Chapter 015: The Seating Dilemma

The middle school classroom was much more spacious and bright than those in elementary school. The blackboard was newly installed, made of glass, and the chalk letters appeared crisp and clear upon it. Yet, within a week, the students seated at the back began to complain to their homeroom teacher, Bao Yuehong, saying it was difficult to hear what the teachers were saying from back there. Compared to elementary school, middle school courses were more demanding, and the teachers naturally taught at a quicker pace. The students in the front rows could keep up, but those in the back suffered.

There was another reason the students in the back were so vocal in their complaints: they were all from the countryside, whereas those in the front rows were from the town. This imbalance stirred a sense of injustice in the rural children’s hearts.

The only one who did not approach Bao Yuehong was Yang Tian. He simply sat quietly in the corner of the classroom. Though he, too, struggled to hear the lessons, he didn’t mind. He had already reviewed all the middle school courses; even sitting for the college entrance exam now would pose no difficulty. His quiet presence was merely a way to savor the youthful memories of his middle school days.

Bao Yuehong seemed to recognize the problem as well. She decided to hold a class meeting on Friday evening.

“Regarding the seating arrangement, I’ve thought about it a lot,” she began gently. “It’s really difficult to assign seats. I need to consider students with poor eyesight, those who are shorter, and those whose academic foundations aren’t strong. It’s a challenge for me, too. But I do have an idea, and I’d like to know if you all agree. This Sunday evening, we’ll hold a placement exam. Students with good scores can choose their own seats, while those whose grades aren’t quite there yet will need to follow my arrangement. When your grades improve, you can make requests. Is that fair?”

Bao Yuehong had just graduated from the teachers’ college. Not only was she attractive, her way of guiding students was unique. She carried a sensual and youthful charm, which made young Yang Tian steal a few glances at her now and then.

Seeing her smile, both gentle and confident, Yang Tian smiled inwardly. He remembered how Bao Yuehong had resolved the problem this way, and later this method was widely adopted by other classes. She was eventually honored as the “Outstanding Homeroom Teacher of the City.”

Even in the schoolyard, strength spoke for itself. Those with good grades could make demands to teachers, while those lagging behind had to consider their own worth before making requests—best to improve their grades first. For top students, it was a powerful incentive; for those struggling, it was a spur to growth. The method lacked some compassion, but it certainly worked.

Indeed, the complaints ceased. Everyone began preparing for Sunday evening’s placement exam, each dreaming of making a name for themselves and choosing any seat they liked. The rural children wanted to sweep away the privileges of their urban classmates, while the town kids wanted to assert their dominance. A quiet rivalry brewed: the rural students mostly discussed it in whispers, while the urban students openly showed their disdain, their eyes betraying a hint of contempt and arrogance.

“The placement exam will cover Chinese, math, and English. We don’t have an advantage in Chinese, we’re slightly stronger in math, but English is our weakness. The town students learned English in elementary school, but we don’t even recognize all twenty-six letters. How can we compete?” Early Saturday morning, Chen Ming, who slept on the top bunk, woke up early. He held his English dictionary, reciting words and peering down at Yang Tian on the lower bunk, complaining.

“Just do your best. If you don’t score well, it doesn’t matter. You can still listen to lessons from the back,” Yang Tian replied lightly, continuing his nap. The night before, when everyone in the dorm was asleep, he had quietly slipped out, practiced martial arts in the grove behind the sports field—a place he knew well, and the perfect spot for secret training.

“You’re not worried at all. Do you really want to sit in the back?” Chen Ming was surprised; all the other students were busy reviewing, but Yang Tian still lay in bed, seemingly unconcerned.

“As long as you pay attention in class, it doesn’t matter where you sit.” After a night of training, Yang Tian needed to sleep a bit longer in the morning, or he’d have no energy during the day.

“It’s not the same. Nobody wants to be a short donkey. If you don’t score well, we might not be able to sit together. Don’t blame your brother for lacking loyalty then!” Chen Ming adjusted his glasses and grinned mischievously.

Yang Tian smiled faintly. He knew Chen Ming wasn’t that kind of person. He remembered, before his rebirth, his placement exam scores were near the bottom, but Chen Ming still chose to sit with him at the back and often encouraged him to study.

“Hey, look who it is—Chen Ming, the great scholar! I heard your entrance score was second in the class. Impressive!” At that moment, a group of stylish boys walked over. The one in the lead, wearing glasses, laughed disdainfully.

He was Sun Hui, the only son of Sun Quan from the town education committee. Though he stayed in the dormitory with Yang Tian and the others, he didn’t sleep on a bunk bed. He had a single wooden cotton bed at the far end of the dorm near the window, with his own desk and wardrobe. The boys behind him were all from town and came from wealthy families.

Sun Hui left only one impression on Yang Tian: later, he often wrote love letters to Huang Juan.

“Oh, you’re the impressive one. Everyone knows you’re first in the class,” Chen Ming replied, always the good-natured one, but unable to resist saying something.

“Haha, that’s in the past. This time, it’s all about ability. Whoever comes first gets to choose their seat. We all need to work hard!” Sun Hui said pompously, his eyes full of arrogant pride, as if the placement exam was a contest between him and Chen Ming for top scholar and runner-up.

Yang Tian remembered clearly: Sun Hui did indeed take first place, not because he was truly outstanding, but because he secretly obtained the exam questions for all three subjects from the teachers. Thus, he always acted like a tyrant in class, bullying Chen Ming and harassing Huang Juan.

Previously, Yang Tian had been angry but dared not speak. But now things were different. He had returned to life, and everything here would follow his rhythm.

“It doesn’t matter who’s first. We’re all middle schoolers; as long as we learn well, that’s enough. If we’re already scrambling for fame and fortune, what’ll happen later?” Chen Ming said sincerely. As a rural boy, even when bullied by town kids, he could only swallow his anger.

“You country folk have a saying, don’t you? You can see a man’s future from his childhood; if you lack ambition as a child, you’ll never amount to much! I’m not talking about you specifically—I just think you should stand up and compete for first place with me. That way, school will be more interesting!” Sun Hui spoke arrogantly, displaying the lonely pride of a young champion.

Chen Ming was irritated but speechless, unsure how to respond. Yang Tian shook his head, thinking it was time for Sun Hui to learn the price of youthful arrogance.