Adoption brings disaster

The sunlight shines through the leaves and falls on the ground with the breath of youth. The cicadas in the trees sing the melody of the future. The children's laughter fills the entire campus, interspersed with the teachers' earnest teachings. What a campus scene with a strong scholarly atmosphere. It is indeed worthy of being the best school in the district, and it is brimming with youth and vitality everywhere.

Unfortunately, in this vibrant hall, there were continuous bursts of coughing sounds coming from far away and accompanied by dry heaves. The sound sounded like the wailing of a terminally ill old man before his death, which made people feel nauseous and a little scared.

The coughing sound gradually got closer, and soon a person came out from the corner. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that he was not an elderly man, but a young teacher.

Although this teacher is not handsome in appearance, he has an excellent temperament. The black-framed glasses cannot hide the wisdom in his eyes, and the violent coughing does not cause his back to bend at all. His handsome face has a sense of maturity that makes people trust him.

He tucked the book in his hand under his arm, covered his mouth with one hand and coughed violently, while opening the office door with the other hand.

It was lunch time, and there were three teachers sitting in the office, eating lunch and chatting. Seeing him coughing, they couldn't help but frown and looked at him with concern.

The man walked in, still coughing uncontrollably. An older teacher saw him like this and couldn't help but complain, "I told you to ask for leave to get an IV drip a long time ago, but you kept putting it off. Now it's getting worse. Seriously, if you're not afraid of dying in school, I'm afraid you'll die in the office, which will bring bad luck."

The teacher had a look of disgust on his face and his words were full of impatience, but he still took a glass of water and handed it to him, asking him to drink it quickly so that he would feel better.

The coughing teacher drank some water and felt much better. He put down the cup and said with a smile, "I can't leave now. After lunch, I have to watch over the children. I have classes in the afternoon, so where can I find the time?"

After hearing this, several people all had some resentful expressions. Then they heard the teacher say, "Besides, it's just a cold. It will pass if you endure it. When I was in school, I always endured colds and never took medicine."

This angered the three of them. Another older teacher glared at them and said, "Teacher Chen, this class will fall apart without you, right? You'd better take care of your own life first."

Teacher Chen was silent. Another teacher said, "I know you're taking care of your students, but even if you are, sharpening the knife doesn't delay the chopping of wood. If you cure your illness, wouldn't it be more effective to teach your students?"

Teacher Chen smiled and agreed, then started coughing violently again. The previous teacher heard this and said distressedly, "Old Li, please stop talking and let Xiao Chen drink some water."

The teacher handed Teacher Chen another glass of water, his eyes filled with heartache and speechlessness as he said, "I'm really not saying anything to you, Old Li. Work is not as important as life. Take a leave this afternoon and go see a doctor right now. You have to take care of your health."

Teacher Chen didn't want to ask for leave, so he smiled and said, "I saw a doctor over the weekend and got some medicine, but I don't know why it didn't work. I'll go to the People's Hospital after work to make an appointment and have another checkup."

When the teacher heard Teacher Chen agree, he said sternly, "Teacher Chen, you must go to the People's Hospital for treatment after get off work."

Teacher Chen said nothing, and the other teacher didn't care. Instead, she patted the young teacher next to her and said, "Teacher Xiaotao, go with him. Go after work. Don't let him do it again. He'll really die if he continues."

After saying that, he glared at Teacher Chen fiercely, as if to say, "If you dare not go, I will break your legs."

Xiao Tao was also worried about Teacher Chen's illness. With this as an excuse, she nodded solemnly and said, "Don't worry, I'll take Teacher Chen to see a doctor after get off work and won't let him endure this kind of illness again."

After Xiao Tao finished speaking, she saw that Teacher Chen looked weak, so she brought out a lunch box and said, "Teacher Chen, please eat something first. This is the porridge and buns I prepared this morning. I saw that Teacher Chen hasn't eaten much at noon these past few days. He must have caught a cold and can't eat much, so I prepared some light food."

The two older teachers were also happy to see Xiao Tao like this, and hurriedly said with a smile: "Teacher Xiao Tao is really a virtuous and good woman, observant and considerate. Teacher Chen should seize the opportunity, such a good girl is hard to find nowadays, and more importantly, Teacher Xiao Tao has a position."

Teacher Xiaotao's ears turned red after hearing this, and she could only say with a shy face: "Teacher Wang, what nonsense are you talking about? My colleague is sick and I am concerned about him. Why are you talking about this?"

