Director Li’s gaze towards Zhou Yuan grew increasingly unfavorable.
He hadn’t expected Zhou Yuan to be this kind of person.
Taking out his frustrations on a child after something went wrong, what was that?
If the adults had no issues, if they hadn’t instilled such ideas in the child from a young age, what could a little girl do?
Therefore, the problem ultimately lay with the adults.
“Director Zhou, shouldn’t you hurry and go see her?” Principal Gu urged.
A girl, having lost control, running off. If something were to happen, it would be too late to regret it.
Only then did Zhou Yuan react and immediately chased after Zhou Ruishu.
Director Li looked at Principal Gu and said, “Handle the matter as it should be handled!”
Principal Gu quickly agreed.
At this point, the situation was clear and the handling proceeded smoothly.
Those parents who had been incited by Zhou Ruishu learned that the children were the victims in this incident.
They felt a greater sense of guilt towards the children.
Even towards Teacher Yu, whose clothes had been torn, they felt a degree of remorse.
“Teacher, we’re truly sorry, we didn’t mean to!”
“It was all that girl from the Zhou family, with malicious intentions at such a young age, she fooled all of us.”
“Yes, yes, you are magnanimous, please don’t hold it against us foolish people.”
Some parents, feeling embarrassed, stepped forward to apologize, their words sincere.
However, Su Xiaotian felt that a large part of the reason was likely their concern about their children being wronged at school.
Fortunately, Teacher Yu had a very good temperament and didn’t mind at all, just smiling it off.
With Teacher Yu not holding a grudge, the parents felt much more at ease, but at the same time, their resentment towards the Zhou family grew.
The Zhou family was the culprit behind all of this.
These people decided that after leaving the school, they would spread the word, letting everyone know what kind of family the Zhou family was.
The Zhou and Wan families were not considered prominent families in the capital, but they did have some influence.
As for the source of this influence, it was gained through years of maneuvering over the past decade.
Especially the Wan family, who had indeed gained some capability through their efforts over the years.
Zhou Yuan, on a daily basis, didn’t dare to say much to his wife, Wan Hongying, for fear of angering his father-in-law’s family.
Wan Hongying was furious upon learning that Zhou Yuan had suffered a disadvantage at school. She scolded Zhou Yuan and went back to her maiden home to find a solution.
Zhou Yuan, feeling uncomfortable from being scolded, also went out.
As for Zhou Ruishu, she was forgotten at home by both her parents.
The Su siblings didn’t dwell on these matters.
After all, it wasn’t something they could control.
They were only concerned about finally being able to successfully enroll.
After Zhou Yuan left, they immediately asked Principal Gu if they could enroll.
Principal Gu quickly arranged for someone to help Su Xiaotian and the others with the enrollment procedures.
After this commotion, the original queue was all messed up, and the scene was noisy, requiring order to be maintained.
But when the Su family children went to enroll, the other parents voluntarily made way.
People are respected regardless of age; as long as someone is capable, they deserve respect.
The academic achievements of these children left them in awe!
Su Xiaotian didn’t want to cut in line and repeatedly yielded.
However, the other parents strongly urged her to enroll first.
Su Xiaotian could only thank the parents for their kindness and enrolled with her two brothers.
Meanwhile, the younger ones, Xiao Liu and Xiao Qi, also received extra consideration from the parents and were placed at the front to enroll.
While the children were enrolling, Director Li assigned some tasks to Principal Gu and then waited for them quietly.
“Director Li, Principal Gu, we’ve finished enrolling and are heading home. See you tomorrow!”
Su Xiaotian was a little surprised that these two were still at the enrollment site, but she still politely waved goodbye to them.
Seeing the children about to leave, Director Li quickly stood up and said, “I’m leaving too, why don’t I give you a ride home?”
His words were extremely polite, his attitude couldn’t have been better.
“Director Li, you’re busy with important matters, we can get home ourselves,” Su Xiaotian said quickly.
This was the director of the Education Bureau, sending them home, don’t be ridiculous.
But Director Li insisted on taking them home.
Unable to refuse, the Su siblings exchanged glances and could only agree.
However, they also invited Teacher Yu to their home as a guest, requesting Principal Gu to extend the invitation.
Teacher Yu found it strange why the children would invite him.
But since they had invited him, and he had nothing else to do, he agreed.
Director Li didn’t mind one more person accompanying him; he was just thinking that after so many years, he would finally see Professor Chi again.
The thought of seeing him again made him excited.
He wondered if his elder had been doing well all these years.
Thinking of this, Director Li felt his thoughts were naive. His elder had been sent down, how could he have been doing well?
