RCHE ### Chapter 3 Homework

With his small green canvas backpack on his back, Chen Kangjie headed out to school with his three sisters. Given his current level of knowledge, he certainly didn't need to attend elementary school, but he was still very happy. His happiest times were during elementary and middle school. So, even though he found these "low-level" lessons unchallenging, he was content to relive the school days, reconnecting with childhood friends (many of whom he'd lost touch with after starting work), and enjoying the rare innocence and purity of childhood.

As soon as they reached the street corner, he heard the sound of running footsteps behind him. Before he could turn around, a hand was placed on his shoulder. Turning, Chen Kangjie saw a smiling round face—it was his best friend from elementary school, Ma Wei.

"Lao Wen, why didn't you come to school this morning?"

"Nothing, just had some stuff to do."

Ma Wei nodded cheerfully, "Oh."

"Ju Yan, you guys go on by yourselves. I'll walk to school with Ma Wei," Chen Kangjie told his sisters.

Sixth Sister Chen Jing seemed a bit unhappy, but she still turned around and left with Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister. Chen Kangjie and Ma Wei walked behind, chatting.

They didn't talk about much, mostly just Ma Wei filling him in on the class situation. Since it wouldn't be appropriate to ask directly, Chen Kangjie had to probe indirectly. Ma Wei, being a second grader (a little kid compared to thirty-year-old Chen Kangjie), didn't suspect anything and quickly spilled everything he knew.

Through the conversation, Chen Kangjie learned that his current class was the same as before, with the same classmates and teachers. He had feared that his "little butterfly" effect might have changed things.

After about ten minutes, they reached the school. Ma Wei waited outside the teacher's office while Chen Kangjie went in to find his homeroom teacher, Teacher Chen, and handed her the leave note. She glanced at it and nodded, "Alright, go to class now." Chen Kangjie didn't have a good impression of Teacher Chen from his previous life, so he turned and left without saying a word.

Outside, he saw Ma Wei hiding in a corner and asked, "What are you doing? You look like a thief."

Ma Wei walked over and put his arm around Chen Kangjie's shoulder, "Hehe, just avoiding 'Pigsy'."

Only then did Chen Kangjie remember that Teacher Chen's real name was Chen Hongmei. She was usually harsh on average students and clearly favored those with good grades and wealthy families. Since most of Chen Kangjie's childhood friends had poor grades and came from ordinary working-class families, they didn't like Teacher Chen. Moreover, she was a bit chubby, so everyone secretly called her "Pigsy" and avoided her whenever possible.

Chen Kangjie could only laugh along, as he had also been afraid of Teacher Chen in his previous life. But now, with his rebirth, everything was different.

The two of them chatted and laughed as they arrived at their second-floor classroom. Most of the classmates were already there. Chen Kangjie and Ma Wei were desk mates and sat in the last row, so Chen Kangjie confidently sat down next to Ma Wei. Looking around, everyone felt both familiar and strange.

A pretty girl with long hair and a face shaped like a melon seed approached him.

"Chen Kangjie, where's your homework?"

"Homework? What homework?"

Chen Kangjie felt a bit puzzled. He knew this girl was Wang Hongjuan, the class monitor of second grade class three, but he didn't know what homework she was referring to.

"Hmph, the Chinese and math homework assigned by the teacher yesterday. You weren't here this morning. Did you skip school because you didn't do your homework?" Wang Hongjuan, feeling perhaps that she was being mocked, spoke angrily. Normally proud, she was now flustered.

At that moment, Chen Kangjie, having just been reborn, had no idea about any homework. If he had known, he could have easily completed it in minutes given his current knowledge. As a thirty-year-old, he shouldn't have quarreled with a little girl, but her condescending tone annoyed him. Did she really think he was the same Chen Kangjie from his previous life?

"Class Monitor, I really didn't know about any homework. I was sick this morning and gave my leave note to Teacher Chen. If you don't believe me, you can ask her. Oh, by the way, what homework was assigned? Tell me, and I'll hand it in five minutes," Chen Kangjie replied calmly, with a faint smile on his face.

