Chapter 32: Tissues Are Precious, How Can They Be Used to Wipe?

Chapter 32: Precious Tissues, Not for Wiping Your Butt

Phonetics class;

Reading and Writing class;

General Knowledge class;

Law class...

Starting with learning a, o, e, to learning to write characters stroke by stroke, practicing Mandarin by mimicking the teacher's pronunciation, to developing a solid understanding of law and morality.

The disaster victims showed immense enthusiasm.

Although some disaster victims were slower learners, after so long they still couldn't keep up with the progress, struggling with the phonetic alphabet, they still had no intention of giving up, striving harder than anyone else.

Even in their sleep, they were reciting the vowel chart.

The entire teaching process went surprisingly smoothly.

When female teachers took the podium, with both male and female students in attendance, the Armed Police in charge of security even increased their vigilance.

They feared that the differences between ancient and modern times might lead to resistance from traditionalists like old scholars who would consider it improper to have women in the same classroom.

Having women as teachers would further upset traditional norms.

How could women study alongside them? How could women be their teachers?

It's not that women can't teach, but that female teachers should instruct women. They should teach subjects deemed appropriate for women, like embroidery and painting.

Reading is what men like them are supposed to learn. And true men should be taught by men.

What they feared most was not men's objections, but that women might also come to believe they didn't belong in the classroom.

Just as everyone was on high alert and had made extensive preparations, they discovered that all their efforts were unnecessary.

No one voiced any complaints, and everyone accepted it readily.

A staff member inquired curiously.

The disaster victims were open-minded: "We understand the principle of adapting to local customs."

"Besides, women in ancient times were not forbidden from reading." To distinguish, they now also referred to their original world as ancient times.

A disaster victim from a good background, who had passed the review without any issues, said: "Not only could they read, but some women could even become officials. It's just that the number was very small. The selection of female officials was also strict."

"Those who couldn't read were not women," a poor child said, carefully touching the textbook with his rough hands, "but all children from poor families."

In the past, even in times without disasters, he and his wife worked hard to earn money, more diligent than anyone else, but the copper coins they saved might not even be enough to afford literacy for their grandchildren by the time they reached that generation.

Even if they picked the most talented one among many grandchildren to study for a year or two, it would still be difficult.

They couldn't afford the tuition, nor could they afford the writing materials.

Now that they could have all this for free, only someone out of their mind would think of causing trouble. Instead, they should seize this opportunity and strive to learn as much as possible.

Besides, what haven't they experienced in these years, and what is there that they can't see through?

Moreover, if they couldn't get their minds around it and couldn't integrate into this world, would that be any good for them? In this world, the status of women is clearly as high as that of men.

The issue of female teachers and female students did not cause any ripples. Throughout the process of treatment, education, and quarantine, the only incident that arose was when the disaster victims were reluctant to use tissues.

Whether it was boxed tissues or rolled toilet paper, they refused to use them.

Even after using the toilet, they insisted on not using paper to clean themselves.

The staff only realized this when they noticed the untouched tissues in the bathrooms.

Additionally, when a few brave individuals came to ask about toilet sticks (traditional cleaning tools), inquiring if they could bring in bamboo strips or leaves, the staff began to feel overwhelmed and realized something was wrong.

They couldn't imagine how the victims had been handling their bathroom needs these past few days.

Could they have been using their hands and then washing them?

Thankfully, the wards were disinfected several times a day, especially the bathrooms.

Moreover, the first lesson in the common sense class was to wash hands before and after meals and using the toilet. Except for the first meal, the staff also supervised to ensure that everyone washed their hands thoroughly before eating.

Once a good habit is formed, sticking to it is easy.

Despite the staff's explanations, most victims couldn't bring themselves to use tissues.

In their words: "It's a sin to use such pristine paper for this!"

"Wasting such treasures would surely bring down heaven's wrath!"

"It's so soft and cozy, even better than the fabric I used to wear. Now you want me to use it to wipe my bottom? No, no, absolutely not."

