Chapter 42: He Started It
Yan Susu smiled encouragingly.
Lu Xingguang’s face scrunched up. “They called me a motherless pitiful kid; they said that my parents don’t love me, and that when I grow up I’ll marry an ugly old woman, and that you’re ugly and mean…”
The teacher looked horrified.
“We didn’t say that stuff; Lu Xingguang hit us first!”
“Yeah, that’s right. Lu Xingguang is the meanest person, and he’s always bullying people just because his family is rich.”
The other kids continued to rant and rave relentlessly. They knew that whenever they complained, the teacher always believed whatever they said.
Also, after every fight that they had with Lu Xingguang, their parents told them that they had done well–given that the school would be compensated monetarily.
“You’re all lying. You guys said those mean things to me first!” Lu Xingguang protested agitatedly, his face flushed.
In the past, he wouldn’t have bothered to explain his actions, but now that Honey was here, he didn’t want her to misunderstand.
“You hit us first. You’re a bully!”
“I did not! I…you guys said those mean things to me first, that’s why I beat you up.”
The teacher, faced with a standoff where both sides refused to yield, said helplessly, “Mrs. Lu, this…”
With a gentle laugh, Yan Susu began to speak in a low voice, just loud enough so that all the children could hear what she had to say. “No problem. Kids that tell fibs will be hounded by gremlins at night… The gremlins climb onto their beds…”
“Aaahhhh, no, please don’t come for me, please don’t! I won’t lie again!”
“…I don’t want the gremlins to come for me. I’m scared, Mommy…”
The kids who had insisted that Lu Xingguang had started the fight all began to cry.
It was now clear who had been lying.
The teacher looked decidedly ashamed.
To think that she had relied on her preconceived notions and, without even bothering to ask Lu Xingguang, concluded that he was the one who had started the fight…
Yan Susu looked at the teacher and smiled brightly. “Now that we have gotten to the bottom of this, I hope that these kids will apologize to Lu Xingguang and promise not to tease him again.”
“Kids who say sorry and mean it will not be visited by the gremlins at night. Also, kids who are honest and kind will receive presents from Santa Claus.”
The kids who, just a moment ago, had been wailing and sobbing, suddenly stopped crying and elbowed one another in their haste to apologize to Lu Xingguang.
Suddenly, it was love and smiles all around.
Looking contrite and grateful, the teacher said, “Mrs. Lu, thank you.”
“It’s all sorted now. I hope that, in the future, you will give each child fair treatment and not be biased. More often than not, kids’ actions are based on their perception of how adults behave and what adults tell them.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Mrs. Lu, you are absolutely right.”
“Xingguang, let’s go home now.” Yan Susu took Lu Xingguang’s little hand and looked at the other kids with a warm smile. “OK kids, bye for now. I hope to invite you to our home someday for a party. Play nice with Xingguang, OK?”
“I’m not interested in playing with them. So childish.” Although he sounded grumpy, Lu Xingguang just couldn’t keep from smiling.
Yan Susu laughed gently, not saying a word.
Suddenly, Lu Xingguang noticed the shopping bag in Yan Susu’s hand. It was a brightly colored bag with an interesting design. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, “Honey, what’s in the bag?”
“I bought you some clothes.”
“Really?” Lu Xingguang got very excited. “Let me see, let me see.”
“Let’s get home first.”
At that, Lu Xingguang broke into a run, dragging Yan Susu alongside him as he ran. He just couldn’t wait to get home and check out his new clothes!
As they came through the door, they noticed Lu Zhanxiu sitting on the sofa, seemingly waiting for them, and stuck out their tongues without thinking.
“Mrs. Lu and Lu Xingguang have each done an honorable thing today– one ended up in the police station and the other at the school office.” As he looked at their bruised faces, Lu Zhanxiu felt a headache coming on.
He had assumed that the woman he had married was quiet and submissive. However, within the span of one week, she had ended up in the police station twice.
The pair stood in silence, heads hung low, waiting for the upcoming admonishment.
“Well? Are your necks broken?”