She Only Cares About Cultivation

An Yi did not directly answer her question, but looked at the other parents.

"Who agrees for me to leave this position, please raise your hand. If more than half agree, I will leave. I have to consider the other children. If the other parents don’t mind my past, then I will stay. As for those who don’t like me, they can transfer out of our Baijiawan Commune, because I was invited here by the principal, Liu Family Village’s secretary, and the village chief, not just decided by one person. What do you all say?"

An Yi spoke earnestly, at least showed respect to the other parents, unlike that parent who directly dismissed the teacher and made decisions for everyone.

The comparison was revealing; once compared, some people were dissatisfied.

"What’s wrong with the teacher? Did she want such a past? Who would want that? Are we supposed to act like the gossiping women in the village, and wish her dead?"

The women who returned to their hometowns after being victimized found it already difficult enough, but they encountered verbal abuse everywhere, accusations, and even claims that—

"You shouldn’t have come back back then. What are you back for? To shame the family, unable to hold your head high, wouldn’t it be better to die outside?"

Because of such malicious words, there were those who took their own lives.

Parents who could send their children to school had some insight, and seeing how forthrightly An Yi faced the situation, they felt she was more innocent.

Moreover, where are the secrets in the rural areas?

An Yi’s rescue of the two victimized women and adopting of the girl were not false; the child was right there in the daycare class!

"If you don’t want Teacher An to teach, just don’t have your child taught by her. What’s the point of all the extra nonsense? Who are you aiming to upset? Teacher An adopted the discarded girl, was she from your mother’s village? How dare you speak ill of Teacher An here? In this day and age, while some families struggle to feed their own children, Teacher An takes in abandoned little sisters, which shows she’s very compassionate. How can you speak so viciously about a kind person like her?"

"Exactly, if you don’t want to go, leave. Who is stopping you? On what grounds can you decide whether Teacher An stays or goes? Teacher An is knowledgeable, taught literacy classes, and her lessons are so interesting. If you don’t want to go, then go and make room; we think the classroom is more spacious! Anyone else dissatisfied with her? Speak up early and take your child with you!"

...

Once one person spoke for her, there was a second, then a third. The righteous outweighed the evil, and kind people often outnumbered the insidious. Some did not join in, did not speak, and did not follow blindly, yet it didn’t mean they agreed with that woman. So when she asked if anyone else wanted to replace her, no one raised a hand.

In the end, it was only that parent who was escorted out by Teacher Song. In Teacher Song’s view, a parent skilled at sowing discord could never be cooperated with.

The person naturally didn’t wish to leave, but Teacher Song being a man, forcibly took her out. An Yi watched them leave as if nothing had happened and continued the parent meeting. Until Teacher Song returned, she left the platform to him and politely walked out.

That parent was in the director’s office when Teacher Song directed her there. As she walked to the door, she could still hear her harsh voice shouting.

"Why are we being sent home? Am I wrong? An Yi is dirty and teaching children, which could mislead the kids. I’m also doing it for the well-being of everyone. Besides, you don’t know how arrogant she is; she didn’t hold back from cursing and saying foul words in their village and acts as a teacher. It’s really disgusting! Earlier, I didn’t even want to argue with her; I think she’s filthy!"

An Yi took a deep breath, exhaled gently, then raised a professional smile, knocked, and walked in, confronting the woman straight away.

"Do you realize how filthy you are yourself? I suggest you go home and look in the mirror. If there’s no mirror, go to the river and see how black your neck is, how strong the smell on your body is, how unique the odor from your mouth is. After appreciating all that, come see me again, where am I dirty? Even if I am dirty, I’m still way cleaner than you! Who do you think you are, accusing me of being dirty? You think I’m proud, that I’m strong and not easily bullied, so you’re looking for a teacher you can bully, right?"

Not waiting for her flushed face to respond, An Yi sneered and continued.

"Just as well, I am willing to teach your child. Director, I won’t take on this student. If I do, I’ll leave; dealing with this family, mark my words, is asking for endless trouble and disputes. Besides teaching, I have to manage my household chores, take care of the children; I can’t waste that kind of idle labor. This is my stance, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my dormitory; later I have to see my children!"