"It's okay..." Xia Yibing raised her eyebrows, "We have always had a good relationship."
"How about you go tomorrow?"
"It's Muguo Public School's parents' meeting... As a co-adopter, the school won't make things difficult for you."
Chapter 4 Parents' Meeting
The next day, Xia Yibing sat in a crowded classroom as a parent for the first time in her life. She felt itchy all over, as if there were ten thousand Hitzfelds crawling everywhere.
Mugo Public School is the largest school in Flo Street with the strongest teaching staff. It covers the educational content from primary school to some secondary school stages, and is well-known even in the eyes of those shop owners.
If Ashley didn't have a background, it would be impossible for her to enter Muguo Public School. But she had Hitzfeld after all... The girl donated some money to the school, and with the relationship with Sheriff Rand and her personal fame, Ashley's admission was very smooth.
If nothing unexpected happens, she will study here for three years, until she turns 18 and then directly applies for university, which requires a high level of learning efficiency.
But she is obviously not good at studying.
Hitzfeld attended two parent-teacher conferences and was unfortunately the target of criticism each time.
According to several teachers, Ashley is a smart child, but she doesn't use her intelligence in studying and instead tries to figure out crooked ways.
For example, they make various hunting traps on campus. Every few days they receive complaints from parents, who often say that their children were playing at school and suddenly stepped on empty air and fell into a hole, or were hung on a tree by vines by their ankles.
The worst incident was when Ashley modified the door panel. When the math teacher, Mr. Imo, pushed the door open, the door panel caught his hand like a mousetrap, causing him to stay in the hospital for three weeks.
In front of the teachers and the principal, Hitzfeld asked Ashley why she did this. Ashley replied that it was because Teacher Imo always gave her trouble, so she had to "be tough" with Teacher Imo in her own way.
She also tried to argue back - she had always denied that she was the one who modified the door panel, and she didn't understand why everyone pointed the finger at her after the incident.
Isn't this a matter of course...
Xia Yibing had already learned about these "great achievements" from other parents' "complaints". She lamented in her heart... This is not the time when you were still in the cannibal tribe on the Cannibal Island. You are the only one in the school who can do such a thing. Who else can I suspect if not you?
In short, after listening to all this nonsense, she roughly understood why Hitzfeld didn't want to come.
The entire parent-teacher meeting was an ordeal. When it was over, the woman felt a sense of relief that “it’s finally over”.
"Um... Ms. Imar, please wait a moment." Seeing her getting up and about to go out, a young-looking female teacher suddenly called her.
This is Ms. Feti who has taken over from Mr. Imo as the interim Mathematics teacher.
Of course Xia Yibing remembered who she was, so she stopped helplessly.
"What's the matter, Mr. Feti?"
"Of course." Ms. Feti raised her glasses. "Ashley is currently very unbalanced in one subject... Several of us teachers have discussed it and plan to work with you parents to develop a study plan for your child."
Xia Yibing nodded purely out of courtesy, and then began to use the method of deduction to look at the other person while continuing her long speech.
Well... she looks young, but the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes cannot be covered up no matter how much powder she puts on... she must be at least 35 or even 40 years old.
The dark grey dress and trousers, this unattractive combination shows that she doesn't pay much attention to her appearance...but she has her hair in a bun...She is obviously married and her relationship with her husband is not very close.
Foundation... the scent is of hibiscus flowers... the brand might be Baron Niya or Lady Niya. The fact that they can afford essential oil cosmetics shows that their family conditions are not bad... but they are willing to teach in such a civilian school, which probably means they are a bit idealistic.
And the most important point is that she is wearing a watch - this not only shows that she is a person with a good sense of time, but also further shows that she is wealthy.
She thought she must have a car, otherwise... Although the area around Muguo Public School was not poor, it was not rich either. Walking home from here while wearing a watch... this was simply a suicidal act.
"So are you listening, Ms. Imaar?"
Ms. Feti clapped her hands and glared at the woman with some dissatisfaction.
"Of course I'm here, teacher." Xia Yibing nodded.
She has spent so much time studying the knowledge in those books that she doesn't even need to draft her lies now.
