Gourmet: Twins' Father and Chef of the Kindergarten-Chapter 94 - 91: You Really Missed a Golden Opportunity!
It’s not yet nine in the morning.
A black sedan slowly comes to a stop at the entrance of Hu Jin Kindergarten.
Before getting out, Wan Zhenhong deliberately takes out a black men’s baseball cap from his briefcase, which he had prepared in advance, and gently unfolds the brim before putting it on his head.
This unusual action...
Naturally attracts the attention of Xin Jinghui and other colleagues, and also piques their curiosity.
With a puzzled expression, Xin Jinghui asks, "Old Wan, why are you wearing a hat in such hot weather? Aren’t you afraid of getting too hot?"
Wan Zhenhong casually replies, "It’s precisely because it’s hot that I wear a hat. Just look at how the sun shines."
The sun, huh?
Xin Jinghui and his colleagues look up at the sky outside the window, only to find it heavily clouded over, with the sun completely obscured.
"Where’s the sun?" murmurs a puzzled colleague from the preschool department.
"Huh? Didn’t the weather forecast say it would be cloudy today?" Another puzzled colleague murmurs.
Ya-ya-ya...
Wan Zhenhong suddenly feels an ominous flock of black-feathered creatures soaring over his head, causing his heart to sink.
Hey, hey, hey, could you all be a bit more perceptive?
Must I spell it out?
Indeed!
He wears the hat to cover his conspicuous white hair, preventing the children from endearingly calling him "Grandpa."
Being someone who cares about face, he naturally wouldn’t bare his feelings to these colleagues, lest his good buddy Xin Jinghui teases him.
Though he has his counterpart’s vulnerabilities to retaliate with, why should the fallen harm one another?
Thus.
He sticks to the principle, "If I’m not embarrassed, then it’s others who are," and resolutely goes his own way, letting others talk.
Then, he gets out of the car composedly, exchanging greetings with Li Huizhen and other school leaders who come to welcome him.
Li Huizhen warmly steps forward, saying, "Director Wan, hello, we’ve been eagerly waiting for your arrival!"
Wan Zhenhong responds amiably, "Director Li, hello, thank you for your warm reception."
Subsequently, he introduces several educational bureau leaders present to Li Huizhen and other school leaders and briefly explains their roles and backgrounds.
After the pleasantries, Wan Zhenhong and his companions, guided by Li Huizhen, step into the gates of Hu Jin Kindergarten and onto the expansive playground.
At this moment.
Joyous music echoes throughout the kindergarten, with melodies flowing like a brook, radiant and cheerful in rhythm.
"The sun’s kicking, come out for morning exercise, nod your head, one, two, three, wiggle your little butt..."
The five leading instructors at the forefront line up neatly, smiling vibrantly, guiding the children through their morning exercises.
The children fix their eyes on one of the teachers’ every move, earnestly mimicking them.
Their small hands clap to the music, little heads shake gently, small arms raise high, then their little butts wiggle softly...
Every motion is executed perfectly.
Even the younger classes do the same!
Performing very precisely, without any mistakes.
This scene falls into the eyes of Wan Zhenhong and other educational bureau leaders, but it doesn’t evoke much astonishment.
The reason being quite clear.
Any discerning person can tell this morning exercise was obviously meticulously rehearsed by the kindergarten for this inspection.
Such exercises showcase the children’s unity and conformity, yet overly pursuing neatness forfeits the children’s innocence and naturally exuded liveliness and joy.
Thus, when Wan Zhenhong and the educational bureau leaders face this scene, they don’t feel much authenticity and emotion, but rather find the performance somewhat contrived.
But isn’t our education just like this?
Blindly pursuing form and effect, while neglecting children’s innate nature.
Wan Zhenhong clearly understands this, and recognizes changing this educational model is difficult, leaving him helplessly going with the flow...
Of course.
He cannot deny the hard work of Hu Jin Kindergarten’s teachers and the children’s efforts.
Hence, he acknowledges the educational work of Li Huizhen and other school leaders: "Director Li, the teaching level of your kindergarten’s teachers is very high! In just a few days, you’ve managed to have even the younger children achieve such uniformity and conformity in their actions. It is truly commendable and outstanding! The children are doing very well too."
On hearing Wan Zhenhong’s praise, Li Huizhen feels a surge of joy within.
She understands that this evaluation is not only recognition of the teachers but also affirmation of their entire kindergarten’s work.
However, Wan Zhenhong’s subsequent sigh makes her joyous mood drop a bit: "It’s just that the children are lacking some of the innocence and vitality typical for their age."
She can’t help but feel a bit puzzled.
Having exerted every effort to showcase the best side of the children, why does it still receive such an assessment?
Perplexed, she asks, "Director Wan, are you suggesting our educational approach is too rigid, causing the children to lack innocence and vitality?"
Wan Zhenhong nods, "Yes, I am not entirely negating your work, but I hope you can focus on the children’s inner world, allowing them to learn happily and express their nature. Education is not merely about imparting knowledge; it is also about nurturing children’s individuality and creativity."
He paused for a moment and added, "In this regard, actually, Dorami Kindergarten does better than you."
