Eight Uncles' Beloved Treasure (Lily)

Seizing the perfect opportunity, Peter’s mother, influenced by the bootlicker, launched into a skillful

spiel:

“With your words, you sow hope in the hearts of children, cultivating their academic endeavors with

colorful pens, watering their growth with sweat, and nurturing their souls with dedication…”

“It is said that a teacher is a lifelong guardian, and as Peter’s teacher, you are his lifelong elder!”

“So, when I go back, I’ll bring clothes for Peter and buy a new set for you, Teacher Robin. What size do

you wear?”

Teacher Robin and the school nurse remained silent.

Teacher Robin was on the verge of embarrassment!

Her words were so exaggerated, making her feel incompetent.

Maybe the language teacher should take over by her?

“No, really, no need! Peter’s mother, please go back and get the clothes for Peter,” Teacher Robin

responded hastily.

Peter buried his head in his blanket, utterly embarrassed.

He despised his mother’s behavior.

Not only did she act this way toward every teacher, but she also did it with various leaders.

Everyone called it flattery, but his mother was a bootlicker.

He didn’t want a bootlicker as his mother!

The school nurse coughed, and Teacher Robin quickly ushered Peter’s mother out of the room.

With a serious face, Teacher Robin said, “Peter’s mother, there are only the two of us here… I’ll be

straightforward with you. Don’t engage in these flashy things!”

“Most teachers here are diligent in their work. You don’t have to worry about your child being treated

unfairly at school. Flattery won’t get you anywhere, and not every teacher enjoys hearing it!”

Teacher Robin finished speaking in one breath and added, “I’m being direct, so don’t take offense!”

Peter’s mother thought to herself: No one doesn’t like being flattered. You can’t bite the hand that feeds

you, right?

Besides, she wasn’t worried about her son being treated unfairly. She was concerned about him not

receiving special treatment.

She wanted her son to be treated with extra care at school, with teachers being kind to him. After all,

children are fragile, and being too strict or serious with them can harm their mental development!

She also wanted teachers to show more bias and pay more attention to her child at school…

Just like this time, when her son was beaten up by that Big Black Pig, if Ms. Montague were there, she

would surely punish Nicodemus and give her son more care and attention.

Oh well.

Flattery is just a matter of how you do it! There are many ways to flatter!

Peter’s mother looked embarrassed and apologetic. “Teacher Robin, you’re right. I was too focused on

short-term gains… Sigh, a person’s whole life revolves around their child. How can they not be

anxious?”

She sighed, expressing her genuine feelings.

“Now that I’ve entrusted my child to you, we are actually at ease, knowing that he’ll be fine at school…

But Peter can be mischievous, and I feel so guilty. It must be quite troublesome for you. I appreciate

your hard work…”

Lilly and Josh, who were crouching in a corner, remained silent.

They had learned something new.

You could flatter in this way too.

Teacher Robin sighed in understanding, but then something didn’t sit right.

Peter’s mother smiled and said, “Teacher Robin, you look so young and have such fair skin. You must

work late into the night correcting assignments, right? Yet, you still manage to look so radiant and

beautiful. It’s truly admirable, unlike us… getting old and faded.”

Peter’s mother immersed herself in flattery, momentarily forgetting about bringing clothes for her son.

Little did she know that Teacher Robin’s expression remained unchanged as she replied, “I don’t stay

up late correcting assignments.”

Peter’s mother stammered, “Yes, yes, we usually see the assignments corrected by the time we pick

him up from school. Teacher Robin, you’re amazing, so efficient. You must work on lesson plans late at

night, right?”

Teacher Robin’s face showed indifference. “I don’t stay up late working on lesson plans either. When I

finish work, I’m done. Staying up late to work on unfinished tasks only shows my incompetence.”

Peter’s mother fell silent.

Teacher Robin continued, “My skin isn’t that great either. It’s makeup and powder!”

She looked at Peter’s mother, speaking in a rather unpleasant tone, “Peter’s mother, is it so difficult to

stop flattering? You always want your child to receive more attention and special treatment. Do you

think it’s fair to the other children?”

“First, he gave Lilly a derogatory nickname, and now he provoked Nicodemus, resulting in a beating.

What kind of special treatment are you expecting from me?”

Peter’s mother opened her mouth, her face turning red with embarrassment and a mix of anger.

How could this young teacher criticize her like this? She’s not her student…

How can a teacher speak like this, as if a few harsh words are comparable to physically hurting

someone? Her son is the one who got hurt!

Inside the school infirmary, the school nurse’s gaze, barely perceptible, made Peter’s mother feel

utterly ashamed.

The bootlicker suddenly grew restless, as if it had touched upon something unbearable, making it feel

agitated.

In the shadows, Lilly whispered, “Josh, see that? This is what happens when flattery hits a snag!”

Josh stared at the bootlicker, “So, what does he do?”

Lilly replied, “He’ll reveal his true colors, show his flaws, and then our opportunity will come.”

“Oh… so, it’s your chance, Josh. My ghost-catching doesn’t need to be this complicated!”

Josh fell silent.

Lilly said, “When the bootlicker can’t hold back any longer, Josh, throw a talisman at her!”

It might embarrass Peter’s mother, and she apologized for that. It’s what she should do.

If only Josh knew what Lilly was thinking deep down…

He would have said: Yes! Well said!