"Really?" Ms. Feti stared at her suspiciously. "Then tell me, what did I just say?"
The teacher was very good at judging people. Of course she noticed that Xia Yibing's eyes were wandering around during her explanation, and it was obvious that she didn't listen.
"This... probably means that we should also cooperate with her tutoring at home... and then... um... focus on improving her math grades."
But she obviously underestimated the head of a department in the national security department. Even if Xia Yibing was distracted, he could still understand the general idea.
"...Very good." Since she could say that, Ms. Feti didn't intend to make a fuss about it. She slowed down her tone and concluded: "Ashley is very smart. As long as she is willing to learn, she will definitely be able to get into college."
After everything was over, Xia Yibing walked out of the classroom and felt that the air was a little fresher than inside.
As for teachers, they have been standing on the podium for years to assert their authority, and their tone of voice always makes people feel uncomfortable... She couldn't help but think of herself when she was a child studying hard in Shadow Lion, and then she couldn't help but grin.
Yes, at that time she studied for revenge, and she wanted to stay up all day holding books. She was very different from these children who still need to be forced to study.
After leaving the school gate and turning the corner, Xia Yibing opened the car door and sat in the main seat. She glanced at the rearview mirror and saw Ashley sitting there holding Lily and holding a newspaper in her hand.
Contrary to his usual behavior, he seemed to be reading very attentively... It seemed that he knew he was going to be sued, so he just gave in.
"You don't like Ms. Feti?"
Xia Yibing asked her.
"Ah?" Ashley didn't react at first, then shook her head: "No! Otherwise I would definitely send her in too!"
Xia Yibing was speechless, knowing that this "send in" probably meant sending him to accompany Mr. Yimo.
"Why?" She didn't understand. "Don't you hate math the most?"
"Because Ms. Feti not only teaches math, she also teaches literature and history!"
Ashley became excited when she heard this. She put down the newspaper and started describing Feiti's advantages to Xia Yibing.
What about the other party being the best literature and history teacher in Muguo Public School... What about the other party quoting classics when teaching...
In short, she is very good and she still likes her very much.
Xia Yibing deeply suspected that Ashley didn't like Fetti but simply liked literature and history. Because she knew that Ashley was always most interested in literature and history because of her childhood.
He started the car and drove back while asking Ms. Feiti about her family situation. The answer he got was almost the same as what Xia Yibing had deduced.
"Ms. Feti is married and she is not close to her husband, who works at City Hall."
Maybe because of her "liking", Ashley knows Feti's situation very well.
"I heard from many classmates that Ms. Feti's husband had a quarrel with her because the man didn't want her to teach here."
"Oh?" Xia Yibing raised her eyebrows, "There is also this matter."
"Yes." Ashley also had a gloomy face. "That man is too nosy. I've been looking for a chance to give him a hard time."
But the other party never came to school since the last time, and she expressed great regret about this.
"So she has a car..."
"Yes, the silver-gray Beetle in front of your parking space is hers."
"Isn't it parked at the school?"
"The school is very tight, you know, there are so many people trying to get their kids in."
Speaking of this, Ashley felt a little embarrassed.
She was certainly aware of how rare the opportunity to enter Muguo Public School was. She had been very restrained and tried hard to study, but some habits were still difficult to change.
"Since you taught those brats a lesson, I won't say anything about you."
The woman glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
"study well."
"The conditions at Muguo Public School are not good enough for Wayne. When you are admitted to university, we can move back to Iris Street with you. Then things will be much easier than they are now."
"Easy? Does that mean there will be less homework?"
"No, if you include your research topic, it will probably be almost ten times as much."
"This! You said it was easy...?"
"I mean you don't have this resistance to them anymore."
Xia Yibing was in a good mood teasing the girl, and slowly stopped the car at the red light. While continuing to chat, he habitually glanced at every pedestrian passing by on the street.
Suddenly, she frowned.
The figure standing next to the newsstand seems a little familiar.
Chapter 5 Beach Anecdote 1
Pulling over the car under Ashley's strange gaze, Xia Yibing rolled down the window and kept... kept... staring at the figure's back, finally forcing him to turn around.
The elderly gentleman in the black frock coat... this is Alfred.
