Section 4 Parents

  Ma Lixin has become thinner after several days of classes, his gums are also swollen, and he doesn't even want to wash the clothes soaked in the basin.

  In school, he didn't know that rural elementary schools were so complicated. He thought it was easy to manage a few students. It's not until 7:30 when the sun rises in the mountain village, and although September is hot at the foot of the mountain, it's still chilly enough to cover up with a small blanket on this mountain at night.

  He hastily washed his face and went to the principal's wife's small shop to buy some breakfast biscuits, eating half a dozen with the boiled water from last night. The door was open, and several students from unknown grades were peeking in at him, occasionally whispering a sentence or two.

  The principal and other teachers seemed very leisurely. The principal's breakfast was noodles cooked by his wife, with two eggs added inside.

  Other teachers also ate at home and came with some students. When they came in, they first greeted the principal, and when they saw Mali Xinxin, they also chatted with him, mostly asking if he had eaten. Mali Xinxin smiled slightly and said he had eaten or hadn't eaten, sometimes adding a sentence saying you're so early. Actually, it wasn't early anymore, class was about to start soon.

  Ma Lixin is usually a bit lazy, and when he's at home, most things are done by his mom and sister. As the only son in the family, he's been spoiled, but now that he has to work such a tough job, he really feels a bit overwhelmed.

  He sometimes wants to just go home and help his parents buy things, which can also support a family. At this time, he has already arrived at the door of the classroom. Some students have not yet arrived, one student who has been observed for several days always arrives very late, he criticized him twice but there was no effect. It's 8:30 and two students still haven't arrived, which is his biggest headache.

  At nine o'clock, just after the morning reading session, two students rushed over. They were two second-year students. If there are only a few students and two of them don't show up, what's the point of having class?

  At the beginning of the first class, Teacher Ma had those two students stand on the platform to listen to the lesson. However, when he turned around to teach, they were making gestures at each other. Teacher Ma happened to see them and was very angry. On the platform, there was a small bamboo stick that he had prepared yesterday. He picked it up and hit their hands with it. One student blocked with his hand, and the stick hit his palm, leaving an immediate red mark. Then, he hit another student again, first hitting his clothes, but the student who was hit was still smiling, which made him even angrier. So, he hit him once more, and this time the student lowered his head, but the stick hit his ear instead. The student immediately went to touch his ear.

  He finished his lecture and said: "You must be good kids, who are good kids?"

  The six students below said in unison: "We are good kids." Suddenly, Ma Lixin really felt that it was meaningless.

  The day passed in such a daze. Mali Xīn fell onto the bed and didn't even want to eat anything.

  The sky gradually darkened, and the heat was slowly dissipating. At this moment, it seemed like two people were asking at the small shop if Teacher Ma was around. Mali Xīn was very surprised - he didn't have any acquaintances here, so why would someone be asking about him? He hastily went out and just happened to see two students from his class standing there, their parents asking the principal's wife. Those two students were the ones he had punished that morning by making them stand and hitting them with a small bamboo stick.

  "Where is he now? I'm going to ask if my kid was beaten by him?"

  "My child, I myself don't dare to hit him, how can he hit my child?"

  The principal came out and said: "It's always your kid who doesn't listen. Why would the teacher beat your kid for no reason?"

  "Principal, I'm not talking to you now. Even if I did, it's not like you'd care that my kid got hit. Now, I just want to find that teacher." The man was furious, his fists clenched tightly.

  Another man also said: "Yes, yes, principal, you have a sense of proportion when doing things, we know that, but that teacher is not very good."

  "We'll take care of criticizing the education, this matter is left to us, okay? You can go back first." Mali Xinn thought that a good man does things in a good way, and besides, he didn't hit those two students either. There's no need to be afraid.

  He walked out and said, "I'm Ma Laoshi, I didn't hit your kid. It's your kid..." Before he could finish speaking, a slap came flying over, his head tilted to one side, but he still felt a buzzing sound, half of his brain went numb. Just as he was about to catch his breath, he felt another heavy punch hitting the back of his head, and he fell straight down.

  But he was very clear in his mind, "Damn it, teacher, you're not human." At school, he was very honest and just wanted to do a good job with his students. He couldn't understand how things had turned out this way.