"What did I say? You noticed that Teacher Chen hasn't eaten much these days. Isn't it thoughtful of you to observe carefully and prepare light food on purpose? I didn't say anything. You are just trying to cover up the truth. I understand you young people. I went through the same thing." Teacher Wang said with a grin, his eyes full of gossip.

Teacher Xiaotao's face turned even redder with embarrassment when she heard everyone's teasing. She could only speak in a mosquito-like voice and said, "Whatever you think, I'm going to the bathroom. You guys can chat slowly." After that, she rushed out.

Teacher Xiaotao ran away to urinate, and the pressure fell on Teacher Chen.

"Let me tell you, Teacher Chen, Teacher Xiaotao is really great. She's young, beautiful, and very capable. Look, in every exam, your class always has the best grades, followed by theirs. The two of you together are a formidable combination. Your future children will surely be amazing. They'll definitely be as pretty as you, as smart and capable as you, and as considerate as Teacher Xiaotao."

"Yes, yes, Teacher Li is right. Besides, Teacher Xiaotao has a position. If you miss this opportunity, you will miss it. You have to seize the opportunity."

Teacher Chen's eyes dimmed when he heard the word "establishment". Teacher Li rolled his eyes and said, "This Old Wang really doesn't know how to talk. Teacher Chen is so outstanding, why would he want to be established for someone else?"

Teacher Wang also knew that the staffing problem was Teacher Chen's headache. Seeing that Teacher Chen was ill and unhappy because of him, he hurriedly said, "I said the wrong thing. I just wanted to say that Teacher Xiaotao is so excellent."

Teacher Wang wanted to say something, but Teacher Li interrupted him, saying, "None of this matters. The most important thing is that Teacher Xiaotao likes you. It's much better to find someone who likes you than someone you like. As someone who's been through this, I advise you to seize the opportunity."

Teacher Chen ate two buns, drank a mouthful of porridge, smiled bitterly and said, "You know my situation. I'm a temporary worker and an orphan. How can I let such a good girl like Xiaotao suffer with me?"

When the two heard that Teacher Chen was backing out, they were not willing to comply. Teacher Wang said, "What's wrong with your conditions? You are not bad. You are smart, capable, conscientious, responsible, good-looking, and kind."

Before Teacher Wang could finish, another teacher chimed in, "Besides, if you think your family conditions are poor, then you should be friends with Xiaotao. His parents are both civil servants, and their pensions are higher than your salary. He only has one daughter, Xiaotao. She likes you, and you can be nice to her. His parents would love to have you as their son-in-law."

Teacher Wang nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, yes, at worst you can just be a live-in son-in-law. Xiao Tao is so nice, it wouldn't be a loss for you to be a live-in son-in-law."

"Old Wang, if you don't know how to speak, you can start by curling your lips. What live-in son-in-law? Xiaotao likes Teacher Chen so much, how could she be willing to let Teacher Chen be a live-in son-in-law." Teacher Li glared at Teacher Wang and said.

Teacher Wang hadn't meant it that way. Being misunderstood, he anxiously defended himself, "Old Li, why do you always misunderstand me? I meant to say that the worst that can happen is a live-in son-in-law. Besides, Xiao Tao wouldn't want Teacher Chen to suffer any injustice, so she definitely wouldn't let you be a live-in son-in-law."

Teacher Li was about to speak when Teacher Wang hadn't finished yet. Teacher Chen saw the opportunity and started coughing violently while the two were talking. It was believable that he had tuberculosis.

Teacher Li felt distressed upon seeing this. He quickly handed the warm water and medicine to Teacher Chen and said, "Take the medicine quickly after dinner. Xiaotao and I went to the hospital this afternoon. Go for a walk outside on the way back. Xiaotao likes you. You can get better if you break through that layer of veil. Don't let Xiaotao down, or I'll beat you to death."

Teacher Chen listened and just took the medicine slowly without answering. Teacher Li was so angry that he kicked him and yelled, "Did you hear that? Why are you so disobedient, kid?"

Teacher Chen didn't want to talk about this matter, so he just laughed it off and said, "Let's talk about it later, let's talk about it later."

"Chen Jiu, let me tell you, this opportunity is gone forever. Don't think Xiao Tao is unwanted. Last time the Education Commission came to inspect our work, someone took a fancy to Xiao Tao. That boy was no worse than you, but Xiao Tao just liked you."

