After signing the registration form, the Ji family began to tour the affiliated kindergarten with the crowd.
It had to be said, this aristocratic school really had something going for it. For example, the calligraphy classroom was laid out similar to ancient academies, with only a dozen writing desks spread across the spacious room.
Each desk had a stack of rice paper on it, alongside a brush stand with brushes and clean zabuton mats around the edges.
"The classroom mats are changed after every class. After a child uses one, it's taken away to be dried and the mat cover is disinfected," said the teacher wearing traditional clothes.
The parents listened and nodded continuously, apparently very satisfied.
Then there was the small cafeteria where the children usually ate. Every floor tile and table sparkled, clean enough to see one's reflection. After all, cleanliness was the top priority for a dining area.
Ji Ruochu clearly also had requirements for her dining environment. She peeked out from the crowd with her little head and carefully inspected the place for a long time before finally giving a slight nod.
"It looks like Ruochu is very happy with the dining setup," Ji Mochen said jokingly.
Despite the toddler's young age, she had many rules. The dining area at home had to be arranged according to her specifications. She had said the previous layout was too cold and bleak, affecting her appetite.
"It's fine," Ji Ruochu said loftily, the tone in her voice conveying a hint of reluctance.
Next, the parents followed the teachers to tour the classrooms, music room, dance studio, theater, swimming pool, indoor gymnasium, equestrian grounds and other facilities.
Each area was extremely luxurious. Ji Ruochu's eyes were opened to all the configurations, making her understand why the school made parents and children wear ancient costumes for the admission selections. The entire campus exuded an aura of refined scholars, with ancient charm in every corner.
With such opulence, those unaware would think this was an imperial academy from ancient times!
As the campus area was so vast, halfway through the tour the doting couple began carrying Ji Ruochu, unwilling to tire their darling daughter.
At first, the other families thought the couple was spoiling their child too much. But as time passed, nearly every child was being carried by their parents at the end.
Some children even started crying and fussing along the way, saying they didn't want to continue touring and wanted to go home. Once one kicked up a fuss, more children followed suit in a chain reaction.
The guide teacher seemed to have anticipated this. Along the route, she brought the parents past the children's playrooms several times. Whenever a child grew tired and didn't want to walk anymore, they could go inside to play with the other children.
Parents could choose to keep following the tour or accompany their child.
Gradually, the number of children in the touring group dwindled to little more than ten.
The most eye-catching among them was none other than Ji Ruochu. The little one looked proud and surprisingly well-behaved, neither crying nor fussing, taking in the surroundings leisurely instead.
When hungry she would eat, when thirsty she would drink. From time to time she would clasp her hands behind her back and wandered around like a little supervisor, inspecting here and there.
Sometimes she would peer at the sterilization cabinet to check if the bowls inside were clean, other times she would pat the little mattresses in the nap area.
After each inspection she would reveal a satisfied "not bad" expression, then continue wandering with her head tilted back and hands behind her, making people want to laugh at how cute she was.
When tired, she would simply stretch out her hands for her father to carry her, not pretending to persevere.
The campus tour became like an excursion for her to enjoy. Soon she stood out as the most eye-catching darling.
"The campus tour ends here. Parents who are curious about certain areas can explore them afterwards. After walking for so long, everyone must be quite tired. Our buffet restaurant has prepared all kinds of delicacies for parents and children to enjoy," said the guide when they returned to the front of the campus.
Hearing this, most families chose to head to the restaurant, clearly interested in experiencing the school meals.
The restaurant decor was still classical and elegant, but also incorporated many objects that children loved. Soon, some kids put down their half-eaten meals and ran over to play with the toys.
The parents' childcare styles became increasingly diverse. Some chased after their children while others picked out ingredients from their child's bowl that they didn't like to eat. There were also some trying to coax their child who was throwing a tantrum. Of course, there were still quite a few children obediently eating by themselves.
When Ji Mochen and his wife glanced around, they mentally counted the proportions.
The more well-behaved ones generally came from families whose businesses had been passed down generations. Whereas the rowdier ones mostly belonged to newly rising wealthy families in the last year or two.
The couple took note, then turned back smiling idiotically at their daughter eating seriously. Although their little darling was picky, she did not show it when dining out. At most, she would frown and swallow a bite.
"If there's something Ruochu doesn't like, give it to Daddy," Ji Mochen couldn't bear to see his little princess suffer any grievance.
"No, you can't," the little one quickly took two bites as her face twisted painfully. But she still swallowed the cilantro, green onions and celery in her mouth.
She then said in a precociously lecturing manner, "Children mustn't be picky eaters. Meals should be nutritious and balanced."
She didn't want to end up growing short, so she must endure the food she disliked for now.
Hearing this, it was natural for the doting couple to sing her more exaggerated praises.
Little did they know a passing teacher had overheard this whole exchange. After glancing at the little girl burying her face in her bowl, she nodded approvingly to herself.
At the same time, behind the Ji family was the Fang family, also dealing with their son's picky eating.
"I give up. How can every dish contain something I don't eat?" Fang Yang's face grew uglier the more he ate.
Wan Rouning helplessly shot him a sideways glance. After exchanging a look with her son, the mother and son pair could only resign themselves to pushing their bowls towards Fang Yang.
"Hehe, I knew my wife and son were the best..." Fang Yang grinned as he nimbly picked out the ingredients with his chopsticks.
After eating a radish his father had picked out, Fang Zhiyuan sighed inwardly:
His father really was like a delicate young miss raised deep in the inner chambers!
A teacher walked by behind them: What an interesting family...
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