People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Zhuang Chaoying arrived at school with mixed feelings.

A momentous event, like a gust of wind, quickly swept across the campus, creating a buzz.

A powerful and inspiring voice blared from the school's somewhat old loudspeakers, announcing the resumption of college and university admissions nationwide on October 21.

The news was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; the high school section instantly erupted into a frenzy, like water boiling over.

The teachers discussed it excitedly among themselves.

Zhuang Chaoying felt a little uneasy in the lively atmosphere. Before coming here, he studied humanities, and his math skills were only so-so.

The thought of teaching these students high school math made him panic. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to explain it clearly, and that would make him a sinner who misled the students.

But when he cautiously opened the lesson plan and looked at those math problems...

The solution to the problem flowed into his mind like a spring.

He could hardly believe it, so he quickly flipped to another big question. He had barely glanced at it when the solution and answer were clearly presented before his eyes.

Moreover, he can memorize everything he has read word for word.

He was stunned. If that meant he could use any movies or TV series he had watched before as inspiration, hehe!

Could it be that I suddenly possess the legendary super brain?

He took his lesson plan, took a deep breath, and went to the classroom.

The students in the classroom quieted down.

Zhuang Chaoying began the class, explaining the knowledge points, giving examples, and answering students' questions. The whole process was smooth and natural, without any of the stumbles he had imagined, nor the sweaty palms from nervousness. Everything went unexpectedly smoothly.

It seems that the original owner of this body, Teacher Zhuang, has a very solid teaching foundation, which relieved him.

Back in the office, before I could even sit down, the head of the math group rushed over to inform me: "Teacher Zhuang, the principal is going to hold a meeting for our high school teachers. Please take your notebook and pen to the meeting room."

Zhuang Chaoying responded with a "Yes!"

He then prepared his things and headed to the conference room.

The meeting room was already quite full of teachers, so Zhuang Chaoying found an empty seat and sat down.

The principal stood at the front and began to speak.

It simply emphasizes that the national college entrance examination has been reinstated. This is the first college entrance examination in ten years, which is of extraordinary significance. Teachers must attach great importance to it and repeatedly emphasize that this is an opportunity for students to change their destiny and an important opportunity for the country to cultivate talents.

As Zhuang Chaoying listened, drowsiness gradually crept in, and his eyelids began to droop. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly heard those two words—[Meeting adjourned!]

He immediately perked up, quickly grabbed his notebook and pen, and seeing everyone getting up, he followed the flow of people back to his office.

"Teacher Zhuang, what are we going to do now that the college entrance examination has been reinstated?"

A female teacher walked over and asked; she taught Chinese.

Zhuang Chaoying looked at her, thought for a moment, and then replied, "What else can we do? We'll just continue as before. We'll teach well, and as for how much the students can learn, that depends on their own destiny."

The female teacher listened and nodded thoughtfully.

[Ring, ring!]

The bell rang crisply for the last class. Zhuang Chaoying packed up her lesson plan, tidied up the things on her desk, picked up her bag, and prepared to go home.

Walking home, I realized that life in the 1970s was really tough; you needed ration coupons to buy anything.

He only had two hundred yuan and a few grain coupons.

He wanted to buy some snacks for Xiaoting and Tunan, but he needed coupons to buy anything, and he didn't have any pastry coupons, so he shook his head helplessly.

[System, will items purchased from the system shop be sold at the current price?]

Yes, host. Items you buy in the system shop will be sold at prices from your era, and items the system will recycle will be bought back at prices from 2024.

The system's response delighted Zhuang Chaoying.

[Do we need food coupons?]

【unnecessary!】

Do you have any cakes or pastries?

[A cream cake roll costs 50 cents.]

I want four pieces.

The system directly deducted two yuan from Zhuang Chaoying's money. Luckily, no one was around. If this cake that appeared out of nowhere had been seen by someone, it would have scared them to death!

He imagined how happy Xiaoting and Tunan would be when they saw the cake, and his steps quickened.

Zhuang Chaoying looked at the cake wrapped in kraft paper in her hand, holding it by the rope.

Xiaoting and Tunan had already finished school and were quietly doing their homework at home.

Huang Ling was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. Tonight's dinner was a simple meal of rice, stir-fried greens, and shredded potatoes—all vegetarian dishes. But in this era of scarcity, having such a meal was already quite good.

In some places, whether you can get enough to eat is another matter entirely.

As soon as Zhuang Chaoying entered the door, she shouted loudly, "Xiaoting, Tunan, look what Dad bought!"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoting immediately put down her pencil and ran over.

She stared wide-eyed at the brown paper in her father's hand, then bent down to smell it, her little nose twitching as she exclaimed, "Daddy, what did you buy? It smells so good!"

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and patted Xiaoting's fluffy hair, then stepped into the house and placed the cake on the table.

Then he went to the drawer, found some scissors, and cut the string binding the cake.

The cake was revealed, and Zhuang Chaoying looked at its familiar appearance and couldn't help but think to herself: Damn, isn't this a Swiss roll? What kind of cream cake roll is this?

