Jiang Xiaoyu brought the younger brother, Wangzhou, and Qinghe to the kindergarten.
The reopening of the kindergarten had been strongly pushed for by Qian Chunmei. This time, it was clearly stated that children under three years old were not allowed to be sent in. The rule had been officially distributed to hospital staff, with proper regulations in place so that there would no longer be cases like before, when a one-year-old child was simply left at the kindergarten gate.
Qian Chunmei felt completely relaxed. “These kids really aren’t hard to take care of at all. Qingshan even helps look after his younger brother and does housework. My own child when he was little wasn’t this sensible. Aunt Hua even told me that with Xiuxiu’s baby on the way, it would be good if they were as obedient as Xiaojun. And your Wangzhou is quiet too, not difficult at all, right?”
Mu Chengfeng simply responded with a soft “Mm,” his eyes still following the direction where his wife and children had disappeared.
Qian Chunmei was ignored and turned to look at him, then gave him a push. “What are you doing, so reluctant to let go? Don’t you go to work every day too? She just went to work and you already can’t bear it?”
Mu Chengfeng sighed. “It’s all Pan Mengping’s fault. He said once a woman starts working and earning money, she becomes less obedient, comes home too tired to cook or do laundry, and won’t take care of the family properly. I don’t agree with him, but just thinking about Xiaoyu coming home exhausted and not even wanting to talk makes me feel a bit uneasy.”
Qian Chunmei was speechless. Pan Mengping’s male chauvinism was really going too far, he was practically poisoning Mu Chengfeng’s thinking.
“In our hospital, half the staff are dual-income families. By his logic, no one should be living anymore? Everyone is tired after work. The point is to understand each other when you get home. Don’t listen to him.”
Mu Chengfeng nodded. “I’ll adjust my mindset myself, Director Qian. Don’t mention this to Xiaoyu.”
Qian Chunmei had no intention of saying anything. “Why would I? To give her extra pressure? By the way, Xiao Chunlan and Xiaoyu are on the same shift. Keep an eye on her mood at night. If she makes Xiaoyu do extra work, I’ll have the principal deal with it.”
Mu Chengfeng asked, “Didn’t she already talk about marriage? Didn’t it go well?”
Qian Chunmei curled her lip in annoyance. “It started out fine, everything matched Gao Hehua’s requirements for a son-in-law, no in-laws, no younger siblings, things were almost settled. Then the other side’s uncle came to meet them, and when he saw the cousin who had better conditions, Gao Hehua asked more questions about him. The other family felt insulted and told the matchmaker it wasn’t suitable anymore. Old Jiang was right there. Don’t you dare spread this.”
Mu Chengfeng was indifferent. “I don’t care about that, but if she takes out her frustration on my wife because of this, I won’t let it slide.”
Qian Chunmei shot him a look. “You weren’t this petty before.”
Mu Chengfeng replied, “That was before I had a wife. A man with a wife is different.”
Qian Chunmei found that odd. So before, was Jiang Xiaoyu not his wife?
But seeing how harmonious their family life was now, she said nothing more.
At the kindergarten, Jiang Xiaoyu first followed the procedure. She gently placed her hand on the children’s foreheads to check their temperature. If they felt normal, there was no need for a thermometer. Only if something seemed off would she confirm with one.
“Mom, what are you doing?” her younger brother asked.
Jiang Xiaoyu smiled. “I’m checking if you have a fever or a cold. If you’re sick, you can’t come to kindergarten. Even though I know all three of you are fine, we still have to check. Otherwise, other children might say it’s unfair and refuse to play with you.”
The younger brother nodded quickly, then imitated her seriously. He touched his own forehead, then Wangzhou’s, like a little doctor. “Mm, not hot. You can go in. Line up behind me.”
Then he checked Qinghe too. “Not hot. You can go in as well.”
He even led them into the classroom confidently, as if he were the teacher.
Not long after, Xiao Chunlan, who worked on the same shift as Jiang Xiaoyu, came out.
“Teacher Jiang,” she said, “I have experience substituting in a preschool class. How about this, you handle the caregiving tasks, and I’ll handle teaching. The children should learn something in kindergarten, songs, crafts, and discipline, I’ll teach them.”
In Jiang Xiaoyu’s previous world, one class had two teachers and one caregiver. Caregivers handled chores, but teachers still took responsibility for children’s needs. They did not ignore a crying child just because it was not their job.
In this era, each class usually had one teacher and one caregiver, but Xiao Chunlan’s suggestion of only doing caregiving work was unrealistic. Especially since the kindergarten clearly stated both staff members were teachers.
So Jiang Xiaoyu said calmly, “Then let’s split it by morning and afternoon for one week. After that, we can evaluate and see whose teaching the children prefer. That will be fair.”
Xiao Chunlan had no objection, and in fact felt even more confident. A countryside woman with no experience—did she really think she could compete?
After the children entered and the gate closed, Jiang Xiaoyu immediately went to the principal and reported that they had agreed on a trial arrangement: one person in the morning, one in the afternoon, and alternating learning from experienced teachers.
She had her own plan. A full month of observation would have been ideal, but now this arrangement was even better. She could formally learn from experienced teachers while naturally showing her ability.
The principal was very pleased with her attitude and agreed immediately. The experienced teachers, who were already close friends and reluctant to separate, also agreed without objection.
Xiao Chunlan could only accept it silently, though her dislike for Jiang Xiaoyu deepened.
Jiang Xiaoyu did not care at all. In a new environment, as long as the principal and senior teachers approved of her, everything would go smoothly.
That morning, she studied in the Sunflower Class. When children cried, she helped coax them. When a child wet themselves, she helped change clothes. She also joined in songs and games with the children.
The principal came by several times and nodded repeatedly.
Teacher Qiu praised her endlessly. “Although Teacher Jiang doesn’t have as much experience as us, she has a natural affinity with children. They really like her.”
Teacher Yu also said, “You can tell she’s genuinely patient. It’s not an act. Doctor Mu really married a good wife.”
The principal smiled proudly. “See? My selection was right.”
At lunchtime, Jiang Xiaoyu’s food was well received by both teachers and children.
Even Wangzhou finished eating and helped feed Qinghe. “Mom, this seaweed tastes just like yours. You taught her so well. Can you teach her again tomorrow so we can eat good food every day?”
Jiang Xiaoyu smiled and agreed. “As long as someone asks, I’ll teach. Just like I learn from Teacher Qiu and Teacher Yu. We all teach each other.”
Xiao Chunlan watched from the side and felt increasingly frustrated. Jiang Xiaoyu had endless energy, working in one class all morning, helping in the kitchen, and still lively in the afternoon. Thinking of having to match her effort, Xiao Chunlan already felt exhausted.
During nap time, teachers finally had a short rest.
Xiao Chunlan suddenly spoke. “Jiang Xiaoyu, let’s switch tomorrow. You take the morning, I take the afternoon.”
Jiang Xiaoyu shook her head. “Sorry, I still need to help the kitchen in the morning for a while. After a week, we’ll both need to manage full shifts anyway. There’s no need to keep switching, please bear with it.”