Wang Hongjuan had never been treated like this. Usually, everyone either loved or deferred to her because of her good grades and the teachers' affection. So, she couldn't handle Chen Kangjie's teasing tone, and tears welled up in her eyes as she ran back to her seat, crying softly.

Several classmates from the back rows gave Chen Kangjie thumbs up, seemingly praising his courage and fearlessness.

Seeing her like this, Chen Kangjie felt a bit troubled. He wasn't worried about being scolded by the teacher; he just felt that as an adult, he shouldn't bully a little girl. He thought about going over to apologize and comfort her. Although he hadn't married or had children in his previous life, he had seen enough TV shows and movies to know how to comfort a child.

Just then, an annoying voice reached his ears.

"Chen Kangjie, it's bad enough that you don't like studying, but how can you bully the class monitor? I'm going to tell the teacher."

The speaker was the vice monitor, Wang Xueping, a notorious brown-noser. His father was a minor official at the mine, and with his decent grades, he was always smug.

Chen Kangjie had been feeling soft-hearted, thinking about apologizing to Wang Hongjuan, but hearing Wang Xueping's words made him even more annoyed. *** really thought he was the same old Chen Kangjie from his previous life, letting this little brat jump out and scold and threaten him.

"Mind your own business! Which eye saw me bullying the class monitor? If you want to tell the teacher, go ahead. Don't dawdle here like a meddlesome dog."

Hearing Chen Kangjie's words, many classmates were surprised. When had Chen Kangjie become so brave? Wasn't he usually very obedient at the mention of telling the teacher? Several girls covered their mouths in shock, and when Chen Kangjie's sharp gaze swept over, they quickly covered their mouths with their hands.

Chapter Three Homework

Carrying his own green canvas school bag, Chen Kangjie went out to school with his three older sisters. Given his current level of knowledge, he hardly needed to attend elementary school. However, Chen Kangjie was quite happy about it because his favorite times were in elementary and middle school. Even though he didn't need to learn these "elementary" lessons, he was satisfied to relive the school days and reconnect with childhood friends, something he had lost touch with after starting work.

Just as they reached the street corner, he heard the sound of running from behind. Before he could turn around, a hand tapped his shoulder. Chen Kangjie turned to see a beaming round face—his best friend from elementary school, Ma Wei.

"Old Wen, why didn't you go to school this morning?" Ma Wei asked.

"Nothing much, had some things to do."

Ma Wei nodded happily. "Oh."

"Juyan, you guys go ahead. I'll go to school with Ma Wei," Chen Kangjie told his sisters.

Sixth Sister Chen Jing seemed a bit unhappy but still turned to walk off with Fourth and Fifth Sister. Chen Kangjie and Ma Wei followed, chatting as they walked.

They didn't talk about much, just Ma Wei giving updates about the class. Chen Kangjie, being a thirty-year-old in the body of a second-grader, couldn't ask directly, so he subtly probed. Ma Wei, a genuine second-grader, had no suspicions and easily spilled everything he knew.

From Ma Wei, Chen Kangjie learned that his class was still the same, with the same classmates and teachers. He had worried his "little butterfly" presence might have changed things.

In ten minutes, they arrived at school. Ma Wei waited at the teacher's office door while Chen Kangjie went in to hand his leave note to the homeroom teacher, Ms. Chen. She glanced at it and nodded, "Alright, go to class."

Chen Kangjie didn't have a good impression of Ms. Chen from his previous life, so he didn't say a word and left the office.

Outside, he saw Ma Wei hiding in a corner. "What are you doing? Sneaking around like a thief?" he asked.

Ma Wei came up and put an arm around Chen Kangjie's shoulder, "Haha, just avoiding 'Pigsy.'"

Chen Kangjie then remembered Ms. Chen's nickname, "Pigsy," because she was harsh on average students, favoring those with good grades or affluent backgrounds. The kids who performed poorly and came from modest families didn't like her, especially since she was a bit chubby. They all tried to avoid her.

Chen Kangjie just laughed, remembering his own fear of Ms. Chen in his past life. Now, things were different due to his rebirth.

