Chapter 21

Si Le's homeroom teacher was a young girl who had just graduated from university a few years ago. Seeing Si Le's well-behaved appearance usually inexplicably aroused some tenderness in her.

When she saw Si Le come to school, she specifically called Si Le to the office during break, "How is your injury?"

Si Le smiled at her, "It's alright now Teacher Ma."

He remembered Xiao Jun's urging, and then said, "Teacher Ma, my brother said he wants to come see you later."

"Brother?" Teacher Ma was surprised. She remembered that Si Le's file didn't say he had a brother.

Si Le felt strangely excited for some reason. From a young age until now, he had never had a same-sex elder stand up for him at school.

"Yeah! A really good brother!"

So during the long break, Teacher Ma saw Si Le's really good brother. He was also exceptionally handsome.

Teacher Ma couldn't help but look him over a couple more times.

Seeing the bald old men at the school every day, suddenly seeing a handsome guy really comforted her heart...

"Hello, I'm Xiao Jun, I came because of Si Le," Xiao Jun said straightforwardly.

Teacher Ma instantly became serious. She became a teacher because she really liked children. Naturally she wouldn't continue staring at a handsome guy when hearing about serious matters.

"I opened a small shop in the university town outside, Si Le uses his spare time after school every day to take note of which students in the class want to order meals and then passes it to us. I pay Si Le a monthly salary," Xiao Jun briefly explained.

"But yesterday Si Le showed up looking like this," Xiao Jun pointed at Si Le, whose swelling still hadn't gone down, "Only after asking him for a long time did he tell me he was beaten by the child of the cafeteria contractor."

"I feel like this matter is quite ridiculous, so I came to see what kind of cafeteria it is that forces people to have to eat there."

Teacher Ma involuntarily thought about the environment and food at the cafeteria, and couldn't help but gag.

She didn't expect this to be the reason Si Le was injured. After thinking about it, she said, "Si Le's parent, don't worry, I will definitely protect Si Le well."

As she spoke, she had a student who came to hand in homework go call that male student, and also called the homeroom teacher of the male student.

Xiao Jun looked at the bright-eyed Si Le by his side, knowing that he had probably endured being bullied alone before this. This reminded him of his past self, and he couldn't help but pat Si Le on the head. Back then, he had Sha Sha protecting him, so he would protect this little scallion.

The male student came very slowly, only ambling in lazily after the class bell had already rung, without even asking to enter. He directly pushed the door open and entered, "Which teacher is looking for me?"

Zhu Yaozu was the big troublemaker whom all the teachers disliked. He was at the bottom of the class academically, usually had a hippie smile and loved to bully other students, especially female students. His beady eyes looked lecherous, making people uncomfortable as soon as they saw him.

Zhu Yaozu looked around, his gaze locking onto Si Le, "Oh, the little weakling can ask his parents for help now?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiao Jun, and said with ill intent, "Is this one of your mom's little lovers?"

"Zhu Yaozu!!!" Si Le's face flushed red.

Teacher Ma's expression was also ugly. Zhu Yaozu didn't take her, a teacher, seriously at all.

Teacher Zhao happened to enter from the doorway just in time to hear Zhu Yaozu's words. He was a middle-aged, old-fashioned, and stern teacher who couldn't stand students spouting some unclear nonsense.

He paused for a moment, then angrily shouted, "Zhu Yaozu!"

Zhu Yaozu shivered in fright, even Teacher Zhao the flayer came?!

Teacher Zhao's expression was gloomy as he walked in. "Grown a mouth just for spewing crap?"

Zhu Yaozu reluctantly twisted his lips. Teacher Zhao looked towards Teacher Ma, "Little Ma, you were looking for me?"

Teacher Ma briefly told him about what had happened. Teacher Zhao glanced at Xiao Jun and Si Le.

"That's enough, it's just a small matter. Zhu Yaozu, apologize to Si Le. Si Le, don't do this kind of thing again in the future."

He said neither lightly nor heavily, "Students should still eat at the school cafeteria. Always eating outside looks bad."

Xiao Jun's brow twitched. Was this just glossing things over?

Si Le's face flushed red, "Teacher, I didn't do anything wrong, so why can't I continue doing this?"

Teacher Ma was also a bit unhappy. "Teacher Zhao, you haven't eaten the cafeteria's food before right?"

"Whether I've eaten it or not, what does it matter? Students should endure hardship and think of sweetness. If they only think of enjoying themselves every day, how will they learn?"

Teacher Ma laughed in anger. "You call that enduring hardship and thinking of sweetness? That's more like pig slop."

Teacher Zhao's face lengthened. "Young comrade, you still have to respect your elders!"

Teacher Ma rolled her eyes.

Teacher Zhao added, "Hurry up, don't waste time. Class has started."

Xiao Jun asked Teacher Ma, "Is your principal here now?"

Zhu Yaozu still wanted to gloat and couldn't help but blurt out, "Making a big fuss out of a tiny matter, you're looking for the principal?" Xiao Jun ignored him. Teacher Ma, on the other hand, perked up, "I'll take you there!"

Teacher Zhao called out a couple of times, but could only watch as they left without looking back.

Teacher Ma brought him to the principal's office. The principal was an elderly man with white at his temples who looked very scholarly. He glanced up over his glasses, "Little Ma? What's the matter? And who is this?"

Teacher Ma briefly recounted what had happened to the principal. The principal's expression became serious.

"Have that student come see me here, and the teacher should come too."

Teacher Ma swiftly made a phone call.

It wasn't long before Teacher Zhao brought Zhu Yaozu in.

"I'm already clear about this matter," the old principal said straightforwardly. "This student must apologize to Si Le. If something like this happens again, then it'll be going home for self-reflection."

Zhu Yaozu still wanted to say something, but in the end could only lower his head and glare at Si Le as he reluctantly said sorry.

"Teacher Zhao, please stay behind. The rest of you can go for now." The principal smiled. He evidently wanted to have a good "talk" with Teacher Zhao.

Si Le left for class. Xiao Jun also returned to his small shop.

There weren't many people in the shop. Ding Sha was sitting at a table gazing longingly at the entrance waiting for him to come back.

"Jun!" Seeing him, Ding Sha happily stood up.

"What's the matter?"

"I want to eat spicy beef tripe!" Ding Sha smacked her lips.

She had suddenly felt like eating spicy beef tripe, but Sister-in-law Geng and Aunt Zhuang were watching her even more strictly than each other, not allowing her to cook, so she could only wait here for Xiao Jun to return.

Xiao Jun rolled up his sleeves and entered the kitchen.

The pickled peppers were sour and refreshing. He fished them out of the jar, and the refreshing yet numbingly spicy aroma instantly filled the kitchen, impossible to cover up.

The beef tripe had already been prepared by Aunt Zhuang. Xiao Jun started up the stove and added oil. After the garlic sizzled fragrantly, he added the assorted pickled peppers and tossed them briefly, bringing out even more of the fragrance. Even passersby walking past the door couldn't help but take a couple deep breaths.

It smelled so good!

The beef tripe made a whooshing sound as it entered the wok. Xiao Jun tasted it—the tripe had been cooked in spices beforehand, and the collision of the pickling liquid's flavors with the peppers brought out a complex sour, spicy, rich aftertaste that made people eager to immediately scoop it over rice and voraciously stuff it in their mouths.

Ding Sha had already prepared rice and juice for herself, and sat waiting at the table.

When the aromatic tripe was brought out, the alluring smell made her stomach start rumbling.

Ding Sha eagerly picked up her chopsticks and began heartily eating.

Just as she was eating, she suddenly heard from the next table over, "Boss, give me a serving of this too!"