The next day,
Shen Nanchu accompanied Pei Yunxi to the village committee office.
Wang Jianguo had already agreed to Pei Yunxi teaching at the village elementary school.
However, they still needed Wang Chaoying’s approval.
After all, Wang Chaoying was the school’s principal and one of the people in charge of the teacher recruitment process.
In the village committee office,
As soon as Wang Jianguo finished explaining the matter, Wang Chaoying fell into silence.
He neither opposed nor agreed.
The office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Some opportunities must be seized by one’s own efforts.
Shen Nanchu gave Pei Yunxi a meaningful look, and Pei Yunxi nodded.
She boldly stepped forward and addressed Wang Chaoying,
"Principal Wang, are you hesitating because you’re worried I’m not qualified for the teaching position?"
"That’s correct."
Wang Chaoying nodded.
He was well aware of the village’s situation.
If Pei Yunxi were truly willing to teach without pay, it would be a tremendous help.
But if her teaching skills were lacking, they’d be trading a watermelon for a sesame seed—harming the village children in the process.
Knowing the sticking point made things easier.
"Principal Wang, I can give a trial lesson right now," Pei Yunxi confidently suggested.
"You can choose any lesson you’d like."
Wang Chaoying’s eyes lit up—this was a good idea.
He wanted to test Pei Yunxi,
so he pulled out a middle school textbook, flipped to a random page, and handed it to her.
Pei Yunxi glanced at it briefly before returning the book,
"I’m ready."
"So soon?" Wang Chaoying was surprised.
When Pei Yunxi stood at the makeshift podium, Wang Chaoying finally understood why she was so confident.
Her effortless poise and composed demeanor made her seem more like a teacher than the substitute instructors sent from town.
"Stop."
After just five minutes, Wang Chaoying had made his decision.
"Come to the school tomorrow for orientation. I’ll introduce you to the situation at Wang Family Village School."
"Understood, Principal Wang."
Pei Yunxi couldn’t hide her joy.
Wang Jianguo blinked in disbelief.
"Wang Chaoying, you made up your mind after just five minutes?"
"Absolutely. Some people are born to stand at the podium. Others couldn’t teach well even if you gave them a year."
Wang Chaoying’s words carried a pointed implication.
Wang Jianguo understood what he meant.
Since Wang Chaoying had given his approval, the matter was settled.
As for the villagers and educated youths waiting to compete for the position, Wang Jianguo had plenty of excuses to silence them.
If they dared, they could follow Pei Yunxi’s example—work without pay or work points.
Then he’d gladly give them a fair chance.
Just as everyone was celebrating, a commotion erupted outside.
Zheng Tongwei, Father Zheng, and Mother Zheng barged into the village committee office.
"Village Chief, you must judge this matter fairly for us!"
Father Zheng and Mother Zheng were experts at playing the victim.
Wang Jianguo frowned.
"What’s going on here?"
Without needing to act, Father Zheng and Mother Zheng recounted what had happened at home earlier.
"We’re terrible parents for raising such an ungrateful son."
"Our family is barely scraping by, yet this fool insists on pretending to be generous, giving away so much money to outsiders."
"If it weren’t for him, we’d never have been sent down to Wang Family Village!"
...
So this mess was caused by the 40-yuan gratitude fee Shen Nanchu had mentioned earlier?
(ˉ▽ˉ；)...
Wang Jianguo glanced at the unfazed Shen Nanchu before turning to Zheng Tongwei.
"Comrade Zheng, what’s your take on this?"
Zheng Tongwei looked at his parents with disappointment.
"Dad, Mom, how can people live in this world without keeping their word?"
"If Comrade Shen hadn’t stepped in to help us a few days ago, our family would’ve been denounced by the Red Guards until we were half-dead."
"A drop of kindness deserves an ocean in return."
"Comrade Shen helped us so much—what’s wrong with showing gratitude?"
"Besides, that money was earned by me."
After Zheng Tongwei’s impassioned speech, Wang Jianguo and Wang Chaoying’s expressions toward Father Zheng and Mother Zheng shifted.
How interesting!
If the situation weren’t so serious, Shen Nanchu would’ve applauded.
She never expected someone to put on such a performance right in front of her.
Thankfully, she wasn’t as foolish as the original owner of this body—otherwise, she might’ve actually believed Zheng Tongwei’s act.
Who was this show really meant for?
Shen Nanchu was curious.
Father Zheng and Mother Zheng played their roles perfectly.
"You ungrateful wretch! If we hadn’t adopted you, you’d be dead by now."
"All these years, we’ve fed you, clothed you, sent you to school… and even got sent down because of you."
"Is this how you repay our kindness?"
"If we’d known you’d turn out like this, we’d never have taken you in!"
Zheng Tongwei’s face turned pale, his body swaying unsteadily.
"Dad, Mom… is this really how you see me?"
"Haven’t I done enough for this family all these years?"
"Ever since I was old enough to understand, I’ve done all the housework. I started pasting paper boxes to earn extra money as a child, and once I got a job, I handed over every cent of my wages…"
"Haven’t I been a good enough son?"
His eyes brimmed with sorrow, his entire being on the verge of shattering.
Wang Jianguo and Wang Chaoying couldn’t help but sympathize.
Even Pei Yunxi seemed moved.
d=====(￣▽￣)b
Shen Nanchu couldn’t help but give Zheng Tongwei props.
With acting skills like this, he’d easily win an Oscar in another lifetime.
He was practically Wang Family Village’s second-most tragic figure, right after the infamous Wang Dazhi.
Shen Nanchu: "System, run a prediction—what’s Zheng Tongwei’s next move?"
System: "…Host, based on comprehensive calculations, there’s an 89.99999% probability that Zheng Tongwei will ask the village chief to mediate the family conflict."
Shen Nanchu paused. "Want to make a bet?"
The system grew wary. "On what?"
A sly grin curled Shen Nanchu’s lips. "Whether your prediction comes true. 1,000 dislike points."
The system hesitated. "If I win, you give them to me?"
Shen Nanchu’s smile widened. "If I win, you give them to me."
"I bet Zheng Tongwei’s next move will be to sever ties with his parents and demand a separation of the household."
The system didn’t need to think. "Deal."
...
