Chapter 45: Zhiqi Calls Her Mom

Teacher Feng followed the sound of the voice and looked over. When she saw Jiang Ning, there was a flash of surprise in her eyes. Then, realizing something, she asked with confusion, “Are you Huo Zhiqi’s parent?”

“We adopted Zhiqi,” Jiang Ning explained, then countered, “As a teacher, shouldn’t you be concerned about the children’s family situations?”

Teacher Feng on the podium seemed momentarily choked, unable to speak for a while.

Jiang Ning continued, “I remember teachers are supposed to visit students’ homes. How long has it been since you last visited a student’s home, Teacher Feng?”

Teacher Feng’s brows furrowed for a moment, then quickly relaxed as she put on a professional smile. “Of course, I have visited. Just two days ago, I visited Luo’s home.”

Jiang Ning glanced over and saw that it was one of the top students’ homes.

Jiang Ning crossed her arms and leaned back. “Is that so? You only visit the homes of top students? Are the poor-performing students not your students? Shouldn’t teachers treat all their students equally?”

She knew the importance of respecting teachers, but it depended on whether the teacher deserved that respect.

Jiang Ning’s words immediately made Teacher Feng’s expression turn sour.

What does this parent mean? They, as highly educated individuals, naturally preferred students who excelled academically, so they tended to visit the homes of those students during their visits.

This was an unspoken understanding among them, and no parent had ever contradicted it before. Yet, this parent had spoken out publicly.

Teacher Feng struggled to maintain the image of a good teacher. “Of course, we treat all students equally. I was just planning to visit the homes of students who are struggling after this Parent-Teacher Meeting to provide them with some guidance.”

As soon as she said this, someone in the class clapped and praised, “Well done, Teacher Feng. You are truly dedicated.”

Feeling flattered, Teacher Feng’s mood improved, and she steered the conversation back to Huo Zhiqi.

“Huo Zhiqi’s parent, your child’s academic performance is very poor. If this continues, there will be no progress. I believe he is no longer suitable for school.”

As she spoke, she observed Jiang Ning’s reactions and expressions.

Typically, parents would feel so ashamed and frustrated upon hearing how poorly their child was doing that they would want to leave immediately or hang their heads in shame, accepting the criticism.

However, Jiang Ning continued to listen with her chin slightly raised.

Teacher Feng continued, “Children who perform poorly academically tend to have issues with their character and morality. Huo Zhiqi’s parent, you need to guide this child properly. If he makes mistakes in the future, you will regret it.”

Huo Zhiqi, hearing this, quickly looked up at the teacher.

He would never do anything wrong. He would be obedient and do his best to help Uncle Shen and Sister Jiang with their tasks, so they wouldn’t be so tired.

“Is the teacher a fortune teller?” Jiang Ning asked.

“Huo Zhiqi’s parent, are you joking?”

“Hehe,” Jiang Ning chuckled. “If you’re not, how do you know my child will do something wrong in the future?”

Teacher Feng was once again left speechless, unable to respond for a while.

At that moment, the parents who had just been criticized for their children’s poor performance looked at Teacher Feng. Seeing her unable to respond made them feel a little better, as if the frustration they had been holding in had eased somewhat.

They then looked at Jiang Ning with a hint of admiration. Among all the parents in the classroom, she was the only one brave enough to confront Teacher Feng like that, even leaving her speechless.

Teacher Feng took a deep breath, feeling a bit annoyed by Jiang Ning’s questioning. “Huo Zhiqi’s parent, I was just offering a friendly reminder.”

“A friendly reminder? You belittled my child and trampled on his self-esteem. Is that what you call a friendly reminder?” Jiang Ning suddenly stood up and walked towards the podium, looking directly at Teacher Feng. “As a teacher, you should not only care about the children’s academic performance but also pay more attention to their mental and physical well-being.”

“My child may have made mistakes in his homework, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. There’s no need to keep harping on about his poor grades.” She reached out and gently patted Huo Zhiqi’s head. “Children are a piece of their mother’s heart, a treasure in their parents’ hands. If they are exceptionally talented, they should serve the country and contribute to the nation. If they are of average ability, they should stay by their parents’ side and take care of them.”

