Chapter 60: Teacher Appreciation Banquet
Time flies and it is now the end of September. The graduation time for the fifth batch of students of the Institute of Literature and Research is getting closer.
During this period, everyone basically became free-range, either working on relationships, meeting friends, and expanding their network, or writing furiously to try to leave a good result for their academic career.
Zhang Lin and Jiang Zilong applied to the institute for a thank-you banquet for the teachers.
The farewell banquet for teachers was held in the cafeteria of D School. We have to admit that the chefs in the cafeteria of D School are very skilled.
In the past, the staple food was cornmeal cakes and corn grits porridge, and all the dishes were cooked in big pots. When the critical moment came, the chefs would not hesitate.
Eight cold and eight hot dishes, from all major cuisines of Sichuan, Liaoning, Shandong and Guangdong, are served right away, even the cups, plates and bowls are all prepared.
Many people watching this scene couldn't help but sigh. They had been in School D for half a year, but it was only today that they saw the true skills of the master chefs.
In the evening, the invited tutors arrived one after another, and their students were already at the door to greet and accompany them.
There was still some time before dinner, so everyone took their mentors to visit the institute's location.
The institute brought in cameras today, and while the light was still good at this time, many people pulled their supervisors to the tree in the yard to take photos.
Mr. Wan was accompanied by his daughter Wan Fang and arrived late. He changed into a new white shirt today and looked very energetic.
Like everyone else, Lin Weimin first took a photo with Mr. Wan, and then took a photo with Mr. Wan and his daughter.
The tutors were all famous people, so Lin Weimin naturally would not miss the opportunity to take a photo with them. After taking a photo with Mr. Wan, he went up to them one by one to take photos with them, which made everyone think of the boy asking for an autograph on the first day of school.
The past events came to mind vividly and everyone laughed.
The institute arranged the tutors and students to sit at the same table. In addition to Mr. Wan and his daughter, Lin Weimin's table also included Teacher Jin Jin and his three students, Huang Anyi, Qu Xiaowei and Guo Yudao.
The stools in the cafeteria have no backs. Lin Weimin knew that Mr. Wan was used to sitting on chairs with backs at home, so he ran back to the dormitory and got him one.
"Just sit on the stool, it's not that pretentious."
Lin Weimin joked, "Today is a teacher appreciation banquet, so I have to serve you well."
Only then did Mr. Wan sit down on the chair.
Seeing him like this, Qu Xiaowei naturally didn't want to be left behind, so he ran back to the dormitory and got a chair for Teacher Jin Jin to sit on.
When the students around saw this, they began to follow suit.
When the dinner was about to start, more than ten mentors each had a chair sitting under their buttocks.
At six o'clock, Director Xu Gang came to the stage and said a few words briefly, then announced the start of the dinner.
At the beginning, everyone was quite reserved and polite. From time to time, they raised their glasses to toast the tutors next to them and said some words of thanks.
After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere of the dinner became casual.
A few people who couldn't drink much, probably because they had reached their limit, spoke louder and seemed a little excited.
Like everyone else, Lin Weimin toasted Mr. Wan with a glass of wine. Knowing that Mr. Wan was not in good health, he did not toast him again, but instead started drinking with Wan Fang.
After drinking some wine, Wan Fang became more casual in her speech. "Little Junior Brother, it seems that you are determined to get both of us drunk today, right?"
"Sister, you are wrong. As the saying goes, a thousand cups are not enough when you meet a bosom friend. Today is a happy day. How can you say that you are forcing me to drink?"
"I don't believe you. Why don't you drink with others?"
"They are not of the same generation, but you are my senior sister."
Wan Fang was so disgusted by Lin Weimin's disgusting words that she got goosebumps all over her body. She gave him a look of disdain, but she still drank the wine.
After three rounds of drinks, crying sounds began to be heard at the table.
Lin Weimin took a look and saw that it was Cheng Shixu.
He usually doesn't talk much in class, and always feels inferior when facing talented classmates. It's probably because he has been suppressing it for too long. Today he drank some wine and burst into tears.
The study life in the Institute of Literature was about to end, and the separation was imminent. Cheng Shixu's crying seemed to open the floodgates of tears in everyone's hearts, and several students with low tear points started crying immediately.
Lin Weimin also felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, as he was not a person who liked to be sentimental.
Looking back to this time last year, he was still making a living in the countryside of Heilongjiang Province. In order to improve his life, he had worn out countless pen tips.
Fortunately, Yao Tian got the opportunity to study at the Institute of Literature, which completely changed his life.
When he first came to the Institute of Literature, he felt out of place here and his only thought was how to make some quick money.
But gradually, he adapted to the environment here, got used to attending classes, writing, and also got used to the teachers and classmates around him.
Writing not only improved his life, but also brought him spiritual satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment, and allowed him to meet many lovely people.
The crying sounds at the dinner were like the bell for the end of get out of class. The tutors did not share the sorrows of the students. Seeing the atmosphere gradually turning towards sadness and noise, the tutors left one after another.
Mr. Wan also said goodbye at this time, so Lin Weimin and Wan Fang helped him leave the cafeteria. The teachers in the institute came out to see them off, and Mr. Wan waved goodbye and let them go back.
The dirt road leading to the No. 18 bus stop was pitch black.
Without the noise from the banquet, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. Lin Weimin held Mr. Wan with one hand and chatted with him.
After walking a few dozen meters, there were street lights on the roadside. School D was the terminus of Route 18, and the bus was already waiting here, with the lights off and the door open.
Lin Weimin reluctantly let go of Mr. Wan's arm, his voice a little hoarse, "Teacher, then... goodbye."
Mr. Wan patted his hands, "Don't make it like a life-and-death separation. Haven't you got the work done? Come over to my house when you're free. You haven't finished your homework yet!"
Lin Weimin was stunned for a moment, then he realized that Mr. Wan truly treated him as a student, not a clerk entrusted to do a job just to get the job done.
There was a glimmer in his eyes, and he nodded heavily, "I understand, teacher!"
Mr. Wan patted his arm and said, "You have talent. Don't waste it."
"I remember, teacher."
The bus started moving slowly. Lin Weimin's sorrow disappeared because of Mr. Wan's words. Instead, he was filled with infinite yearning for his future life.
On the way back to the lecture hall, I would meet classmates who were seeing off their tutors every now and then. They talked in low voices, and their words were filled with sadness of parting.
Lin Weimin fully understood everyone. He had gotten his job, so he could stay at Yenching and maintain his relationship with his teacher Mr. Wan.
But most of the students in the class have families and jobs in other places. After this separation, we don’t know when we will see each other again. Some of them may hardly see each other again in their entire lives.
Looking back on the little things we've experienced together over the past six months, who wouldn't feel sad?
Lin Weimin walked to the gate of D School. Just like the day he came here, he couldn't help but look up at the sky. It was early autumn, the night wind was cool, and the moon was rising.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
