The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 273 - 272: Lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own foot

Chapter 273: Chapter 272: Lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own foot

On the way to the principal’s office, Ou Liya’s heart was filled with panic and unease.

Who exactly was pulling such dirty tricks behind her back to harm her?

How should she explain herself when she meets the teacher?

Would relatives and friends see the newspaper, and what if her boyfriend, Xie Yawen, found out?

Before she knew it, Ou Liya was outside the principal’s office, yet she didn’t have the courage to step inside, as if there was some terrifying monster waiting for her.

After going over the words she had prepared in her mind once again, Ou Liya took a deep breath to muster her emotions and knocked on the door with red eyes.

"Among the students I’ve taught, you were one that I was very proud of, but I never imagined you’d be so quickly corrupted by someone’s sweet talk; you’ve truly disappointed me!"

Wa Mingde was Ou Liya’s junior high school homeroom teacher, always treating her with kindness. This was the first time he had ever spoken to her so sharply, clearly infuriated.

Tears streamed down Ou Liya’s cheeks, "Teacher Wa, I’ve been framed, someone is intentionally smearing my reputation."

"What about the gold earrings and silver bracelet mentioned in the newspaper, didn’t you accept those? And what about demanding gifts and cash from the parents, didn’t that happen?"

"I admit, I was greedy for a small gain, knowing that the parents could get a good price at the mall, I asked them to buy earrings and bracelets for me. But I never demanded gifts or cash, I paid for those, the receipts are at my house, I can have my mom bring them right over."

Being her own student, hearing her argue so, Wa Mingde’s face softened a bit.

"The school will investigate this thoroughly. If you really have been wronged, we will contact the newspaper for a clarification. This isn’t just about your personal reputation, but it will also bring shame and insult to the entire school."

Ou Liya immediately said, "Then I will call the parents now and ask them to come to the school to testify for me."

"No need, I’ve already sent someone to get them."

Ou Liya’s face drained of color.

She had wanted to use the opportunity of calling to get her story straight with Wu Mei, but Wa Mingde had already sent someone. How was she supposed to collude on their stories now?

What to do? What to do?

Ou Liya had never found time to be so excruciatingly slow and unbearable; every second was agonizing.

The first to arrive was Shen Mingzhu, since the food factory was close to the school.

Upon finding out that Ou Liya had been slandered in an anonymous letter of accepting bribes, Shen Mingzhu couldn’t have been happier if she had set off fireworks to celebrate.

However, when questioned by the principal, she still told the truth, "I did give some snacks to Teacher Ou, but they were made by myself and weren’t worth much, it was merely a gesture of goodwill, hardly a bribe. Teacher Ou has settled her account for the purchases her relatives and friends made at my shop."

Upon hearing Shen Mingzhu clarify on her behalf, Ou Liya couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The article mentioned only two parents, Shen Mingzhu and Wu Mei.

Shen Mingzhu was the one Ou Liya had been most worried and nervous about, considering their unpleasant history. Yet Shen Mingzhu acted fairly and did not kick Ou Liya while she was down.

The reason Shen Mingzhu was willing to clarify for Ou Liya was partly that she disdained to curry favor at others’ expense, and partly because if the charge of accepting bribes was proven, wouldn’t she have become the briber? She certainly didn’t want to invite trouble onto herself for no reason.

After giving her testimony, Shen Mingzhu didn’t rush to leave. Instead, she waited outside the principal’s office, hoping to discuss her son’s skipping a grade with the principal when he was free, while also enjoying the gossip.

After about ten minutes, Wu Mei arrived at a leisurely pace.

Seeing her there, Wu Mei teased, "Oh, with such a round belly, you must be expecting a girl, right?"

In those days, the preference for boys over girls was very strong; everyone was determined to have sons. Being told you were expecting a daughter would upset anyone.

But Shen Mingzhu was not only unperturbed, she cheerfully responded with "I’ll take that as a good omen," leaving Wu Mei vexed.

"Cui Junyou’s mother, I previously asked you to buy a silver bracelet and a pair of gold earrings for me, and I didn’t expect them to be used by some schemer who claimed I accepted your bribery. Could you please help me clarify this matter?"

As Wu Mei entered the office, Ou Liya spoke first and subtly gave Wu Mei a meaningful glance.

She believed that Wu Mei would definitely understand her hint.

"Is this true, Cui’s mother?"

After Ou Liya had finished speaking, Wa Mingde also promptly chimed in.

Being both the principal and Ou Liya’s former teacher, he hoped for her innocence both professionally and personally.

"That’s not true."

Upon hearing Wu Mei’s response, Ou Liya immediately showed a joyful expression, her tears spilling over, "Teacher Wa, you heard it, I haven’t taken any bribes..."

Wu Mei interrupted, "Teacher Ou, what I meant was that you didn’t ask me to buy the bracelet and earrings for you. Those items, I bought them with my own money to give to you."

Ou Liya felt as if she had been struck by a baton, freezing up completely with tears suspended on the brink of falling from her eyelids.

Wu Mei scoffed, "Principal Wa, I have not been well educated and did not understand that giving gifts was the same as bribery. Indeed, I bought the gold earrings and silver bracelet to give to Teacher Ou, hoping that she would take special care of my Junyou. I now know that this was wrong and I am willing to rectify my mistake."

Having said that, Wu Mei walked up to Ou Liya, "Teacher Ou, please return the items to me. That would be best for all of us."

Ou Liya stared at Wu Mei’s open palm, feeling utterly chilled, "Cui Junyou’s mother, you can’t say that; you will ruin me..."

Her eyes brimmed with tears, pleading, hoping Wu Mei would change her statement.

However, what Wu Mei said was like a bucket of cold water extinguishing all her hope, "Teacher Ou, you’re not trying to deny it now, are you? I purchased the items at Friendship Mall, and there are witnesses as well as receipts—you can’t simply wriggle out of it."

Ou Liya’s face turned crimson with extreme embarrassment.

"Liya, return the items to them."

The order from Wa Mingde made Ou Liya feel even more mortified and without a shred of self-respect.

"In the office." She could only utter through her tears.

Soon, another teacher brought over Ou Liya’s bag, and in front of everyone, Ou Liya returned the gold earrings and bracelet to Wu Mei.

To Ou Liya, this was tantamount to a death by a thousand cuts.

Wu Mei took the items and left; Ou Liya, unable to resign herself to this outcome, chased after her.

"Cui Junyou’s mother, why do you want to ruin me? The items were clearly forced upon me by you; how have I ever wronged you?"

Wu Mei sneered coldly, "You have the nerve to ask me that? I spent a lot of money to give you those pieces of jewelry, yet behind my back, you say my son is inferior to Pei Ziheng in every way, making my son cry all night. What were your intentions?"

Ou Liya had never expected the stone she lifted to crush her own feet.

She wanted to explain, but Shen Mingzhu joined the conversation.

"Teacher Ou, thank you for all the praise and recognition you have given to my Ziheng."

Ou Liya ignored her, "Cui Junyou’s mother, you misunderstand me; my intention was to motivate Junyou, not to purposely demoralize him..."

Shen Mingzhu nudged Wu Mei’s arm, "What Teacher Ou means is that your son’s psychological resilience is too poor, not quite up to par."

Furious, Wu Mei left in a huff.

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