บท 218: Thoughts

The other day Kareena and Zhang Jue had a fight and in a fit of anger she didn't even say a word to Zhang Jue for several days. Zhang Jue also ignored her and took a different approach.

This day, the little girl finally couldn't help herself and came to see Zhang Jue again. The fact that Zhang Jue had been awarded the Foundation Star had a great impact on her. Her mother and father had also contributed very much to the Foundation, but neither had received the award.

It wasn't that she felt it was unfair, because she knew that probably what Zhang Jue was doing was much more difficult, dangerous, and important to humanity. All she had known before was that Zhang Jue was amazing and a Foundation's Special Advisor. But she didn't know exactly how amazing it was.

She had always thought that it was probably at the level of her father and mother, but now it seemed to be more than that. Zhang Jue's significance to the Foundation was clearly more than just a Special Advisor.

Beneath Zhang Jue's ditzy appearance, his abilities were absolutely extraordinary. The young girl was just a bit capricious, but not stupid. After his anger subsided, he knew that what Zhang Jue had done to her was for her own good.

"I've apologized to Old Man Clement." The little girl sat on the steps, burying her head into her knees so that her face could not be seen.

"Well, I know." Zhang Jue nodded, still satisfied with Kareena's attitude.

The little girl added, "I'll do my homework and experiments properly from now on. I'll never be naughty again."

"That's not necessary." Zhang Jue smiled, "As long as you have respect for him in your heart. Some small pranks are not harmful. But you have to know that he is your teacher, he's there to give you lessons and teaching. Like a parent for you and he is teaching you how to survive. In this world, it is true that there are some evil teachers. But in general, the profession of teacher is pretty important for humanity's knowledge and we should have high respect for them."

"I see." Kareena nodded.

After her birth, she had been fostered in her grandmother's house, she had never been to school. Although her grandmother had taught her to read and write, these truths had never been told to her.

She lifted her head to look at Zhang Jue. After talking about the topic of teachers, she could feel that Zhang Jue seemed to have changed his temper. Even his smile had become milder without that weird feeling. It was like when she was a child, sitting on the swing and listening to her neighbor's brother tell his stories.

Kareena asked, "What about you? when you go to school, do you also face your teachers with high respect?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Jue recalled those teachers who had been tortured to madness by him, sought out his parents, and then were tortured to madness by their fathers. For a moment he was at a loss to explain this complicated relationship to Kareena.

"Let's talk about something else." He said awkwardly.

Looking at his expression, it was obvious that there was something he didn't want to talk about and Kareena grunted.

"I had some problems at school, and I asked Mr. Cremonte. He was very good at academics and experiments, but he wasn't able to answer the questions I asked."

Due to Kareena's lack of knowledge of some basics, it was impossible for her to become a researcher of the Foundation directly. So, she enrolled in a high school on Zhang Jue's recommendation. This high school was sponsored by the Foundation, and those attending it were also the families of Foundation employees, making it easy to manage and safer.

As long as Kareena didn't actively reveal that she was a reality bender, no one would generally notice her. However, where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. Especially in the rebellious period of these teens. It is said a dormitory living condition could be a hard environment knowing the people inside it.

Not to mention the academic school is in Clement's watch and Zhang Jue couldn't watch over from it. But it seems that there was no problem at all. Since asked about it, Zhang Jue could only listen to what her doubts were. At least she could play with those who she would call friends.

"I have a classmate called Xiao. In this midterm exam, she found someone cheating, so she reported that person. The school took the matter very seriously and then they called the parents."

When Karena finished, Zhang Jue looked at her with an odd look, "This classmate you're talking about. That wasn't you, was it?"

"What are you talking about?" Kareena plucked out a glance at Zhang Jue, "I've only been in the class for a few days. How could I have done such a thing?"

"It's good that it wasn't you." Zhang Jue patted his chest and breathed a long sigh of relief, "What happened afterwards?"

"Then she was hated by everyone. Everyone stopped playing with her, I went into school and was placed at the same table as her and she told me about it. She said she didn't regret it, and I didn't know what was wrong with her."

Zhang Jue smiled and asked, "So what is it? You don't know what was wrong with her either, so you came to ask me?"

"Yes." The little girl nodded, "Grandma told me to have the courage to fight against the wills of evil. It's wrong to cheat on exams and reporting cheating is a right thing to do. So why is she hated by everyone? Wouldn't it be the end of the world if everyone was afraid to speak the truth and report those who don't play by the rules? But if she is right, why would the right people be hated? is it really the world that is wrong?"

Kareena cocked her head and seemed to be thinking hard about this question. The first half of her life was blank, so she didn't have a mature idea of how to judge such things.

"Kareena, it is very important to learn to think and ponder about some things. This proves you that you have done very well on it." Zhang Jue nodded. Affirming her behavior which wasn't a meaningless thing.

On the contrary, this was the kind of thing she needed; only after dwelling on it more and thinking about it more it will then make her understand how things work. Otherwise, if she just listen to others and finally didn't do anything. It'll only make her to be that "go with the flow" kind of person. Not to mean that go with the flow is not good. But it'll better for her to be independent and open mind so her life will always be a little more exciting.

"Karena, I'm glad you can think. Since you asked about, then I'll give you a piece of advice. In the future, you should avoid to do that kind of thing. So that when it happens, it won't make you to become like that."

"Why?" Kareena hadn't expected such an extreme answer from Zhang Jue.

She had once discussed this issue with Ms. Claremont, and she had been told that this issue should be viewed with a dialectical perspective. Not just say who was right and who was wrong.

As expected, seeing Karena's questioning eyes, Zhang Jue yawned. "Kareena, this issue can definitely be search in the internet and find a lot of relevant information and even debates. But I won't pull those clichés with you today, let's look at this issue from an alternate perspective."