"How strange." Xia Yibing said in a teasing tone, "I've thought of many candidates, but I never thought it would be you."
"Young people have a lot of things to do after all." Alfred took out his wallet to pay for the newspaper, "So it has to be me."
A few minutes later, the elderly gentleman got on the passenger seat and the car continued to drive in the direction of Flo Street.
"It's time for you to get to work, my chief." Alfred said, not caring about Ashley in the back seat, and took out a stack of pressed documents from his arms.
"For the sake of His Majesty, I have not informed you of the busy schedule during this period. But after all, you are already a character of this level, and it would be unreasonable not to ask at all."
"I'll take a look." Xia Yibing frowned and answered him after a long while.
"I think this vacation is long enough." Alfred saw that she was still reluctant. "Of course... compared to Batty who works behind the scenes, a new, young director likes to be active on the front line and make great achievements... this can also convince them, but you can't just not maintain any personal connections. Many nobles and ministers have vaguely revealed their dissatisfaction with you."
"Is it because I rejected their invitation to the banquet?" Xia Yibing sneered, "That's good. I'm afraid they like me."
She really was very unhappy with those people.
Having experienced hardships and seen the bottom of society, she couldn't go back and toast to those people with the same mentality. To be frank, the money they spent on a banquet could feed the disaster victims on the street for at least a week. She just couldn't stand this kind of thing.
And it wasn't entirely willful - as Hitzfeld had told her once, she needed to take sides, that is, to choose between the others and the queen. Of course, she would choose the latter.
There is no need for the head of the secret police, who is responsible for solving problems for the Queen, to have a good relationship with other people.
The more hostile she became with the ministers and nobles, and the more she was seen as an obstacle by them, the more secure her power and position became, and it would remain unshakable as long as Elwin was in power.
Alfred spread his hands, placed the document on the toolbox, and said no more about the matter.
As he said, every director has his own style. He can't force this woman to have the same style as Villefort. In the face of the overall situation, this is not an important matter.
As long as they can all be used by the country, it is enough.
It may even be possible that the new director would be more suitable.
"Is it possible that I can persuade you not just to talk nonsense with me?"
Muguo Public School is a school in the Flo district. It didn't take long to drive to the destination. After getting off the car, Xia Yibing looked up and glanced at the elderly gentleman.
"There's a new case." Alfred said briefly, "The others really can't spare the time. If you're willing, that would be great. If not, I can do it alone."
"You are not responsible for liaison and errands?" Xia Yibing was a little surprised. "Who appointed you as the agent?"
"Your Majesty's own handwriting."
"Oh, then just pretend I didn't ask."
They chatted all the way into the house, leaving Ashley and Lily playing in the yard. The noise they made soon alarmed Hitzfeld.
"Alfred!" She was a little surprised. "You came here unexpectedly...will you stay for dinner?"
"No...I actually..."
"Stay for dinner." Hitzfeld went back without saying anything, "I'll prepare more for you."
He opened his mouth, mainly because he remembered that he hadn't eaten the stir-fried dishes made by the girl for a long time, and Alfred finally acquiesced to her suggestion.
The dinner was sumptuous.
Because they came back early enough in the afternoon, Hitzfeld originally wanted to make a pie, but suddenly there was one more mouth to feed, so she looked at the dough and cheese in her hands and decided to bake a pizza.
"Agent Darent is right. You can open a shop and make money with this skill."
After eating and drinking, Alfred collapsed in a chair and stroked his belly, with a rare hint of satisfaction in his voice: "It's not as good as what you make selling coffins..."
"We... Oh, she doesn't sell coffins anymore." Xia Yibing corrected him, "The original coffin business has been contracted out. Now she only goes to perform funerals occasionally. Her main job is now a detective."
"But I don't plan to lose my job as a funeral director." Hitzfeld said as he wiped the table. He glanced at Alfred in the interval, "So can we tell you now, what's the matter?"
"He wants to assign the case to Xia Sha." Ashley complained immediately.
She had no ill feelings towards the old man, but it was him who just snatched food from her.
"You have nothing to do here." Hitzfeld stared at her, "Go up and do the questions. Lily, go supervise her. Go quickly."