"It's okay for wiping my mouth, but unlike a handkerchief, it can't be washed and reused. So even using it to wipe my mouth feels a bit too extravagant."

You're talking about face towels. Those can be reused.

The staff was left speechless.

They couldn't possibly use face towels as tissues, could they? Cleaning and reusing them after wiping seemed unhygienic, even with an additional disinfection step. It just felt odd.

Moreover, considering the cost of cleaning and disinfecting, the whole process would be more expensive than using tissues.

With no other choice, the staff had to enforce the use of tissues.

They couldn't control the use of tissues for wiping mouths; if people preferred to rinse with water, that was environmentally friendly.

But for cleaning after using the toilet, rolled toilet paper was mandatory.

An emergency hygiene class was held to stress the seriousness of fecal-oral transmission.

This effectively nipped the trend of not using tissues in the bud.

Because of this, even when they needed notebooks for writing and homework, they used them sparingly but complied.

At most, they wrote in tiny letters, using both sides of the paper.

After grading, the notebooks were returned, and by the next collection, the used pages were filled with tiny, dense writing.

They squeezed in practice for pinyin, strokes, and writing wherever they could.

To save paper, the victims surprisingly learned to write efficiently. People who couldn't read a single character before, and whose Mandarin was still stumbling, could now write characters without missing strokes, and even neatly.

Two months.

After two months, when the officials had almost finished cataloging the new items outside, the disaster victims also ended their quarantine.

The illnesses that required treatment were cured, and the necessary lessons were learned. In every subject, while not excelling, everyone managed to pass through sheer determination.

When the doors of the field hospital opened, everyone was still a bit dazed.

For the first time, the staff appeared before them without protective suits, goggles, or masks. The disaster victims then realized how much everyone resembled each other.

Familiar features of black hair, dark eyes, and yellow skin.

About to officially enter the new world, the slight unease and panic in their hearts suddenly lessened significantly.

The staff stood at the door with gentle smiles, beside a table laden with slightly bulging envelopes.

"Wang Chuyang."

"Here!" A young man stepped forward and stood in front of the staff.

The staff picked up the envelope with the name 'Wang Chuyang' written on it from the table and handed it over with both hands.

Wang Chuyang received the envelope with both hands.

"You can open it and take a look," the staff encouraged.

The former Wang Zhuzi, now Wang Chuyang, somewhat clumsily opened the envelope and carefully poured out its contents.

"Identification card, household registration booklet, bank card, and a smartphone."

The smartphone was an inexpensive model offered as a gift for opening a bank account. To attract these potential customers, several major banks had competed fiercely. The final winner, even if it meant taking a loss, was happy to do so.

Although it was a gift, it was quite sufficient.

"The SIM card has been pre-inserted and activated in the phone. It includes the phone numbers of teachers and staff. If there's anything you're unsure about, you can call for help," the staff instructed.

"As for the importance of the identification card, household registration booklet, and bank card, you should already know, right?"

The staff reminded, "Take good care of them; you can't function in modern society without them. If you accidentally lose them, report it immediately to obtain replacements."

Wang Chuyang nodded solemnly.

These were all covered in the basic knowledge classes.

He had passed the course with high scores.

"The identification card and household registration booklet are as important as our previous household registration."

With them, I am officially established in this world. I am a full-fledged citizen, entitled to all the rights that citizens have.

If I'm bullied, I can call the police. If my wages are withheld, I can sue...

I can live with dignity.

"Understanding their importance is good," the staff gestured for Wang Chuyang to leave, "Next, Ming Changfeng."

A young woman stepped forward and took the envelope. The staff handed over the envelope and repeated the questions asked earlier. After receiving affirmative answers, they proceeded to distribute to the next person.

When the disaster victims came out to line up, they had already packed their belongings.

They packed the daily necessities and change of clothes they had used during this period into the backpacks provided and carried them on their backs. Now, after receiving their items, they could leave the field hospital directly.

