Chapter 98: Elementary School Gossip

As Xiao Ma led Wang Xiaoai inside, a group of elementary students in the hallway grew rowdy, buzzing with gossip.

"Xiaoai is in real trouble this time. She brought in some greenhorn to take the heat, and Teacher Chen, who is such a big shot, is clearly furious."

"Teacher Chen is the most detestable person in the entire school. She uses her good looks to win favor with students and parents, so everyone just caters to her."

"It’s more than that. You guys have the mindset of true elementary schoolers. I’ve heard Teacher Chen has a very powerful background; there are plenty of influential men circling her. Crossing her definitely won't end well."

"As if anyone in this school isn't a 'true elementary schooler'."

"You know nothing of power. My emotional intelligence and life experience have already reached the level of a middle-schooler."

"Oh, stop arguing! Just spill the tea on who Teacher Chen’s backer is. Such a popular, high-value woman—it’s a pity she has nothing to do with us kids."

"Yeah, even us, the least horny group, pay attention to her, which says a lot about her quality. Who exactly is lucky enough to be her man behind the scenes?"

"I heard her backer is super badass, even more formidable than Chan Ho-nam from Causeway Bay."

"No way, more powerful than Chan Ho-nam?"

"Yes, Chen Haodong, known as 'Brother Da Dong.' Of course he’s stronger than Chan Ho-nam."

"Brother Dong? Is he really that impressive? Does Teacher Chen actually have such a powerful patron?"

"With that figure of hers that even us kids notice, she’s certainly qualified to enter Brother Dong’s harem. Brother Da Dong is the kingpin of the Haidong District. Basically, all the bars and nightclubs—any entertainment venue—is either his or under his protection."

"That’s insane. If I were Brother Dong, I’d be living the life. Not only could I bang a beautiful teacher, but I’d also make sure those punks wouldn't dare bully me."

"Fatty, your face is destined to be a punching bag for life. You’re just like my cousin; even when you start working, you’ll just be a worthless nerd that nobody in the company respects. You need the power of Brother Da Dong to bring a beauty home."

"Exactly. Once you become Brother Da Dong, even a fatty like you could have beauties lining up."

"You guys know nothing of power. The truly badass one isn't Brother Dong; it's the person behind him. Brother Dong just works for someone else. Because of my mom, I once saw Brother Dong reporting to a stunning beauty—the famous entrepreneur Yu Chengmin. Now *that* is beauty, that is class, that is power. Brother Dong works for her."

"Speaking of which, my family is in the business world too, so I know Yu Chengmin. She’s truly formidable, someone who can stir up the winds and rain, because behind her is an even bigger figure: 'Fatty Jiang,' Jiang Yaowen."

...

Inside the office, seeing the usually carefree little girl looking like she was about to cry, Xiao Ma sensed the situation might be serious.

He frowned and asked, "Teacher Chen, what is this all about?"

Teacher Chen, looking imposing with her arms crossed, glared at Xiao Ma with dissatisfaction for a moment before turning back to Wang Xiaoai. "The problem is huge this time. Why don't you ask her yourself?"

Xiao Ma frowned again. "You represent the school, you made a parent rush over during working hours, and now you want me to ask her instead of you? Are you sure about that?"

Teacher Chen was momentarily speechless. Feeling humiliated, she grew even more resentful, thinking that this family was truly a bunch of unreasonable troublemakers.

She calmly took a sip from her teacup and said slowly, "Your Wang Xiaoai has been forming cliques, organizing illegal groups, and causing trouble."

Damn it, she really had stirred up trouble. If Xiao Ma had been drinking water, he would have definitely sprayed it all over Teacher Chen’s face.

After some detailed explanation, he learned the cause: Wang Xiaoai wasn't popular in class. There were some "mocking faces" among the students—two girls in particular who couldn't stand her and spent all day threatening to call various people to target her.

