Chapter 284

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

Guben's business acumen isn't just talk; facts unfolded exactly as he predicted. Once word got out about hiring foreign teachers, quite a few parents were tempted and came inquiring one after another.

The foreign-teacher courses priced at 1800 still had people flocking to them, and there were even parents who proactively asked whether one-on-one tutoring was available.

Wu Meng was secretly delighted and finally made up her mind to take the high-end route, launching a high-profile recruitment drive for foreign teachers.

The best university in Jinan locally is none other than Shandong University.

Shandong University has foreign student quotas every year, so the number of foreign students is relatively high; unfortunately it's summer break, and finding suitable candidates in a short time isn't easy.

She expended a great deal of effort before managing to recruit two female foreign students from Europe.

Both were blonde, blue-eyed, and spoke with a pure British accent.

Guben personally stepped in, conversed with the two beauties in English, and promised them compensation equivalent to double that of other teachers.

The two women's doubled pay brought returns that grew geometrically.

However you calculate it, this deal is extremely worthwhile.

Wu Meng admired him immensely, so she dropped any hesitation over the airfare money and agreed to the suggestion of temporarily recruiting six more foreign-student teachers from Shanghai.

Guben delegated this matter entirely to Zhao Yuncheng.

Zhao Yuncheng had served as his personal assistant for many years and already understood the boss's preferences very well.

The boss doesn't value appearance; he values character and temperament.

Anyone with peculiar fetishes, poor character, a bad temper, or violent tendencies was excluded entirely.

Shanghai has a larger foreign student population, so recruitment was relatively easier.

Within two days he had recruited six female foreign teachers who met the requirements and personally brought them back.

With the foreign teachers, Yuncai Education turned the tide against the wind — not only fighting a beautiful comeback battle but also seizing the initiative in the high-end training education field.

High-school parents eager to have their children master spoken English, prepare for IELTS, and study abroad heard the news and rushed to secure spots.

Their children also became the first batch of beneficiaries after the foreign teachers began teaching.

Yuncai Education reaped both fame and profit; Principal Wu was so happy she couldn't close her mouth, telling everyone how lucky she was to have a nobleman's help.

As for that nobleman who hid his merit and fame — who exactly he was, the Principal kept strictly to herself.

It wasn't that she didn't want to tell; it was Yuncai Education's principle to seek welfare for the broad sisterhood — only hiring women, not men — and executive positions followed the same rule.

The main thrust: favor women over men.

This gave a certain nobleman's personal assistant quite a bit of grievance.

——

Old House.

"Why do you only hire women and not men?"

Zhao Yuncheng was quite baffled; ever since he entered the door his complaints hadn't stopped.

Guben shook his head helplessly, expressing that as the aggrieved party who hid his merit and fame, he couldn't even land a supervisor position, and he himself felt very wronged.

"This is gender discrimination."

Zhao Yuncheng kept complaining: "I want to speak up for male compatriots."

"Speak up my ass!"

Wu Meng slapped his forehead, her cousin-sister authority on full display.

"We're also doing it for the safety of female students......"

Lin Xiyu patiently explained: "Cases of male teachers molesting and sexually assaulting female students are shocking to see; to prevent trouble before it happens, it's still better not to hire male teachers."

"Those are all in remote mountain areas; in the city no one would dare do such a thing openly......"

Zhao Yuncheng took a slap but still didn't pause his retort.

"You don't know shit."

Wu Meng gave him another slap, unable to hold back a curse: "Better safe than sorry; if something like that really happens, not only can the business not continue, but your sister here would be torn to pieces by the students' parents."

"What's the use of just guarding against teachers having a dick?"

Zhao Yuncheng, slapped twice, also got a bit worked up: "Male students with vicious dispositions are even harder to deal with than teachers; why don't you separate male and female students too, eliminate all hidden dangers? Don't tell me it's to make money, not wanting to waste quotas......"

"What you say makes sense."

Lin Xiyu nodded, affirming: "This point we overlooked; for safety's sake, separating them is indeed better."

"No way?"

Now it was Wu Meng's turn to lose her composure: "You really want to separate male and female students?"

Lin Xiyu took it as a matter of course: "Since someone raised a doubt, as managers we must implement it."

Wu Meng wailed: "Separate classes — where would we get that many classrooms?"

"No need to make it that complicated......"

Guben offered a suggestion: "We can assign someone to specifically supervise and manage; when teachers aren't present, students aren't allowed to enter classrooms on their own — that way we can eliminate potential hidden dangers."

"This method works."

Lin Xiyu's eyes lit up: "It just so happens my maternal aunt told me a couple days ago she wants to come work at the training class; why not let her take charge of this?"

