Chapter 2

After that, Xiao Ma resolutely refused to go out for fieldwork, preferring instead to sit in the office and handle documentation tasks. Cao Jing, on the one hand, was bold, and on the other hand, he was meticulous and thorough in his work. Coupled with a very strong desire to make money, he was basically the first to volunteer for field events.

They do not respect me, so I do not wish to speak with them

This is an era marked by the prevalence of autism, and after prolonged periods of self-isolation, everyone has a desire to express and confide. This is one of Cao Jing's insights. Many times, he simply sits there and listens to them share their stories. With just a little appropriate guidance, these stories will flow out on their own

In the year 1974, after the great flood, I had just been born. After being discovered by the disaster relief troops, I was sent to a health clinic and later transferred to a welfare institution. Some levees had collapsed, and the adults on top perished, leaving only the children at home. I grew up in the welfare institution, unaware of who my parents were or when I was born. My identification card states January 1st, and for all those in the welfare institution who do not know their birthdays, it is recorded as January 1st. I grew up in the welfare institution, unaware of who my parents were or when I was born. My identification card states January 1st, and for all those in the welfare institution who do not know their birthdays, it is recorded as January 1st. During the New Year's celebration, we celebrated together.

Having worked in this office for over a year, Cao Jing has encountered quite a number of students. From an outsider's perspective, he cannot help but notice some issues present in the education system. Among the teaching staff, those with keen observational skills and a sense of responsibility are always in the minority, while the evaluation of teachers' achievements largely depends on the results of exam-oriented education

In a couple of days, it will be your birthday," Cao Jing began to approach the main topic indirectly, "but this time, you might not be able to celebrate your birthday at home.

"There are so many people in the welfare institution, and no one is managing them. Isn't that quite enjoyable?"

In the flood of 1974 that swept through several provinces, many lives were lost, and the number of people affected reached hundreds of thousands. The post-disaster reconstruction was very challenging, and some orphans who emerged from the flood were uniformly entrusted to state welfare institutions for adoption. At that time, the regulations regarding adoption were not yet well-established, so most of the responsibility for raising these children fell to the state.

How could this be

I find it quite stimulating said Lei Xiaoyue

They do not dare to bully those with good grades, nor those who are strong and tall. Therefore, they choose to target those with poor grades who do not associate with them. Lei Xiaoyue explained unhappily in the dark, "If they bully those with good grades, they will report to the teacher. As for those with poor grades, even if they report to the teacher, it won't make much difference. They come to us for 'activity funds.' They challenge us to a 'one-on-one.' A 'one-on-one' means you face all of us alone, and if it's a group fight, then we will gang up on you alone."

The uncertainty leads to the absence of a universal response plan. Each awakened evolver must carefully contemplate and reflect on their psychological activities, and engage in long-term one-on-one tracking observations to ensure stability, protect the evolver themselves, and those around the evolver

The training institute can also celebrate birthdays, and they will even prepare a special birthday cake as mentioned in the book

The room was shrouded in darkness, and neither side spoke for quite some time

Happiness arises from our ability to possess a unique capability. Even if it serves no purpose, or even causes us trouble or harm, it remains a testament to our distinctiveness and uniqueness. Cao Jing stated, "Fear, on the other hand, stems from our ignorance of how it will impact our lives. It introduces a variable, and whether this variable is good or bad, we do not know. The unknown is something we all fear."

Old Ma often praises Cao Jing for his diligent and hardworking spirit, but this praise is limited to verbal commendation. Cao Jing has always hoped that he could receive more allowances or commuting subsidies, or that he could be given a higher consideration when being evaluated as an outstanding individual. However, when it comes to evaluations for outstanding performance, seniority is still the primary criterion. Cao Jing has only been working in the office for a year and a half, and no matter how excellent he is, it is still not his turn.

The fighting incident at the school. Cao Jing was already aware of this matter; he had obtained testimonies from teachers and students, but now he wanted to hear the account directly from the parties involved.

The resume of Lei Xiaoyue—using the term "resume" may be a bit of an exaggeration, as a mere twelve-year-old child has little in the way of a "resume." What is referred to as a resume is actually an investigative file that was initiated immediately after the incident occurred. The individuals interviewed during the investigation included the homeroom teacher of Class 2 at Chunhui Middle School, the teachers of various subjects, and classmates.

