Chapter 99: The Perks of Being an Elementary School Student

Wang Xiao'ai was extremely nervous, fearing she would be expelled, so she urgently signaled to Da Min with her eyes.

Xiao Ma had no choice but to say again, “Alright, I got carried away. Please forgive me if I offended Teacher Chen. Let’s get back to the issue.”

Chen Hong didn’t want to clash too much with a man who was barefoot, so she said, “Then let’s talk about the problem. Earlier, I mentioned that Wang Xiao’ai was involved in illegal gatherings. Perhaps my words were inappropriate, but now someone is injured lying in the hospital, and countless parents of the parties involved have come to the school, saying that Wang Xiao’ai has corrupted their children. For example, the parents of those three boys are very angry, claiming Wang Xiao’ai spreads harmful social rumors and pollutes their children’s pure minds. They say she tempts their kids not to study and encourages them to neglect their homework. The family of the injured girl even accuses Wang Xiao’ai of being part of a small gang, gathering several senior boys to assault their daughter. What do you think about this?”

Xiao Ma replied, “It sounds like that, but the cause and effect seem to have been overlooked. Teacher Chen, I need your help to understand why Wang Xiao’ai got involved in all this?”

Chen Hong said coldly, “In the past, Wang Xiao’ai encountered things we were unaware of; she never informed the school. Her failure to use school resources properly is her own misunderstanding, and a shortcoming on the parents’ part as well. So after the incident, these are only Wang Xiao’ai’s side of the story. Fine, I don’t want to deny Wang Xiao’ai’s character or credibility. But now, the other five families involved almost unanimously tell the same story. From the school’s perspective, those families have better social standing and are more trustworthy. This makes things very difficult, doesn’t it?”

“So the point is they’re rich, right?” Xiao Ma asked.

“Rich people care more about face and etiquette, are more honest, and have greater social influence. That’s not my rule—it’s the school’s and society’s attitude. This is the unspoken rule; don’t take it out on me,” Chen Hong said firmly.

Xiao Ma glanced at Wang Xiao’ai and said, “Alright, it’s no use talking about other things now. Just tell me what the decision is.”

Chen Hong hesitated for a moment before speaking, but thinking about the incident and the other families’ stance, she deliberately tried to intimidate him: “The preliminary decision is to expel Wang Xiao’ai. Also, you should tell Wang Xiao’ai’s parents not to hide. Sooner or later, they will have to face people. When it’s time to show up, they must show up; when it’s time to compensate, they must compensate. Hiding is pointless. Wang Xiao’ai lacks the ability to manage herself, and legally, the responsibility lies with her father. Hiding won’t help. The trouble Wang Xiao’ai caused will eventually involve the police. It’s not like he’s a gambler or drunkard who can just say he’s broke. Doesn’t he have a house? The law will have its say.”

Xiao Ma couldn’t help but retort, “Let’s not argue about who started it. I’ll say this: maybe what you say really is the school’s position, and maybe expelling Wang Xiao’ai is your job. But you’re getting sentimental again, aren’t you? After expelling Wang Xiao’ai and finishing your essential task, you immediately start playing judge and jury, blaming her entirely, even deciding on her family’s property rights?”

“You…” Chen Hong suddenly stood up, her face dark as thunder, glaring fiercely at Ma Weimin.

Xiao Ma looked at her coldly, “Can I ask whose family the injured girl is from?”

Chen Hong, flustered and furious, said, “That’s not my responsibility. Don’t ask me. I did misspeak earlier—expelling her is my job; everything else I’m not responsible for. The procedures will become clear to you in time. Now take her away.”

Xiao Ma said, “Compensation is no problem. When something happens, it’s better to calmly deal with the issue first before debating right or wrong. After all, a young girl is injured. I’ll handle these matters and am already working on it. But I must say, in the absence of a clear determination of responsibility, simply and harshly deciding to expel a top student like Wang Xiao’ai—Teacher Chen, are you being sentimental to scare people, or are you just out of your mind?”

Chen Hong was at a loss for words and truly annoyed, slamming the table. “Who do you think you are? You came in all arrogant, pointing fingers everywhere but not facing the problem. If Wang Xiao’ai were a boy, and older, let’s see how you’d act. Don’t be so cocky; she’s a young girl, and you’re not. If the injured girl’s family knew how arrogant you were here…”

“Come on now,” Xiao Ma raised his eyebrow, interrupting.

Chen Hong sneered, “Still that attitude? Let me be clear: no man or parent has ever dared speak to me like that. From the moment you walked in, I’ve disliked you. You keep mocking and insulting me verbally. Believe me, I’d rather lose my job than have someone come after you.”

“I’m curious,” Xiao Ma blinked, “How do you plan to ‘come after’ me? With your mouth, or with your behind?”

“How dare you insult me!” Chen Hong’s anger boiled over.

“Same difference,” Xiao Ma replied coolly.

Chen Hong said coldly, “One last chance: apologize to me, accept the school’s decision, and take Wang Xiao’ai away.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Xiao Ma said. “I’d apologize only for coming in, but on one condition: let me be sure Wang Xiao’ai is really at fault. Unfortunately, you’re all sentiment and no evidence, always showing off superiority without addressing the problem. How can I apologize or take this little brat away? Until that’s confirmed, I’ll sit here and watch how you try to expel her.”

“Just you wait,” she said, pulling out her phone to dial.

Xiao Ma said, “Calling security? I’ve dealt with plenty of security guards. They can only carry me out. If anyone dares lay a finger on Wang Xiao’ai, just try it.”

Chen Hong gave him a look like he was a fool. “Who told you it’s security? Let me introduce you to Chen Xiaoyan’s family—the head is Chen Haodong. You can argue with him. My place is too small to handle someone as capable as you.”

Xiao Ma’s nerves sparked. “I’ve met plenty of Chen Haodongs. He’s no better than security. Security can at least carry me out. You say he can do that? Let him try touching me.”

“Idiot…” Chen Hong glanced at him. Then her call connected; she stepped aside and whispered before hanging up.

“Forget it, if she’s expelled, she’s expelled. I finished all the elementary courses myself. Otherwise, how could my third-grade daughter help with fifth-grade homework? I even tutor them. Their home education is as bad as Chen Hong’s; they don’t know how to teach, so the kids don’t want to learn. They’re far more receptive to me,” Xiao Ma whispered to Wang Xiao’ai.

Only then did Wang Xiao’ai remember to bring up the main point. “Da Min, stop worrying about me. Run fast. Brother Da Dong is super powerful. If you get hit by a car again and die, I don’t have supernatural powers to bring you back to life.”

“…” This little girl’s logic was as quirky as ever, but Xiao Ma roughly understood. It made sense—no matter how strong the spirit, without a strong body, how could she fight back? This demon girl was foolishly calling in gang members against me? I’d better run and hide first, then arrange for reinforcements to deal with them.

So Xiao Ma decisively said, “Girl, let’s get out of here. We’ll deal with this later.”

Wang Xiao’ai said, “You run off yourself. They’re not going to chase me away so easily. I’m staying here undercover to gather information. They won’t bully a little girl.”

“Fair enough. I’ll lay low for now and come back to save you later.”

With that, Xiao Ma quickly slipped away.

Chen Hong chased after him. “You bastard, aren’t you so tough? Why run? If you’ve got guts, wait here.”

But as soon as she finished speaking, she tripped in her high heels and fell flat on her back, her skirt flying up, revealing her lace-covered backside.

“Bonus…”

Nearby elementary school kids at the basketball court all widened their eyes in surprise; some bold ones even secretly took photos with their phones.