Forever Green

The red-golden sun was stretching his body and pulling himself up, starting to gaze through the broad window to look around. His curiosity astonished the roosters, who began stretching their necks; their lyrics started floating back and forth in the small town. At the foot of Carp Mountain, to the north, a huge piece of land was surrounded by a high wall. Within the wall, a few tall buildings stood in the lower and upper playgrounds. At the center was a small open stage flanked by two sets of stairs, where both playgrounds connected. Just a few feet away, behind the stage, was a ficus microcarpa. Its huge body was big enough to cover two basketball fields. Two major elephant-like branches reached to the sky. Many branches were almost covered by green moss. Bunches of brown roots from the higher branches hung straight down. In the treetop, sparrows were merrily preening their clothing and chasing each other back and forth.

After putting on his pants and shirt, he stood in front of a small mirror, combing his hair. While whistling a joyful tune, he grasped a plastic bottle and squeezed some gel in his palm to lift the front of his hair. He buttoned his cuffs and then quickly grasped a briefcase from a writing table and clamped it under his arm. After locking the door, he walked down the stairs in the right corner to the first floor. He reached the upper ground and directly went to a building a few minutes’ walk from his own. When he reached the second floor, he went into a room right next to the stairs. After entering the room, he placed his briefcase on a high table. In front of him were all familiar, innocent smiling faces, and the sound of chatting filled the small crowded room.

“Attention please. On this first day, I have some important announcements for all of you.”

Some were getting back to their seats, while others stopped their conversations and began to sit as still as crows.

“Welcome back to school, my class.” he said “This is going to be another crucial and challenging year. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” All the students responded.

“Good. I like to hear that. I can feel everybody’s confidence is increasing. But, don’t be over proud. Better take action instead of saying it.” He took out a small blue attendance book and said, “Now, let me see who is on my list.”

Reaching into his briefcase, he pulled out his fountain pen. Looking at the first two pages of the blue book, he started calling every student’s name. After taking attendance, he closed the blue manual and put it on the table.

“Time flies. Next year, all of you will graduate. Everyone will leave our dear alma mater and have a new period of experience in society. Many of you will go to either high school or technical secondary school. Some of you may not be able to continue another years of studying. But I hope everyone will do his best this year. Compared to other classes, including one of the top classes I teach, everybody has done a superb job over the past two years. As we often hear in one of the finest mottos: “It takes ten years to grow a great tree and one hundred years to cultivate a great person.” The motto implies that education is very important and takes time. Even though we only have one more year, there still is a chance to boost your grade level. If we can endure hardship and make an extra effort, it will pay off. Our class is not the top class in the school, but we can create the great miracle ourselves in the County Exam next year.”

After he looked at his students with his optimistic and encouraging eyes, he began to make his next announcement.

“The class will have the same structure as last semester. We have five student commissaries in the class, and I want to make a little bit of an adjustment. Because the President, Chen Yuan, moved to the top class last semester, Li Hua will take over her position and responsibility. The position of vice-president is assigned to Scholar Commissary Ma Jiang, and she will help the president take on some of the most important duties in the class. The Treasury Commissary, Lan Tian, will take over Ma Jiang’s duty. Our class needs an English commissary; I will discuss this with your English teacher. The Labor Commissary, Wang Wei, dropped out of school last semester, so we still need a person for his position.”

He began to look at each student row by row. Finally, he stared at a tall chunky student in the last row. All the students gradually turned around.

“Teacher, is anything wrong with me?” said Zhang Yao uneasily.

“There is nothing wrong with you.”

“Why is everyone looking at me?” said he with curiosity.

“It is because a great beam of light has come out from the back row, and we search for where the beam of hope falls.”

“Really? I don’t see anything. Where is the beam of light?”

“On you! Congratulations! From now on, you are the labor commissary and will share in the heaviest responsibilities of all.”

“Teacher. Please select somebody else. I don’t want to become a committee member or hold any other position in the class. Besides, I don’t have good grades.”

“Don’t say that. Everyone has his or her special abilities in different areas. The position requires certain skills. Although your academic achievement is not quite stellar, you have excellent leadership and communication skills. I have kept an eye on you since last semester, and I believe you will do a better job. Why don’t you give yourself a chance and try for one month? If you don’t like it after one month, we can renegotiate it, or I can assign the duty to someone else. What do you think?”
Zhang Yao hesitated for a minute and then nodded his head slightly, “OK, I’ll have a go, but only for a month.”

“Great. And I want you to assume another important position, the treasury commissary.”

