Chapter 180: A stark contrast
The staff picked up a piece of frozen meat that was thawing, touched it, and found it to be hard and had a distinct odor after thawing. They also picked up a bunch of wilted greens, with yellow and wilted leaves and signs of rot at the roots.
"Is this the food you're feeding the children?" The staff member asked sternly. Xingchen's teacher lowered her head, not daring to speak.
The inspection team then examined the food samples left by Xingchen. The food in the sample box was dark in color and looked unappetizing, completely different from the exquisite appearance of the trial meals. It was obvious that they had cut corners and used inferior ingredients.
Based on previous complaints from parents, Chef Zhang's revelations, and the findings of the investigation team, staff immediately determined that Xingchen Kindergarten had committed multiple violations:
The source of ingredients is not standardized and cannot be traced; the purchase records, disinfection logs, and sample retention records are incomplete;
The food was found to be substandard or made with inferior ingredients.
It is completely inconsistent with the advertised "high-end nutritional meal" and constitutes false advertising;
The kitchen's hygiene conditions are substandard, posing a potential food safety hazard.
In addition, the investigation team also verified that Principal Li bribed the shop owner, gave the children substandard snacks, and instigated the elderly caregiver to spread rumors and fabricate evidence to smear Tongxin Kindergarten. The evidence is conclusive and beyond doubt.
Soon, the verification results were released to the public. The Market Supervision Bureau immediately issued a rectification notice to Xingchen Kindergarten, ordering it to immediately rectify issues such as the source of ingredients and kitchen hygiene, and imposed a heavy fine. The amount of the fine was publicized within the local education and catering industry as a warning.
The education department summoned the investors of Xingchen Kindergarten, severely criticized Principal Li for her illegal and irregular behavior, and demanded that the investors immediately replace the principal, provide comprehensive training for the kindergarten's staff, and restrict the kindergarten's enrollment quota for the next six months. If the rectification is not in place, the kindergarten's operating license will be revoked in accordance with the law.
After the news spread, the parents of Xingchen Kindergarten were furious and rushed to withdraw their children from the kindergarten.
"With such poor-quality ingredients and such a filthy kitchen, how can anyone dare to let their child study here? It's outrageous!"
"False advertising, harming children, they must be expelled from the kindergarten!"
In just a few days, the number of students at Xingchen Kindergarten plummeted. Almost all the children who had enrolled withdrew, and Chef Zhang also submitted his resignation. Xingchen Kindergarten was completely plunged into a business crisis, and the campus was empty, leaving only a desolate atmosphere.
Principal Li paid a heavy price for her misdeeds. The investors suffered heavy losses due to the collapse of Xingchen Kindergarten's reputation and business losses. They not only dismissed Principal Li on the spot, but also demanded that she be held accountable and compensate for the economic losses caused by false advertising and malicious competition.
The education department blacklisted Principal Li in the early childhood education industry, stipulating that she is permanently prohibited from engaging in early childhood education-related work, thus completely ruining her career path.
The food supplier who bribed the convenience store owner and forged delivery slips also received corresponding punishments; the convenience store owner was ordered to suspend business for rectification.
The food supplier has had its supply license revoked for several local kindergartens.
Principal Li stood in the empty Xingchen Kindergarten.
Looking at the slogan on the wall that read "Focusing on high-end nutritional meals," her eyes were filled with regret and resentment. But now, it was too late for regrets. She had ruined her own career and Xingchen Kindergarten. All of this was her own fault.
After the incident, Tongxin Kindergarten's reputation was completely restored. Not only did previous parents trust it even more, but a large number of parents also came to the kindergarten after hearing about its reputation.
The phone calls for registration kept coming in, and WeChat inquiries flooded in.
In just half a month, Tongxin Kindergarten was full, with many parents queuing up for a spot. Some parents even came from other neighborhoods just to enroll their children in Tongxin Kindergarten.
Principal Pan held the thick list of applicants, her face beaming with satisfaction.
He held Su Yingxue's hand, his voice full of gratitude: "Xiaoxue, we really owe you a lot this time. If it weren't for you, Tongxin might have been gone long ago. You not only protected Tongxin, but also made her better and better. Thank you so much."
Su Yingxue smiled and shook her head: "Principal Pan, this is not my achievement alone. It is the result of everyone's hard work and the trust of the parents. The most important thing is that the children eat happily and grow healthily."
Seeing the endless stream of parents registering, Principal Pan and Su Yingxue discussed it and decided to submit an application to the education department to expand the kindergarten.
Thanks to its excellent reputation, standardized management, and dedication to food safety, the expansion application was quickly approved by the education department.
Furthermore, taking into account Tongxin Kindergarten's dedication and innovation in children's nutrition, the education department provided a small amount of support funds for the construction of the new kindergarten's kitchen and the development of food education courses.
On the day they received the funding and approval to expand the kindergarten, the teachers at Tongxin Kindergarten were overjoyed. They discussed the plans for the new kindergarten together, and Su Yingxue proposed to further strengthen food as Tongxin's core advantage. They wanted to ensure that children not only ate healthily and nutritiously, but also that the food had educational value, allowing children to learn and grow through food.
She first contacted the pediatric nutritionist she had previously collaborated with, and then connected with farmers who supplied her with ingredients on a long-term basis. Together, they developed a set of "food education courses," with one fixed class per week, taking children to the ingredient base to learn about various vegetables, fruits and crops, and experience the growth process of the ingredients.
In spring, take the children to the vegetable garden to see the greens sprouting and the cucumbers climbing, and let them pick a cherry tomato and taste its fresh sweetness.
In autumn, take the children to the orchard to pick apples and oranges, and feel the joy of harvest as they watch the bright red and golden fruits hanging from the branches.
We also regularly invite farmers to the kindergarten to teach the children about food cultivation, so that they know that every food is hard-earned and develop a good habit of cherishing food.
Back at the kindergarten, Su Yingxue would lead the children in making simple animal-themed meals, allowing them to participate in the food preparation process while ensuring their safety. Some children would knead the dough with the teacher, shaping the white dough into small circles to represent panda faces;
Some children carefully cut seaweed with small scissors, making round eyes and tiny mouths, and then stuck them on the rice balls;
Other children used fresh apples, grapes, and oranges to create adorable little flowers and cute animal shapes. The children worked diligently and happily, their faces covered in flour and their hands in juice, yet their smiles were exceptionally bright. Through this hands-on experience, the children not only enjoyed eating more but also developed their practical skills and understood the importance of cooperation.
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