William Martinez smiled mysteriously at the time and said, “There are indeed both poor and rich people inside the refuge barrier. Anyone who can freely enter and exit the refuge barrier must be a person of status.”

According to William Martinez, it’s very difficult for the poor inside the refuge barrier to get out.

Those towering high walls block not only the people outside, but also those inside.

At this moment, William Martinez was also following the band staff. As he passed by Jason Carter, he kept glaring at Jason Carter, and finally lowered his voice and said, “You ungrateful little brat, your Uncle Martinez recommended such a good job to you, and you still didn’t take it. Do you know, I heard from the staff that they’re looking for a good guide from the town to take into the refuge barrier. In the future, they’ll need someone for all sorts of things!”

Jason Carter was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t expected it to be such an opportunity.

If he had known earlier, would he still have refused?

He would, because if he went in, Brian Cooper definitely wouldn’t be able to. How could he leave Brian Cooper alone outside?

Brian Cooper whispered, “Bro, why don’t you go talk to those band people again? You’re way better than that Old Harris. He often comes back empty-handed from hunting, and he’s never dared to go too far from the town.”

“Enough nonsense,” Jason Carter frowned. Of course he felt a pang in his heart, but he had made his decision. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to school.”

When Jason Carter and Brian Cooper arrived at the classroom, David Bolton was already wiping the blackboard. He turned around and almost jumped in surprise when he saw Jason Carter and Brian Cooper, both sporting heavy dark circles under their eyes, looking like ghosts...

“What’s up with you two…” David Bolton asked hesitantly.

“My brother insisted on…” Brian Cooper started to explain.

But before Brian Cooper could finish, Jason Carter smacked him on the back of the head, cutting him off. Jason Carter said, “It’s nothing, just didn’t sleep well.”

“Oh,” David Bolton didn’t bother to pry into their private matters. He asked, “Have you decided what to teach today? Today’s your first day substituting.”

“I’ve decided,” Jason Carter nodded.

During the day, he sat in the classroom as a student, but for the last period, the survival class, he became the substitute teacher.

When the last class came, David Bolton, worried that Jason Carter lacked teaching experience, sat in the last row to support him.

Jason Carter walked up to the podium, and the class monitor immediately called out, “Stand up!”

Then all the students shouted, “Hello, teacher!”

To the students, Jason Carter was already a special presence—he was their “classmate,” the oldest among them, and a local celebrity in the town. So having Jason Carter teach them was a real novelty.

At that moment, Jason Carter suddenly said, “Do you all think Mr. Bolton has it tough teaching you? You all get to sit in class, but Mr. Bolton has to stand all day.”

In this situation, how could the students say it’s not tough? David Bolton was right there… so they could only agree.

Jason Carter continued, “So shouldn’t we thank Mr. Bolton?”

“Yes!” the students answered in unison.

Brian Cooper’s face changed dramatically, screaming inside, Here it comes, here it comes!

Jason Carter nodded in satisfaction. “From now on, when class starts, you don’t need to say ‘hello, teacher’—just say ‘thank you, teacher!’”

David Bolton was completely baffled the whole time, having no idea what kind of trick Jason Carter was up to!

“Come on, everyone sit down, let’s try it once!” Jason Carter said with a grin.

“Stand up!”

“Thank you, teacher!” the students chorused again.

Jason Carter glanced inwardly at the typewriter in the palace, feeling full of regret… Not a single one of these little brats sincerely thanked the teacher!

Is it really this hard to sincerely thank the gardeners who teach and nurture you these days?!

No, he’d have to think of another way—first attempt, failed!

But for Jason Carter, failure wasn’t anything unusual. Being able to accept failure calmly was already one of his greatest strengths.

Jason Carter had once heard a saying: In life, eight or nine out of ten things don’t go your way.

It means that in life, out of ten things, eight or nine will be unsatisfactory.

But even so, does that mean you just give up on life? Of course not.

Chapter 13: This Is Reality

After thinking it over, Jason Carter had concluded that being a teacher should be the easiest way to receive gratitude.

However, he had overlooked one thing. Yes, he was eager to learn, and yes, he craved knowledge, but that was because he grew up in a twisted environment—his longing for knowledge came from his previous lack of it.

The more you lack something, the more you desire it.

But what he longed for, other students might not. The children who could attend school in this era generally came from decent families, each protected by their parents.

These kids had been in school for years, and the thing they hated most was the teacher—making them recite texts, making them do homework. In their youth, students and teachers were often natural enemies most of the time…