Chapter 83

Lu Shan’s mom was in a parenting discussion group.

Today was not only Cloud Elementary’s closing ceremony. Most elementary schools had their end-of-term events around the same time, so the discussion group was especially lively. People were showing off their children’s grades, honors, teacher comments, and so on.

Lu Shan’s mom casually posted her own child’s Merit Student award.

Some people praised Lu Shan, saying she had always been the model “other people’s child” and never needed anyone to worry about her.

But someone else started giving Lu Shan’s mom advice. “Lu Shan getting that result is very impressive, but Lu Shan’s mom, since the child has this kind of talent, you really should send her to a better school. You can’t hold the child back.”

“Exactly. Honors from different schools carry different weight. If the school is too ordinary and the student quality isn’t good, then sure, she can take first place every year, but put her among truly top students and she’d just fade into the crowd. My child is at Spirit Capital Elementary. Just fighting for a Progress Star is incredibly hard. The pressure is really intense.”

Lu Shan’s mom got a little angry reading that. “I think she’s learning very well at this school. The teachers and classmates are all very good.”

Advising Lu Shan to go to a better school was fake. Belittling the value of her Merit Student award while elevating their own child’s Progress Star was the real goal.

That parent kept up the fake act. “Lu Shan’s mom, children don’t understand these things, but you should. Different schools have different teaching resources and connections. You could also consider sending your child to Spirit Elementary. Lu Shan is so outstanding. If she came here, she’d adapt very quickly too.”

He posted photos from the parent-teacher meeting. Many of the people in them were big names everyone could recognize, and that made the others flatter him even more with his child at the center.

Lu Shan’s mom could not be bothered to keep dealing with this kind of passive-aggressive nonsense. If she got angry at him, he would only say, “I was just kindly offering a suggestion. If you don’t want to, then forget it.”

Only, when she saw Qin Ye posing for a photo with Song Yi and the others, she also took one and posted it. “Bad connections? I think ours are fine.”

The discussion group instantly went quiet.

She added, “As for fierce competition, I actually have quite a lot of personal experience with that. Fellow Daoist Qin’s child is the president of the club that won first place in the Hundred Clubs War. During exams, she directly entered enlightenment, and her grades are also the kind that put her in the top ten of the grade.”

“The teacher said she improved a lot, so the Progress Star honor suited her better. She also said Shan Shan is comparatively stable, which is why she got Merit Student. Shan Shan really does need to work harder. Otherwise, she might not be able to keep Merit Student in the future.”

As if she did not know how to be passive-aggressive too.

She had not praised Lu Shan in a single sentence, but she had thrown all those earlier words right back at them.

Were you saying Qin Ye was no good, or were you saying a child who could take first place in the Hundred Clubs War and enter enlightenment was no good?

Who said Lu Shan being chosen as Merit Student was just making the best of a bad batch?

The parent who had tried to subtly compare and put her down fell silent. Instead, the onlookers all changed their tone, and some even started asking about Cloud Elementary’s admission requirements.

Lu Shan’s mom put down her identity token feeling refreshed and let out a sigh. “Song Yi really made me look good.”

Lu Shan: ???

Did you just call the wrong child’s name?

Meeting her own child’s bewildered gaze, Lu Shan’s mom chuckled. “Of course, our Shan Shan is amazing too!”

Lu Shan sighed helplessly. Sometimes adults really were a little unreliable. What could she do? Of course she had to become a reliable child!

After returning to her seat, Song Yi had already received the group photo of her and Qin Ye on her identity token. She snuck one glance, then another, feeling quite satisfied.

Lin Ze leaned over and handed her a jade slip. “These are blessings from Zhang Tao and the others.”

They knew Song Yi was an orphan now. Although a lot of the time, Zhang Tao and the others were the ones taught how to be decent people by Song Yi, at times like a closing ceremony, they still felt that she was just a little cub.

A little child all alone was far too pitiful. Even if they could not attend in person, they absolutely had to express their spiritual support!

“Song Yi, don’t worry about your schoolwork. We have plenty of talent here. No matter which subject you have trouble with, someone can tutor you.”

Song Yi burst out laughing. These guys really talked big… Could Moral Education and law-related subjects really be tutored by them?

Lin Ze continued, “They also said that if it really doesn’t work out, it’s fine for you to graduate a little later. That way, they can come attend your closing ceremony in person.”

Song Yi immediately packed away her emotion. “So what they mean is they’re hoping I don’t graduate.”

How many years would she have to repeat before she could wait for them to get out of prison?

Qin Ye did not leave right away either. He sat beside Song Yi like an ordinary parent and even chatted a few words with Zhang Xuan and Li Xiu.

Although Qin Ye acted approachable enough, the two of them still could not help feeling somewhat constrained.

They had not known Song Yi had a connection with Qin Ye too. Had they known earlier, should they not have come? Now it felt a little like they were using Song Yi to climb connections…

Song Yi glanced at the two of them and said, “You don’t need to be so nervous. Little Qin is dishonest. He never introduced himself to you properly. He’s my… mmph mmph mmph…”

Qin Ye had used a silencing spell on her.

But Song Yi lifted a hand, and a line of words appeared before them. “He is my junior brother!”

