Chapter 2 Shameless

After studying for a while longer, he found that all the books in the library were like flowers in a fog or the moon reflected in water—completely unreachable. Zhang Xuan lost interest and withdrew his spirit from the sea of consciousness.

"Time for lunch. I'll figure out how to trick two more in the afternoon!"

Looking up at the window, the sun had reached its zenith. In the morning, a total of eighteen students had come, but only one had become his disciple. The odds were really low. He couldn't continue like this in the afternoon. After all, he was a time-traveler. If he couldn't even fool an ancient person, how could he have the face to say he lived in an age of abundant information?

Stretching lazily, he walked out of his lecture hall and strolled into the college cafeteria.

Like universities in his previous life, the Hongtian College cafeteria was very spacious, enough to accommodate ten thousand students dining at once. Having recruited a student, Zhang Xuan was in a good mood. He ordered a few extra dishes, found a corner, and ate heartily.

"Isn't this Teacher Zhang?"

Just as he was enjoying his meal, a voice sounded. Looking up, he saw a young man smiling at him, but the smile didn't feel warm; instead, it gave the impression of a forced grin.

"Teacher Cao?" Zhang Xuan recognized him.

Teacher Cao's name was Cao Xiong. He had entered the college at the same time as Zhang Xuan and always liked to compare himself with Zhang Xuan, taking the opportunity to belittle him.

It was because his predecessor couldn't stand all kinds of ridicule that he died drunk. Under such pressure, this guy definitely couldn't escape responsibility.

"New students are reporting today, choosing their own teachers. How did it go? Seeing that you still have the mood to eat here, it must have gone well, right? Look, these are the new students I recruited, twelve in total. I'm taking them to eat first, then arranging their accommodation!"

Teacher Cao wore a condescending expression, pointing behind him, flaunting blatantly.

Indeed, he had come to show off.

There was no real enmity between him and Zhang Xuan. They had entered the school at the same time, so it was inevitable that they would be compared and judged. The latter was a model of failure, so of course he wanted to highlight his superiority.

Behind him indeed followed a group of youths, all spirited and full of curiosity about new things.

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This Teacher Zhang Xuan is a celebrity in our college. Oh, he's the only one in the history of the college to score zero on the teacher qualification assessment! He's made a new history!"

Teacher Cao introduced him to the crowd.

"Zero on the teacher qualification assessment?"

"Ah, I heard about that when I came. The student he taught went berserk and almost got crippled!"

"I heard it too. Many people told me before I came: never choose him as a teacher, otherwise, not only will you be unable to cultivate, but it's also equivalent to suicide!"

"I didn't expect it was him. He looks quite kind!"

...

Hearing Cao Xiong's introduction, the students buzzed with discussion.

The teacher qualification assessment combined multiple factors, all added together for a unified score. Among them, student evaluations also accounted for a part. As long as the teacher had students, there would be a score. Scoring zero directly was a breakthrough in history.

"Finished introducing?"

Facing the crowd's discussion, Zhang Xuan didn't feel angry.

The one who scored zero was the previous Zhang Xuan. What did that have to do with him?

However, although he wasn't very angry, he was still quite displeased with this Teacher Cao's behavior of belittling others to elevate himself. He waved his hand casually: "If you're done introducing, you can scram. Don't waste my time eating!"

Unexpected that after revealing his history, the guy showed no sense of embarrassment and even told him to scram. Cao Xiong's expression turned unpleasant. He flicked his hand, displaying the dignified authority of a teacher: "You scored zero on the teacher qualification assessment, breaking the college's record. Don't you have any sense of shame?"

"Shame? Why should I be ashamed? You said it yourself, I broke history and became a celebrity. New students all know who I am. But what about you?" Zhang Xuan pointed at the many students behind Cao Xiong: "What score did you get on the teacher qualification assessment? Do they know? Before coming to the college, did they know who you were? If you hadn't desperately wooed them and even treated them to a meal, do you think they would have become your disciples? As a teacher, you have no fame at all, and you come to show off to me? What the hell are you showing off?"

"Gah?"

If someone else scored zero on the teacher qualification assessment, they would definitely keep their head down to avoid embarrassment. But this guy, on the contrary, was smug and proud. Those who didn't score zero became objects of his contempt.

Cao Xiong was about to go crazy.

This guy's nerve was too big! The key was... with such a record, where did he get the capital to be proud?

The students standing behind him also looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.

Where's his face? Where's his face?

This teacher... was too shameless!

For Zhang Xuan, what shame, what face? Was that a joke? In the era he lived in, some celebrities would do anything to get ahead, no matter how disgraceful! They did whatever was exaggerated, like nude photos, gossip news, various scandals, without feeling any shame. He just scored zero on the teacher qualification assessment; it was nothing.

Cao Xiong's face flushed with anger: "A teacher should still focus on teaching. I won't argue with you today. When you recruit some students, if you have the guts, let's compete again on who is better at teaching!"

With that, he turned to leave.

Just then, the sound of a man and a woman talking came from behind.

"That teacher is really good, with a nice personality..."

A cute female voice sounded, full of hesitation.

