“Teacher Qiu, it’s me, Xiao Lingyu!” Xiao Lingyu was very respectful and polite when she saw her former teacher. “It’s my fault for not coming back to see you for so long!”
A rare smile appeared on Qiu Zhonghua’s serious face. Then, he pretended to be serious and displeased. “You’re really at fault for not coming back to visit your former class teacher!”
“I’m sorry!” Xiao Lingyu said apologetically, “I’ll definitely visit you often in the future.”
“That’s more like it!” Qiu Zhonghua nodded in satisfaction.
This convivial conversation between Xiao Lingyu and teacher Qiu shocked all the teachers and students present.
Damn, they had no idea Director Qiu could be so gentle! But wait, from their conversation, it sounded like Xiao Lingyu was Director Qiu’s student. If that was true, how did Xiao Lingyu survive three years in the hands of Director Qiu? Director Qiu was famously strict with his students, subordinates, and even his colleagues and superiors.
Director Qiu was in a good mood meeting his former star student. Xiao Lingyu was not only his best student but also his most clever one. It was why he remembered her after all these years.
But…
Qiu Zhonghua looked at the vegetable boxes in front of Xiao Lingyu and Xiao Lingye. Director Qiu looked at the vegetables, and he was confused. He asked seriously and sternly, “Xiao Lingyu, what are you doing? Why are you giving raw food to your juniors? Don’t you know that they are facing a serious exam tomorrow? We can let them have any accidents! This exam is too important for them.”
Xiao Lingye wanted to explain, but Xiao Lingyu gently pinched his shoulder. Then, she answered Teacher Qiu’s question very seriously. “Teacher Qiu, don’t worry. As a former student of No. 1 High School, I will not harm my juniors.”
Then, she tried to bend down to grab a fruit. Seeing this, Mother Xiao immediately stopped her. She grabbed a tomato and handed it to Teacher Qiu. She said respectfully and politely, “Teacher Qiu, hello! I’m Xiao Lingyu’s mother, Chen Qiuying. Do you still remember me?”
“Mother Xiao?” Teacher Qiu remembered and nodded. “I do. Hello, Mother Xiao.”
Xiao Lingyu was their school’s most outstanding student. She would often take the stage to give speeches. Even her parents were invited to school to share their experience in educating their children. Teacher Qiu had a good impression of Mother Xiao.
Mother Xiao smiled and said, “I’m sorry, Teacher Qiu. The children have caused you trouble. I’ll apologize to you. Here. Please take this tomato and try It!”
Mother Xiao handed the tomato directly to him. This was a present from a student’s parent. Teacher Qiu felt bad rejecting it. After some hesitation, he accepted it, but he didn’t eat it. Instead, he asked, “Mother Xiao, what are all these?” Then he said seriously, “Mother Xiao, it’s not that we don’t allow people to set up stalls inside the school but…”
“Director Qiu, they are not selling the stuff. They are giving them away for free.” Xiao Lingye’s class teacher came to defend them. “Director Qiu, have you heard of Taoyuan Village Fresh Fruits and Vegetables?”
“Taoyuan Village Fresh Fruits and Vegetables?” Qiu Zhonghua couldn’t say he had. He had no friends. Whenever he arrived, the conversation would stop.
“Yes.” The class teacher, Teacher Yin, explained, “They offer special vegetables. Every student’s parents are fighting over them.”
“Special vegetables? What do you mean?” Qiu Zhonghua asked in puzzlement, “Aren’t the vegetables all the same?”
“Teacher Qiu, why don’t you try the tomato to find out?” Xiao Lingyu suggested. Actions spoke louder than words.
Director Qiu gave face to his beloved student. He looked at the tomato and placed it doubtfully in his mouth. Immediately, his stern expression turned into one of shock. Then, he chewed on it a few times with disbelief in his eyes.
When Mother Xiao saw the other teachers, she greeted them, “Please take some and have a taste too.” She then passed some tomatoes and cucumbers to the teachers.
The teachers hesitated but in the end, they couldn’t stand the temptation. They took the stuff from Mother Xiao and put them into their mouths without hesitation.
“Wow. It’s my first time tasting the vegetables from Taoyuan Village Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. They are really delicious!”
“Same here. My wife went there several times, but they were always sold out. I can’t believe I have the chance to try them today.”
Director Qiu swallowed the tomato. He felt a warm glow spread through his chest. The fragrance of the tomato flowed through his mouth and nose. His mind cleared, and his spirit soared.
He was shocked by the vegetable’s unusual effect. He finally understood why Xiao Lingyu was giving away these things for free. But, his eyes glowed with worry. However, he didn’t say anything more. He told Xiao Lingyu softly, “Thank you so much for doing this for the school.”
