The fact that the parents of the entire class at the Imperial Academy were called in was an unprecedented event.
A group of little devils weren't afraid at all. While their parents were being scolded in the classroom, they clung to the door frame and piled their little heads together to watch the show.
The desks and chairs in the preschool class were all made according to the children's age and height, so a group of adults sitting down felt much shorter and had to stand. The 'parent-teacher meeting' was like a morning assembly.
Chen Xunzhi showed them a pile of 'pets' in the corner and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, I don't know how you teach your children at home, but this is the Imperial Academy, a place for studying. Pets are not allowed here."
Liu Chengyuan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, glanced at his canary and his lips twitched.
"Don't be angry, Mr. Chen. I will definitely teach Jing An a good lesson when we get back."
Liu Jing'an instinctively shrank his neck, and the memory of being dominated by the vines resurfaced.
Jiang Zhixu asked cautiously, "I wonder what kind of pet my daughter brought?"
Yesterday I heard that she brought a tank of koi. Apart from that, we don’t keep any other birds or fish at home, but my daughter’s guilty look just now made me afraid to be careless.
Chen Xunzhi glanced at him, "The princess didn't bring anything, but—"
Jiang Zhixu hadn't even caught her breath when she heard this twist of fate, and her eyelids twitched.
"She's the one who started this bad trend," Chen Xunzhi said with a dark face. "Yesterday she brought a tank of koi, saying she was going to release them, and today all these little brats followed suit. Goldfish, turtles, parrots, mynahs—they almost pecked my eyes out."
The ministers who recognized their own bird immediately felt guilty.
Most of those present were important officials in the court, and many were related by marriage, so they were not afraid of Chen Xunzhi, a retired Grand Secretary.
But he held the position of 'division commander'.
Respect for teachers and the teachings of scholars is ingrained in their very being.
If your child causes trouble at school and almost injures a teacher, it can be a big deal or a small one. If handled poorly, it could be seen as disrespect for teachers, a stain that can never be washed away for life.
Jiang Zhixu, however, straightened her back.
"How can this be considered a bad trend? My daughter released the koi fish out of kindness, didn't she? It's always better to be good than to be evil, don't you think?"
The parents of the children who had caused trouble all nodded in agreement.
That girl is awesome; she speaks with such confidence.
Chen Xunzhi's face darkened even more.
"A few birds can be released by simply opening their cages. Why bring them all the way to the school? Also, whose cats and dogs are these? Tell me, how are they going to be released?"
Those who own dogs or cats should just pretend to be mute.
They are all respectable people; as long as they don't do anything reckless, Chen Xunzhi won't publicly criticize them one by one.
Many people looked at Jiang Zhixu, exchanging silent glances.
"Quickly, help us out of this predicament."
"This whole thing started because of your daughter."
Jiang Zhixu thought to himself, his daughter likes to make friends, and for the sake of those kids, he should give these old guys some face.
He coughed lightly and said, "This is probably a misunderstanding by the children. After all, they are still young and curious about everything. It was a case of good intentions gone wrong, but there was absolutely no malice involved."
Several people nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, we will definitely take him back and discipline him properly, and there will absolutely be no next time."
Looking at this group of parents who were in cahoots, Chen Xunzhi took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Children are like blank slates. Parents and elders must guide them in distinguishing right from wrong. Merits should be rewarded and mistakes should be punished. There should be no leniency or indulgence, otherwise they will never learn their lesson."
Every large family has its own rules; who hasn't been punished with a cane or a ruler?
So most people have no objections.
Jiang Zhixu had objections.
"That's an overstatement."
He wouldn't even lay a finger on his precious daughter's hair, how could he let that old scoundrel teach her a lesson?
"They're all just kids, and their combined age isn't even as old as you. They made a mistake unintentionally. A few words of reprimand and a clear explanation are enough. Surely you wouldn't resort to physical violence, Mr. Chen?"
Several protective parents nodded in agreement.
Chen Xunzhi was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. "His Majesty ordered me to come here to teach, and they have all performed the apprenticeship ceremony. I should teach them what is good and evil, right and wrong. Parents should think about their children, not just indulge and spoil them. That would only harm them."
Someone muttered, "Then you shouldn't have called us here."
It is perfectly reasonable for teachers to punish students.
If they didn't see it, they'll pretend they didn't know. Do they think they can cause trouble for Chen Xunzhi afterward?
When your own child is naughty, you might feel like giving them a light spanking.
But if someone bursts into tears in front of another person, who can stand that?
Chen Xunzhi glared and shouted, "I'd like to reason with these brats, but do you think they'll understand?"
"Isn't it your responsibility as a teacher to teach and nurture students, impart knowledge and resolve doubts?"
Liu Chengyuan couldn't help but mutter something under his breath.
So, if you can't reason with your kids, you just call them over and give them a dressing down?
Seeing that Chen Xunzhi's face was getting more and more ugly, Jiang Zhixu hurriedly said, "This time the children were indeed reckless. How about this, call them in to apologize to you, and you can give them a few words of admonishment so that they will remember their mistake?"
"I agree."
"Can."
Most parents agreed.
Before Chen Xunzhi could speak, Jiang Zhixu waved towards the door and said, "Miaomiao, bring them in."
"Okay."
Jiang Shumiao snapped her fingers. "Stand up straight, line up, heads held high, and let's go."
She led the way in, followed by a long line of people.
I must say, they were quite neat, and they even consciously divided into two rows, which gave it a bit of a military training feel to it.
The adults all stepped back, making room for a large group of people.
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