The news caused an uproar throughout the teachers' office.
Those teachers who had been secretly gloating, thinking they could take Si Nian's place after she left, now found themselves unable to laugh.
Especially when they heard that Teacher Wu Ren'ai had spoken up for her—
No wonder Si Nian had been so bold on her very first day, ignoring Director Li and even leaving just like that.
Not only did she face no consequences for offending Director Li, but Director Li had to personally go to her home to ask her back. If she didn't return, Director Li would be the one getting fired. What did that signify?
It signified that Si Nian was a true hidden power!
Everyone felt a pang of regret for not having tried to build a better relationship with Si Nian earlier.
...
By the time Si Nian arrived home with the drowsy Little Tuanzi, it was almost noon.
She hadn't worn high heels in a long time, and her feet were already starting to ache after just that short while.
After having lunch at home, she began to feel sleepy and took an afternoon nap with Yaoyao.
The two children who had collected their uniforms and textbooks also returned home.
Little Laodi immediately changed into his new school uniform, eager to go out and show off.
During this period, he had been running around everywhere with Jiang Jiu and noticed there were quite a few kids their age living nearby.
It's just that Jiang Jiu wasn't familiar with them.
Back in the village, whenever Si Nian bought him new clothes, the little fellow loved running all over the place in them, passing his own door three times without entering. To anyone who asked, his response was always, "How did you know my mom bought me new clothes?"
He made sure everyone in the whole village knew Si Nian was good to the two brothers.
That was also a major reason why most people envied them.
Now, Little Laodi put on his uniform and immediately went to find Jiang Jiu.
Although Jiang Jiu didn't quite understand the fuss, seeing Zhou Zehan wear his, he put his on too.
Hand in hand, the two declared they were going out for a stroll.
Zhou Zedong didn't like going out or making friends.
He never played with his younger brother or Jiang Jiu.
Now, with his new books in hand, he couldn't wait to go to the study and start flipping through them.
After a while,
someone knocked on the door downstairs.
Si Nian was still in her room, so Zhou Zedong went down to answer it.
He saw a stern-looking middle-aged woman in a suit standing at the door.
He didn't open it, but asked, "Hello, who are you looking for?"
Polite, yet distant.
Li Fenghua, her face dark, looked at him, puzzled.
She wasn't very familiar with this Si Nian, only knowing she had been favored by the school after a speech on stage.
But judging by Si Nian's age, she seemed quite young.
Was this child her younger brother?
She immediately lifted her chin and said, "I'm looking for your sister. Tell her to come out."
Zhou Zedong glanced at her and said, "Sorry, you've got the wrong person. I don't have a sister."
Li Fenghua was stunned, thinking maybe the address the school gave was wrong?
She frowned, about to ask something more, but Zhou Zedong had already turned and walked away without a backward glance.
"How rude!" Li Fenghua stamped her foot, turned around, and continued searching.
Many people had moved out of the old district, but it was still vast.
She walked a long way without finding another address with the same name.
Li Fenghua, sweating profusely from exhaustion, could only run back to school and insist the address must be wrong.
The deputy director looked at her as if she were an idiot: "Of course he said he doesn't have a sister when you asked! That's Teacher Si's adopted son!"
Hearing this, Li Fenghua nearly fainted from anger.
She had no choice but to go to the door again.
This time, it was Zhou Zedong who appeared once more.
Seeing it was the same person, he felt somewhat impatient but remained polite.
"What do you want now?"
Li Fenghua's mouth twitched violently. She finally understood why she had disliked this child from the start.
Like mother, like son indeed.
Both so ill-mannered.
But thinking of her purpose, she held back and said, "I'm looking for your mother, Si Nian. Tell her to come out."
Zhou Zedong narrowed his eyes. Despite his young age, he stared at her with a scrutinizing gaze.
It made Li Fenghua's scalp tingle.
What ten-year-old child looks at people like that? It was downright eerie.
Zhou Zedong withdrew his gaze and said, "My mother is sleeping. Come back tomorrow."
Li Fenghua: "..."
Since becoming a director, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?
Making a house call to apologize was already her biggest concession.
And this was the attitude she got in return!
Utterly outrageous!
Fuming with rage, Li Fenghua almost couldn't hold back from cursing out loud.
However, before she could speak, Zhou Zedong turned and walked away again.
"Ahhhhh!!!" Li Fenghua shrieked in anger. "I'm so mad!"
She nearly couldn't resist slamming the door.
But she knew if she did that, Si Nian would be even less likely to return.
And then she'd be the one in trouble.
Choking back her fury, Li Fenghua went back again.
Yet, upon returning to school, the deputy director, seeing she hadn't brought Si Nian back, launched into sarcastic mode again.
"Teacher Si has two English classes tomorrow morning. If she isn't brought back today and there's no one to teach tomorrow, I wonder who will be held responsible then."
Li Fenghua: "..."
Brimming with pent-up rage, she once again found herself at Si Nian's doorstep.
Little Laodi, having just returned from showing off to Jiang Jiu, was called to a halt.
He turned to look and saw a fierce-looking older woman.
That kind of look was very familiar to him.
Aunt Liu, Little Aunt, and their previous stepmother used to look at them that way.
He immediately took two steps back. "What do you want with me?"
Noticing the resemblance to the previous child, Li Fenghua guessed they must be brothers.
She immediately said, "Si Nian is your mother, right? Call her out. I need to talk to her."
Little Laodi grew even more wary. When Aunt Liu and Little Aunt came to cause trouble, they used that same tone.
He immediately said, "Yes, she's my mom. But why should I listen to you? You look like an old witch. I won't let my mom see you."
"You!" Hearing this, Li Fenghua nearly choked on her anger.
She had never encountered such disobedient children.
Li Fenghua comforted herself, thinking, Hold back, hold back. Once Si Nian is back, I'll have plenty of ways to vent.
So, she forced a smile and said, "Little friend, what are you talking about? Auntie has always looked like this. A bit stern, but I'm a very nice person."
After listening, Little Laodi immediately exclaimed with feigned shock, "Then you're really pitiful, looking this ugly since you were little. You probably have no friends."
Li Fenghua: "..."
"Since Auntie is so pitiful, could you be a good boy and go call your mom for me? Auntie will give you candy."
"No!" Little Laodi refused. "You're a liar."
His tone was certain.
"Wh-what?" Li Fenghua glared at him, her eyes seeming to want to devour him. "What nonsense are you saying? How could I be a liar?"
"You are. You're clearly a granny, but you call yourself auntie. So shameless." Little Laodi pulled down his lower eyelids, stuck out his tongue, then turned around wiggling his hips and slapped his bottom in her direction.
"I'm not that stupid to be fooled by you."
He was much smarter now and wouldn't be tricked by a few pieces of candy.
"You, you stop right there! You little brat! I'm so mad! Ah—"