Um

I do not know. Nor do I wish to know

"It's just okay. That's how it is. My mother always sighs, and my father likes to drink. After drinking, he enjoys hitting people. I really don't want to go home," said Lei Xiaoyue.

What was the reason for the fight?

Cao Jinglai had already prepared a contingency plan for this file. In fact, this investigation record is the result of his recent efforts riding an electric bike. Fieldwork is a demanding job, so Cao Jing simply took care of everything in one go. Lei Xiaoyue has essentially been "contracted" by him.

It was like this. At that time, the class leader of the naturalization class was named Ikue Tsushima, and she was a girl. He intended to start with the words, "Perhaps girls develop earlier in childhood, so at that time, I remember that girls were generally more precocious. However, on the other hand, the children in the orphanage were all quite mature for their age..."

Through factual verification, Cao Jing no longer believes in the theory that "all parents love their children"; however, he does not think that parents would intentionally harm their children without reason. A minority of parents may ensure their control over their children through abuse (including psychological abuse). Yet, he feels that the most critical issue in parent-child relationships in modern society is actually indifference

Cao Jing went outside to brew a cup of tea. He stood in the tea room of the police station for a while, reminiscing about many past events.

Do your parents know about your awakening regarding - the - book?

From this perspective, Lei Xiaoyue can be considered quite fortunate

You see, you have made a slight error in your judgment of your parents. Cao Jing said, "At least from my perspective, they genuinely care for you. Their methods may be somewhat harsh, but they certainly do not wish to harm you."

Why

Because ... ... I don't remember. During class break, seven people attacked me, and I could only lie on the ground, using my hands to protect my abdomen and ribs, kicking with my feet ... ...

"It's nothing. It's quite nice to be in the dark like this." Cao Jing placed the resume back on the table, "Talking in the darkness can make both of us feel a bit more comfortable."

You have very good parents; not everyone is as fortunate as you. Cao Jing sighed and said, "They care deeply about your safety and have repeatedly assured me that you are a good child who would never harm anyone"

"It seems we have strayed a bit off topic. I mention this because I am pondering what might have triggered this incident," Cao Jing said, clasping his hands together. "Could you share with me what happened?"

Cao Jing's account from the students differs somewhat from this. According to the parties involved, it was merely "ordinary play and frolic." The statements from the homeroom teacher and subject teachers are quite similar. Lei Xiaoyue's evaluation is that "the grades are not particularly good, average. He doesn't cause much trouble, but sometimes he can be a bit mischievous." From Lei Xiaoyue's perspective, he has experienced prolonged mild bullying in class and has not received effective psychological support, which led to the occurrence of the incident

Today is the first time Cao Jing communicates with Lei Xiaoyue

Cao Jing sometimes feels that the one-child policy may also be an important reason. In modern society, the lack of interpersonal relationships from family to school, if it begins in childhood, could lead to psychological alienation in the new generation of youth, resulting in various social issues and rapidly changing psychological trends. For him, work will also become increasingly difficult.

Moreover, Lei Xiaoyue's parents are both from the working class, working hard and often putting in overtime. Their educational approach tends to be simple and harsh, and they are even less capable of paying attention to his mental health issues. This is an intractable problem; Cao Jing can see where the issue lies, but he has no solution.

Are you all going to the nursing home for your summer volunteer work now? asked Cao Jing

Student Lei Xiaoyue, I visited your home this morning. Do you know what your parents think of you

What is a naturalization class

I have encountered many evolvers," Cao Jing said in the darkness, "Generally speaking, after awakening, we tend to have two mindsets. The first is happiness. The second is fear.

Can we wait until after the birthday to go

He empathetically recalled his childhood experiences of fighting, this clumsy brawl akin to a dog fight, which he had also endured. He remembered the lessons learned in brutal skirmishes, using his arms to shield his sides, as that was the most painful area to be struck; a single blow could elicit a cry and incapacitate one's ability to retaliate. Therefore, it was essential to protect the sides and then aim for the opponent's lower abdomen or face, throwing punches... and kicks.

