Zhao Mo didn’t care.

She wanted to get into a technical school!

That way, she could get a job.

Zhao Mo was not only diligent in front of Zhang Yunxi but also constantly asked questions in class, making her the hardest-working student.

Some kids disliked how seriously she studied. The teacher always praised her, but what was the point of a girl studying so well? Wasn’t she just taking the spotlight away from the boys? After half a month, some of them grew even less interested in learning.

Heidan was furious!

Since he couldn’t be the leader of the village kids, he wanted to at least be the best student in class—that would give him status.

But Zhao Mo and Ergouzi had stolen both of his chances to shine.

So, right before school ended, Heidan raised his hand. “Teacher, Zhao Mo stole my dime.”

The teacher was startled but frowned when he saw Heidan. “Do you have any proof? Don’t accuse your classmates without evidence.”

“It was her! Other classmates saw her take my dime! My dad gave it to me for my mom, and she stole it! She’s just a thief! No wonder she doesn’t have a mother!”

Zhao Mo was stunned.

When had she ever stolen money?

She immediately stood up. “I didn’t! And if you keep saying I don’t have a mom, I won’t hesitate to curse at your parents!”

“Teacher, look! She wants to curse! She’s obviously a bad kid!” Heidan pointed at Zhao Mo. “She stole my dime! Give it back now!”

“I didn’t!” Zhao Mo’s voice rose in frustration. “Stop slandering me!”

The teacher questioned the other students, asking if they had seen Zhao Mo steal anything. Those who played with Heidan naturally sided with him, claiming they saw her take the money.

“Lying children are not good children,” the teacher emphasized again.

Seeing Heidan’s smug confidence, the other kids chimed in, “Teacher, we’re not lying.”

With five or six kids insisting, the teacher couldn’t help but turn to Zhao Mo. “Zhao Mo…”

“Teacher, Zhao Mo wouldn’t steal! Besides, we kids never have money. Heidan suddenly says he has a dime—what if he stole it, spent it, and is now framing Zhao Mo? How else would anyone know he even had money?” Ergouzi stepped forward.

Heidan’s confidence wavered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “You’re just Zhao Mo’s lapdog. Your words mean nothing!”

“Screw you, I’ll beat you up!” Ergouzi grabbed him by the collar.

The teacher quickly intervened. “Alright, the most important thing is to figure out where this dime is. Heidan, are you sure you had it? I’ll call your parents and ask if they really gave you a dime!”

Heidan had already spent the money, so he wasn’t afraid. “Fine, call them! Our whole family will catch the thief together!”

Seeing how self-assured Heidan was, the teacher sent some students to fetch his parents.

A dime wasn’t a small amount—it could buy several eggs. Parents worked hard all day and barely earned three or four dimes. The teacher couldn’t ignore it.

He also asked someone to call Zhao Mo’s parents, so she wouldn’t be alone without support.

Ergouzi said, “Calling Zhao Mo’s parents is useless. You should call my grandma and our aunt instead.”

The kids looked at Ergouzi, scratched their heads, and, unable to process his words, just ran off to find Zhang Yunxi and Ergouzi’s grandmother.

The first to arrive was Heidan’s father. When he heard that the dime he gave his wife had been stolen, he was furious.

“Zhao Mo, how dare you steal money?! Do you know what happens to thieves? You’ll be sent to labor reform, working forever without rest!”

The anger of an adult was far scarier than that of children. Zhao Mo instinctively took a step back but still denied it. “I didn’t! I’ve been studying all day! I don’t even know what Heidan was doing, let alone whether he had any money!”

“Exactly!”

Ergouzi stood protectively in front of Zhao Mo, glaring at Heidan’s father.

This coward—what was he trying to prove by bullying Zhao Mo?

Heidan quickly added, “I told everyone in class today that my dad gave me a dime to make my mom happy. Zhao Mo must have overheard and then stole it! And now she’s lying! She’s just using the teacher’s favoritism to bully us!”

Heidan’s parents looked at the teacher with displeasure.

The teacher was exasperated. “If I were biased toward Zhao Mo, I wouldn’t have called you here.”

Heidan’s parents, remembering that the teacher still had to educate their child, didn’t argue further. Instead, they turned to Zhao Mo. “Give us the dime, and we’ll let this go.”

“I didn’t take it!” Zhao Mo clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with anger. “You’re falsely accusing me!”

Heidan’s parents grew impatient. “So many kids saw you take it, and you still deny it?”

“They’re all on your side! This is a setup! You people are awful!” Zhao Mo was shaking with rage.

Seeing her still acting defiant, Heidan’s mother reached out to grab her and search her pockets.

Ergouzi slapped her hand away. “What the hell? Are you cops now? Think you can arrest people? You’re insane.”

“Ergouzi, this has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it.”

“Screw off! You’re bullying Zhao Mo and expect me to stay quiet? No way!” Ergouzi despised how adults abused their power.

Heidan smirked. “He helped her steal it too.”

“Shut up before I beat you!” Ergouzi raised his fist but was suddenly yanked up by Heidan’s father. “You’ve been bullying my son, haven’t you?”

Heidan’s eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded. “Yes! He always bullies me!”

Ergouzi froze for a moment—then Heidan’s mother slapped him hard across the face!

“You little brat! I was wondering why my boy kept coming home with bruises—so it was you all along!”

She was furious. Heidan was her only son, and there was no guarantee she’d have more children. How could she let him be bullied?

Zhao Mo’s eyes instantly turned red. She bent down and headbutted Heidan’s mother, her voice choked with tears. “I’m going to find the village chief! You’re bullying us!”

“Ow! You little brat, how dare you push me? You have a death wish!” Heidan’s mother grabbed her waist to stand up and hit Zhao Mo.

Heidan’s father let go of Ergouzi, ready to strike Zhao Mo as well.

He had recently angered his wife by stealing food. If he played the hero now, he could redeem himself!

“Zhao Mo, move!” Ergouzi shouted.

Years of partnership had forged their instinctive teamwork. Zhao Mo dodged right at the perfect moment.

And then—duang! A large figure flew past her eyes.

Heidan’s father, who had been charging forward, was tackled by Ergouzi—crashing straight onto Heidan’s mother!

Just then, Ergouzi’s grandmother, Chen Hehua, arrived. Seeing the scene, she clapped her hands and whistled.

“Oh my, getting all lovey-dovey in front of the kids? If you’re so eager, at least find a cornfield or a haystack!”