Chapter 10
Shen Hanyang took a simple plastic stool and sat down next to Yan Qing.
Yan Qing felt a little apologetic. There was indeed a small space next to her seat, just big enough for one person. But that place was too close to the restroom, hardly a suitable area for guests.
"I saw the teaching progress and plan that Teacher Yan posted." Amidst the noise, Shen Hanyang spoke slowly.
Yan Qing realized that it wasn't that he didn't check WeChat, but rather that he read it but didn't reply.
Shen Hanyang said, "Isn't the current progress a bit slow?"
Yan Qing said, "Jiaming's foundation is relatively weak, so I deliberately slowed down the pace. However, you are welcome to offer any suggestions or ideas."
Shen Hanyang's attitude became more tactful: "As a parent, I shouldn't interfere with the teacher's decisions. But I still want to make a small request: could we achieve the same results in one and a half or two years in just one year? Or perhaps even have him grasp some basic Olympiad math knowledge?"
Yan Qing found this "small request" utterly absurd. Cheng Jiaming often struggled with even carrying in two-digit addition and subtraction, yet his father wanted to leapfrog directly to advanced math olympiad.
“Mr. Shen, I think the teaching pace should be determined according to the child’s actual situation. We can’t force the child to grow too fast. Being too eager for quick results will backfire. We should use the two months of summer vacation to solidify the foundation, so that it will be less difficult for the child to study when he returns to school. As for the Olympiad math… it may be a bit early.”
"Can you think of a way? For example, are there any quick tips?"
“I understand how you feel as a father, and it’s understandable that you have high expectations for your child. However, every child has their own learning pace. Without a solid foundation, mastering any number of skills is just building castles in the air. I think you shouldn’t be too anxious or put too much pressure on him. Proper guidance and gradual progress are more effective than forcibly instilling knowledge.”
“I can pay more,” Shen Hanyang said simply and bluntly.
"This is not about money."
Shen Hanyang paused for a moment and said, "Teacher Yan does indeed have her own ideas."
Shen Hanyang spoke with an air of authority, his gentle demeanor concealing a sharp edge. Yan Qing wasn't sure if his words were praise or sarcasm, so she could only say, "I just think that children need to feel happy to be motivated to learn."
At this moment, Cheng Jiaming ran over and said to Shen Hanyang as he passed by, "Old Shen, don't forget what I gave Teacher Yan!" After saying that, he rushed into the bathroom.
Shen Hanyang picked up his schoolbag from the ground and took out a piece of A4-sized paper. Yan Qing took it and saw that it was a very exquisite painting. The painting depicted a young man and a beautiful woman embracing and kissing amidst falling petals.
"Did Jiaming draw this?"
"Yes, he likes to draw."
Yan Qing said, "This child has more strengths than I thought."
Shen Hanyang smiled but remained silent.
Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Cheng Jiaming came out. Seeing his artwork, he ran over excitedly: "Teacher, these are the illustrations I drew for my novel."
Yan Qing hadn't reacted yet: "A novel?"
Cheng Jiaming said, "Yes, it's called 'The Unlucky Prince and His Amorous Widow.' Sister Mengmeng said you know the author, could you please pass it on to him for me?"
By the time Yan Qing heard the novel's title, it was too late to stop Cheng Jiaming. The words "The Amorous Widow" came out of the mouth of eight-year-old Cheng Jiaming in his innocent childish voice. She felt the air itself become scorching, wishing there was a crack in the ground she could disappear into.
Clinging to her last shred of hope, she said to Cheng Jiaming in a gentle tone, "Your teacher told you that those kinds of novels aren't suitable for children. You didn't read them, did you?"
Cheng Jiaming said carelessly, "I saw it. It's about the most handsome man in the world falling in love with the most beautiful woman, so I came up with this scene. Isn't it romantic?"
Yan Qing's heart sank to the bottom, and she didn't dare to look back at Shen Hanyang's reaction.
Cheng Jiaming added, "These two people are based on you and Lao Shen." Then he ran away.
"Teacher Yan certainly knows better than me how to get along with children." Shen Hanyang's calm voice rang in her ears. Turning around, she realized he was actually very close. Yan Qing felt her face burning.
Shen Hanyang went out to answer a phone call and came back saying, "I have something to do, so I'll leave first. Please take care of Jiaming, Teacher Yan. I'll pick him up this afternoon."