The two of them entered the classroom, which was almost full. Chen Kangjie and Ma Wei were desk mates in the last row, so he casually sat down, feeling a mix of familiarity and strangeness looking around.

At that moment, a pretty girl with long hair, taller than most girls, and a delicate face, approached.

"Chen Kangjie, where's your homework?"

"Homework? What homework?" Chen Kangjie was puzzled. He knew this girl was Wang Hongjuan, the class monitor of Grade 2, Class 3, but had no idea what homework she was referring to.

"Hmph, the Chinese and math homework the teacher assigned yesterday. You didn't come this morning, did you skip class because you didn't do your homework?" Wang Hongjuan, a proud girl, was clearly upset and accused him angrily.

Having just returned to this life half a day ago, Chen Kangjie had no idea about the homework. If he knew, given his current knowledge, he could finish it in minutes. Even though a thirty-year-old shouldn't argue with a little girl, her high-and-mighty tone annoyed him.

"Class monitor, I really didn't know about the homework. I was sick this morning and have already given a leave note to Ms. Chen. You can ask her if you don't believe me. Oh, and what was the homework? Tell me, and I'll give it to you in five minutes." Chen Kangjie calmly replied with a faint smile.

Wang Hongjuan, never having been treated this way, was on the verge of tears and ran back to her seat crying. Some classmates secretly gave Chen Kangjie thumbs up, admiring his courage.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Kangjie felt a bit troubled. Not worried about the teacher's scolding, but feeling bad about bullying a little girl. Just as he was considering whether to apologize, a discordant voice interrupted.

"Chen Kangjie, if you don't like studying, that's fine, but why bully the class monitor? I'm telling the teacher!" It was the vice monitor, Wang Xueping, a little bootlicker proud of his minor official father and decent grades.

Chen Kangjie, initially inclined to apologize, became more annoyed. This little brat thought he could lecture him? "Mind your own business. Which eye saw me bullying the class monitor? If you like telling the teacher, go ahead, stop whining like a busybody."

The surrounding students were surprised. When did Chen Kangjie become so brave? Some girls covered their mouths in astonishment.

Ma Wei gently tugged Chen Kangjie's shirt, whispering, "Old Wen, stop. That kid really will tell the teacher, and you didn't hand in your homework. Ms. Chen will scold you."

In the classroom, with so many students around, Ma Wei didn't dare call Ms. Chen "Pigsy," fearing Wang Xueping would tell on him.

Chen Kangjie felt warmth in his heart and ignored Wang Xueping, waving his hand dismissively as if shooing him away.

Seeing Chen Kangjie's demeanor, many students smirked.

Wang Xueping, feeling humiliated, stomped his foot and glared at Chen Kangjie before running out of the classroom.

Everyone knew he was off to report to the teacher. Wang Hongjuan stopped crying and looked at Chen Kangjie with red eyes. Within minutes, Ms. Chen Hongmei appeared at the classroom door.

"Chen Kangjie, Wang Hongjuan, come with me to the office," she called angrily, clearly directing her anger at Chen Kangjie, given his poor grades. Behind her, Wang Xueping peeked out, gloating.

Chen Kangjie nonchalantly walked with Wang Hongjuan to the office. Before they even sat down, Ms. Chen sternly asked, "Chen Kangjie, what's going on? You skip class in the morning and cause trouble in the afternoon. Do you want me to call your parents?"

Students with poor grades often feared having their parents called, knowing it would result in a scolding at home. Ma Wei often faced his father's slipper after such calls.

With other teachers turning to see what was happening, Chen Kangjie calmly replied, "Ms. Chen, let the class monitor explain the situation. I'm sure she will be fair."

Chen Kangjie remained composed, subtly flattering Wang Hongjuan to ensure she wouldn't lie like Wang Xueping.

The other teachers were surprised by his mature demeanor. Ms. Chen was even more shocked, wondering if this was the same timid student she had known. She suspected something had changed but still needed to address the issue and gauge Chen Kangjie's behavior.

"Is that how it is?" Ms. Chen asked Wang Hongjuan.

Wang Hongjuan, seeing all eyes on her, glanced at Chen Kangjie, who maintained a calm smile, and recounted the events.

