013 Ordinary Teacher Training, Preschool Teacher Training, and Nursing School

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The General Normal School, known in full as the Ordinary Teacher Training School, was specifically established to attract junior high graduates who had just finished their entrance exams. It was somewhat similar to the later targeted teacher training programs. The Kindergarten Teacher Training School was much the same, except graduates would go on to teach preschoolers, while those from the General Normal School taught primary school students.

Regardless of whether it was the General Normal School, the Kindergarten Teacher Training School, or the Health School, graduates from these institutions secured positions within public sector work units, complete with official status. Thus, these posts should not be underestimated; during this era, they were highly sought after. Moreover, all three schools accepted both rural and urban students—anyone who graduated from junior high could apply.

In the countryside, every household considered teaching and nursing jobs to be respectable. If a child became a teacher or nurse, it was viewed as a source of pride for the family.

Although Father Xie worked at a food processing factory, he lived in the rural area, and for him, urban jobs were out of reach. Teachers, doctors, and nurses were the most tangible options.

However, the rule was that only university graduates could become doctors, so for junior high graduates, teaching and nursing were the best choices.

Xie Yuanfeng arched her brows, somewhat disgruntled. "I don’t like the idea of being a teacher or a nurse. I want to be a star."

The Xiezhang Village collective had purchased a television, and each evening at seven, they played programs in a dedicated warehouse. Those wanting to watch would bring their own stools early to secure a spot.

Xie Yuanfeng was among the children who loved television. Every night, after dinner, she would carry her stool to the warehouse to claim a seat. Most of those vying for spots were children, though some elders joined in.

Xie Yuanfeng was particularly fond of movies—she especially enjoyed performances and often tried to imitate them. To Xie Yihuang, Xie Yuanfeng seemed to possess a glimmer of future stardom.

Father Xie’s face darkened when he heard her. "Star? What star? A proper girl becoming an actress? Don’t you know that’s the lowest of the low among all professions?"

Father Xie was reasonable in most matters, yet his worldview was limited. In his eyes, actors and stars were merely performers, and performers were failures—thus, the idea of becoming a star was not a respectable path.

Xie Yuanfeng retorted indignantly, "What do you mean by performer? Dad, that’s just professional discrimination."

Father Xie sneered, "If you dare to become a performer, I’ll break your legs."

Beside them, Xie Yunfeng spoke up, perhaps in an attempt to diffuse the tension, "I want to go to high school."

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Father Xie didn’t say much about this. "Depends on your grades. If you get into high school, then go. If not, think about applying to the General Normal School. Kindergarten teaching and nursing are more suited to girls, so you can only be a teacher."

Xie Yihuang shook her head as she listened. Indeed, limited vision narrows ambition.

In the future, there would be plenty of male kindergarten teachers and nurses. Even though Xie Yihuang was aware of how things would develop, she wouldn’t say anything at this moment. In the Xie household, no matter how democratic Father Xie might seem, he had his own stubbornness—and as someone who couldn’t outmuscle her father, Xie Yihuang definitely wouldn’t stir up trouble unnecessarily.

Xie Yunfeng nodded slightly, not objecting, though he had his own plans. Whatever those were, he would wait until he got into high school before considering them.

As far as Father Xie was concerned, as long as his children didn’t aspire to become so-called stars, he had no objections to their applying to other schools.

Xie Yihuang remained silent. Given her current age, she didn’t need to worry about future plans yet, so the topic didn’t concern her for now.

The next day, Mother Xie took Xie Yihuang to register at Hongqi Primary School nearby.

Hongqi Primary School was the village school in Xiezhang Village, part of the Tianhua County elementary system. For outsiders, it was referred to as Xiezhang Branch of Tianhua Primary School, but locals simply called it Hongqi Primary.

Most students at Hongqi Primary were children from Xiezhang Village, as well as from Ou Xie Village and Hejia Village. In reality, the number of students at each grade level wasn’t large. Across all three villages, there were fifty-one first graders this year, divided into two classes: one with twenty-six students and one with twenty-five.

Xie Yihuang registered early and was placed in Class 101.

Yes, classes were assigned according to registration order—Class 101 had twenty-six students, Class 102 had twenty-five.

The homeroom teacher for Class 101 was also the language teacher for both classes. The homeroom teacher for Class 102 was the math teacher, who also taught math to Class 101.

All other teachers were shared between the classes.

At this point, primary school subjects were few: mathematics, language, physical education, music, and manual labor.

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Generally, each class had two physical education lessons, two music lessons, and two manual labor lessons per week, with the rest of the schedule devoted to math and language. If there was time left, students studied independently.

Children were largely left to themselves, so the atmosphere was far less tense than in later years.

Of course, academics were still valued. Since the college entrance exam had been reinstated, it meant that academic achievement mattered. However, with the path only just reopened, there were bound to be some bumps along the way.

It must be said, students now truly enjoyed their childhoods. In later years, once school began, supplementary classes would be unavoidable.

For Xie Yihuang, the current curriculum was far too easy. With her photographic memory, she wondered if she should become a model student—though she questioned whether maintaining that reputation might be exhausting.

Xie Yihuang understood herself well; she was the type who only acted when pushed by others. Otherwise, in her previous life, she wouldn’t have spent so many years as a statistician at a bank—tedious work day after day. Even when she obtained her advanced financial certification and several profitable companies offered her positions, she declined.

It was mainly because she disliked mental exertion. Besides, the bank job was stable, so she never had the mindset to pursue side ventures.

Xie Yihuang found herself somewhat lost, wondering whether she should seek the same stable life in this new existence.

Without a goal, life felt dull. She pondered for a moment and decided to consult the sisters in her group.

With uncertainty in her eyes, Xie Yihuang asked, "Sisters, I’m now a primary school student. Although I’m still young, I suddenly realized I don’t know what I want to do in the future. If I had to write an essay titled 'My Dream,' I swear I wouldn’t be able to write a single word, because I have no idea what my dream is."

Bing Ying, who was just about to return to her duties, heard Xie Yihuang’s words. "Little Huang, have you lost your sense of purpose?"

Xie Yihuang replied, "Yes, with my abilities, I could easily be a top student. But I don’t understand—what’s the point of being a model student or a genius? Without a goal, I don’t know what I want to do in the future. No matter how good my talent is, it’s useless if I lack direction."

Her words were sincere—she truly felt lost.