Yan Qing escorted Shen Hanyang to the door, and as she returned to her seat, she felt a pair of eyes fixed on her from behind. She turned her head and met Gong Meiping's sharp gaze.
Why is my mother-in-law looking at me like that?
"That man has ill intentions towards you, Xiao Yan, be careful."
"Those are the child's parents."
Gong Meiping angrily said, "That makes it even more despicable. They are so lecherous and have absolutely no sense of family responsibility!"
Yan Qing knew that Gong Meiping had an eccentric personality and had no intention of explaining further. She simply patted Gong Meiping's shoulder gently and said, "Mother-in-law has misunderstood."
Gong Meiping scoffed loudly and said, "I have the best eye for men. Huang Qian's ex-husband hid his true colors very well at first, but I still saw through his true nature. This guy just came in and started radiating personal charm, making those female parents uneasy. Why did he choose to sit next to you out of all these other places? What are his intentions? Isn't it because he thinks you're young, pretty, and easy to fool?"
Yan Qing was too embarrassed to tell Gong Meiping that Shen Hanyang had deliberately sat next to her just to offer her criticism and suggestions.
It wasn't Shen Hanyang who came to pick up Cheng Jiaming in the afternoon, but Secretary Gao and Wu Yanying.
Secretary Gao, dressed in a black business suit, exuded an air of sophistication. Her pointed high heels clicked rhythmically on the floor. Upon entering, she politely greeted the other parents, but her haughty demeanor remained undiminished.
Yan Qing told Secretary Gao that the children had gone downstairs to the playground to pose for photos and asked her to wait a moment. Secretary Gao deliberately distanced herself from the parents' lively chatter in the group chat and elegantly sat down alone on the sofa.
"What is this?" Wu Yanying asked in a sweet, curious voice.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Gao looked over, and her overly thick eyebrows immediately furrowed tightly, like two long worms wrestling together: "Pig intestines? Teacher Yan, you're feeding the children this kind of thing?"
Gu Feimeng said, "What's the problem? It's been washed and cooked."
Secretary Gao chuckled: "I didn't realize you, such a pretty young lady, had such a strong palate. Do you like to eat it with a few cloves of garlic? Remember to brush your teeth before you leave!"
Everyone could tell that Secretary Gao was being sarcastic towards Yan Qing. Wu Yanying covered her mouth and laughed uncontrollably.
Gu Feimeng said, "How do you know so much? You must have eaten it. If you have, why are you pretending to be disgusted? Are you trying to seem superior?"
Secretary Gao raised her chin slightly, her tone condescending: "Jiaming has been eating Western food since he was a child. We would never let him try offal. Besides, he is pampered and has a delicate stomach, unlike you kids who are used to eating heavy oil and salt from a young age."
Gu Feimeng glanced at her: "Then tell me, what should we eat to be worthy of your noble stomachs?"
Secretary Gao said, "It doesn't need to be complicated. For example, steak is simple and nutritious. Xiao Wu loves to eat it and often cooks for her. Teacher Yan can learn from her."
Gu Feimeng rolled her eyes: "You've gotten a sense of superiority from eating beef."
Secretary Gao took a takeout box from her paper bag: "President Shen had lunch with us at Lian Western Restaurant at noon. You've heard of it, right? Their desserts are absolutely famous. I packed some pastries. If Teacher Yan doesn't mind, she can have a taste." Secretary Gao emphasized again: "They haven't been touched at all."
Yan Qing said, "It's quite expensive, you should keep it. It's not good for you to spend money."
Secretary Gao said, "I didn't spend the money; President Shen paid for it to entertain Xiao Wu." There was a strange sense of pride in his tone.
Gu Feimeng sneered, "Your boss is quite generous, letting you two eat and take things, and even using his money to do favors."
Secretary Gao selectively ignored Gu Feimeng's sarcasm and said, "I just wanted to remind Teacher Yan that we must be careful about what we put in our mouths."
From the moment Secretary Gao entered, she adopted a haughty tone, nitpicking and subtly belittling Yan Qing while praising Wu Yanying. Wu Yanying, seemingly unconcerned about Secretary Gao's protection, even blinked her large eyes with interest as she watched the back-and-forth, the open and veiled barbs exchanged. That innocent, detached look ignited a nameless anger in Gu Feimeng. She looked at Secretary Gao, a half-smile on her face, and said, "Are you mistaken? This isn't some village banquet where anyone can come up and say a few words. Huang Yanxiang's mother is an associate professor at a top university; she's not some empty-headed, arrogant nobody. Keep your high-minded opinions to yourself! If Boss Shen knew you were giving him face like this, he'd definitely teach you a lesson."