Li Huizhen was taken aback. She hadn’t expected that Dorami Kindergarten, which was inferior to their kindergarten in terms of faculty and teaching facilities, could win Wan Zhenhong’s favor.
But clearly, the children from their kindergarten performed better!
As someone who’s always competitive, she felt quite unwilling inside!
Yet on the surface, she remained smiling and humbly accepted it, while thinking she must perform well in front of Director Wan later to turn the tables!
Just at that moment.
The morning exercise music ended, and the children, led by their respective class teachers, gradually returned to their classrooms.
Li Huizhen took Wan Zhenhong and the others for a walk around the playground, looked at the play equipment, and then headed to Lin Jiayi’s class.
By now, the children had already been served snacks.
The snack was a box of milk and a piece of purple sweet potato egg roll.
One serving per person.
At this moment, Lin Jiayi saw Li Huizhen leading Wan Zhenhong and other education bureau leaders in, she immediately smiled and introduced to the children, "Kids, this is Director Wan from the education bureau and Director Xin and other leaders. They are here to see you."
After saying this, she was the first to enthusiastically clap her hands.
Under her lead, the children also eagerly clapped their hands to show their welcome. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Lin Jiayi gave a signal to Liu Ruihan in front of her.
Liu Ruihan immediately stood up, took the tray from the care teacher’s hand, walked to Wan Zhenhong and others, and handed it to them, "Hello, Director Uncle, Hello, Director Uncle, Hello, Leader Uncles, this is the purple sweet potato egg roll from our kindergarten, it’s very fragrant, please have a taste..."
Actually, she didn’t care to be this representative, nor did she want to be this representative.
It’s just that her dad promised her that if she performed well in kindergarten, he would personally take her to the amusement park this Saturday, so she accepted the teacher’s arrangement and tried her best to do well.
Looking at the purple sweet potato egg roll handed to them by Liu Ruihan, Wan Zhenhong and other education bureau leaders couldn’t help but be taken aback.
They hadn’t expected that Hu Jin Kindergarten’s snack today was also a purple sweet potato egg roll.
Yesterday, Huang Jun’s purple sweet potato egg roll had left them wanting more, and seeing the purple sweet potato egg roll from Hu Jin Kindergarten now, looking quite presentable, they couldn’t resist taking one, while expressing their gratitude, "Ah, good, such a good child, thank you..."
Just as the words left their mouths.
They took a bite.
Hmm, the taste was not bad, but compared to Chef Huang’s, it was still slightly inferior.
Seeing them eat, Li Huizhen smilingly asked, "Director Wan, Director Xin, how does it taste?"
Wan Zhenhong honestly said, "It’s okay!"
Xin Jinghui also nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it’s okay."
Finally, he couldn’t help but softly sigh, "Ah, it’s just not as delicious as what Chef Huang made!"
As soon as he said this, he immediately received a response from the leaders of the preschool education department, "Yes, indeed not as good as what Huang Jun made!"
After saying this, they couldn’t help but show a nostalgic expression on their faces.
Li Huizhen: "..."
Chef Huang?
Who is Chef Huang?
To make this group of education bureau leaders so fond of his culinary skills?
Wait!
This Chef Huang... couldn’t be the chef from Dorami Kindergarten, right?
As soon as she thought of her breakfast purple sweet potato egg roll today, which was modeled after Dorami Kindergarten’s, she immediately guessed who the Chef Huang mentioned by these education bureau leaders was!
With a hint of uncertainty, she asked, "Director Wan, Director Xin, all of you, is the Chef Huang you’re talking about the chef from Dorami Kindergarten?"
"Yes!" Wan Zhenhong nodded and curiously asked, "Why, Director Li, do you also know Chef Huang from Dorami Kindergarten?"
His eyes even carried a hint of expectation.
If Li Huizhen had a good relationship with Chef Huang, perhaps she could even join in for a meal!
Li Huizhen awkwardly smiled, "Actually, it’s not really knowing, it’s just a brief encounter!"
Instantly, the light in Wan Zhenhong’s eyes faded, but he still couldn’t help his curiosity and continued to ask, "Oh? How was that brief encounter?"
Li Huizhen honestly replied, "Just when he came to our kindergarten to inquire about hiring a chef, I saw him from a distance once."
Oh, so that’s how it was!
But Director Li, you’re really quite unclear!
How could you let such a chance slip right through your fingers?
Wan Zhenhong couldn’t help but sigh, "Director Li, you really missed a great opportunity!"
Li Huizhen, utterly confused, asked, "What opportunity?"
He looked at Li Huizhen with a face full of regret, "This Chef Huang is an extremely rare good chef, his culinary skills are outstanding. If you could have kept him, the food at your kindergarten would certainly have seen a major improvement, and a skilled chef could bring good reputation and prestige to the kindergarten, attracting more parents to choose your kindergarten."
"Director Li, your vision is still not as good as Director Liang from Dorami Kindergarten! Such a wonderful opportunity was right in front of you, and you didn’t know to seize it... sigh..."
This speech left Li Huizhen stunned, a feeling of inexplicable loss surged in her heart.
She began to reflect on her decisions, wondering if she had indeed missed something.
