Chapter 12 Familiar yet Unfamiliar Back to School Procedures (1)

The day after Ouyang Xiasha and her parents had decided not to switch schools but to change classes, just happened to coincide with the weekend that had been in effect since May 7, 1995. Ouyang Xiasha spent the next two days at home, resting. On the first workday, she went, accompanied by Mother Ouyang, to the familiar yet long-forgotten primary school campus to process the class transfer paperwork!

Looking at the environment she knew yet found foreign, Ouyang Xiasha felt a myriad of emotions, which coalesced into a single thought: How wonderful it is to be alive and to have a chance to start over!

As she thought this, an unconscious smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she followed behind Mother Ouyang, heading toward the principal's office of the school!

Speaking of this school's principal, his surname was Li, the only primary school teacher whom Ouyang Xiasha remembered vividly. He was the only one who looked at his students without any prejudice, teaching fifth grade politics at the school. His unbiased approach and humorous teaching style turned the otherwise dull political science class into a subject that engaged the students' attention, and just about everyone loved his lessons!

Years after Ouyang Xiasha graduated, she still remembered this teacher who truly exemplified what it meant to be an educator.

Upon reaching the principal's office, Mother Ouyang politely knocked on the door. After hearing a loud and clear voice from inside inviting them in with "Please come in!", she entered with Ouyang Xiasha.

"What brings you here? Has Student Ouyang gotten into some trouble again?" Principal Li, surprised, recognized Ouyang Xiasha as soon as he saw the mother and daughter standing before him. It's no wonder that the principal knew who Ouyang Xiasha was, considering her notoriety at the school for being a problematic student who frequently got into fights and caused trouble. It was hardly likely he wouldn't recognize her. Normally, she wouldn't come to see him unless something was wrong, so instinctively, he asked.

Hearing Principal Li's words, Mother Ouyang felt very uncomfortable. She thought, isn't the principal too, looking at her daughter through colored lenses? Just because her daughter came to see him, does it necessarily mean she's been fighting or causing trouble again?

Mother Ouyang had her own reservations about the class transfer. If even the principal thought this way, what difference would changing classes make? They might as well transfer to a different school altogether. Otherwise, Sasha would continue to be discriminated against here. Just as she was about to speak about transferring schools, her daughter pulled at her hand.

Ouyang Xiasha had been closely watching her mother's expression, especially after Principal Li had spoken, and from her mother's disheartened look, she could tell what she was thinking. She had already decided not to run away from her problems like she did in her past life—why would she follow the same path and transfer to the best class?

But now, even this highly esteemed Principal Li thought this way about her. Even though she knew he didn't mean any harm and had just blurted out the words thoughtlessly, she was even more determined to stand up for herself. After all, the old saying goes: it's not about the bun, but the principle! She had thought that if all else failed, she might transfer to the worst class. Now, Ouyang Xiasha was determined to go to the worst class, and moreover, she would bring a new change to Class Eight, showing those teachers that even a salted fish can turn over!

As the principal of the school, Principal Li, with his years of experience in education, knew that young children were not set in their ways. A poor student now might not necessarily always be a poor student, and a top student might not necessarily achieve greatness later on. Thus, he never favored any individual or held biases against anyone. The sentence he had just uttered was a subconscious reaction, and he immediately regretted it. He shouldn't have labeled a child like that, especially after seeing the changing, slightly angered expression on the parent's face, which made him regret it even more!