Si Nian walked in quite calmly, holding Yaoyao's hand.
Grandma Jiang followed behind, originally intending to see what Si Nian's work environment was like. Hearing the commotion, she was also very surprised.
Upon entering, she saw the middle-aged man who had visited the Si family a few days ago standing inside the room.
His emotions were running high.
Seeing Si Nian arrive, he immediately said, "Nian Nian, hurry up and tell your director, was it you who referred my child here?"
Si Nian nodded, "Yes, it was."
Third Uncle Si immediately looked at the deputy director with delight, "Hear that? It was my niece who referred me. I wasn't lying."
The deputy director frowned and looked at Si Nian, "Teacher Si, what is the situation with this matter?"
There were two other teachers in the deputy director's office. Hearing Si Nian's words, they also stared at her in considerable surprise, with a hint of scrutiny and disdain.
Si Nian said, "It's like this. My third uncle came to see me a few days ago, saying he wanted to send his son to our school and asked for my help."
While it's true that teachers might have some influence and could privately pull strings to get someone into the school, no one would openly admit to it like she just did.
The two teachers looked at her, stunned.
Grandma Jiang beside her was also taken aback.
The deputy director was stunned too, momentarily doubting whether he had overestimated Si Nian.
Third Uncle Si had just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this should settle the matter.
Then he heard Si Nian continue, "Third Uncle said his son is clever, even more capable than my Little Dong. I thought, since there is such talent, we definitely should recruit him for our school, so I told him to come see you, Director."
Third Uncle Si's heart, which had just settled, instantly leaped to his throat again.
"What's wrong?" Si Nian blinked her eyes innocently. "Could it be that Third Uncle's son is so brilliant he has shocked everyone?"
The deputy director's expression was indescribable.
A teacher nearby simply thought she was foolish and couldn't help but sneer, "Shocked? Indeed, we were shocked. The child is already ten years old. No matter what, he shouldn't be unable to solve a single problem, right?"
Hearing this, Si Nian immediately looked at Third Uncle Si in shock, wearing an expression of having been deceived. "Third Uncle, didn't you say your child is smarter than my son? How come he couldn't solve a single problem?"
Third Uncle Si's face burned with embarrassment. "Th-this, how can you blame my child? The questions they gave were too difficult. They even said you need a score of ninety to get into your school. If my child could score that high, would I have come to you for help?"
Perhaps out of shame turning to anger, he snapped, "Didn't you promise to get my son in? Why make things so complicated?"
Si Nian said, "Third Uncle, I gave your son the opportunity. If he couldn't seize it, whose fault is that?"
"That's bullshit!" Third Uncle Si felt he had been tricked and said angrily, "These questions are so hard, it's impossible to answer them. What kind of joke are you playing?"
"I'm not joking," Si Nian said helplessly. "My son answered them. If you don't believe me, ask the deputy director."
The deputy director, having figured things out by now, surmised that these people, seeing Si Nian had become a teacher at their school, wanted to use connections to get their child in.
They had boasted so much that Si Nian believed their son was more capable than Zhou Zedong.
Out of a desire to recruit talent, she had referred them here.
Who could have imagined it would turn out like this.
He cleared his throat, "Comrade, Teacher Si is correct. Her son also entered our school by passing an entrance assessment."
"Although our teachers can indeed recommend candidates," he said with a serious expression, "we don't accept just anyone."
"I don't believe it!" Third Uncle Si took two steps back, furious. "That child of hers is from the countryside, how could she be better than my son? What kind of joke is this? If you don't want to help, just say so. Using such an excuse... I've truly seen what your school is about now!"
The deputy director's face darkened. "Nonsense! How could my personal assessment be false? The test paper was the same. That child scored a perfect passing grade and was placed in our school's top class!"
He let out a cold snort. "I didn't want to discourage the child initially. But at your son's level, not a single teacher in our school would be willing to take him! If you keep making a scene, I'll have security escort you out."
Hearing this, Third Uncle Si's face turned pale with anger.
Yet, he didn't dare offend the school staff. He could only turn his rage on Si Nian!
"You... you've gone too far! You clearly took my money, and now you refuse to help. I'm going to report you!"
His own son couldn't get in. He had spent so much money and effort.
And now it had come to this.
Third Uncle Si was beside himself with rage.
Si Nian exclaimed in shock, "Third Uncle, what are you talking about? When did I ever take your money?"
Third Uncle Si gnashed his teeth. "You're still pretending! Wasn't the money your father gave you the other day from me? How dare you deny it now!"
"That was said to be a housewarming gift for my move. How did it become paying for a school spot?" Si Nian retorted angrily. "I treated you as family and introduced you to bring your child here. Yet now, Third Uncle turns around and blames me. That's truly excessive!"
Grandma Jiang sensed something was wrong and stepped forward. "That's right. The other day when I went to visit Nian Nian, I saw you and her adoptive father paying a visit. Nian Nian even happily told me you were there to celebrate with her."
Grandma Jiang was no fool. As soon as she finished speaking, she understood.
She thought to herself, had Si Nian been tricked?
It was possible. She was so young. No matter how clever, she likely wouldn't be very wary of family.
Grandma Jiang found this man utterly malicious and said angrily, "How can there be elders like you? Using the pretense of visiting a child to get them to do things for you. Besides, Nian girl did let your child come for the assessment. Your child himself wasn't up to par, and now you blame her instead. Are you trying to ruin her?"
The deputy director's brow also relaxed. When he heard about Si Nian taking money, he had been alarmed.
If such a thing got out, it would greatly impact their school's reputation.
She hadn't even started teaching yet. If this were true, she would definitely be dismissed.
Fortunately, there was a witness.
Otherwise, she really wouldn't be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.
"That's right. If this money was meant as a bribe from you, Third Uncle, you should have said so. I would never have accepted it. I'll return it to you right away,"
Si Nian said.
Third Uncle Si's face turned a mix of green and white.
He had been too excited at the time and hadn't thought it through.
Si's Father had indeed said it was for Si Nian's housewarming.
And Si Nian's neighbor had witnessed it. How could he possibly drag Si Nian down with him now?
Filled with resentment, Third Uncle Si angrily pulled his child away.
He felt he had definitely been played by his elder brother and was seething with rage.
...
Si Nian had actually anticipated this.
Once she became a teacher, these relatives who had once barely glanced her way would surely assume she would listen to Si's Father and Si's Mother and help get their children into this school.
In the novel, Lin Sisi had already faced a lot of trouble at school because of Si's Father, Si's Mother, and various relatives.
The teachers at this school do have priority placement quotas, but they are for new students.
If a child's grades are already quite poor, how could anyone expect to use a little personal connection to squeeze them into the best class?
That's why she had made Second Child repeat the first grade for a year.
Si Nian had also anticipated that after moving to the city, the Si family would certainly make some moves.
Before the school term started, she would definitely be pestered by people asking for a placement.
If it wasn't Third Uncle Si, it would be someone else.
If she refused, she would undoubtedly face all sorts of moral pressure and endless entanglement.
So, why not just agree? If his child was truly that smart and could pass the principal's assessment to get in, then so be it.
But if they failed the assessment, no one could blame her.
She would have done her part to help.
If Third Uncle Si's son couldn't get in,
others would surely ask Third Uncle Si about it afterwards.
Once they knew there was an assessment, they would stop bothering her.
