1968, Hong Kong University, Faculty of Arts Director's Office.
The office was not very large, only about a hundred square feet. Besides a desk, three chairs, and a small bookcase, there was also a small tea table specifically for a fan and a thermos.
At this moment, the fan gently blew a cool breeze, bringing a rare coolness in the scorching summer. However, it was clear that this fan was old, and its airflow was too weak. The room was small and stuffy, with no windows, so it did not provide any relief from the heat. The two people sitting in the room were already drenched in sweat.
"Director Huang, thank you for your help this time. If it weren't for you, my chance to stay at the school as a teacher would probably have been full of twists and turns." Huo Yaowen said, taking out a box of Marlboro cigarettes, the most expensive brand on the market, from his pocket. He did not rashly pull one out, but instead opened the cigarette box and handed it to Director Huang, who was behind the desk, with a smile. "Director Huang, please have a cigarette first."
Director Huang unceremoniously took a cigarette from the box. Just as he put it to his lips, he heard a "click," and the spark from the match tip flickered in front of him. He did not refuse. He leaned forward slightly, brought his face close to the match, and took a few puffs, making a "smack, smack" sound. After lighting the cigarette, he straightened up and looked at Huo Yaowen, saying:
"Yaowen, I have watched you grow up and become successful at school, and I am also aware of your abilities. The fact that you can stay at the school as a temporary teacher this time is also because of your hard work and diligence!
Teacher Zhang is old and has submitted his retirement notice. After teaching his last batch of students in the first half of next year, he will retire and go home to take care of his children. You are Teacher Zhang's favorite student. He also told the principal and us that you are the most suitable student to stay at the school, so if you want to thank someone, you should thank Teacher Zhang properly."
At this point, Director Huang took a deep puff of the cigarette in his hand and glanced at the box of almost untouched Marlboro cigarettes that Huo Yaowen had specially placed on the table. He smiled and said, "Don't tell me, good cigarettes are good cigarettes. The taste is not harsh at all."
Huo Yaowen understood and said unhurriedly, "If Director Huang likes them, I will definitely bring you some good ones next time I come to repay you for your many years of guidance."
"No, the atmosphere in All of Hong Kong is not good recently."
Director Huang felt a headache just thinking about the content published in the newspapers recently. Originally, this job as a temporary teacher was not for Huo Yaowen, but now the whole of All of Hong Kong is discussing the topic of anti-corruption, and Hong Kong University is no exception. The principal had repeatedly and sternly rejected any corrupt behavior a while ago, otherwise, how could this "good position" of a Philosophy Class lecturer at the Faculty of Arts of Hong Kong University fall to Huo Yaowen, a guy with no money, no power, and no background.
Huo Yaowen smiled and said nothing. He naturally knew that his ability to become a temporary Philosophy Class teacher at Hong Kong University was not due to Director Huang in front of him, but rather the recent anti-corruption wave in Hong Kong and Teacher Zhang's recommendation. However, as his direct superior in the future, he still had to do what needed to be done.
Huo Yaowen was very clear about this, both in his previous life and in this one. Since it could not be eradicated, he might as well join them.
The two exchanged a few more simple words.
Director Huang said earnestly, in a tone that suggested he was doing it for his own good, "Alright then, prepare your materials and some class content. School starts in another month, so you must seize this opportunity and not disappoint Teacher Zhang and your superiors."
Huo Yaowen pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses that had slipped to the tip of his nose and said with a smile, "Of course, Director Huang, rest assured, I will prepare my lessons well."
Seeing this, Director Huang was about to wave Huo Yaowen away when he suddenly remembered something and said again, "Teacher Zhang should have told you about the salary, right?"
"He already did," Huo Yaowen nodded.
Director Huang gave a light "hmm" and said, "Four hundred dollars is indeed a bit low, but you are currently… considered a substitute teacher. The school still needs to assess your teaching ability. Once you are officially converted to a full-time teacher, your salary will definitely be the same as everyone else's."
Huo Yaowen pursed his somewhat dry lips and smiled, "I know that."
"Alright then, Yaowen, you go back and prepare. You must work hard for the next half a month and learn more from Teacher Zhang. He has worked at the school for more than twenty years and has a lot of experience in teaching. You must learn well."
