Liu Fang spoke for ten minutes at first, but stopped when a customer arrived. Little did she know, the customer listened and found out it was the mother of the school's top student sharing parenting tips. The customer didn't leave and everyone listened.
After an hour, the group of female bosses from the market were satisfied and left. Liu Fang, while sipping chrysanthemum tea from her thermos to soothe her throat, thought that the old saying was true.
One fears fame as a pig fears fattening.
But then,
Heh heh, the top of the entire school?
Liu Fang's alarm clock rang. She asked Sister Li to watch the cold storage door for her. She went into the small cold storage to change into a dress and redid her hair. Then, wearing sneakers and carrying a pair of high heels, she told Sister Li to watch the shop for a while and that she'd be back around noon.
Sister Li also knew that Liu Fang was going to a meeting as the mother of the top student. Her eyes were almost overflowing with envy. She quickly urged Liu Fang to go so she wouldn't be late. She promised to keep the money from sales in a separate drawer so Liu Fang could reconcile the accounts when she returned.
Wearing a red lace dress and a pair of sneakers, Liu Fang drove her second-hand BYD to school.
As she was driving, Liu Fang suddenly realized she was heading towards No. 12 Middle School.
Bad luck!
She quickly turned around and drove towards Normal University Affiliated High School.
—
The parents of Class 6 of the third year of senior high school gradually arrived and took their seats in the auditorium in their designated area. However, they all tacitly avoided the seats in the very center of the classroom.
It was an unspoken agreement to leave that spot for the mother of the top student. Sitting in the center would make it easier for everyone to listen to her parenting advice, wouldn't it?
When Liu Fang arrived, the auditorium was already about two-thirds full. The parking delay had taken up most of the time, and then changing into high heels in the car and applying lipstick had taken another minute.
She looked around and didn't see Sister Yuan Ying. She did, however, see Mr. Mi Zhuzhu's father sitting in front. Liu Fang didn't go over. Both of them were single, and getting too close might lead to gossip. So, she found a random seat in the class area.
As soon as she sat down, she heard the curly-haired mother next to her ask.
"Hello? May I ask whose mother you are? You look unfamiliar?"
Liu Fang nodded at her and explained with a smile:
"It's because my daughter, Liu Chen, only transferred here this semester, so I might look unfamiliar?"
"Liu Chen?"
"Is that the Liu Chen who was ranked number one at the end of the year?"
"Oh, you're Liu Chen's mother?"
In an instant, several mothers sitting nearby leaned in and asked with smiles.
This familiar scene reminded Liu Fang of the morning...
"Oh, Liu Chen's mom, we specifically saved a seat for you. Let's chat with the parents of Class 6 after the meeting!"
"Yes, yes, Liu Chen's mom, please come and sit here, we're all waiting for you!"
Liu Fang, persuaded to sit in the center, was still a bit dazed. So, when they held meetings for Liu Chen's class before, even the top student's mother didn't get this kind of treatment?
The auditorium's sound system began to emit a test tone, and then the principal started his speech.
"As a third-year senior..."
In the past, at every meeting at No. 12 Middle School, most of the parents near Liu Fang would take out their phones to play games, send text messages, or play Tetris. But this time, as Liu Fang sat in her chair, she noticed that many parents around her were even bringing out paper and pens to take notes on the principal's words.
After a moment's hesitation, she borrowed a piece of paper and a pen from the mother sitting next to her. Liu Fang also took down a lot of notes, such as the importance of a balanced diet and the need to frequently care about the children's psychological state.
An hour passed. After saying what needed to be said, it was time for the prize distribution. The principal stood straight with the microphone. The school's joint exam results felt like a shot of adrenaline to him, making him feel ten years younger!
"To encourage the children's enthusiasm, starting this year, the top ten students in each joint exam for the third year of senior high will receive prizes in order!"
"Now, please, the parent of Liu Chen, who ranked first at the end of the year, come to the stage to receive the award."
Liu Fang, who had no idea there was an award ceremony, practically floated onto the stage. She accepted the certificate from the principal and a cash prize of three thousand yuan.
Looking at the envious faces of the parents below the stage, Liu Fang suddenly missed her Chenchen.
Her Chenchen had always been well-behaved since she was little, never complaining in front of her. Many times, she overlooked her child's psychological issues, thinking that as long as she was fed and clothed, it was fine.
Of course, during parent-teacher meetings, she was also anxious, wondering why her child's grades couldn't improve. Was it because she didn't have as many tutoring classes as others?
But now, ever since Chenchen proactively enrolled in tutoring classes during the summer vacation, apart from occasional outings, it seemed that every time she saw the child, she was either doing practice papers or had just finished one and was starting a new one.
Just as the principal said, she should pay more attention to her child's mental health!
"Alright, now Liu Chen's parent will share their usual educational experience."
After saying this, the principal handed the microphone to Liu Fang.
Still thinking about how to be a better parent to her child, Liu Fang was dumbfounded...
Fortunately, she had already bragged a bit at the wholesale market that morning. Liu Fang took a deep breath and spoke. When she finished, hundreds of parents of third-year senior high students erupted in thunderous applause.
—
No. 12 Middle School,
Zhang Lili, who had only attended a parent-teacher meeting once before, had specially dressed up today. She had even dabbed on some French perfume she had bought at a high price.
Before leaving, she gave Luo Meihong a sleeping pill, and then left with her handbag.
She drove to No. 12 Middle School. After parking her car, Zhang Lili walked towards the gymnasium. On the way, she met Xu Yun, a friend's mother whom she had eaten with before. Zhang Lili smiled and called out:
"Xu Yun! You're here?!"
Before she could reach her, Xu Yun, who was also wearing seven or eight centimeter high heels, quickened her pace and ran ahead as if afraid of being stuck to her, not even caring if she twisted her ankle!
Zhang Lili, also wearing high heels, found her smile faltering. She then remembered what Qianqian had said in their class group chat during the summer vacation.
But Liu Chen had already transferred. Haven't these kids made up with Qianqian yet?
Qianqian is too foolish, unable to even handle a group of kids?
Muttering to herself, Zhang Lili entered the gymnasium alone. The basketball court in the center of the gymnasium was now filled with small plastic stools. Parents were sitting in their respective areas under the guidance of their homeroom teacher.
She saw Xu Yun, nodded and smiled, then sat in the seat behind her.
At this moment, Yan Yan also arrived. As the acting homeroom teacher, she had to make an appearance. From a distance, she spotted Zhang Lili, who was dressed up beautifully, clearly having put in a lot of effort.
Recalling the news she had just heard, Zhang Lili's daughter, Hu Qian, had instigated those two scoundrels to get the student named Liu Chen expelled. This student had now become the top student at Normal University Affiliated High School in the city-wide joint exam.
Heh heh, without her having to lift a finger, the principal probably wished he could expel Hu Qian!