Chapter Twenty: The Astonishment of All

After Cheng Kaiyan’s introduction, the students in the class burst into applause, especially the girls.

At this time, one requirement for attending university was to be unmarried.

Most of the students in the class were single young people, so naturally, the girls paid close attention to the handsome young man.

“Wow! So he’s our new teaching assistant!”

“Cheng Kaiyan... that’s a nice name, meaning ‘bright smile.’ It seems his parents hoped he would always be happy!”

Some girls began analyzing the meaning behind Cheng Kaiyan’s name.

Meanwhile, a group of girls in the dormitory downstairs were already baffled.

“You’re telling me this is ‘Comrade Childhood Friend’? How did he become our teaching assistant? It’s unbelievable!” Yang Mengshan whispered in disbelief.

“Right? Didn’t Ruixue say that ‘Comrade Childhood Friend’ was staying home unemployed, preparing for college entrance exams? Now he’s not even taking the exams, and he’s directly become a teacher? Oh my god!” Ji Qinglan, holding her round face, stared at Cheng Kaiyan on stage as if trying to see through his true nature with her keen eyes.

“You can’t judge a person by their appearance, nor can you measure the sea with a bucket,” mused the quiet girl Zhang Chun.

In contrast, although Zhao Ruixue was surprised, she truly believed deep down that this was no big deal for Cheng Kaiyan—he was always meant to be this outstanding.

Since childhood, Cheng Kaiyan had been a boy apart from the rest, a conviction deeply rooted in Zhao Ruixue’s heart.

That was also why she felt so disappointed when she saw an ordinary-looking Cheng Kaiyan at home again.

“How wonderful... he’s shining once more.”

Zhao Ruixue looked quietly at him with a proud smile, as if sharing in his glory.

Suddenly, she recalled that Cheng Kaiyan had recently submitted a piece of children’s literature, which was expected to be published next week.

What exactly had he written?

She was truly looking forward to his work!

...

“Ah, so he’s the teaching assistant. No wonder he was urging Ruixue to get to class,” said Song Jianchun on the other side, relieved upon learning Cheng Kaiyan’s role.

His relief was not only because they had no real connection, but also because as a teaching assistant and teacher, any relationship with female students was out of the question!

“But doesn’t this assistant look about our age?”

“He must be a top student from some university, right? I heard assistants have to be at least graduate students.”

A few boys sitting nearby chatted.

In the 1980s, the selection and training system for university teaching assistants was still in its early stages. Assistants were usually recent graduates with a master's degree.

They held the lowest rank among teaching titles and, in principle, were not allowed to teach independently but needed to assist lecturers or professors.

Their duties included tutoring after class, answering questions, and grading assignments—similar to class representatives, responsible for certain classroom services.

Sometimes, the assistant position was also a path for doctoral students to gain teaching experience.

Thus, Cheng Kaiyan was somewhat an exception among teaching assistants; his position was likely due to the influence of his aunt.

On the other hand, Cheng Kaiyan guessed it might also be related to his aunt’s husband's family.

After all, they were of impeccable lineage, having crossed snowy mountains and grasslands, and now at least held some local authority…

…

After finishing his self-introduction, Cheng Kaiyan returned to his seat.

Jiang Ting began today’s lecture, picking up the chalk to write the title “The Metamorphosis” in large characters on the worn blackboard.

“The Metamorphosis—many of you have probably read it.

Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ is a novella published in 1915, regarded by Western literary scholars as a classic of modern literature and one of Kafka’s most famous works.

This novel is highly praised for its unique surrealist style and profound thematic depth.

‘The Metamorphosis’ deeply explores the theme of alienation. Gregor’s transformation symbolizes his rupture from society and family. His insect body physically manifests his estrangement from the human world, reflecting the isolation and alienation individuals feel in modern society…”

Jiang Ting’s lectures were detailed and rich, not limited to the explanation and appreciation of foreign literature.

What amazed the students even more was that Professor Jiang also introduced the customs, social environment, and culture of the time when the works were created.

She explained that since the economic base determines the superstructure, to truly understand and interpret the meaning behind a work, one must dialectically consider the historical context.

This was a well-known phrase among intellectually curious youths who had read Marx.

Books have their historical limitations, but some works withstand the test of time.

The students’ preconceived notions were once again refreshed by Jiang Ting’s lessons.

As a result, discussions continued even after class, spilling from the classroom into the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was already packed with an endless sea of students by the time Cheng Kaiyan and the girls arrived, each food window lined with long queues.

Everyone carried a rice bag containing their lunchbox, hanging it on their backpacks.

These bags revealed much about the students’ family backgrounds.

Some were of good quality—bright, beautiful fabric, finely stitched, sometimes embroidered with the owner’s name and little flowers.

Others were roughly sewn from towels and scraps of cloth, with coarse stitching.

As for lunchboxes, some were new, others old and battered like they had been gnawed by a dog, edges curled, yet the owners couldn’t bear to replace them.

Following the girls, Cheng Kaiyan queued up and couldn’t help but glance at the price tags on the food dishes.

At this time, university students received meal subsidies, making the food prices quite cheap—almost half the cost outside.

Vegetarian dishes like stir-fried shredded potatoes, spicy kimchi, and carrots cost just five cents per serving.

Dishes with a hint of meat, like tomato scrambled eggs or spiced eggs, were ten cents.

For one and a half dimes, you could eat genuine meat dishes such as braised pork, pork knuckle, dry pot meat, or four-joy meatballs.

“Teacher Cheng! Hehe~”

“Teacher Cheng, hehe~”

“We finally have a teacher looking out for us!”

Round-faced Ji Qinglan playfully teased Cheng Kaiyan relentlessly.

The others rolled their eyes as they queued for food.

Cheng Kaiyan only smiled; although the university girls of this era were much more mature than later generations, they still retained their mischievous charm.

He bought one vegetarian dish and two meat dishes, a habit formed early—no matter how hard life was, you couldn’t starve your stomach.

They had classes in the morning but none in the afternoon.

Jiang Ting only taught two classes a week, so Cheng Kaiyan was quite leisurely.

After buying the food, they gathered around a table, eating and chatting.

Not far away, Song Jianchun sat eating with a scruffy man.

“Brother… what’s the deal with this Cheng Kaiyan? So young?”

“Nonsense, just an unemployed drifter who only finished high school. Who does he think he is?”

The scruffy man was Song Jianchun’s elder brother, currently working in logistics but seconded to the foreign literature research office because of his writing skills and some insight into foreign literature.

A while ago, he heard a new associate professor with a noteworthy background had arrived, so he sent gifts to Director Fang, hoping to secure an assistant position.

But he soon learned that the female professor already had her own assistant.

“High school diploma? I thought teaching assistants had to at least have graduate degrees?”

Song Jianchun was surprised.

“Backdoor entry, pretty boy! What a joke!”

Song Jianchun immediately understood and looked at Cheng Kaiyan with growing disdain.

A high school graduate who got in through connections—how could he compare?

Next week, when his poem was published in the school magazine, he would make his move...