Volume 1: The Default Chapter 12, Everyone Has a Heart for Comparison
Ever since the shop colleagues learned that the saleswoman Elder Sister Xu's darling daughter had actually enrolled in a kindergarten costing 260 per month, they suddenly became very interested!
Everyone knew how Elder Sister Xu doted on her precious daughter, earning 3,500 a month but willing to spend 4,500 on her daughter.
For someone who pampered her daughter so much, to choose such a kindergarten, everyone was quite curious.
"Elder Sister Xu, how's that kindergarten?"
Elder Sister Xu beamed: "It's great!" Then she shared her emotional journey over this period, having been anxious the whole way.
Elder Sister Xu had thought her Mother-in-law was being scammed.
Little did she expect that while they went for Teacher Tang, it was the environment that won them over.
The Starry Sky Kindergarten had surprisingly luxurious school buses, and the kindergarten meals were also impressively delicious.
She had lunch there once and almost wanted to pay to attend the kindergarten just to enjoy the food.
After all, these days, there really are adults who pay to eat at children's small tables.
But then she thought it would be too embarrassing.
At 260 a month, she was already fleecing the kindergarten's wool enough.
If the parents were to go eat there too, it would be going too far. Her daughter was her heart and soul, as long as the child ate well, that was enough.
Recently, her little Meng Meng has also come to love the kindergarten food, even saying she'll eat less in the evening so she can eat more there.
Even her Mother-in-law became proud, saying they chose the right kindergarten.
Now she addresses her Mother-in-law affectionately as 'Mom', which also contains an apology for her earlier suspicions.
Her Mother-in-law is showing off these days, but Elder Sister Xu doesn't mind, flattering her Mother-in-law with compliments every day in different ways.
As a mother, as long as her daughter is comfortable, she is comfortable.
Now their mother-daughter-in-law relationship is well-known in the community. Her Mother-in-law gains a lot of face.
As Elder Sister Xu chatted animatedly, a few unmarried young ladies listened in amazement.
"Wow, there's such a great kindergarten?"
"The kindergartens we went to as kids can't compare to this one."
"Kindergarten fees should be at this level. How much can working folks afford?"
"If all kindergartens charged this much, people would dare to have kids."
The main thing is that the cost of raising children has become lower.
Everyone discussed it with relish when suddenly a scornful voice interrupted.
"I thought it was someone else. It turns out to be Elder Sister Xu. Didn't you used to say you really loved your child? But now it seems not so much, putting her in such a poor kindergarten."
"260 a month, even pet boarding places charge a few thousand a month. Oh, this poor child, how pitiful to have followed you!"
When everyone heard her words, they were struck dumb, until someone realized it was the female purchasing officer.
These two were sworn enemies.
Elder Sister Xu's husband used to date that purchasing officer, but it didn't work out, and later she became Elder Sister Xu's husband.
This wasn't a secret in the mall.
Previously the two didn't talk much, but recently perhaps because Elder Sister Xu was so excited about the 260 fee and momentarily the talk of the town, the purchasing officer came over to mock her.
The others, hearing those words, didn't dare breathe loudly, joking about a mother's child being no small matter. If it provoked someone to rage, it would be disastrous.
Elder Sister Xu remained calm: "Your tone is quite arrogant. I wonder what kindergarten you send your daughter to?"
The bystanders, seeing a confrontation brewing, hurried to find the manager, worried the two might start fighting and be unstoppable.
The purchasing officer said: "I found her an ordinary kindergarten too, but it's 3,800 a month!"
She spoke with a smug air, implying that the kindergarten her daughter attended cost more than Elder Sister Xu's monthly salary.
Elder Sister Xu let out an "Oh": "Then do they have 2 million yuan school buses, chefs from Jiangbei Hotel cooking for you, hire drivers from government institutions, with the kindergarten doctor being the pediatric attending physician from the municipal hospital?"
Elder Sister Xu's words made everyone present gasp in astonishment.
Good heavens, what kind of celestial kindergarten is this?
If Elder Sister Xu had said it was a noble kindergarten, everyone could have accepted it.
After all, to enroll in that kindergarten, you need to have your assets verified, queue up in advance, and parents must undergo interviews.
But for a kindergarten costing only 260 a month to have such facilities?
Sure enough, as Elder Sister Xu spoke, the purchasing officer's face flushed red.
The purchasing officer snorted: "You must be imagining all that, how is it possible?"
Elder Sister Xu said: "If you don't believe me, tomorrow I'll post a video of me sending my daughter to kindergarten in the group chat."
This was even more humiliating than slapping the purchasing officer.
Elder Sister Xu pressed her advantage: "Word is there are people who want to enroll in the kindergarten too, but went too late and couldn't get in. What a pity, they can only go to the 3,800 one then."
The purchasing officer's face instantly drained of color. In fact, she had married an ordinary man.
Sending her daughter to such an expensive kindergarten meant she had argued with her family, having to strain themselves financially.
Originally she just wanted the best for her child. But now hearing this, it seemed like she was some pitiful fool.
Not only did she gain no advantage in the argument, she was seen as incompetent.
The purchasing officer let out a cold snort and slunk away in dejection.
The next day, true to her word, Elder Sister Xu posted a video of sending her daughter to kindergarten in the group chat.
The bright yellow school bus was the most expensive 2 million yuan armored model.
This bus was only used by the elite classes at the Noble Kindergarten.
When the Noble Kindergarten did its massive publicity campaign back then, everyone learned about the price of this bus model.
Parents of students had hearts for comparison too.
The purchasing officer immediately saved this video and forwarded it to the admissions officer at her child's kindergarten.
She bluntly asked why others who paid only 260 a month had such great school buses, while she paid 3,800 but their bus was just ordinary, demanding an explanation.
The admissions officer, usually very polite, evaded the issue: "The faculty at our kindergarten is very strong!"
The purchasing officer said: "Their teacher is Teacher Tang."
The admissions officer continued listing her kindergarten's advantages: "We have a dedicated school doctor! If any student gets hurt, you don't need to worry."
The purchasing officer asked: "Is your doctor also from the pediatrics department of the municipal hospital?"
The admissions officer, starting to get flustered: "The food at our place is quite good."
The purchasing officer: "Is your head chef also from Jiangbei Hotel?"
The other side sent six ellipses.
The admissions officer was truly exasperated.
Finally, she said somewhat rudely: "You're only paying 3,800, without adding an extra zero at the end. If your demands are really so high, then I suggest you make a lateral move and choose elsewhere!"
The implication being, if you're going to talk like that, we won't serve you anymore.
The purchasing officer immediately got angry. Her tuition fees were over ten times more than Elder Sister Xu's.
Not only did she not get equivalent service, she was even given attitude.
She was furious, but didn't dare say much more.
After all, her child was still in their hands, worried that if she argued with the teachers, they might take it out on her daughter.
The next day, the purchasing officer wore a long face all day.
But no one paid her any attention, as the Starry Sky Kindergarten was too popular.
One by one, they all pulled Elder Sister Xu aside to ask how to enroll in that kindergarten.
Even if they didn't have children of the right age at home, relatives would certainly have some.
Rather than sending them to other kindergartens to be fleeced, it would be better to go to this Starry Sky Kindergarten.
Of course, the purchasing officer's relationship with Elder Sister Xu was too poor for her to directly ask.
But she walked by Elder Sister Xu's side nearly 10 times, each time straining her ears to catch some information.
With some piecing together, she also learned about the situation of the Starry Sky Kindergarten. She wanted to transfer her daughter there, but was afraid that Elder Sister Xu would hear about it and scoff or mock her, which made her even angrier for a while.
