There was a brief moment of silence.
The awkward silence was broken only by an announcement coming from outside.
"Headmaster, Mr. Qu has arrived!"
Xu Shanzhang knew that Qu Huaiyuan and Zhen Wanwan were from the same village, so he didn't ask her to avoid him.
"Go and invite him in."
As soon as Qu Huaiyuan entered, he saw Zhen Wanwan and unconsciously avoided his gaze.
"Headmaster, the end of the year is approaching, and students are all asking when the holiday will begin?"
Xu Shanzhang looked at Qu Huaiyuan with a smile, just when he was worried that there was no one to mediate the conflict.
"No rush. Zhenniangzi is here today. I remember you two are from the same village, right?"
"yes!"
Zhen Wanwan looked at Qu Huaiyuan with a puzzled expression. For some reason, she felt that Qu Huaiyuan seemed to be deliberately avoiding her during this period.
Moreover, when the two met, they didn't talk as much.
Now was not the time to pry into his thoughts. After the two finished speaking, Zhen Wanwan said, "Headmaster Xu, why don't you two continue chatting, and I'll go take a look at the math teacher?"
Upon hearing this, Headmaster Xu's brow twitched. He thought to himself that he couldn't let them be alone together, lest Zhen Niangzi make them sick again.
"I've got nothing to do, so I'll go visit him. Huaiyuan, come along too!"
And so, Headmaster Xu walked ahead, leading them to the dormitory.
Since it was still class time and there were few people in the dormitory, the group headed straight for the room of the teacher who had fallen ill from anger.
"Headmaster, what brings you here?"
When Xu Sheng saw someone coming, he hurriedly stuffed the paper envelope into the bed, looking guilty.
Are you feeling any better?
"Ah? Ah! Much better!"
Zhen Wanwan disliked the other person at first glance; there was no trace of a scholar about him from head to toe.
Instead, he looked exactly like a shopkeeper.
She doubted whether such a person would be qualified to teach students.
Xu Shanzhang had already introduced the two of them. When Xu Sheng heard that Zhen Wanwan was Li Yuanzhou's aunt, his guilty expression turned contemptuous.
He looked at her with an arrogant gaze, making Zhen Wanwan want to punch him so hard he could never get out of bed.
However, she still saved face for herself in front of Headmaster Xu.
"You must be my nephew's math tutor!" Zhen Wanwan suppressed her displeasure and bowed to him.
Seeing her show weakness and with her servants carrying gifts, the other party assumed she was there to apologize and put on a very high-handed act.
"Exactly! Since you are Li Yuanzhou's aunt, you should keep a close eye on him! Someone who doesn't respect his teachers and elders will never become a pillar of the nation when he grows up!"
"Really? That's still better than being an uncultured person who likes to act superior because of his age and spews filth!"
Zhen Wanwan's words were so suggestive and pointed that Xu Sheng was stunned for a while before he came to his senses.
He pointed angrily at Zhen Wanwan, stammering, "You...you ignorant and uncouth woman! This isn't your countryside..."
Xu Sheng rambled on and on, until he was so angry that he leaned against a chair, panting heavily.
In response, Xu Shanzhang and Qu Huaiyuan tacitly stepped back, resolutely refusing to take on any responsibility.
However, Xu Sheng, lacking tact, angrily complained to Headmaster Xu, "Headmaster, look at her!"
Xu Shanzhang unconsciously rubbed his temples, somewhat regretting that he had come.
“Madam Zhen, I think it’s getting late. Why don’t we wait until Yuanzhou finishes school and then sit down and have a proper chat?”
Zhen Wanwan didn't come over to cause trouble, so she naturally agreed.
He went out the door first, facing Xu Sheng's murderous gaze.
Behind him came his furious complaints: "Headmaster, how can you let such an ignorant and foolish woman..."
Xiaomei glared at Xu Sheng and said with dissatisfaction, "How did someone like my wife become a teacher? Her eyes are practically hanging in the sky..."
"Hehehe... That's right! Seeing him suffer makes me feel much better!"
Even the usually composed Granny Zhang couldn't help but complain this time.
Zhen Wanwan nodded in agreement with what they said; this person was indeed annoying.
They are the epitome of snobs, arrogant and incompetent.
"Madam Zhen! Please wait!"
Qu Huaiyuan caught up from behind, and after a few quick steps, he was right in front of her. Unlike before, however, he kept the distance between them.
"Brother Qu, is there anything I can help you with?"
Qu Huaiyuan gave her a deep look, then shifted his gaze and said, "Xu Sheng is Xu Shanzhang's cousin. The Xu family is the most powerful family in Anqing Prefecture, and its members hold many important official positions within the prefecture. You..."
Zhen Wanwan didn't need to guess what was left; it was most likely an admonition to calm her temper and not get into trouble.
No wonder she said that a good-for-nothing like Xu Sheng could get a teaching position at the academy! Turns out he got in through connections.
"I understand, Brother Qu! Thank you for letting me know!"
Everyone has a powerful backer! Her fiancé, however, provided her with security.
If Xu Sheng doesn't take her seriously and insists on causing her trouble, then she wouldn't mind giving him an unforgettable memory before the new year!
A short while later, during the lunch break, Yuan Huizhou was brought over.
When he saw Zhen Wanwan coming over, he skipped and hopped into her arms.
"Auntie! What brings you here?"
Zhen Wanwan gently smoothed his hair and explained with a smile, "Sister Rou'er made some snacks today, and I thought you like them, so I brought them to you specially!"
As she spoke, she gestured for Xiaomei to take Yuan Huizhou to another room and serve him lunch.
After they had filled their stomachs, the aunt and niece went to see Headmaster Xu together.
Upon seeing Xu Sheng, Yuan Huizhou couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but fortunately, he remained composed and stood beside Zhen Wanwan with neither arrogance nor servility.
Xu Shanzhang kindly called Yuan Huizhou to his side and gently inquired about his studies.
Originally, Yuan Huizhou was a transfer student and couldn't keep up with his classmates' progress, but unexpectedly, in just two months, he far surpassed them.
Such gifted students are the academy's hidden gems.
Xu Sheng saw the culprit who had caused him to lose face, and his eyes flashed with a knife-like light.
They had absolutely no intuition to be a teacher.
"Mr. Xu's eyes seem to be failing! I happen to have some medicine here that can treat blindness."
Xu Sheng snorted coldly and stroked his specially grown beard.
"I'm perfectly fine! I don't need your medicine!"
"I don't even want to give it to you!" Zhen Wanwan glared at him, having already made up her mind.
Headmaster Xu then got down to business, saying, "Both sides were at fault yesterday. How about we settle the matter here? What do you think?"
"Headmaster, you..." Xu Sheng looked at Headmaster Xu in disbelief, thinking he was hallucinating.
Zhen Wanwan is just an ignorant countrywoman. Given the status of the Xu family, it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to kick her out!
Why should he sacrifice his pride?
Zhen Wanwan raised an eyebrow. She felt uneasy about letting Xu Sheng go like this.
Isn't it misleading students to have such a despicable person as a teacher?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com