"My Second Miss, just listen to me. Before we came, the Young Master instructed me to have you apprentice under Teacher Lu Xun, but you wouldn't listen and deliberately sent me away. That's one thing, but why did you have to apprentice under him of all people..."

Then an old man's voice followed, his tone filled with helplessness.

"That teacher... isn't as bad as you say. He... he is very kind. He even gave me guidance, saying that if I... cultivate well, I could become the top of the grade..." The girl's voice still carried hesitation.

"Top of the grade? If you really study with him, it would be good if you don't go berserk. Does the Second Miss know who he is? The most famous useless teacher in the college, scored zero on the teacher qualification assessment last semester... My little ancestor, please withdraw quickly, otherwise, if the Young Master finds out, he'll definitely kill me..." The old man's voice carried a pleading tone.

"Brother!"

Hearing the old man mention the Young Master, the girl began to feel scared, her face twisted, not knowing what to do.

Overhearing these words, Cao Xiong, who was about to leave, brightened. He looked at Zhang Xuan, who was eating, with a smile: "Teacher Zhang, is this girl the student you just recruited? Haha, it doesn't look good. She's planning to withdraw!"

Teachers could choose students, and students could also choose teachers.

If a student felt the teacher was unsuitable, they could return the token he had given.

Cao Xiong's voice was loud, immediately attracting attention. The master and servant who were discussing also focused their gazes.

"Second Miss, is this the teacher you just apprenticed under?" The old man's eyes fell on Zhang Xuan.

"Yes!" The girl nodded.

The old man immediately stood up, walked a few steps to Zhang Xuan: "Teacher Zhang, our family's young lady intends to withdraw from your course!"

"Uncle Liu..." Unexpected that the old man acted so quickly, the girl blushed, hurried forward, then turned to Zhang Xuan with an apologetic expression: "Teacher, I..."

It was Zhang Xuan's newly recruited student, Wang Ying.

"Wang Ying, you know I usually don't take students. Taking you in was because we have a connection. Do you want to withdraw and waste such a great opportunity? Do you know how many people wish to become my student, but I don't accept them?"

Zhang Xuan certainly couldn't let the hard-won slot slip away, so he put on an air of being seasoned.

"Damn..."

Hearing this, those who knew the inside story felt their vision darken, as if about to faint.

Bro, can you have some shame? 'Usually don't take students,' 'because we have a connection,' 'how many people wish to become your student'... Clearly, you can't recruit any students, okay?

"I, no..."

Questioned by him, Wang Ying quickly waved her hand, but before she could finish, she was interrupted.

"Yes!" Seeing the Second Miss's indecisive nature, the old man Uncle Liu stepped forward: "Teacher Zhang, our family's Second Miss has decided to withdraw from your course. She's not comfortable saying it herself, so please help process the formalities!"

"Withdraw?" Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes: "Think carefully. Withdrawing from a teacher will leave a bad reputation in the college. From now on, probably no teacher will dare to accept you. Are you going to ruin your young lady's life because of your willfulness? Can you bear that responsibility?"

"This..." Uncle Liu was taken aback.

Students could withdraw from a teacher, but withdrawing from a teacher was an insult to the teacher. Moreover, if you could withdraw from this one, it showed you could withdraw from another. Generally, students with such a 'stain' would not be accepted by other teachers.

After all, the dignity of the teaching profession was publicly insulted. No one would want to accept such a student.

Moreover, accepting such a student would mean slapping the other teacher's face. Everyone was colleagues; it was impossible to offend a colleague for the sake of a student.

In college cultivation, without a teacher, one's life would be ruined.

Uncle Liu had been aggressive just a moment ago, but Zhang Xuan's one sentence left him at a loss.

He was just a servant. If the Second Miss was delayed because of this, he would be guilty beyond redemption even in death.

"Don't worry, your Second Miss has good talent. If I teach her well, she will definitely achieve good results..." Seeing him waver, Zhang Xuan launched his persuasion tactic again.

No way! How could he let a cooked duck fly away?

"Hold on, who said no teacher would dare to accept her? Little girl, as long as you withdraw from this Teacher Zhang, I'll immediately take you as my student!"

Before Zhang Xuan could finish, Cao Xiong stepped forward from the side, waving his hand grandly.

He had just lost face because of Zhang Xuan, and now that he had an opportunity, how could he let it go?

"Cao Xiong, what are you doing?"

Zhang Xuan's face darkened.

"What am I doing? Such a good seedling shouldn't be wasted. If she withdraws from you, I'll take her immediately! People come to college to learn, so of course they should choose the teacher who can best guide them, not one who scored zero on the teacher qualification assessment!"

Cao Xiong chuckled, full of smugness.

"This is openly stealing students. Do you believe I'll report you to the Political Education Office?"

This was no longer mere sulking; it was blatant student poaching!

Although the college encouraged teachers to make their own choices, it did not promote such indiscriminate snatching! If it happened, it would not only affect the relationship between teachers but also throw the entire college into chaos and harm the atmosphere.

"Stealing students? You exaggerate. At most, let's have an on-the-spot demonstration, fair competition, and let the student choose freely. Do you dare to agree?"

Cao Xiong said.