“Teacher. I don’t want to have a hard time myself. Please pick someone else for treasury commissary. ” He pressed this issue.

“There is no better candidate. I want you to have two positions because these two positions are inseparable. The position is also very simple. You just collect and keep money. I believe that no one will dare to take money away from you. There is no doubt of that.”

While some students were laughing, Mr. Xia picked up the blue manual and walked to the first desk across from the lecture table.

“Lan Tian, please step outside with me for a minute.”

Lan Tian left his seat and walked outside of the classroom with Mr. Xia to the corner of the stairs.

“Lan Tian, could you please do me a favor?”

“Yes, teacher.”

“I need you to take attendance for this last year.”

“Teacher, can I ask a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Li Hua has helped you take the attendance since the first year. Why are you suddenly shifting this duty to me?” said Lan Tian curiously.

“I know what you mean,” said Mr. Xia. “Before Li Hua handed over the attendance book to me at the end of the previous semester, some teachers in the class came to my dorm and told me about the poor attenance rate. But when I looked at the book, it was not as those teachers said. So I have considered assigning this duty to someone else. Finally, I decide to choose you. I don’t know if you would like to help me?”

“Teacher. I am not sure whether I could adequately fulfill this duty. But I will try my best.”

“Excellent,” said Mr. Xia thankfully. “By the way, I think you have heard the news about the advanced program since last semester. Because there is a limitation, each class is only allowed to submit one student’s application for joining one of the top classes. Many teachers in the common classes have already handed in their students’ names to the school board. I want to recommend you. What do you think?”

“Thanks, Teacher. But I don’t know yet.”

“Don’t worry about the application fee. I can talk to the school board about it. But I will wait for your answer until the deadline. Let’s go back to our classroom now.” Mr. Xia smiled at him.

Lan Tian took the attendance book from Mr. Xia, and they went back to the classroom. After returning to his seat, Lan Tian put the book into his schoolbag. Mr. Xia walked to the corner where brooms and plastic dustpans were kept. He looked at the supplies for a second and then went back to his lecture table.

“I want everyone to submit five yuan to Zhang Yao for the class budget this semester. Please hand in the money this week. I will arrange for him to get new brooms and plastic dustpans as soon as possible. From today, two students, starting with the first row, will be on duty to clean the classroom after school every day at dusk. Zhan Yao will assign another two rows to carry out other school duties. As you know, last year the school board gave us a significant and particular mission. I know that everyone had endured much pain and effort in cleaning the bathrooms. This year, the duty will be taken over by other classes.”

When students began applauding, Mr. Xia continued, “But our class still needs to take charge of the teachers’ dorm and the small stage.” Students gradually showed their disappointment.

“From next week on, we are going to have the flag raising ceremony every Monday. Please wear your uniform; otherwise, you will get in trouble. Those of you who don’t have a school badge or have lost it, come to my “office” and get one for a yuan. Everyone can leave. All commissaries must stay for today’s meeting. Class dismissed.”
As the sun became tired of the day’s observation, he decided to do his task in cursory fashion and hurried down for another adventure. After the sun left, the moon gradually approached the center of the huge square. She grasped the edges of her skirt and danced in the center of the square. An audience of millions watched her with their admiring eyes. Crickets were chirping among tussocks. A breeze skimmed through the playgrounds. Its hands were gently swaying the branches of the ficus microcarpa, and every small piece of illuminant jade was carefully lifted up and down.

The fluorescent light was still turned on; the window next to the desk was still open. Both edges of the mosquito curtain were pulled away and hooked, and a piece of quilt was folded next to the corner of the wall. The cabinet to the right of the desk was filled with textbooks and other teaching materials. At this moment, the electric clock on the desk was buzzing. Mr. Xia began to pull his head up from the desk. After rubbing his temples and eyes for a few moments, he took his glasses from the desk and put them back on. He went to a washbasin, wetted his towel, and cleaned his face. As he walked back to the desk, he took out a water jug from under the writing table and poured hot water into an empty glass. After satisfying his thirst, Mr. Xia was back in his chair. He slightly bent his body, reached for one of the piles of notebooks on the edge of the bed, and placed it on the desk. Opening one of the drawers of the writing table, he picked up a small bottle next to a box of school badges and put it on the desk. After opening the lid, he dipped the point of his fountain pen into the bottle. After the fountain pen was filled, he screwed the lid onto the bottle and put it back in the drawer. He filled the margins of the notebooks with tiny characters. Next to his pillow, the second hand of the clock was striding.

