In Sun Juan's opinion, her experiences were inauspicious. She hoped that her bad luck would not get transferred to Qiao Mei. Otherwise, she would regret it forever!
"What are you talking about! Why would I despise you! You are the nicest person in the world! I'm the lucky one to be able to get to know you! Don't say such things! Otherwise, I'll be angry," Qiao Mei said with a pout.
Sun Juan quickly said, "Fine, fine, fine! I won't say that again!"
"Sister Zhou, how are your children?" Qiao Mei asked.
Ever since the mother and son duo of the Su family left the capital, Qiao Mei had been busy with her own family matters and did not pay much attention to Zhou Shuang and Sun Juan. She did not know if the two children had experienced any psychological trauma. This type of bad experience from childhood was the hardest to eliminate. She only hoped that the children would grow up healthy.
In the past, before she became a mother, she always felt that her own life was tough. She was not concerned when she saw other kids who went through the same thing. It was something that everyone had to go through, was it not? However, when she saw injured, sad or aggrieved children now, she always felt worried and wanted to help out as much as she could.
There was always the possibility that Qiao Mei's unintentional actions would light up a certain child's life.
"The children are all doing quite well! My second son is still young and probably won't remember all these things. Only my elder son may have issues as he's not that young anymore. The older folks always say that even dogs find kids who are seven or eight years old annoying, but this child of mine doesn't make any fuss and is especially sensible. I'm always worried that there's something wrong with him," Zhou Shuang said worriedly.
She was a woman who was raising her two sons alone. Her husband worked in another location away from the capital and did not make much money. Now that she was also working, her elder son had to take care of his younger brother when he was not at school. However, he was also a seven-year-old child himself, and yet he had to take care of another younger child. Every time she thought of this, she felt sad.
However, she could not give up her current job. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Earning more money meant that it would bring better opportunities and conditions to these two children.
By now, Zhou Shuang could already afford to buy three rooms. If she continued to work hard, she might even be able to enroll the two children into the best school in the capital! Every time she went to Qiao Mei's house, she would feel so envious of the four children who were proficient in the arts. If only her children could receive such an education too.
"When you go to work during the day, you can leave your children at my house. The four children in my house are about the same age as your two children. They can take care of one another. Our family has also hired a few teachers, so the children can also learn from the teachers at my house," Qiao Mei said.
Teaching was teaching, no matter if it was one student or a group of students. Zheng Peng should not mind. Money was not the problem. Zheng Peng did not care about money at all. He was only concerned about the temperament and character of the children he taught. He did not care to teach children who were pampered and spoiled. He would send them away without even looking at them.
In fact, Qiao Mei did not know what Zheng Peng was in it for. Perhaps he had nothing better to do.
"That won't do! My two children are mischievous. It's not good to let your grandfather and mother worry about them!" Zhou Shuang said.
"It's fine. I have helpers at home and they do the cooking. My grandfather and mother are usually not at home, so my younger brother, Zhang Wei, will take care of the younger siblings," Qiao Mei said.
Zhou Shuang clenched her fists nervously. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She heard that the teacher at Qiao Mei's house had returned from overseas! He was highly educated and knowledgeable. Even the best schools did not manage to hire this teacher.
Furthermore, Zhang Wei would be going to that military school once it was springtime. If she could also let her eldest son study with that teacher, that would be a good start for the child's future endeavors!
"Sister… how much does that teacher charge per month?" she asked cautiously.
Qiao Mei laughed and said, "This teacher has a very strange temper and doesn't really care about the fees. He's only concerned with the child's temper and personality. To put it bluntly, it all depends on fate."
"Sister, then forget it. My younger son is still too young. Let's wait until the children are older!" Zhou Shuang said.