Experimental No.3 High School stipulated that students who lived at the school must attend nighttime self-study, and the teacher on duty would regularly supervise them on ordinary days. Today was the first day the shift class system was implemented, and the nighttime self-study was somewhat chaotic like in the afternoon.
They would originally self-study in their classes, but now everyone might have several classes to attend.
Theoretically, there might even be students who attend four different classes, and it was a new problem for where they would have their nighttime self-study.
The school had formerly wanted them to have nighttime self-study in their former classes, but several great teachers from the competition class immediately protested it. They strongly requested the students be allowed to stay in the small classes so it would be convenient for them to give practice to and tutor these top students at any time.
The Grade Department held three rounds of meetings before a plan was finally decided: The students from competition classes and advanced classes were allowed to have their nighttime self-study in their respective classes; The students from standard class would generally stay in their former administrative classes; Both sides would implement sign-in roll calls.
On the first night, almost every class teacher was on duty. They handed out a sign-in book and held a class meeting to emphasize a matter. The classrooms were brightly lit and fully packed with students.
Class 9’s Old Jian stood on the podium. “Has everyone understood what was said just now? In short, don’t think of escaping. I tell you guys that I will take the sign-in book from both sides and check it every day. I will be able to know whoever isn’t on either side with a glance.”
A bolder boy shouted from below. “Don’t worry, teacher. The dormitory doesn’t permit any student to stay in, and we don’t have anywhere to go, ah.”
Old Jian glared at him. “Less nonsense. The internet café at the back of the school, the lover’s tree in front of the Cultural and Sports Building; is there anywhere which doesn’t have your shadows?”
A series of muffled laughter came from below.
Experimental No. 3 was a long-established old middle school in the Zhongyuan3. It has only been changed to a senior high school in recent years. Although the campus wasn’t considered huge, it still had several famous scenic spots.
One was a century-old camphor tree on the east side of the sports field, and the other was an acacia tree under the west side of the Cultural and Sports Building.
The camphor tree was known as a century-old tree, but it was probably only fifty or sixty years old. Not only were the branches and leaves dense, but the tree trunk was also so thick that even a boy couldn’t hug all of it. Back then, when a track was built on the sports field, they had even racked their brains to circumvent this tree.
As for the acacia tree, it was even more popular.
The canopy was enormous and full of life. When the acacia flowers bloomed every summer, the tree would be filled with pink, resembling the clouds at sunset. It was a scenic spot for girls to take pictures, but it was also a sacred place for boys’ and girls’ confessions. It had already been dubbed the lover’s tree by the former students.
Acacia or lovers getting together4; was there any more romantic and beautiful sign than this?
The two trees, one in the east and the other in the west, were distantly facing each other on this old campus. They were both classified as big trees and quickly grew up into a calm and gentle appearance in these years.
Old Jian waited until everyone finished laughing before starting again. “There is one more matter for today’s class meeting. As everyone knows, we had agreed that we would adjust after a year when we first selected the class representative in junior year.”
The classroom became calm.
“I have fully asked for everyone’s opinion in these past two days. The majority of the class representatives expressed that they were willing to continue their position, and the classmates also didn’t have any objections. So this time, I only plan to re-elect two positions.”
He looked around and solemnly said, “Our publicity representative had moved to the liberal arts class for this semester and left a vacant position. If anyone wishes for this position, they can make a campaign speech for later. As for the other –”
He paused, “The position of sports representative needs to be re-elected for this semester. Of course, Student Liu Jun did a good job last year and has the qualifications to run for it again. Other students are also welcome to take the initiative to run for it.”
The lively atmosphere in the classroom just now became subtle.
Many people secretly peeked at the back with astonished expressions. Was the class teacher finally going to handle Liu Jun?
To tell the truth, everyone disliked Liu Jun, this sports representative. Every day, he led several robust companions to make trouble.
As a class representative, they had never seen him serve as a model for his classmates. On the contrary, he was quite an expert at bullying people and made many boys angry in their hearts though they didn’t dare to speak out.
Liu Jun sat on his seat, and his face red as if he had been slapped.
Footnote:
3 Zhongyuan: the middle and lower regions of the Yellow river, including Henan, western Shandong, southern Shanxi and Hebei.
4 合欢 has two meanings: acacia; lovers getting together.