***

“Tomorrow, we will continue our discussion of “Love of Life” by Jack London. Everyone should start studying his notes. The next test is on November 2, which is next Wednesday. Class dismissed.” He picked up his briefcase and went out of the classroom. After walking out of the main teaching building and reaching the lower ground, he decided to go to the school dinning room. Almost arriving in front of the stairs left next to the small stage, he turned away to his dormitory and saw a student pacing up and down in front of his dorm. After looking at his watch, Mr. Xia decided to go back his dorm first.

Almost reaching the second floor, he encountered Lan Tian on the stairs.

“Lan Tian?”

“Teacher,” said Lan Tian with a heavy voice, “There is something I want to talk to you.”

“Really? I would like to hear it. Please come to my room and talk.” said Mr. Xia, greeting Lan Tian with his smile.

After opening the door, Mr. Xia pulled up his chair and let Lan Tian sat down. While Mr. Xia went to pour a glass of hot water, Lan Tian opened his schoolbag slightly and tried to take out something. A second later, the glass of hot water was in front of Lan Tian. Looking at the glass of hot water and Mr. Xia’s smiling face, he withdrew his hand and took the glass from Mr. Xia.

“What do you want to tell me?” Mr. Xia sat down on the edge of his bed.
Lan Tian put the glass on the bureau. He didn’t say anything but started pulling the band of his schoolbag.

“Still struggling for the decision?” said Mr. Xia, “I think you should give yourself a chance. Since the first year, you have made an excellent impression on me. Even though you don’t talk much, you are one of the hard-working students in my classes. Last year, you made great progress, and your grade jumped from top the 100 to top the 80 at the same grade level in the school. I can guarantee you will improve your grade a lot if you come to the top class.”

At this moment, Mr. Xia’s stomach was complaining. While Lan Tian was laughing, Mr. Xia stood up and rubbed his abdomen.

“Sorry, Lan Tian. I think I have to go for my lunch. I think you need to go to your class now because this period has already begun. I would like to talk about it with you next time.” Mr. Xia said, “remember, I always have faith in you. And I will always leave a seat for you if you want it.”

Suddenly, warmness flew into Lan Tian’s heart and all the way through his entire body. He stood up from the chair and adjusted his schoolbag. After locking his door, Mr. Xia walked down the stairs with Lan Tian to the front dorm. Mr. Xia said goodbye to Lan Tian and then walked up the stairs to the upper ground. Gazing at Mr. Xia’s leaving and disappearing, Lan Tian took out of the blue attendance book from his schoolbag. He looked at the ficus microcarpa which was so familiar and graceful. It was waving and smiling to Lan Tian.

One afternoon, the sun blew his stack in the middle of the sky. The foggy atmosphere made it hard for people to breathe. Pieces of clouds started getting together to conciliate his insecure mood; the blue sky turned black inch by inch. After a few minutes, lightning bolts lacerated the heavy clouds. Drums pounded harsher and harsher into eardrums and hearts. Rain started pouring down.

Mr. Xia closed the window and went to turn on the fluorescent light near the door. He walked to his bureau and wiped up the dampened notebooks. A few minutes later, a man came into the room and started wiping with his hair and his shirt with his hands.

“Hello, Teacher Zeng. You are always too busy to visit my humble dorm. Why have you come all of a sudden with your nice suit? The sun must have rise in the west this morning.”

“Yes, it is unusual. Today for me it is also very unlucky. When I had almost reached the stairs to the dorm area, the heavy rain came ahead of the time. Look at my clothing. I am almost soaked through. When it rains, it pours.”

“Please sit down. Let me get a glass of water for you.”

“Thanks. I will leave in a few minutes because it’s almost time for my next lecture. I just want to tell you about a serious altercation in your class one and half hours ago.”

“What happened?” asked Mr. Xia anxiously.

“When I was almost finished with my physics lecture, before the period was over, Jiang Guo and Lan Tian collided with each other. I saw Jiang Guo slap Lan Tian, and then Lan Tian slapped Jiang Guo back. I immediately got involved to prevent a more serious confrontation.”

“What was the motive?” said Mr. Xia.

“Before they confronted each other, I saw Jiang Guo whisper to Lan Tian. Lan Tian gave him an attendance book. A few minutes later, Jiang Guo pushed Lan Tian’s elbow. I felt they had an argument over the blue book.”

“How was Lan Tian?” said Mr. Xia anxiously.