As soon as they stepped out of the hospital gate, everyone was frozen in awe.

Even though they had learned about how advanced this world was during their basic education classes,

they had personally pressed light switches, turned on faucets, flushed toilets, taken photos, watched TV, turned on air conditioners and electric fans, and even experienced the wonders of translation devices.

They knew that such a large field hospital was built within a month and had marveled at it.

But at this moment, looking at the outside world, they couldn't help but be shocked.

How could the buildings be so tall? Towering skyscrapers connected heaven and earth.

How could there be so many people? Crowds everywhere, bustling with activity.

The roads were so wide and smooth. The bridges arched gracefully like rainbows.

And those cars, how could they move so fast? They zoomed by in the blink of an eye.

It felt like a frog escaping a well had jumped out and seen the outside world for the first time.

Wang Chuyang couldn't help but stop in his tracks and instinctively stepped back.

Ming Changfeng also hesitated, but the next moment, she stood tall and took the first step forward.

There was nothing to be afraid of; their teachers had prepared them well.

That's a traffic light, that's a crosswalk, that's an overpass.

That's a bicycle, that's a three-wheeler, that's a car, that's a bus.

And in the distance, streaking by like a sleek dragon, was not some mythical beast, but a high-speed train in motion.

These were all common things in life.

She would also see airplanes in the future; people could even soar through the skies in airplanes.

Ming Changfeng stepped forward with determination.

At that moment, an airplane streaked across the sky.

It left a long trail of vapor across the azure sky.

Ming Changfeng couldn't help but gaze up in wonder.

One day, she too would be able to buy a plane ticket and board an airplane through her hard work.

"This way, this way! Shenhu Paper Industry is hiring packers. Simple work, easy to learn, base salary of 1800, pay by the piece, the more you do, the more you earn. The factory provides meals and accommodation. Those interested can come and take a look."

Seeing people coming out, those who had been waiting to recruit them quickly pressed their horns.

Once one did it, others followed suit.

"Tiangang Intangible Cultural Heritage Traditional Embroidery Studio is hiring!"

"Skilled embroiderers can come and try. We are hiring masters and apprentices. Pay is based on skill level. Master craftsmen start at a base salary of 5000, and those with exceptional skills start at 10000. The studio takes a 5% commission on sold embroidery; the embroiderer keeps the rest."

"Ink factory is hiring, both master craftsmen and workers. Master craftsmen start at a base salary of 4000, workers at 2500."

"There's a perfect attendance bonus, meals and accommodation are provided. Actual take-home pay is over 3000. Additionally, those willing to sell ink recipes can come and negotiate, prices are negotiable!"

"The museum is hiring. Experts skilled in antique restoration and appraisal are welcome to apply. The pay and benefits are great, and after joining, you can work towards getting a civil service position. Once you pass the examination, the treatment will be even better."

"Private antique consultant position available. Applicants must be skilled in metal and stone appraisal. Interested parties can discuss in detail."

"Tutoring center looking for calligraphy and painting teachers..."

Suddenly, the area outside got noisy. Ming Changfeng instinctively looked over and saw many small red-roofed advertising umbrellas opened against the walls of the field hospital on both sides of the gate.

Under the umbrellas were small tables, each with someone behind them.

This must be the job fair the teacher was talking about, right?

Ming Changfeng walked towards the recruitment staff of the embroidery hall.

She’s an expert at embroidery, with seventeen different techniques under her belt. With this skill, even if she didn't want to marry, her family respected her wishes.

Unfortunately, after the famine, even the best skills didn’t matter anymore. To those people, selling her seemed like a better option.

Fortunately, she has been well taken care of these past two months, with the teachers only allowing her to study and not do heavy work.

Although her once rough hands are not yet smooth enough, if the embroidery hall agrees to advance some good hand lotion, a few days of using it should do the trick, at least enough to keep from damaging the silk.

Here’s to a fresh start!