Principal Gu also wanted to go and see Professor Chi, but he couldn’t find a suitable reason and had to give up.
Oh well, there were still so many things waiting for him to handle at school.
He had to properly handle the matters concerning the Su children, with several big shots watching from above, any mistake could mean the end of his tenure as principal.
Back in his office, Principal Gu, with a cold expression, announced a meeting.
The meeting was not surprising, as he knew that Principal Jin was not reflecting in his office but had left the school and gone somewhere unknown.
Director Wu, looking at Principal Gu’s darkened face, dared not say anything, only regretting why he had foolishly followed Principal Jin around.
Principal Gu, with a cold expression, finally made up his mind that Principal Jin could not continue to stay at No. 7 Middle School!
He had to submit a report.
He figured that after this report was submitted, Director Li would agree.
Besides dealing with internal personnel, sounding the alarm was also necessary. No. 7 Middle School was currently developing well, but it absolutely could not withstand another accident.
This time, being able to handle it to this extent was already a stroke of luck, the result of the Zhou family father and daughter digging their own graves.
Otherwise, No. 7 Middle School would already be in a passive position.
These negative issues could even ruin the gifted class he had painstakingly established.
Thinking of this, Principal Gu’s teeth itched with hatred for Principal Jin and Zhou Yuan.
He sat down at his desk and began writing the report himself, specifically reporting on the incident and proposing handling opinions.
Meanwhile, Director Li, returning home enthusiastically with Su Xiaotian and the others, had no idea that the children had brought him to a restaurant.
Director Li looked at the plaque with the bold characters “Yiming Xuan” and recognized that it was indeed the calligraphy of Professor Chi Ge Chi, who had taught him in the past.
“This was written by Professor Chi, his brushwork is still as strong after so many years!”
After Director Li’s exclamation, he finally remembered why the children had brought him to a restaurant.
“Are you hungry, so you brought me here to eat?”
He was prepared to treat the children to a meal.
As for Teacher Yu, he could join them!
The children had been well-protected today, and it was all thanks to Teacher Yu’s efforts.
“Director Li, Teacher Yu, it’s lunchtime!” Su Xiaotian said softly, touching her stomach.
If not for the day’s events, they would have already finished lunch.
Director Li agreed wholeheartedly; he was hungry too!
A couple of days ago, he had heard that a restaurant had opened in the capital, with a pleasant name and a cultured aura, called “Yiming Xuan.”
He had been thinking of visiting it sometime.
Just as Director Li was about to call a waiter to attend to them, Su Xiaotian smiled.
“Director Li, this is our home, we’re home!”
Director Li was stunned. This was their home? How could that be?
He couldn’t help but wonder, perhaps after Professor Chi returned, the authorities hadn’t returned the Chi family’s residence?
That shouldn’t be possible. He had inquired before; the residences of the old professors who had returned to the capital had all been returned, and they had also received their due treatment and salaries over the years.
“Does Professor Chi live here?”
He thought that if Professor Chi really lived here, he would invite Professor Chi to his own home.
Su Xiaotian guessed that Professor Chi had misunderstood and said with a giggle, “Director Li, you’ve misunderstood, this is our Su family’s restaurant.”
The Su family’s restaurant? No wonder the plaque outside bore Professor Chi’s calligraphy.
The restaurant belonged to Professor Chi’s senior disciple, so having his calligraphy was not unusual.
“Where does Professor Chi live?” Director Li asked eagerly.
His main purpose today was to see his esteemed teacher, not to eat at a restaurant.
“Grandpa Chi lives in his own home, it’s a bit of a distance from here.”
Su Xiaotian could feel Director Li’s goodwill, so she didn’t hide anything.
Director Li was very disappointed. He had thought he would see his former teacher today, but it turned out he had been overthinking it!
“Director Li, this is our home address.”
Chi Yiyuan handed a slip of paper to Director Li.
He had a good impression of Director Li, so he voluntarily gave him his home address.
Director Li was surprised that Chi Yiyuan was willing to give him his address and beamed with joy.
“Come, children, I’ll treat you to a meal today.” Director Li, having obtained his teacher’s address, laughed heartily and was about to treat them to a meal.
Besides, he hadn’t eaten at “Yiming Xuan” before, so he might as well try it today.
After all, “Yiming Xuan” was not far from the Education Bureau. If it was good, he could come more often.
This restaurant was indeed good, its way of attending to guests was much more upscale than that of state-run restaurants!
“Director Li, you presided over justice for us today, this meal should be on us! And Teacher Yu, if it weren’t for Teacher Yu protecting us, my siblings and I would have suffered.”