“After I asked them to sit down, Lan Tian put his head down on his crossed arms, and his body shivered. My heart went out to him. I really wanted to interfere, but I am not in charge of the class. How are you going to deal with the conflict?”

“This kind of behavior is not tolerable,” said Mr. Xia

Mr. Zeng looked at his watch and said, “I have to go, Mr. Xia. My next class has already started. Before I hurry back to my class, I have to go back to my dorm and get an umbrella.”

“Thanks for informing me, Mr. Zeng.” said Mr. Xia.

“You’re welcome. Lan Tian and other good students shouldn’t be treated that way.”
Mr. Xia walked with Mr. Zeng through the door and saw him out up to the stairs, he went back to his chair. Mr. Xia put his palms over his nose and mouth. He took a deep breath and sighed. His forehead was deeply wrinkled. Drops of rainwater continuously hit the window glass. On the ground, the ficus microcarpa swayed. The treetops were swayed severely and slashed by the downpour. Many jade leaves were torn and discarded all over the ground, and each piece was tainted by clay and dirt. Scared sparrows crowded together and quietly stayed on the tree’s shoulders.
The next morning, after returning from the school dining room, Mr. Xia put his textbook and other lecture materials into his briefcase and left the dorm. When he arrived at the front of the building, he went upstairs. The noises ceased when he reached the second floor.

“Stand up” the President, Li Hua, said with a loud clear voice, and then all the students stood up.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, teacher,” the entire class replied at one time.

“Sit down, please.”

After all the students sat down, Mr. Xia placed his briefcase on the lecture table.

“Before the class begins, I want to remind everybody of something.” He emphasized, “The six commissaries are the backbones of the class, and each of them takes a different responsibility in class affairs.” He left the lecture table and began to walk to the back rows. “I do not want anyone to argue with these commissaries if they are on duty. Remember they do what I want them to do. If any of you is not satisfied with the work the commissaries have done, you can talk to me. But revenge is not permissible or forgivable.”

Reaching the end of the rows, he walked back toward to the blackboard and stood in front of his lecture table. Standing next to the front row, Mr. Xia glanced at the student who sat next to Lan Tian. And then he looked around the class.

“Jiang Guo. Leave your seat and come to the front of the room right now.” Mr. Xia spoke to the student who sat next to Lian Tian. Jiang Guo didn’t pay attention to Mr. Xia and turned his head to face the window, away from Mr. Xia. At this moment, the entire class became so noiseless that voices coming from the adjoining class could be heard. The atmosphere was getting oppressive and choky. Suddenly, a palm hit the lecture table. The huge sound overwhelmed the entire class, and all the students were startled.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Said Mr. Xia severely. “Right now!” Jiang Guo dragged himself from his seat. Before standing in front of Mr. Xia, he glimpsed Lan Tian. Jiang Guo put his hands into his pockets and looked at Mr. Xia.

“Tell me why you hit Lan Tian.” said Mr. Xia with anger.

“He minds my business.” said Jiang Guo rationally.

“How?”

“Every time I was late or absent, he always marked my name down in the blue book. I asked him to erase some marks, but he refused. Nobody has ever refused my asking this in the class. But he is the first one. So I gave him a lesson.”

“Don’t you know about the consequences?”

“Consequences? I’ve never heard about them in my life. No one would dare to touch me. Even the principal greets me when we meet. You are only a teacher coming from city. You better stay away from me.”

“I am in charge of this class, and everyone must follow my rules,” said Mr. Xia, “I want you to apologize to Lan Tian. Also, I want you to swear you won’t commit such brutality against others in the class.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Stand and face the wall in my class period for a whole week.” Mr. Xia pointed to a corner a few feet from his lecture table.

When Jiang Guo tried to walk away and return his seat, Mr. Xia pulled him to the corner. Jiang Guo tried to go back, but Mr. Xia turned him back.

“Get out of my way,” said Jiang Guo irritably.

“You can go back to your seat if you apologize for what you did. Otherwise, you have to stand and face the wall.”

“I don’t like following any silly rules, and I won’t stand and face the stupid wall. “You and the bullhead” – Jiang Guo pointed to Lan Tian- “cannot mind my business.”