"I will definitely learn teaching experience from Teacher. Since that's the case, I won't bother Director Huang anymore. I will go back and prepare my lessons well."
"Hmm, remember to come to the school the day after tomorrow. We still need to arrange a teacher's dormitory for you."
"Alright, Director Huang."
...
A few minutes later,
At the entrance of Hong Kong University,
A young man with an Elvis Presley hairstyle and bell-bottoms squatted on the curb opposite the entrance of Hong Kong University, smoking a cheap cigarette with "smack, smack" sounds, while occasionally watching a few young female students walk by the school gate.
Suddenly noticing a man in a white shirt and trousers walking out of the school gate, "Elvis" excitedly stood up, waving his right hand and shouting, "Brother Yaowen!"
Hearing the shout, Huo Yaowen, who was walking over, pouted and said, "Ming Zai, why are you shouting so loudly! Are you afraid I'm deaf and can't hear you!"
"Heh heh." Ming Zai wiped his long hair that was sticking up with his right hand and laughed foolishly, "Isn't it because I was afraid Brother Yaowen wouldn't hear me? How is it? Did they agree?"
Huo Yaowen smiled and nodded, "Yes, they agreed. They want me to start teaching when school begins next month."
Ming Zai was as happy as if he had successfully applied for the job, shouting loudly, "That's great! Auntie Li will probably be overjoyed when she hears this news! A teacher at Hong Kong University! What a great job, how respectable to talk about it."
Huo Yaowen took out a Marlboro cigarette from his trouser pocket, pulled one out, put it in his mouth, skillfully took out a match and lit it. He took a deep puff, letting the smoke wander in his lungs for a while before slowly exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. After listening to Ming Zai's words, he pouted and said, "Only four hundred dollars a month. It's not even as good as the Grandma selling shark fin soup on the street. What's there to be happy about?"
Ming Zai eagerly said, "That's not the same! How can selling shark fin soup compare to being a teacher at Hong Kong University? If you ask me, even if there was no money, I'd be overjoyed!"
"If you don't get paid a cent, then you go do it." Huo Yaowen glanced at Ming Zai. This guy, besides being able to read after finishing primary and secondary school, could barely do anything else. He had been hanging around outside as a hooligan. If he hadn't been lucky enough to have a Dad who was a plainclothes policeman earning money in the police station, he would probably have starved to death on the streets long ago.
"If I could be a teacher, my Dad would surely die of joy!"
Listening to Ming Zai's unreliable words, Huo Yaowen shook his head helplessly. Afraid he would say something else, he quickly said, "Alright, stop talking. Did you do what I asked you to do?"
Ming Zai patted his chest and said, "Brother Yaowen, don't worry. There's nothing that Ming Zai can't do! I've asked someone to collect all the newspaper and news agency information in All of Hong Kong for you. It's all at your house. You can see it when you get back."
"Alright then, let's go home." Huo Yaowen, hearing this, couldn't wait to go home.
Ming Zai suddenly called out, "Wait, Brother Yaowen."
"What is it?" Huo Yaowen turned to look.
"Um, Brother Yaowen, can I have a Marlboro?" Ming Zai scratched the back of his head, smiling somewhat sheepishly.
"Fool."
Huo Yaowen chuckled, pulled out the cigarettes and matches from his pocket, and threw them to the other party.
"Not so many, Brother Yaowen. I'll just have one. I've had this cigarette before, I secretly took it from my Dad. He gets good cigarettes every day at the police station, I'm so envious."
"They're all yours. I'm not smoking anymore anyway."
"Not smoking anymore? Brother Yaowen, do you want to quit smoking? Why do you suddenly want to quit smoking?!"
"To live a few more years."
Huo Yaowen smiled, then, ignoring Ming Zai's regretful gaze, he threw away the cigarette he had only taken one puff from. He took a deep breath of the air, mixed with the heat of summer, looked at the blue sky and the dazzling sun, and felt the vitality of his young body. A sense of unprecedented exhilaration filled his heart.
In his previous life, with over twenty years of smoking, he often coughed, not to mention the discomfort he felt every night in his middle age. He had wanted to quit, but by then, he was completely unable to.
Now, fate had given him a new opportunity, coming to Hong Kong in this Times of 1968, and once again having this young, handsome, and vibrant body. How could he repeat the mistakes of the past?