Gao Zhongde was clutching his waist; he looked like he had just come from the hospital, and his gait was a bit off.

"Principal Gao?"

Gao Zhongde looked up and was taken aback. "Jiang Qiao? What are you doing here? What are you doing?"

Although it had been some years since Gao Zhongde had seen Jiang Qiao, he still remembered this outstanding student. He had always regretted that Jiang Qiao had missed the college entrance examination. Later, he heard that Jiang Qiao had recovered, but he had never seen the student again. However, he knew that the student was probably busy.

Jiang Qiao went over and helped Gao Zhongde up. "Principal Gao, what's wrong with your back?"

Gao Zhongde sighed, "I'm getting old and useless. Disciplining the students strained my old back."

Jiang Qiao helped the old principal up, asking, "Have you checked it out yet?"

"Sigh, they put on a plaster and told me to go home and rest."

Jiang Qiao sighed, "Alright, don't go home and lie there anymore. Let's go to the hospital now. I'll go see a patient and also take care of your back. You know, you're really something. You don't listen to the young teachers and let them manage them. Why do you have to do it yourself?"

Gao Zhongde sighed, "What can I do if I don't step in? These students are disobedient. What can a child do if he doesn't study properly? He's always making trouble. He only has a few years to study. If he wastes it, he'll regret it for the rest of his life."

I can't just stand by and watch these kids waste their time. At least when they get to our school, I have to make them understand the purpose and meaning of learning.

Although there is no longer a college entrance examination, we still need to prepare for the future at any time. Knowledge is always useful.

It's a pity that these kids won't listen to my earnest advice. They can all get into high school, which means they're not unintelligent. It's just a shame to waste such promising talents.

And you, you child, sigh, what can I say? You were just too unlucky to arrive at the right time. I've heard Old Liu talk about you before. Girl, you've made a huge sacrifice. Uncle, you're not as good as me—”

Jiang Qiao smiled and said, "It's nothing. If I miss it, I miss it. Time can't be turned back because of me. Even if I can't go to university, I can still learn from those who study medicine. In short, I won't waste my time."

"That's well said. It's a pity you're so busy right now. Actually, you should go to the school and give those students a lesson, so they can know how you, who was once the top student in the whole school, got to where you are today."

Jiang Qiao sighed and said, "I'd better just keep to my own work. I'm not qualified to educate those students."

However, Principal, I have a suggestion. If they are disobedient, let them do chores. Rather than forcing them to study, it's better to let them learn on their own initiative.

Sooner or later, they will have to learn to work after leaving school, so it's better to let them adapt to this kind of life in advance.

Don't tell me about helping with the autumn harvest in the countryside. That only lasts a few days and is just a small-scale operation. You can't possibly understand the hardships of life there.

You should take them further afield, with the teachers going along. They can work during the day and study at night. If they pass the exams, they can go back; if they fail, they stay where they are. Tell them that after graduation, they might be sent to this rural area, so consider it a preview of rural life.

Although Gao Zhongde didn't say anything, Jiang Qiao could imagine what the situation at the school would be like.

Gao Zhongde hesitated, "Won't this interfere with the children's studies? They're exhausted after a long day, how can they have the energy to study? In the current situation, hardly anyone can concentrate, let alone do manual labor?"

As Jiang Qiao walked, he said, "Given the current situation, even you, sir, don't have a good solution. Why don't we give it a try? Rather than letting them drift aimlessly for a year, why not have them work for two months and then do hard labor to learn? Think about it, which is more worthwhile?"

Gao Zhongde gave a wry smile and said, "You see things more clearly than we do; we've been too attached to appearances."

"Girl, I have to thank you for this. If they can really learn from it in the future, then you've done a great service."

Jiang Qiao smiled and said, "It's not really true. I came from that time, so I know what these people are thinking."

Now is the time for them to develop their values, and you teachers are the key to influencing them, so you have to give it a try.

Although it may be difficult, we have to take the first step, right?

Besides, Uncle Yang is there to oversee things for you. He even allowed the school to resume classes, which means he also saw the key to this situation.

Speaking of Yang Yunqi, Gao Zhongde couldn't help but admire him. "I really didn't expect that Lao Yang could shoulder this responsibility at such a critical moment. Okay, girl, I'll listen to your advice. I'll let them go out and experience life later."

Upon arriving at the hospital, Jiang Qiao first found a place to have Gao Zhongde's back checked.

"Wow, this is pretty serious."

"Sigh, I can bear it. I heard that your grandfather is quite skilled in this area, but he has always lived in the countryside. I had no choice but to come here to see for myself."

Jiang Qiao smiled and said, "My grandfather came back these past two days, but I was personally trained by him, so I'm fine with sprains and bruises."

Jiang Qiao's massage was really comfortable. In the end, Jiang Qiao applied the old man's family heirloom plaster to Gao Zhongde.

"Alright, take these medicines home, old man. Use them all up, both the oral and the topical ones. Your back should be almost healed by now."

Gao Zhongde sighed, "Tell me, if you had passed the exam back then, you'd probably be working in a hospital now."

Jiang Qiao smiled and said, "I didn't pass the exam, but I'll study slowly in the future. If you ever feel unwell, just come to me. Consider it as me learning and practicing at the same time."

At this moment, Song Zhi pushed the door open and came in. "Hey, are you done yet? I'm telling you, Lao Gao, you've been too much. You're not getting enough exercise. You should exercise more. Don't think that just because you're no longer in the army, you can relax."

See me? I exercise every day. My bones are getting old, I need to take better care of myself.

Gao Zhongde kicked Song Zhi and said, "Go away, you call this exercising? You've gotten so much fatter than I am. Is this what you call exercising?"

Song Zhi dodged him and said, "Hey Lao Gao, don't be so stubborn. If it were a one-on-one fight between the two of us, you definitely wouldn't be able to beat me. So, doing what I say is absolutely the right thing to do."

Gao Zhongde sighed, "What you do and what I do are two different things, okay? But looking back, I really should get moving. I can't deny that I'm getting old."

"By the way, what are you doing here?"

Song Zhi retorted, "Why can't I be here? I came to find Jiang Qiao, and the child was treated for your illness. I came here and the illness was cured. Go home now, and don't come here unless it's absolutely necessary."

Gao Zhongde smiled and said, "Who would want to come here if there's nothing wrong? I'm leaving now. There's a lot going on at school, so I have to go back. We can have a good talk later."