He suddenly remembered a meme that had been trending online recently, something about how a family of four should divide eight Swiss rolls.

He thought to himself, "Isn't it obvious? Of course, the wife and kids should eat first, and then the dad can eat what the three of them leave behind. That way, the whole family will be happy."

Just then, Huang Ling came out of the kitchen carrying rice and chopsticks. Seeing the cake on the table, she was somewhat surprised: "Chao Ying, why did you buy such an expensive dessert? Do you have a cake voucher?"

Zhuang Chaoying was stunned for a moment. He really forgot how to explain that he didn't have a cake ticket. His mind raced and he quickly came up with an excuse: "I traded it with a colleague. You three can keep this cake."

Xiaoting's little hands gripped the edge of the table, her eyes fixed on the cake, and she muttered, "Brother, I saw this cake when I passed by the store."

Tu Nan chimed in, "Xiao Ting, I saw it too. One of my classmates had a piece her mother bought for her after school."

Huang Ling frowned and put the cake away immediately: "It's time to eat. You can't eat cake now. You can eat it after you finish your meal."

Then, turning back to look at Zhuang Chaoying, he added, "Don't buy it next time, it's quite expensive."

Zhuang Chaoying pouted at the two children and said, "Okay."

After eating, Tu Nan returned to his bedside to continue doing his homework.

Just then, a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old walked in: "Teacher Zhuang, I have two questions I'd like to ask you."

Zhuang Chaoying was helping Tu Nan and Xiao Ting with their homework when he heard the sound. He looked up and glanced at Huang Ling, who was operating a sewing machine. The "clack-clack-clack" of the sewing machine echoed in the room, and Huang Ling's figure looked quite busy under the lamplight.

Zhuang Chaoying stood up: "Yiming, let's go outside. Your teacher's wife and younger siblings are doing their homework at home. The house is too small. Let's go outside."

He tried his best to keep people who came to Zhuang Chaoying with questions or to copy his teaching materials away.

His house was so small that the thin walls offered almost no sound insulation. He could clearly hear his neighbors' laughter, coughs, and even the slightest footsteps.

Huang Ling works the night shift at the textile factory. The work is hard and tiring, and after her night shift, she needs a quiet environment to rest properly without being disturbed.

So Zhuang Chaoying made arrangements in advance with the children of these acquaintances, asking them to compile their learning problems and come to the school office to find him after school.

Therefore, he would stay an hour later every day, sacrificing his rest time to help these students.

He felt that although it would be more tiring for him, it was much better than affecting his family and disturbing his neighbors.

Huang Ling looked at Zhuang Chaoying, who had been coming home late every day for the past two months, and her eyes were full of heartache.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood, and she could truly feel the changes in Zhuang Chaoying.

Zhuang Chaoying is very different now than before. Since she took over the management of the family's money, her quality of life has improved significantly.

The quality of food has improved a lot. It used to be rare to see meat, but now we can eat meat twice a month, which was unthinkable before.

She couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed, money is best when it's in a woman's hands; only then can life be more comfortable."

At first, Zhuang Chaoying only worked an hour later each day, but as the college entrance examination approached, the students asked more and more questions, and now he often doesn't get home until after 7 p.m.

Every day, Huang Ling would carefully save food for Zhuang Chaoying, covering it with a bowl and keeping it warm in a pot, so that he could have a hot meal as soon as he came back.

Huang Ling knew that everything Zhuang Chaoying did was to avoid disturbing her rest. She silently saw and remembered his thoughtfulness.

On this day, Huang Ling wrung out the washed clothes as usual and hung them on the line in the yard.

A neighbor passing by said, "Huang Ling, your teacher Zhuang hasn't come back yet!"

While hanging up the laundry, Huang Ling replied, "No, the college entrance exam is coming up soon, and the students have a lot of questions to ask, so Chao Ying can't do anything about it."

Upon hearing this, the neighbor couldn't help but praise, "Teacher Zhuang is truly a responsible and good teacher."

Several other neighbors chimed in, "That's right, that's right!"

Zhuang Chaoying had been busy at school all day. She rubbed her head wearily and thought to herself, "Fortunately, the college entrance examination is just a few days away. My hard days are almost over."

He returned home with his satchel on his back.

As soon as she entered, Huang Ling greeted her warmly, "Chaoying is back! I'll get you some food."

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and agreed, put her bag on the chair, and turned to go to the washroom to wash her hands.

When he returned, the food was already neatly served on the table.

Zhuang Chaoying looked at the table full of food and felt deeply moved.

He now truly feels the warmth of home. He can come home every day to a hot meal, and someone will wash his dirty clothes for him. This kind of simple and peaceful life is something he never dared to dream of before.

Before coming here, he was all alone, and even when he was in excruciating stomach pain, there was no one to bring him a cup of hot water.

Zhuang Chaoying is truly blessed to have found such a gentle and virtuous wife as Huang Ling.

Now this blessing is mine, and it's really nice to live this ordinary life together.