Cao Jing chuckled in the darkness, "Really. I do not know what date my birthday is."

This is quite a long story. Cao Jing said with a smile in the darkness, However, I think this story might have some enlightening significance for you. Would you like to hear it? If you want to hear it, I will go outside to brew a cup of tea, and then I can tell you. In this story, there is more than one person with superpowers.

The primary objective of Cao Jing's work is to enable individuals to voluntarily go to the Youth Training Center. Theoretically, after going through a series of procedures, awakened individuals can avoid going to the Youth Training Center, but in practical terms, this is only a theoretical possibility. One of the major tasks of the office is to ensure that all awakened individuals receive 100% training at the Youth Training Center

There are indeed two of them

Cao Jing is sometimes astonished by the intensity of hatred between children and their parents, as some children harbor deep resentment towards their parents. Cao Jing finds it most troublesome to encounter stubborn haters, who have been shaped into distorted minds by their twisted environments. In a few rare cases, they use their own abilities to take revenge, punishing those parents who have harmed them

It is nothing more than my disobedience, poor academic performance, and lack of future prospects

Lei Xiaoyue seems to be captivated by this topic

Why are they bullying you

This is a relatively complex issue, and Cao Jing pondered for a moment before responding: "The naturalization class consists of naturalized orphans from the Japanese islands, which can be considered a historical legacy. Due to language barriers, the naturalized citizens who migrated to the country generally prefer to live together, in what are known as naturalization villages or streets. Then, in 1974, a large naturalization village in the southwestern area where the Cangjiang and Yushui rivers meet was submerged. Many adults died during the flood relief efforts, so later, around twenty to thirty naturalized orphans were sent here and a special class was established for them"

I do not know whether it was because I was beaten by them too much or for some other reason. Later, even ordinary classmates no longer regarded me with any respect and often made jokes at my expense. When they were fighting in the classroom, they would deliberately stand by and kick me, or trip me and then kick me a few times. It was not heavy, but it still hurt

As previously speculated by Cao Jing, Lei Xiaoyue lacks healthy interactions with family members. Due to various practical reasons, family relationships in modern society are largely abnormal. Many parents have not received educational training, and children are raised in a manner akin to being free-range. One of the legacies of ancient feudal thought is the rudimentary educational capabilities of parents, which stand in stark contrast to the increasingly complex educational demands of modern society for adolescents.

Cao Jing chuckled in the darkness and said, "You are very much like my father. He always says that one must take control of their own destiny. This is the choice of a man. At first, I was also encouraged by him to strive to awaken myself, in order to take charge of my own life. It’s just that... some things truly cannot be changed by your subjective will... some things truly cannot be changed by your subjective will..."

"I didn't mean to." After a while, whispers came from across the table

You are mistaken about this. Although there are many acquaintances, there are still people in charge, and they are quite strict. Cao Jing waved his hand in the darkness, unsure if Lei Xiaoyue across from him could see it. "Back then, we also got into fights, but it was different from the fights you have now; it could be considered... gang conflicts. Especially between our flood relief team and the naturalization team, it almost resulted in fatalities.

"The Training Institute?" Lei Xiaoyue keenly grasped the crux of the issue, "Can I not go?"

At that time, did you fight fiercely? What was the reason for the fight?

Cao Jing smiled and said: "Not bad, it's good to have friends to talk to. However, you should also communicate more with your parents. They do not disrespect you; rather, they do not know what you truly want. If you communicate well with them, they will understand you. Oh, and also, this time is considered an accident, so all kinds of losses will be reimbursed by the government, so your family will not have to bear any financial burden. If you are worried about this, it is unnecessary." Oh, and also, this time is considered an accident, so all kinds of losses will be reimbursed by the government, so your family will not have to bear any financial burden. If you are worried about this, it is unnecessary.

Well

It is a nursing home in the community

Is everything at home going well? This was the first question that Cao Jing prepared.

The person across the table seemed to hesitate, and after a long while finally said: "I just wanted to retaliate. They always bully me together, and I just had a very strong urge to fight back. Then it... got out of control."

