Siheyuan: The rise and fall of the He family is our responsibility

During the gathering, teachers sat in a circle and exchanged their challenges and successes in teaching. He Yuzhu shared how he connected history with students' daily lives and how he stimulated students' interest in learning through storytelling. Zhang Lei discussed how she guided students to conduct text analysis in Chinese classes, and her method was particularly effective in teaching poetry.

During the discussion, He Yuzhu and Zhang Lei found that they had many common points in teaching philosophy. The discussion between the two was very speculative, not only limited to teaching methods, but also extended to how to cultivate students' comprehensive qualities in education.

After the party, Zhang Lei and He Yuzhu decided to collaborate on an interdisciplinary program that would combine history and literature to create an opportunity for students to understand the material from multiple perspectives. They began to meet regularly to plan courses together and exchange teaching ideas.

As time went by, the friendship between He Yuzhu and Zhang Lei deepened. Not only were they partners at work, they also became good friends in private. During a walk, Zhang Lei talked about her dream of education, and He Yuzhu listened carefully, occasionally inserting his own views.

Zhang Lei said with emotion: "Teacher He, you know, it's really a pleasure to work with you. Not only can we learn a lot from each other, but we can also work together to improve education."

He Yuzhu's life became increasingly fulfilled by his friendship with Zhang Lei and his teaching achievements, but another unexpected change was about to come. This change began with a chance encounter between him and Zhang Lei while they were preparing teaching materials in the library.

That afternoon, the library was quiet and peaceful, with sunlight shining through the tall windows onto the heavy books, creating a peaceful academic atmosphere. He Yuzhu and Zhang Lei were discussing their interdisciplinary course plan when a woman's voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

"Excuse me, can I borrow this book about ancient literature?" The voice came from a slim, pretty lady, who was pointing at a book on He Yuzhu's desk.

He Yuzhu looked up at her, only to see her eyes bright and with a polite smile. "Of course." He Yuzhu replied, and he handed her the book, and their fingers touched lightly for a moment.

"Thank you. I'm Li Qing, a graduate student writing a thesis on the influence of ancient culture," the lady introduced herself.

"I'm He Yuzhu, this is Zhang Lei, we're both teachers," He Yuzhu introduced.

Li Qing nodded and thanked them. She mentioned that she was looking for information on the influence of ancient literature on modern culture, which attracted the interest of He Yuzhu and Zhang Lei. The three of them soon started chatting, and the topics discussed covered a wide range of fields, from history to literature to the evolution of culture.

As time went by, He Yuzhu found himself missing Li Qing's laughter and her enthusiasm for topics. They began to meet frequently in libraries and cafes, not only for academic exchanges, but more for enjoying each other's company. He Yuzhu felt himself slowly being attracted to Li Qing, and her wisdom, her humility, and her thirst for knowledge deeply touched him.

Once, He Yuzhu and Li Qing were walking in a quiet park, with autumn leaves swaying gently above their heads, and the fallen leaves formed a golden carpet on the path.

"Li Qing, I'm so glad we met. The time I spent with you made me feel very special." He Yuzhu finally plucked up the courage to express his feelings.

Li Qing stopped and turned to him, his eyes full of tenderness: "Teacher He, me too. You have given me a lot of new perspectives, and I admire your enthusiasm and dedication to academics very much."

He Yuzhu decided to take Li Qing home to visit his parents, which was an important step in their relationship. He was a little nervous and hoped that the two sides could get along well. Li Qing was also a little nervous about this, but her calmness and confidence made He Yuzhu feel at ease.

It was a bright weekend morning, with sunlight streaming through the windows of He Yuzhu's apartment as the two were busy packing. He Yuzhu checked the gifts he had brought to his parents - a selection of teas and books that his parents liked. Li Qing was busy in the kitchen preparing some homemade snacks, hoping to impress her future in-laws in this way.

He Yuzhu took Li Qing on a train to his hometown, a quiet town. During the journey, they shared their childhood stories and family anecdotes, and this exchange brought the two closer together.

When they arrived at He Yuzhu's home, his parents were already at the door to greet them. He's mother had a warm look in her eyes, while He's father seemed a little reserved but friendly.

"Mom, Dad, this is Li Qing." He Yuzhu introduced, his voice filled with pride and expectation.

"Welcome, Li Qing." He's mother came over to hug him with a smile. Her enthusiasm reduced Li Qing's nervousness a lot.

Mr. He shook Li Qing's hand more formally, his scrutinizing gaze gradually softened, and he nodded to express his welcome.

After entering the house, Li Qing took out the snacks she prepared and placed them on the dining table. "These are some snacks I made myself, I hope you like them." She said, feeling a little embarrassed.

He's mother tasted it quickly and praised with a smile: "It's delicious, Li Qing, your cooking skills are really good. Yu Zhu, it's our blessing that you found such a great girl."

After lunch, He's father took He Yuzhu and Li Qing to the garden for a walk. The garden was full of various flowers that He's mother had carefully cultivated for many years. The colors were colorful and beautiful. He's father pointed to a lush rose and said to Li Qing: "This rose was planted when your mother and I got married. Every year the flowers bloom very well."

Li Qing was moved and smiled: "This is so romantic. It shows that you and your wife have a good relationship."

In the evening, the family sat in the living room. Father He took down a few old books from the bookshelf. These were the books that He Yuzhu read when he was a child. Father He and Li Qing read together, occasionally talking about the stories in the books. The atmosphere was warm and cordial.

He Yuzhu and Li Qing spent a few days happily in the town, but suddenly he received a shocking phone call from a colleague who told him that the school was forced to reorganize due to drastic budget cuts and He Yuzhu's position would no longer be retained.

This news was like a bolt from the blue, and He Yuzhu could hardly believe it was true. He hurriedly asked his colleagues for more details and learned that the layoffs affected multiple departments and many teachers faced the same fate.

He Yuzhu hung up the phone in frustration and turned to explain the situation to Li Qing and his parents.