"Is that true?" Ms. Chen asked Chen Kangjie.

"Basically, yes. I was sick last night and didn't do the homework. When the class monitor asked, I realized my mistake and asked for her help. The class monitor is our role model and should help us improve. I had no intention of bullying her," Chen Kangjie replied firmly.

Ms. Chen, skeptical, thought, 'Is this really the Chen Kangjie I’ve taught for over a year? He used to be so timid.' Despite her doubts, she needed to resolve the issue and assess him further.

"So, you're saying if I tell you the homework, you can finish it in five minutes?" she asked.

"Yes," Chen Kangjie confidently answered.

Ms. Chen took out the Chinese assignments (since she was the Chinese teacher) and pointed out yesterday's tasks. She handed him a piece of letter paper, and he started writing without even looking at the questions.

They were simple fill-in-the-blank and copy-the-character tasks. Not wanting to draw too much attention, Chen Kangjie used regular script and completed the assignments in about five minutes. If he used his college-learned cursive, it would have taken a minute.

Ms. Chen, along with two other teachers, examined his work. They weren't checking for mistakes, as Ms. Chen had seen him write the correct answers. They were admiring his handwriting, which was far too refined for a second-grader. Ms. Chen didn't know that in his previous life, Chen Kangjie had practiced calligraphy through middle and high school.

"Who taught you to write?" Ms. Chen asked.

Realizing he had overdone it, Chen Kangjie lied, "My dad taught me. He's good at both brush and pen calligraphy."

Ms. Chen, somewhat convinced, thought, 'Maybe he just wasn't diligent before. I'll ask his father at the next parent-teacher meeting.' She decided to observe him further, suspecting he might be a promising student if properly guided.

Wang Hongjuan, seeing the teachers' attention on this usually poor student, felt a bit upset. She glanced at Chen Kangjie, who maintained a calm smile, and bit her lip, which Chen Kangjie noticed but ignored.

"You can go back to class. Remember to do your homework, and good job, Wang Hongjuan, for being a responsible class

 monitor," Ms. Chen said with a smile, easing the tension.

Wang Hongjuan, now smiling, glanced at Chen Kangjie triumphantly as if to say, "See, Ms. Chen praised me again."

Returning to class, they knocked and entered after the teacher allowed them.

"How was it? Did you get scolded?" Ma Wei asked as they sat down.

"All good," Chen Kangjie replied nonchalantly.

"Really? No scolding? No call to parents?"

"Man, why are you so nosy? I said it’s fine. Focus on your drawing and remember to help me with mine," Chen Kangjie chuckled at Ma Wei's disbelief.

This class was art, a subject almost every afternoon alongside music, PE, and calligraphy. Chen Kangjie, terrible at drawing in his past life, often relied on Ma Wei, who, despite poor grades, could draw a decent turtle. So, he entrusted Ma Wei with the task.

Ma Wei, puzzled by the term "nosy," assumed Chen Kangjie was in a bad mood after the office visit. Not believing his casual "all good," Ma Wei, as a good friend, helped him out by drawing some flowers for the assignment, knowing the teacher didn't care about the quality.

As soon as the bell rang, their friends surrounded Chen Kangjie.

"How was it? Was it bad?"

"Calling parents tomorrow?"

"Did you get hit?"

"Show your hands, any cane marks?"

Everyone was curious, some genuinely concerned, others just nosy, and some even gloating.

"Chen Kangjie, you were awesome today. Made the class monitor cry and stood up to the vice monitor. Well done," praised Zhang Jiahua from the back row. In the previous life, he and Chen Kangjie were also middle school classmates. Zhang was good at fighting but didn't often engage, very loyal to friends, and generous with his allowance.

"Brother Hua…" Chen Kangjie started but stopped, seeing Zhang Jiahua’s confused look. He remembered they only started calling him Brother Hua in fifth grade, not yet adopting the older, more mature terms.

Seeing Zhang Jiahua’s puzzled expression, Chen Kangjie quickly corrected himself with a smile, "Bravery isn't defined by that. It's about the courage to lead and not everyone has that. Good people can be brave, and so can bad people. Do you think I showed good or bad bravery?"