name is Chen Jie, please give me your guidance."
"My name is Zhang Jing, 19 years old. I qualified as a Tong Sheng last year. Please give me your guidance."
"Qi Qinghe, please give me your guidance."
"Find an empty seat and sit down," the instructress said.
"Instructress! There's someone in our class who hasn't introduced themselves yet!"
Liu Zhuangshi suddenly spoke up to remind her.
At this moment, the instructress noticed Nian Jiaojiao, who was also wearing casual clothes and sitting in the hall. She nodded and said, "This student, please come up and introduce yourself as well."
At this time, the three people standing above also noticed Nian Jiaojiao sitting in the hall below, especially Zhang Jing, whose expression was as ugly as if he had eaten "shit."
Nian Jiaojiao slowly stood up and simply introduced herself:
"Nian Jiaojiao."
Since the current Huang Zi Class Seven, apart from Zhang Jing and the other two who were from Shanshui Town, the rest were students from other towns or the local city. Therefore, after hearing the name "Nian Jiaojiao," no one else had any particular reaction.
Of course, Zhang Jing and the other two would not say anything more.
As there were four new students, the instructress asked them before the class began, "What level of studies have you reached?"
Upon hearing the instructress's question, Nian Jiaojiao and the other three did not react immediately, but the other students in the class showed a look of delight.
If the four of them were to be tested, it would mean there would be no time to check the homework assigned before the holiday today.
Several people were prepared and handed over their interpretations of "The Great Learning."