Chapter 285
Since the event wasn't being held at their own school, the school had arranged a coach bus to transport the students participating in the competition.
Si Nian, however, couldn't go with them, as each class was only allowed one accompanying teacher, and there weren't enough seats on the bus for everyone.
She was a new teacher, and the students weren't very familiar with her yet.
So, another teacher was taking the students.
Si Nian thought that since she only had one class in the morning, she could go after finishing her lesson; it should be fine, and she might even make it in time.
After all, these large-scale competitions always took a long time.
Especially since this was a city-wide competition.
Today was just the preliminary round. After today's competition, a group of students would be eliminated, and the remaining ones would advance, leading up to the final round.
These days, being a top student came with a lot of pressure. For the sake of honor and proving themselves, parents and teachers would have the best-performing children participate in various competitions.
Each school had a limited number of spots; no more than thirty students from the whole school could participate.
Si Nian led her two children to the school gate. There were already some parents on the bus, those who were worried and had come along with their kids. She would have liked to go too, but she couldn't just skip her class.
Zhou Yueshen wasn't home either, so she could only let her two sons go by themselves.
But it was okay; with the Eldest Child accompanying them, the two brothers should be fine.
Si Nian took out fifty cents and handed it to Zhou Zedong, telling him to buy something for his brother to eat if they got hungry later.
Although the school provided meals, she saw Teacher Xu was also on the bus.
She still felt a little worried.
But with so many people watching, Teacher Xu probably wouldn't dare do anything bad.
Si Nian personally saw her two children onto the bus, only to find it was already packed.
Most were parents with their children, some families even had two adults along.
Logically, a bus this big should have had enough seats.
But these adults were shameless, taking up extra space with their large frames.
Seeing children without seats, they pretended not to notice.
Si Nian's temper flared instantly. "Are you all here to participate in the elementary school competition too?"
A group of parents who had been chatting and playing with their kids were taken aback. "Of course we're here to accompany our children to the competition."
"Oh, so you're accompanying them to the competition. One might have thought you were the ones competing. If I remember correctly, this bus is provided by the school to transport the children to the competition, not a free public bus, right?"
Hearing this, the adults grew awkward and muttered, "It's just sitting for a while, can't you speak nicely? So stingy."
Si Nian rolled her eyes at them, squeezed her two children into seats, and then said with a pitiful expression, "Xiao Dong, Xiao Han, Mommy is so sorry. You're the ones going to compete, yet you didn't even have seats. Mommy doesn't dare offend those who hog seats. Speaking up offends people, and those who take up seats still say Mommy is stingy. Mommy is at fault here~"
As soon as she said this, people around shot disdainful looks at the families who had taken extra seats.
They were also accompanying their children, but they held their kids on their laps, already feeling quite embarrassed about it.
Unlike these people, who not only took the free ride but also brought so many along.
Si Nian, such a young woman with three children, had it hard enough already.
Now she was being bullied too.
It was really pitiful.
The other parents looked at Si Nian with sympathy.
The parents who had just been complaining flushed red with embarrassment.
They didn't dare say another word.
Si Nian patted her children's heads, a slight smile on her lips. "Xiao Dong, Xiao Han, do your best in the competition. Mommy will come pick you up after class."
The two boys nodded obediently.
Si Nian got off the bus with Yaoyao.
Seeing the other children all had parents with them, the Eldest Child and the Second Child felt a twinge of envy.
They wished their mom and dad could accompany them to the competition too.
With everyone present, the bus prepared to depart.
The parents from earlier were squeezed together. In principle, overloading wasn't allowed.
But these people had managed to get on, of course, by slipping the driver some money.
The driver simply turned a blind eye.
The teachers didn't dare offend the parents and couldn't say much either.
Some teachers didn't even have seats.
Especially the parents who had taken extra seats earlier; their own children now complained about being too crowded.
These children were all top students, treated like precious gems at home.
Hearing their children fuss, and afraid their little treasures were being squished, the parents stood up.
But seeing Zhou Zedong and Zhou Zehan, two children with two seats and no parents, they couldn't help but grumble.
"Two little kids don't need that much space, do they? Let Auntie sit here, my legs aren't good."
The Second Child was on his first ride in such a fancy coach bus and was busy curiously touching everything left and right.
He didn't hear the woman at all.
The Eldest Child held a book, still reading.
He pretended not to hear.
Ignored, and feeling the eyes of others on her, the woman's face flushed red.
Teacher Xu, sitting up front with Chu Xiang'er and Li Youcai, heard this and looked back.
Just then, she heard Zhou Zehan's voice: "Wow, this bus is so big, Bro!"
"Bro, look outside! Everyone's watching us!"
"Wow, this is so fun!"
A look of contempt flashed in her eyes.
Such country bumpkins. It's just a bus ride, no need to make such a fuss.
Noticing the woman beside them, she paused. This woman worked for the government; she had encountered her while handling some affairs before.
Seeing the woman red-faced and fuming, Teacher Xu stood up and walked over, adopting a righteous tone. "Student Zhou Zedong, didn't you hear Auntie say her legs are uncomfortable? What have I taught you about respecting elders, caring for the young, and politely offering your seat?"
She looked at the two boys, a cold laugh in her heart.
While she couldn't do anything overt, she had plenty of ways to get back at them.
That incident where she was beaten up—no one she told believed her.
Teacher Xu also started to think it was impossible. Could it be Si Nian pulling strings behind the scenes?
Otherwise, how could a child be so cunning?
Anyway, she had to swallow this bitter pill.
Teacher Xu had been feeling very resentful.
Since Si Nian wasn't going to let her off easy, then she wouldn't be polite either.
After all, Director Li was on her side.
There was no way Si Nian could touch her.
Some people now looked at the two children, also thinking they were being a bit rude.
What if the woman really had leg problems and that's why she said it?
Zhou Zedong paused, his hand on the book, and looked at Teacher Xu. "Why should we give up our seats? Her own son isn't giving up his. Does that mean her son has no manners either?"
Zhou Zehan tilted his head and chimed in, "Mom said to give seats to the elderly, but she doesn't even look as old as Teacher Xu. Why should we give her our seat?"
The woman who asked for the seat first darkened her expression.
The latter part made Teacher Xu's face darken.