Su Xiaotian’s words were very sincere. They had invited Teacher Yu today precisely to thank him.
“How can we accept this? You are the ones who were wronged!” Director Li said quickly.
Teacher Yu also repeatedly said, “I didn’t do much. As a teacher, it’s my duty to protect my students.”
Just as they were talking, Grandpa Su came out from the back, and his face immediately lit up with a smile upon seeing Su Xiaotian and the others.
Su Xiaotian then introduced the guests she had brought to Grandpa Su.
Upon hearing that they were the ones who had helped his grandchildren today, Grandpa Su immediately expressed that he must treat Director Li and Teacher Yu to a meal.
Director Li felt a bit embarrassed but couldn’t resist the warm invitation from the Su family.
He also wanted to know what kind of family could raise such an intelligent child as Su Xiaotian, so he stayed.
As for Teacher Yu, he was a straightforward person and was hungry, so he stayed!
It made perfect sense!
Su Xiaotian took the initiative to order a few dishes.
Strictly speaking, the dishes at Yiming Xuan were a bit mixed, with various cuisines.
Such a restaurant would find it difficult to attract customers decades later.
But in the current social environment, no one really cared about the specific cuisine.
Delicacies and home-style dishes, their primary function was to fill the stomach.
Only after eating one could talk about taste.
With a scarcity of ingredients, being picky would likely lead to hunger.
Just like the Ding family’s kitchen, as long as it tasted good, it would attract people. The cuisine or even the type of dish didn’t matter.
Grandma Su had good cooking skills and was very talented, meaning she could create delicious dishes with just a recipe.
Su Xiaotian happened to be able to provide a variety of ingredients, so she provided Grandma Su with a series of recipes she liked, along with many ingredients.
Among these were Hunan and Sichuan dishes, as well as Northwest and Huaiyang cuisine.
In short, Yiming Xuan was now a grand mix of dishes from all over.
Director Li had intended to try the dishes when he came to eat, and didn’t expect the newly opened restaurant’s cooking to be so good.
But to his surprise, when the four dishes, two meat and two vegetarian, were served, the color and aroma alone shocked him.
Then, smelling the aroma, even before tasting it, his mouth was already watering.
He couldn’t help but lick his lips.
The smell was so fragrant!
The four dishes ordered by Su Xiaotian included the braised pork, which almost everyone at the time couldn't resist, with its glistening chunks of meat, a great way to satisfy cravings.
Next was the chopped chili fish head from Hunan cuisine.
Su Xiaotian quite liked this dish, and Grandma Su, following the recipe, adjusted it slightly, making it very delicious.
Besides these, there were also scrambled eggs with tomatoes and clear soup with cabbage.
Four dishes, plus crystal clear white rice, were very enticing.
Grandpa Su accompanied them. After the dishes were served, he stopped with the usual expressions of gratitude and urged the two to eat.
Although Teacher Yu was hungry, with the director sitting opposite him, he still restrained himself from eating heartily and first invited Director Li to take his chopsticks.
Su Xiaotian had expected Director Li to go for the glistening, reddish-brown braised pork first.
Who knew that Director Li’s first chopsticks of food would be aimed at the chopped chili fish head?
Perhaps Director Li liked spicy food?
After Director Li picked up a piece of fish, Teacher Yu was no longer hesitant and directly reached for the largest piece of braised pork.
Then, he took a big bite!
His mouth was full of oil, soft and delicious, the taste was absolutely amazing.
Then, a big mouthful of rice, the taste was so good!
Even Teacher Yu, who had always only asked to be full and not to eat well, couldn’t help but squint his eyes.
He even thought that the cooking at Yiming Xuan was really good, and even the rice was more delicious than others!
Director Li’s expression was even more exaggerated; after the first bite, tears streamed down his face!
Su Xiaotian stared at him with wide eyes, thinking she was mistaken.
“Director Li, can’t you eat spicy food? Then you should eat the braised pork, it’s delicious!” Teacher Yu quickly said to Director Li.
Although he was very reluctant, he decided to yield and give the braised pork to Director Li!
Director Li ignored Teacher Yu and stared at Grandpa Su.
“Old Su, are you from Hunan?”
The taste of this chopped chili fish head was too authentic. For so many years, he had never tasted such authentic chopped chili fish head in the capital!
[Author’s Note]
Babies, the mythical beast is at home, so I can only update this much today. Eight thousand words! Don’t think it’s too little, I did my best! Don’t forget your votes! Su Xiaotian says she loves you all very much!