"No, I watched others celebrate." Cao Jing recalled, "The one celebrating their birthday was my roommate at that time. I have never celebrated my birthday in my life."

... ... ''

"Have you celebrated your birthday in there?" Lei Xiaoyue asked curiously

I don't know, maybe this morning, when you came to my house and knocked on the door, you found out about this matter. " Lei Xiaoyue sighed, "Damn it, after the incident, my dad wanted to give me a beating, he thought I got into a fight at school. I locked the door and didn't even dare to go out for dinner. I only dared to go out to find something to eat after he fell asleep.

Cao Jing remained silent for a moment

It is reported that next year, a pilot program for small class education will be implemented in the city. Currently, each class has more than fifty students, and teachers have limited energy, making it indeed difficult to pay attention to every individual. Many teachers are already overwhelmed just by grading assignments, assigning homework, and preparing exam questions, and being a homeroom teacher is even more physically demanding. Even someone like Cao Jing, who has undergone training at a normal school, would likely find it challenging to manage a class of over fifty students.

Parents lack empathy for their children and do not care about their thoughts, treating them merely as possessions to be shaped. This indifference and arrogance are the primary catalysts for various malignant incidents. If even parents do not support their children, where else can they find refuge

Lei Xiaoyue vividly imitated the tones of the other children, and Cao Jing chuckled twice, causing the atmosphere in the air to become slightly more relaxed

I do not know why they always hit me. Perhaps it is because I look like I won't resist. " Lei Xiaoyue said softly, "I really do not want to fight back. I used to retaliate, but ever since I realized that I have a bit of superpower, I have been afraid to fight back. I am really scared that something might happen... As a result, they came to hit me again. During lunch break, they called me out for a fair duel, and then continued to hit me during the ten-minute break between classes.

How is it possible? How could anyone not celebrate their birthday?

The danger of fieldwork primarily lies in its unpredictability. Every newly awakened evolver is unstable and can encounter various unforeseen circumstances. In the office, Cao Jing has a recent graduate named Ma Li, who joined at the same time; everyone calls her Xiao Ma. Xiao Ma shares the same surname as Lao Ma, and she is sweet-tongued and well-behaved, making her well-liked by everyone. However, there was an incident when Ma Li went out for fieldwork, which, although it did not result in any serious injuries, truly startled her.

Do you have someone who can speak? In the school

Those memories that had not been recalled for a long time seem to gradually become clearer at this moment. In the few minutes it took him to rinse the tea leaves, more and more details of his life at the Cangjiang City Children's Welfare Institute surged forth, almost making him forget the work he was doing.

During his background investigation, Lei Xiaoyue's homeroom teacher only became aware of the fighting after the incident occurred. The middle-aged female teacher, who wore glasses, appeared haggard, while the classroom remained in a state of uproar. Even after an incident involving supernatural abilities had previously taken place, the boys continued to playfully chase and tease each other without a care in the world, seemingly untroubled by any shadows.

Looking at this issue with a hint of irony, if it were not for Lei Xiaoyue's awakening, which led to the incident, he might never have had a professional like Cao Jing to provide one-on-one guidance. Meanwhile, as the two sit here, there are still thousands of children around the world suffering from unfair treatment in schools, and they do not attract anyone's attention

The nursing home is somewhat better than the welfare institution. The welfare institution is too frightening; my group consists of orphans created by natural disasters, and we appear relatively normal. Many of the abandoned children are born with congenital deformities, looking strange and frightening to outsiders. At that time, we were divided into several classes: the flood relief class, the growth class, and the naturalization class. The growth class mainly consisted of disabled and deformed children. The class leader was dark-skinned and had a cleft lip, and we all called him Black Rabbit; his younger brother was similar and was called Little Rabbit.

"So clever, it is possible, but the procedures are particularly troublesome, and to be honest, I think spending a few weeks in a training facility is not a bad thing"

Cao Jing spoke of the amusing incidents in the welfare institution. He is not someone who enjoys discussing such matters. After leaving the welfare institution, very few people would voluntarily admit to having come from there. Once mentioned, they would be regarded as some sort of outlier, subjected to sympathetic or disdainful glances. Cao Jing does not appreciate this situation