Secretary Gao was rebuked, her face turning red and then pale. Just as she was about to retaliate, the children returned.
Cheng Jiaming peeked at the table and found that the plate of braised food was almost empty. He looked very aggrieved: "My favorite pig intestines are gone?"
Yan Qing said, "I left you a small bowl; it's in the pot."
Cheng Jiaming beamed and skipped into the kitchen, quickly bringing out a small blue bowl. He ate it with his hands as he walked.
Gu Feimeng grabbed Cheng Jiaming and said loudly, "Jiaming, if you like steak, come to my place next time, and I'll make it for you!"
Cheng Jiaming looked disgusted: "I don't like to eat it. It's bloody, like something savages would eat."
Gu Feimeng rolled her eyes at Secretary Gao with satisfaction, and said to Cheng Jiaming, "Jiaming, just remember, don't eat anything that will damage your brain."
Secretary Gao was completely defeated. She hated Gu Feimeng with a passion that extended precisely to Yan Qing. Although Yan Qing remained silent, she tolerated her companion's repeated provocations and rude remarks. This kind of person was more despicable and insidious than Gu Feimeng, who was a troublemaker.
Suddenly, Secretary Gao's eyes widened, and she strode to the table, pulled a bag from a pile of snacks, and asked with a murderous look, "What's this?"
Gu Feimeng said irritably, "Can't you read? It says 'peanut' on it."
Secretary Gao said, "Jiaming is allergic to peanuts!"
Cheng Jiaming heard this and said, "Aunt Gao, I didn't eat peanuts."
"It'll be too late if you eat them!" Secretary Gao said excitedly, her voice high-pitched, but she was speaking to Yan Qing. "Peanuts can cause laryngeal edema, bronchospasm... the consequences would be unimaginable!"
Some parents noticed something was wrong and looked over. Even Gong Meiping, who had gone back to her bedroom for a nap, was startled and asked loudly, "Xiao Yan, what's going on outside?"
Gu Feimeng said, "What makes you so great? Didn't Jiaming say he didn't eat it? He's so old, he knows what he can and can't eat."
Yan Qing just wanted to quickly quell Secretary Gao's anger and avoid causing a conflict, so she apologized repeatedly: "I'm sorry, it was my oversight..."
“Sister Yanqing, there’s no need to apologize!” Huang Yanxiang said. “Cheng Jiaming didn’t say beforehand that he was allergic to anything, how were we supposed to know?”
Secretary Gao sneered: "First, peanuts are a common allergen. You can't just give them to others without knowing the facts. Don't you have that basic common sense? Second, did any adult teach you to be polite when speaking to your elders?" Secretary Gao rolled her eyes at Huang Yanxiang, "You're ignorant and ill-mannered. You rarely see someone like this among Jiaming's friends."
Secretary Gao's sharp tongue made Yan Qing frown. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Huang Yanxiang's voice, trembling with tears, "Cheng Jiaming wanted to come to my birthday party on his own, I didn't beg him to come!"
Huang Yanxiang was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes, and finally she simply buried her face in her arms on the table and cried. The other friends rushed over to comfort her.
"Xiangxiang, don't cry."
A little girl pointed the finger at Cheng Jiaming: "It's all your fault! You ruined Xiangxiang's birthday party!"
The group of friends were instantly agitated, united in their anger, and they all pointed the finger at Cheng Jiaming: "Xiangxiang cried because of you! Get out! We're not playing with you anymore!"
Cheng Jiaming tried to explain, but the more anxious he became, the stiffer his tongue became, and his secret to combating stuttering by singing failed him. He stammered for a long time without uttering a single word, feeling both ashamed and angry, and his eyes suddenly reddened.
Cheng Jiaming glanced at Huang Yanxiang, then at Secretary Gao, and ran out the door, sobbing.
Secretary Gao glared at Yan Qing, gritted her teeth, and said, "If Jia Ming feels unwell because he ate something unclean here, you'll be responsible!" With that, she swayed her unsteady body in her high heels and chased after him. Wu Yanying followed closely behind.
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