Wang Xiaoai hadn't told anyone, but she was genuinely terrified. So, what did the little girl do? She recruited three fifth-grade boys to act as her entourage and protectors.

Wang Xiaoai had no money and no stunning beauty to speak of, and she was too young, so how did she win over the boys? As a child prodigy, she did their homework, forged their parents' signatures to fool the teachers, and, incidentally, used her mastery of school gossip to feed the boys information like a local informant. As a result, even if they didn't officially call themselves her subordinates, they were fiercely protective of her.

Under these circumstances, right after the morning exercises today, Wang Xiaoai was dragged to a secluded spot by those two mocking girls. Before any actual assault could happen, the three fifth-grade "bodyguards" arrived. No real fight broke out, but one of the boys shoved a girl named Chen Xiaoyan.

Chen Xiaoyan was a weakling; she fell, bumped her head slightly on the floor, and started throwing a tantrum, refusing to get up, screaming about being hit and nearly killed. As of now, she was apparently lying in the hospital.

The boy who pushed her was terrified after the incident, and after his parents came in, his story changed—he claimed Wang Xiaoai had put him up to it.

The above information came partly from Teacher Chen, with key details filled in by Wang Xiaoai.

Having finished, Teacher Chen looked smug. "That’s roughly the situation. What do you think? Didn't Wang Xiaoai violate countless school rules? Isn't she forming cliques and causing trouble?"

Xiao Ma thought for a moment and said, "She certainly violated many rules, but Teacher Chen, don't you feel ashamed calling a little girl 'forming cliques and causing trouble'?"

"You..." Teacher Chen pointed at him. "Speak for yourselves; don't talk to me like that."

Xiao Ma immediately shifted his demeanor, looking at her with cold indifference.

There was something slightly demonic and imposing about him.

Teacher Chen actually looked away. She figured this was just a weird family—what people called "barefoot and fearless"—and she didn't want to provoke them too much.

However, after a moment, Teacher Chen continued, "The school has its difficulties. With so many students, it’s hard to manage everyone individually. On one hand, you parents don't empathize with the school or understand the teachers. Teachers have selfless, sincere hearts for the children, yet we are often torn to shreds by the parents..."

Xiao Ma interrupted, "Please stick to the facts, Teacher Chen, and spare me the melodrama. I don't object to saying teaching is a difficult job, and I acknowledge that some parents are heartless. But you are a teacher, not a parent. There’s no need to talk about 'selfless sincerity'—everyone is selfish. There is no 'being torn to shreds'; teaching is just a job. Every job has its hardships, but if you take the money, you have the obligation to endure it. That’s not up for debate."

"You..." Teacher Chen was embarrassed. It was strange; these weren't words a "low-life gambler's family" should be able to articulate.

She glared at Xiao Ma with even more irritation.

Teacher Chen was at a loss for words, but since she had already started the emotional appeal, she pivoted, "May I ask who you are? This is a school, and we are educators. You were called here to deal with the problems caused by your Wang Xiaoai, not to lecture the school."

Ma Weimin couldn't be bothered to drag this out. He nodded and said, "Fine, let's talk about Wang Xiaoai's problem. Don't waste a parent's time with sentimentality, and don't talk about 'bleeding hearts' or 'selfless sincerity.' Wang Xiaoai's parents aren't sincere, so I don't believe teachers are that selfless. This is just a job. Wang Xiaoai isn't your daughter, and the school isn't your father. If it’s truly so 'bloody' and painful, you have only two choices: resign or do the job well. Is that simple enough?"

"Are you trying to pick a fight and waste the school's time?"

Teacher Chen’s anger flared. She wondered who this guy thought he was. Instead of facing the problem with his girl, he was acting like a grand mentor, lecturing heaven, earth, and the air itself, nitpicking everything. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was some big shot. If he had money and culture, why wasn't he driving a luxury car or wearing a fancy watch? Wouldn't that solve everything? Why didn't he just send Wang Xiaoai to a high-end private school and be done with it?