"Your maternal aunt?"

Wu Meng was a bit stunned: "Isn't her health poor? Can she still insist on working?"

"She doesn't want to just idle at home......"

Lin Xiyu sighed dejectedly: "I feel like a useless person, unable to do anything, in a bad mood, which is even more detrimental to recovery."

"If Aunt wants to work, let her work."

Guben doted on his wife thoroughly: "It's just a bit more salary each month; this amount of money, we can still afford."

"What can she do even if she comes?"

Wu Meng was a bit conflicted: "Others are fine, but she's your aunt, and in poor health; I don't dare exploit her either."

"Just let her be specifically responsible for opening and closing the classroom."

Lin Xiyu thought for a moment and said: "Her salary will come from my dividends, no need to calculate extra money."

"I'm not being stingy with money."

Wu Meng laughed awkwardly: "It's just that I'm afraid of tiring her out; if she gets sick from overwork again, I really can't bear the responsibility ah ah ah!"

"This kind of thing is unavoidable in the future; you have to get used to it......"

Guben gave her a reminder: "Whose family doesn't have relatives and friends? If they truly have difficulties and come to you for help, you should help those you can help, and solve what you can solve. Doing business values harmony for wealth; connections are far more important than the trivial little benefits right before your eyes. Today's expenditure, who knows when it might bring double the return. At that time, without you racking your brains to scheme, money will automatically roll into your money bag."

"The way you put it, it's so high-level......"

Zhao Yuncheng admired from the bottom of his heart: "Sister, now you know the gap between you and Brother Bin, right? Why is he the boss of a listed company worth hundreds of millions, while you can only run a training class? This is the gap in vision and breadth of mind, in thinking and cognition, limiting your development. This is also why Brother Bin can manipulate everything with ease, while you can only jump around anxiously, running to the old house trip after trip over the tiniest thing."

"Who are you calling stupid? Want to die?"

Wu Meng was pricked until her face flushed red, and she raised her fist again wanting to beat him.

Zhao Yuncheng learned his lesson this time, reacting extremely fast; with a swipe he bounced up from the chair and ran out of the living room in a few steps.

Wu Meng chased to the doorway, saw him run straight for the fish pond; fearing she would startle the little babies, she stopped her steps embarrassedly.

"Hahaha, babies, I'm here."

Zhao Yuncheng escaped disaster, came to the fish pond side, hands on hips, laughing proudly at the top of his voice.

The four babies lifted their heads, looking at the funny weird uncle with faces full of horror.

Dabao got excited, a "fountain" shot skyward, spraying onto his leg.

Half of Zhao Yuncheng's pant leg didn't escape, soaked through by urine.

"Hahaha."

Wu Meng saw this scene, finally vented her anger, slapping her thigh laughing until she folded forward and back.

——

The matter of Aunt's work was settled; Lin Xiyu took advantage of the weekend to specially make a trip back to Maternal Grandmother's house, and told her the negotiated result.

Aunt was very happy, arranged a table full of good dishes to express gratitude.

Maternal Grandmother was also very relieved, in a good mood, so she drank two extra cups.

People get old, can't endure sleepiness; after drinking alcohol they get muddled.

Seeing Maternal Grandmother was tired, Lin Xiyu didn't stay longer, attended to her falling asleep, and left Maternal Grandmother's house alone, then took a taxi to the Youth Palace.

Li Ang was waiting at the doorway; seeing her arrive, he hurriedly stubbed out the cigarette and stuffed it into his pocket.

"When did you learn to smoke?"

Lin Xiyu pretended not to see his somewhat restrained little movement, smilingly teased him: "Didn't see you smoke before; could it be because teaching children is too nerve-wracking, you want to smoke a cigarette first to calm down?"

"Aiya."

Li Ang's old face reddened, he laughed awkwardly twice, taking it as tacit admission.

"You're really nervous?"

Lin Xiyu raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise.

"I'm just a rough old guy."

Li Ang embarrassedly scratched his hair: "Never taught anyone before, just afraid if I get nervous, words won't come out smoothly."

"They're all just children, no need to be nervous......"

Lin Xiyu smiled and reassured him: "Children are innocent and pure; even if you don't speak, just using paper-cutting to communicate with them, they will admire you very much."

"Hehe."

Li Ang took these words to heart, hehe'd happily, his nervous mood indeed eased considerably.

"Let's go in."

Lin Xiyu pushed open the glass door of the first floor hall, leading the way in front: "I've spoken with the Youth Palace staff; they welcome you very much to participate in the public welfare activity."

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Li Ang, to express gratitude, proactively changed his address to Senior Sister.