When Mr. Wang heard this, his expression suddenly turned bad, and he hurriedly said, "What did you just say, Chen Jiu?"

Teacher Li was startled by Teacher Wang, but after recovering, he scolded her, "What are you yelling about? Don't you know Teacher Chen's name is Chen Jiu? The first year Teacher Chen arrived, you were telling everyone that Teacher Chen's horoscope was all Yin and needed extreme Yang to balance it out. If it weren't for the name Jiu, he would have died long ago."

Both Teacher Li and Teacher Wang have a bit of an irritable temper. If Teacher Wang had been yelled at like this by Teacher Li on normal days, they would have started arguing. But today, it was strange. He didn't argue at all. Instead, he kept staring at Chen Jiu's face with a mysterious expression on his face, and muttered something incomprehensible.

Chen Jiu felt uneasy when he was looked at. He could only yawn and said, "This medicine makes me so sleepy. I'll take a nap first." After saying that, he lay down on the desk and took a nap for a while.

Teacher Wang saw that Teacher Chen was about to go to sleep, so he quickly said, "Don't sleep on your desk. Not only will it be uncomfortable, but it's also easy to catch a cold. Teacher Xiaotao has already prepared a folding bed for you. Go sleep on it."

After hearing this, Teacher Chen naturally lay down on the folding bed to rest. Teacher Li adjusted the quilt for Teacher Chen and sat down beside the bed, chattering non-stop. Chen Jiu did not respond, but just pretended to be asleep and lay on the bed without moving.

Teacher Wang was still staring at Chen Jiu and talking non-stop, which looked very strange.

"I'm back." Teacher Xiaotao said as she opened the door, but when she saw Chen Jiu resting, she whispered, "Teacher Chen is asleep. I'll be quiet so I don't wake him up."

Teacher Li saw Xiao Tao coming back and leaned over to say, "I went to the hospital with Teacher Chen to see a doctor tonight. Don't rush home. Go out for a while and improve your relationship. Don't be afraid of being embarrassed when pursuing a man. If you spend more time with him, he will like you."

"Teacher Li, you're overthinking it. We are just ordinary colleagues. I take care of him a little more because I see it's not easy for him to be alone." Although Teacher Xiaotao said this, the look in her eyes and her body that involuntarily moved closer to Teacher Li betrayed her.

Teacher Li and Xiao Tao were whispering about Chen Jiu, occasionally bursting into laughter, but Teacher Wang came out of that strange state and simply said, "Xiao Tao, you can't be with Teacher Chen."

Xiao Tao didn't say anything, but there was obvious displeasure in her eyes. Teacher Li was furious when she heard this. Regardless of whether Teacher Chen was asleep or not, she shouted, "Old Wang, what do you mean? Who do you think you are? Why do you say they can't be together?"

Teacher Wang was not afraid of Teacher Li's anger and simply said, "Teacher Chen's face indicates three sons and two daughters, while Teacher Xiaotao only has one son and one daughter. They are not suitable."

When Teacher Li heard the reason, she became even more furious and launched a personal attack: "Screw your feudal superstitions! You're still a junior teacher after all these years. Don't you know it yourself? Xiaotao, let's ignore him. We are highly educated educators and don't care about these feudal dregs."

Chen Jiu hadn't fallen asleep to begin with. When he heard what Teacher Wang said, he felt mixed emotions, relief and discomfort, a feeling he couldn't explain.

Teacher Wang's words caused a moment of silence. After a while, Teacher Li came to his senses and said, "I remember you always supported them being together before. You even said you calculated their horoscopes and they were a match made in heaven. Why did you suddenly change your tune today? Did the Education Committee give you some favors?"

"I've been having a dream these past two days. In it, people kept talking about Chen Jiu. After waking up, I felt refreshed. Reading the ancient books passed down from my ancestors was like a revelation, and I understood everything. Today, I learned that Teacher Chen's name is Chen Jiu. Looking at his face, I saw many things I didn't understand before, the most obvious of which is that they can't be together."

Chen Jiu listened to this and became increasingly sleepy, eventually falling into a deep sleep. Then he felt dizzy and heard someone calling out, "Chen Jiu, Chen Jiu!"

The voice was unfamiliar, but it made people feel at ease. As he listened, he lost consciousness. When Chen Jiu opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange place.

To find out where it is, please wait for the next episode.