Ever since Qin Ye appeared, he had deliberately avoided mentioning her identity, yet had faintly acted like an elder. At least to people who did not know the truth, Qin Ye was definitely an elder.

How could Song Yi let him muddle through so easily?

With two thuds, Li Xiu and Zhang Xuan toppled off their stools. Qin Ye did not deny it. He propped his forehead up with one hand, while Song Yi seized the chance to find the flaw in his spellcasting and undid his silencing spell.

“Now that you know his identity, you won’t be nervous anymore, right? Be a little bolder. He’s your junior.”

The same terrified expression surfaced on Zhang Xuan’s and Li Xiu’s faces: When you put it that way, it’s even scarier!

Song Yi was deeply distressed. These two honest kids had grown up for nothing. They did not even have Li Wenwen’s guts.

“Show some spirit. As long as you’re bold enough, you can be the boss today!” Song Yi clenched her little fist and cheered them on. “You two even dared to ruffle my head. There’s even less reason to be afraid of him.”

Qin Ye spread his hands toward them helplessly: There was nothing he could do with this child.

After Song Yi’s joking interruption, Zhang Xuan and Li Xiu could no longer stay nervous. With wooden faces, they helped Song Yi sort out her holiday homework.

“Your teacher said you still need to keep a close eye on your studies. You muddled through the final exam, but you can’t keep doing that every time. So every day, we’ll take turns checking your homework.”

Song Yi’s eyes widened. “Wenwen said holiday homework is homework you don’t have to do!”

Why did she still have to be checked every day?

Qin Ye loved seeing the child’s life-doubting expression, and he said with a smile, “Now you can choose. Whose house do you want to spend the holidays at?”

Song Yi said firmly, “I want to stay at school!”

There were no classes during the break, but it was still similar to weekends. Students who needed to could apply to stay at school.

There would still be club activities during the holiday. The swordball team’s training, for instance, could not stop. The laboratory building would also operate normally. Experiments could not be interrupted just because it was vacation.

Li Xiu mercilessly stated the truth. “But if you stay at school, you’ll have to face even more teachers.”

Song Yi looked left, then right, and suddenly realized: These people had actually formed an alliance to exploit children!

“This isn’t called an Alliance to Exploit Children. This is called an Alliance of Education Through Love. Aren’t you moved?”

Moved? Impossible. Song Yi struggled on her last breath. “I want to go to Wenwen’s house!”

Li Wenwen’s parents were both easy to talk to. They would not persecute her like these unscrupulous adults.

Unexpectedly, just as she said that, Li Wenwen’s parents had already pushed their child over. They bowed ninety degrees. “Supervise studying? Please be sure to look after Wenwen while you’re at it. Staying at our place is no problem! It’s just that our supervision isn’t strong enough, so we’ll have to trouble you all a lot.”

Li Wenwen’s parents were truly very happy. They knew better than anyone how sturdy and lazy their child usually was.

Even if she had failed several subjects on the final exam, they would have found that completely normal.

But her grades were actually pretty good!

It was enough to move heaven and earth!

They had already had a very good impression of the reliable Song Yi to begin with. As for the “reliable” part, that was purely their personal opinion. After seeing Li Wenwen’s grades, they were even more grateful to Song Yi and could not wait for these little friends to spend more time playing together.

The adults hit it off immediately and even put together a schedule, using a professional mindset to deal with the naughty children.

Lin Ze quietly moved his seat a little farther away to indicate that he really was not that close with Song Yi and the others.

Li Wenwen showed a face that said she had nothing left to live for.

Meanwhile, Song Yi lifted her head to look at the sky, her tone heavy. “I know what I want to do in the future.”

“Hmm?” This was a topic everyone paid attention to. Even Li Wenwen’s parents had thought about recruiting this child into the City Defense Department.

With a stern bun-like face, for the first time, she did not mention sword Dao. “I’ve decided. In the future, I’m going to enter the Ministry of Education and abolish exams and holiday homework! It’s time to stop persecuting children!”

Someone had forgotten that when she first arrived in this world, her sigh had been: The children of this world have it too easy. How can they fall so low?

The adults burst into laughter and did not take her childish words to heart.

“Mm. Many adults once had the same dream as you.”

Song Yi put her hands on her hips. “What does that mean? Are you looking down on me and thinking I can’t get into the Ministry of Education?”

“No, we all believe in you. If you want to get in, you’ll definitely be able to. But before you, quite a few people with the same dream as you also entered the Ministry of Education. As for the result…”

Everyone spread their hands: You have already experienced it firsthand.

Song Yi was a little confused. Was it because those people could not beat the workload-increase faction?

“No. It’s just that we all live to become the thing we once hated most,” Qin Ye said meaningfully.

Li Wenwen exposed the truth in one sentence. “Little Yi, if I entered the Ministry of Education, I absolutely wouldn’t reduce the burden. I’ve already suffered so much. There’s no reason they shouldn’t suffer too!”

Only children wanted to reduce the burden for other children. Once they became adults, their standpoint changed.

Song Yi’s expression was a little conflicted. She felt like this was not quite right, but when she thought about it carefully, there was nothing wrong with it: Why should I work so hard to reduce other people’s burden?

Her first-choice ambition was finally defeated by cruel reality.

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