Xiao Lingyu shook her head. “I also hope that my school can produce more wonderful talents.” Director Qiu nodded with gratification. Then, he turned to leave.
Mother Xiao immediately took out a few tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and white radishes and handed them to Director Qiu. She said respectfully, “Teacher Qiu, it is my girl’s fault for not coming to visit you for all these years. I apologize on her behalf. Please take these. When we have time, I’ll have the children come to apologize to you further.”
Qiu Zhonghua glanced at the surrounding students, who were looking at him carefully. The corner of his stern mouth slightly curved up as he said, “Mother Xiao, leave these for the students. I’ll visit the vegetable shop in the future.”
Director Qiu understood that Xiao Lingyu and her family had brought these vegetables for the students. How could he take them?
“But…” Mother Xiao hesitated.
At this moment, Xiao Lingyu came over and said, “Mom, I will visit Teacher Qiu in the future and bring him more vegetables.” She understood Teacher Qiu’s intention. Having been his student for three years, Xiao Lingyu knew that Teacher Qiu was hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Teacher Qiu would do anything for his students.
After Qiu Zhonghua left, many teachers also left.
They had already tasted the vegetables, and that was enough. If they stayed, they would be suspected of stealing from the students.
The parents of the students were doing this out of kindness. As teachers, they shouldn’t stand in the way.
Many students saw Director Liu walk away. For the first time, they felt Director Liu was not so stern and harsh. They felt quite touched.
“So the Director has a human side too.”
“Did you see that? Director Liu actually smiled when he talked to Sister Lingye!”
“Yes, it’s amazing. I didn’t think I’d live to see a smile on the Director’s face.”
“Then again, didn’t you hear what the Director said? Sister Xiao Lingyu was the top scorer from class 99.”
“Xiao Lingye has good results too. As long as he performs normally, he’ll be our class’ top scorer.”
“Two top scorers from one family. How did the family do this?”
After the teachers left, the children returned to their lively selves. They lined up to take their share. Similarly, most took tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots.
“Ah, only the white radishes are left?” The students who lined at the back had no choice.
“I heard that white radishes can be eaten raw. They have a sweet taste.”
“But have you really tasted one before?”
“Maybe they will taste good. They are white and tender. They are quite big too. One and you’d be full.”
“Wow, why is this radish so sweet? And it’s so crispy!”
The students were shocked after they took a bite of the white radish.
“This radish is really delicious. It’s sweet and watery!”
After that, the others didn’t hesitate to pick the white radishes. It was the first time they realized white radishes could be so delicious.
“I knew these white radishes are different. Or else Sister Xiao Lingyu wouldn’t have brought them over.”
“You were complaining about the lack of choice earlier! How shameless can you be? Haha.”
…
Many students’ parents were at the shop the next day.
The moment they saw Xiao Lingyu, they said, “Boss Xiao, my child had your free tomato and cucumber at school yesterday. He said he had never felt so energized in his life. He promised me he would get a good score during the exam. Boss Xiao, thank you so much.”
“Boss Xiao, I’ve been your customer for so long, but I have no idea you’re the sister of our top student, Xiao Lingye. My child also had the food you offered them for free yesterday. After I sent her off to the exam hall, I specially came to thank you.”
“Me too. My child is so appreciative of your help.” A parent said sincerely, “If she really gets a good result, I’ll come back to thank you!”
After the parents dropped their children off at the exam hall, they came over to thank Xiao Lingyu. Most of these parents had not been to Xiao Lingyu’s shop before, and they found out about it from their children.
Xiao Lingyu said with a smile, “Uncles, Aunties, if the students did well in the exam, it’s because they work hard. It’s their hard work, not mine. There’s no need to thank me.”
“But, I know my own child. When he came back yesterday, he was very quiet and focused. It’s like he’s a changed person. When I asked him, he said it’s because of your vegetables!”
“That’s right. My child said the same thing!”
“I really don’t deserve your gratitude!” Xiao Lingyu shook her head, then reminded them, “Uncles and Aunties, I’m sorry, but I need to open for business now.”
“Oh, I need to buy more vegetables from you!”
“Me too!”
No matter what, they had to snatch some vegetables today.
Even though the shop had a limited purchase policy, the shop only had so much in store, and more customers were still coming.
Father Xiao came to the store to help, while Mama Xiao stayed at home to prepare the food.
They couldn’t help much during their son’s exam. The only thing they could do was to provide the best nutrients for their son.
Xiao Lingyu also took out some spring water and fed it to Xiao Lingye. The pure spring water energized Xiao Lingye’s mind.
Xiao Lingye was a very hardworking student normally, so the spring water only boosted his usual ability..