Mr. Xia raised his right hand and fiercely slapped Jiang Guo’s face. All the rest of the students were shocked and frozen at this moment. They held their breath; their hearts beat faster. After putting his hand over his red cheek and scowling at Mr. Xia, Jiang Guo quickly went back to the corner. He grasped a broom and tried to pull the stick out of the broom head. He dropped the broom near his feet and grasped another one to pull again. After he pulled the stick out, he held it with both hands and tried to step toward Mr. Xia. Ignoring the broom on the floor, he tripped over it at his first step. He fell face down on the floor, and horrible pain prevented him from getting up right away. Some students in the front rows bent forward to see how he was. Jiang Guo slowly got up. He stroked his cheek, which was slightly scraped. With a lump in his throat, he ran out of the class.

After looking at the doorway for a few seconds, Mr. Xia picked up the stick and the head of the broom and put them together back in the corner. He walked back to his lecture table. He took out a sheet full of notes from his briefcase and turned to the blackboard. From the blackboard ledge, he picked up a piece of chalk. His hand was shaking. His fingers crumbed the piece of chalk. After standing for a while, he took another piece of chalk and started to write. His hand moved ploddingly, stroke by stroke; every character was carved into the board. Each time the piece of chalk clicked against the board, the sound was stronger and more lamentable.

Two days later, after the flag raising ceremony, Mr. Xia went back to his dorm. While he was preparing his lecture, the loud speaker urgently mentioned his name. Mr. Xia quickly put down his work, locked the door, and hurried to the lower ground. After reaching the third floor of the main building, he walked directly to a big room a few feet away from the classrooms next to the stairway. When he arrived at the door, he knocked on the door six times.

“Come in, please.”

Mr. Xia walked toward a man. The man wore a good suit with a tie and sat in an executive chair. After he saw Mr. Xia standing in front of his desk, he stopped writing and put down his pen.

“Have a seat, please, Teacher Xia.”

Mr. Xia pulled up a chair and sat down. The man closed his notebook and started look up at Mr. Xia.

“Teacher. Xia, do you know why I asked you to come to my office?” the man queried.

“I don’t know, Principal Li.” said Mr. Xia in confusion.

“All right. Let’s come straight to the point,” said Principal Li seriously, “Do you know who Mr. Jiang is?”

“Principal Li, are you talking about the man who donated ten thousand yuans to our school a few years ago?” said Mr. Xia.

“That’s right. He came to my office yesterday.”

“Is any school project going to be initiated?”

“No, they just came for their son.”

“Their son?”

“He is in your class. And he is called Jiang Guo.”

“Jiang Guo?”

“Yes. Jiang Guo. Mrs. Jiang complained to me. He is also disappointed in the failure in our school system,” said Principal Li wrathfully. “He said you beat up his son and suspended him for a whole week. He also hastened to me to undo this wrongdoing.”

Mr. Xia stared at his briefcase on his knees and kept silent. Principal Li picked up a glass of tea to satisfy his thirst, and then he continued.

“Mr. Xia, you have done an excellent job since you came to the school. I was so impressed by your devotion in the first three years that I decided to let you take charge of two classes in the fourth year. I also appreciated your dispassionate manner while handling students’ issues. But why did you fail to control yourself this time? Why…”

“Principal Li.” Mr. Xia interrupted him and paused for a few seconds. “I would like to accept any criticism and punishment.”

“Similar troubling affairs happened in past years. The school board would impose criticism. But your case is more troublesome. After a discussion with a few members of the school board, we have decided that you have to hand in a report a week from today. In the report, you have to explain how the violence happened. And you also need to indicate how to eliminate similar behavior and future violence. By the way, you are on probation from this moment on. Teacher Huang well temporarily take on your responsibilities. I may consider restoring your position based on your work. Do you have any questions, Teacher Xia?”

“No, Principal Li.”

“Excellent. And I am looking forward to your report.”

Mr. Xia left the room and went back to his dorm. After he was back in his chair, he picked up his fountain pen again and tried to finish his incomplete paragraph. After writing a few characters, the pen lacerated the paper. He tore sheet after sheet and dropped them all around the floor. He put down his fountain pen and took off his eyeglasses. He closed his eyes and leaned his back in the chair for a while. And then he put the few sheets of the notebook away, and took out a new one from one of the drawers. After he left his chair, he picked up all the crumpled papers and put them into a trash container. With his washbasin and towel, he went out of the room. He put down his washbasin beside a concrete sink and then turned on the tap.
Even though he was a great distances away from the giant tree, it seemed to be so close to Mr. Xia. The ficus microcarpa slightly let down its shoulders. Some dying back pieces were broken off. It was despondent and reticent. But in the embrace of the sunshine, the every piece of jade was alight and holding its eternity.

Editors: Prof. Adam Berlin (Eng 216) & Mrs. Annex & Mrs. Judith