“No one finds their life’s path through a single exam, nor does anyone lose their entire life because of one test. An exam paper is just a piece of paper, but the future is the masterpiece they must create.”

Jiang Ning turned to look at Teacher Feng. “Teacher Feng, denying a child’s life because of his grades is really not something you as a teacher should say.”

The parents sitting below the podium looked at the girl on stage.

Her every smile, every word, seemed to draw everyone’s attention to her. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a lively light, as if they contained the stars.

Though she was a delicate woman, her words were powerful and convincing.

The parents who had been feeling unbalanced and planning to scold their children at home began to reflect on their thoughts.

Jiang Ning continued, “Fellow parents, each person’s path in life is different. You just need to guide them so they don’t stray from the right path, and they will find their own bright future.”

After speaking, Jiang Ning took Huo Zhiqi’s hand and returned to her seat. As she walked down from the stage, applause suddenly erupted in the classroom. The parents who agreed with her words praised her.

“Comrade, you spoke so well. My child may not excel in academics, but she is very talented in textiles. At such a young age, she can already make clothes with her mother.”

“My child is mischievous, but he is very filial. He often goes to the mountains to hunt birds and bring them home.”

“…”

Jiang Ning didn’t want to show off; she was just protective. She couldn’t let Teacher Feng speak about her child that way.

If there weren’t so many parents present and if the children still had to attend school, she would have definitely brought up the phrase ‘teacher’s moral integrity.’

Teacher Feng’s mouth twitched.

Most of the parents in the class seemed to agree with what Jiang Ning had said. If he contradicted her, not only would his image as a teacher be damaged, but if the parents didn’t listen to him and caused a scene, it would be a headache.

Thinking about it made his head ache.

Standing on the podium, Teacher Feng said, “Huo Zhiqi’s parent, you are right. I didn’t consider it thoroughly. I shouldn’t have spoken about the child’s future like that. From now on, I will pay more attention to the children’s mental and physical well-being and strive to nurture the flowers of our nation into talents to serve the country.”

His words were impeccably crafted, and the parents who supported him applauded.

Their class’s Parent-Teacher Meeting ended early. As Teacher Feng gathered his things from the podium and left, he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, almost like he was fleeing.

In the past, he would have talked until their class was the last to leave.

After the conference, Jiang Ning took Huo Zhiqi to the classroom of Sister Li’s daughter to check on her. Seeing that Sister Li was still in her Parent-Teacher Meeting, Jiang Ning greeted her through the window and then left.

Along the way, Jiang Ning held Huo Zhiqi’s small hand.

“Mom, are you really not disappointed in me?” Huo Zhiqi asked, lowering his head. The test papers in his backpack all had failing grades.

Jiang Ning had furrowed her brows when she saw the test results, and he had noticed.

That was the expression of disappointment.

When he was at Uncle Wang’s house, the first time he did poorly on a test, Uncle Wang had that same expression.

Jiang Ning turned around in surprise. “What did you just call me? Say it again.”

Huo Zhiqi was startled, then lowered his head and stammered, “Mo, Mom.”

He knew he could call her Mom. From the first day Uncle Shen brought him home, she had told him to call her Mom.

But he had never dared to call her that. In his heart, his mother was sacred and towering, and no one was allowed to disparage her.

His biological mother had been worried about him even as she passed away.

But after Uncle Shen brought him home, he felt the warmth of being cared for again. He had always subconsciously feared that this warmth would be taken away, even believing that over time, it surely would be.

At that time, he might really not be able to go on living.

The child’s voice was clear and crisp. Jiang Ning, having lived two lives, had never heard anyone call her Mom before.

Jiang Ning suddenly knelt down and cupped the little one’s red face. “My good son, give me a kiss, mUa!”

Huo Zhiqi had never been kissed before, not even by his biological mother.

The sound of the kiss made Huo Zhiqi’s face turn completely red.

Shen Mo had left the house with Jiang Ning this morning and knew about Huo Zhiqi’s Parent-Teacher Meeting. After training, he rushed to the school. Just as he arrived at the school gate, he saw his wife kiss Huo Zhiqi.

He hadn’t even been kissed yet, and this kid had been kissed first.