The three consecutive "what?"s expressed Chen Mu's shock. He then began to scrutinize Lin Yifeng, looking him up and down to make sure that Lin Yifeng was not possessed by a ghost.

"Didn't you study coal mining? How come you're teaching?"

As the only vocational school graduate in Paishitou Village, Lin Yifeng is quite famous in the village, and most people know that he studied coal mining.

"Yes, but I was assigned to Mohe by the school. Mohe in the three northeastern provinces is too far away, so I simply went to the principal and asked him to write a letter of recommendation so that I could come to our village to teach."

As he spoke, Lin Yifeng took out the principal's letter of recommendation.

This time, he showed it to Chen Mu, the only literate person in the village.

Chen Mu squinted as he finished reading the principal's letter of recommendation. He remained silent for a long time before saying with a bitter expression, "Xiao Feng, you know the situation in our village. There are hardly any students here."

“I’ve been running around for three years, three whole years! Except for the year you went to vocational school, when two students came to study for a month, there were no students studying there at other times!”

As Chen Mu spoke, he sighed. Lin Yifeng smiled, put away the letter of recommendation, put his hands in his pockets, and while observing the dilapidated school, asked, "Teacher Chen Mu, the students are not a problem, and the teaching resources are not a problem either."

I can handle all of these.

"The only problem is that our village school is currently lacking someone who can keep things in check."

"I think you're a perfect fit for the role, Mr. Chen. Would you like to be the principal of our school?"

Chen Mu is called a teacher, but in reality, he doesn't even have a formal teaching position.

Like some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in rural areas, they can diagnose and prescribe medicine, but they do not have medical licenses, which is illegal according to regulations!

Chen Mu's actions were also illegal, but these days, educational resources are so scarce, especially in the mountains. When someone is willing to be a teacher and doesn't want a salary, the people in the education bureau know about it and they all kowtow to Teacher Chen Mu.

Teacher Chen Mu, in the words of the 1990s, is someone who dedicates himself to teaching in rural areas!

In this situation, Lin Yifeng could have easily invited Teacher Chen Mu to be the principal of Paishi Village, even if Teacher Chen Mu didn't have a formal position.

If the education bureau does not agree.

The solution is simple.

If you disagree, then arrange a principal for me, and incidentally bring some educational resources to our Stone Village.

The Education Bureau is unlikely to assign a principal to Paishitou Village. Putting aside whether they can assign one, let's ask who would be willing to teach in Paishitou Village!

If it weren't for Lam Yat-fung.

Bai Yejin and Zhou Xuelan didn't even know about the village of Shitou.

"Me, the principal?"

Chen Mu's teacher's hand trembled slightly.

Become a school principal!

No!

But the principal held no appeal for Chen Mu.

But the student issues and educational resource issues that Lin Yifeng mentioned were what Chen Mu was most interested in.

Can a school still be called a school if it has no students?

"Xiaofeng, how come you're recruiting students? Our village..."

Chen Mu wanted to explain some practical issues to Lin Yifeng, but Lin Yifeng interrupted him with a smile.

"Teacher Chen, you don't need to worry about enrollment or educational resources."

"All you need to do now is nod and agree to be the principal, to carry the flag for the school in Paishitou Village, and leave the rest to me!"

Lin Yifeng said he wouldn't stay in Shitou Village for too long.

Bai Yejin and Zhou Xuelan are also examples.

Only Chen Mu was willing to stay in Paishitou Village, where there were no students, before and after him.

Chen Mu did not agree. He simply said that he would do anything as long as he could recruit students by smashing stones.

With a smile, Lin Yifeng led Bai Yejin and Zhou Xuelan on a tour of the dilapidated school. Only after the three left did Zhou Xuelan ask the most crucial question.

"Teacher Lin, are there really scholarships and grants? I've never heard of such things in elementary school."

"Aren't financial aid only for vocational school students? As for scholarships..."

Zhou Xuelan didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear: she had never even heard of scholarships.

By now, the sun wasn't so scorching anymore. Lin Yifeng stood on a protruding rock at the school, pointed to the children working in the terraced fields not far below, and said, "Zhou Xuelan, do you know why everyone is preventing their children from going to school?"

Before Zhou Xuelan could answer, Lin Yifeng continued.

"Because, we're poor!"

"Often, poverty can explain a lot of problems."

"For example, why didn't your brother get married?"

"For example, why do we go to vocational high school?"

"Because they are poor, they don't let their children go to school!"

Lin Yifeng sighed softly, "Poverty is the original sin!"