"Junior Brother need not be polite."

Lin Xiyu smiled gently, calmly accepting his kindness.

"Calling it this way is still more natural."

Li Ang took the opportunity to get closer: "Let outsiders hear it, and they'll know what relationship we have, no need to deliberately explain; it's much more intimate than calling names."

"We're originally fellow disciples of the same lineage."

Lin Xiyu agreed in her heart: "Disciples of an Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor, wherever they go, make people look up to them; your backbone must be straight, cannot let people look down on you."

"So we've truly enjoyed Hu Nainai's grace."

Li Ang immediately straightened his spine, laughing in agreement: "She has passed away, yet can still shelter us, letting us bask in her reflected glory."

"That's why I say."

Lin Xiyu felt moved: "We must all the more hone our skills well, pass down the art of paper-cutting, cannot lose face for her."

"Senior Sister's teaching is correct......"

Li Ang was ashamed: "I was narrow-minded, only thinking of benefits, unlike Senior Sister who considers things so thoroughly."

"The classroom is right ahead, let's go in."

Amid their chat and laughter, the two arrived at the first-floor public activity room; Lin Xiyu gave Li Ang an encouraging look, pushed the door open, and walked in first.

"Hello, Teacher Lin."

Quite a few children had already come to the classroom, about twenty-odd, all young kids.

The oldest were no more than eight or nine; the youngest only four or five.

The children were all very happy to see her; they swarmed over with a rush and greeted the teacher.

"Hello, students."

Lin Xiyu's brows and eyes held a smile; she turned back and beckoned to Li Ang, signaling him to come in: "Let me introduce him to everyone. This uncle is Teacher Lin's junior brother. Starting today, every Saturday he will come to the Youth Palace and teach class together with Teacher Lin."

——

"Teacher Lin's junior brother?"

"What does junior brother mean?"

"It means disciples of the same master."

"If we took Teacher Lin as master, we'd be fellow disciples too."

"Fellow disciples sounds great; I also want to apprentice and learn skills — it sounds so cool."

"You've read too many wuxia novels, thinking you're Little Li Flying Dagger, wanting to be some great hero......"

"I don't have a flying dagger, but I have a carving knife; practice it to a certain realm and it can be used as a flying dagger too, whoosh whoosh whoosh, the knife never misses, one knife decides the enemy......."

Children being innocent and uninhibited, the topic ran off track as they talked.

Li Ang stood somewhat awkwardly in the doorway, hesitating whether to enter.

"Students, let's all welcome Teacher Li together."

Lin Xiyu led the applause, thereby stopping the children's clamor.

"Hello, Teacher Li."

The children indeed stopped fooling around; following her rhythm, they clapped their little hands to express welcome.

"Good good good......"

Li Ang rubbed his hands a bit stiffly; three 'good's came out in a row before he realized he had misspoken.

"Hello everyone, no no, should be, hello students."

Under the curious gazes of the children, his forehead beaded with nervous sweat, and he stammered spectacularly.

"Hee hee."

Some younger kids covered their mouths and snickered.

Li Ang was embarrassed, his face flushing deep red.

"Alright, class starts now; everyone go back to your seats."

Lin Xiyu smiled kindly, helping him ease the awkwardness.

"Class starting, class starting."

The children were very obedient; each returned to their place and sat down properly.

Li Ang let out a breath of relief; taking advantage of no one watching, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

——

"Students, as usual, before learning paper-cutting, let's review the knowledge the teacher has taught."

Lin Xiyu cleared her throat and began class: "How many techniques have been passed down from ancient times to now for Jinan paper-cutting?"

"Four."

The children answered in perfect unison.

"Which four?"

Lin Xiyu asked again.

"Cutting, carving, tearing, burning."

The children already knew the answers by heart; without the slightest hesitation, they answered right away.

"Why is Jinan paper-cutting called Spring Water Culture Paper Cutting?"

Lin Xiyu smiled and continued questioning: "What is the connotation of Spring Water Culture?"

"Me me me, Teacher, I can answer......"

This question was comparatively difficult; the younger kids fell silent, leaving only a few older children actively raising their hands to answer.

"Chen Xiang, you answer."

Lin Xiyu's gaze fell on the boy who had mentioned Little Li Flying Dagger earlier; she called on him to answer.

"Spring Water Culture is a unique cultural system formed over a long historical process, characterized by spring water resources."

Chen Xiang did not disappoint her expectations; in one breath he recited the answer: "Covering multiple dimensions including natural ecology, humanistic spirit, artistic aesthetics, and social life; its core lies in deeply integrating the natural attributes of spring water with human activities, forming cultural symbols and spiritual symbols with regional characteristics."