I will never give in to Miss Death

"I was just hired as a waiter."

I smiled and said, "I don't know much about those things."

Not really interested either.

Things like there's corruption somewhere, the finances are not doing well somewhere, someone has been dismissed somewhere, someone is trying to stop the development of Nannai District... I don't intend to get involved in these things.

Like most people, if I am interested in things like this, I might learn about them when I have free time, but I will not get myself involved in these messy things.

I was harassed by those playboys. I politely declined the first time. It would be best if they don't come again. If they come a second time, I will try my best to let someone who is suitable to get involved in such matters to handle it.

For example, Su Yunjin.

He has a special identity and the construction of the coffee shop is also related to him in a certain way, so it is best to let him handle this kind of thing.

If the principal in front of me said that I was very popular in the coffee shop and represented some force, and then asked me to use my identity to stir up trouble, I would definitely get up and leave.

"It's okay. I'm not asking you to do anything. I just want to ask you for a favor."

The principal continued to explain, "It's like this. I'm telling you the truth. I've only been here for a few months. The previous principal passed away due to... uh, health reasons. Have you seen the news?"

"Gone?"

I was stunned: "I don't know, can you tell me more specifically?"

"There's not much to say, actually. Xingguang Primary School is located in the most remote area of ​​Nannagi District, so it has not had sufficient resources. The previous principal had to be a leader and also work as a math teacher here. The old principal was in poor health and became ill from overwork. Last December... he collapsed in the school building, and rescue efforts were ineffective..."

The young man across the table said with a sad tone, "Some local families are more shy about this, saying that students cannot go to a building where someone has died. Dozens of students transferred out within a month."

"And this is the current grade division in the teaching building of our school."

As he was talking, the young man opposite handed over a document: "Take a look...can you see any problems?"

"Hold on."

I took the document and flipped through it.

Um... Grade 1, Grade 2, Class 1 of Grade 3, Class 2 of Grade 3, Class 3 of Grade 5...

Wait a minute, why are there more and more people?

No, the number of students enrolled should be viewed the other way around, that is... the number of people is getting smaller and smaller?

"I think I figured it out."

After spending some time reading the documents the young man handed me, I looked up and said, "There is only one class for the first and second grades, two classes for the third and fourth grades, and three classes for the fifth and sixth grades... Are fewer and fewer people enrolling?"

"That's it."

Principal He motioned for me to look at another document: "Last year, there were only 29 students who signed up for the first grade of our school. The birth rate in Nannai District in 2022 is even less optimistic. I suspect that when the school starts in August... our school will not be able to recruit enough students to fill a class."

Eh?

Is the primary school enrollment situation in Minaminagi District already so serious now?

Kamihama City is a megacity, but its "prosperity" is actually very fragmented.

If we have to say, there are only a few large districts in the middle of the city with a large population and wealth, such as Chuo District, Artisan District, Sankyo District and Minami District. The most prosperous place is undoubtedly the "Sankyo District" in the center of Kamihama City, where almost all of Kamihama's resources are gathered. Next are the "Chuo District", "Minami District" and "Artisan District" which are a little bit outlying.

Places like the Minami Nagi district are basically supported by only one pier, and this pier is said to have to "supply blood" to the larger district in the city center, leaving not much financial resources for local construction. This is the main reason why after the coffee shop was built, such a large restaurant only has a daily flow of about a hundred people.

Even if we don’t look at the coffee shop and Xingguang Primary School, I can understand it just by observing the shops and passers-by downstairs after getting up every day - to put it bluntly, Minaminagi District is a place for "retirement", and new population has been flowing out.

"When we were recruiting students for the fifth and sixth grades, we could fill three classes. There were two classes for the third and fourth grades, and one class for the second grade had more than 30 students. But when we recruited students for the first grade, which was about this time last year, there were less than 29 people interested. In the end, only people came when school started, and one of them transferred in the middle of the term, resulting in the current situation of students in the first grade."

I guessed that I had almost finished reading the documents on the desk. The principal of the elementary school said helplessly, "Our birth rate has been declining. Nannagi District is so remote. Even if there are children nearby who have reached school age, their parents will do everything they can to send their children to the city center to attend elementary school. They don't even consider this place. But at this critical moment, the principal got into trouble, and those parents are even more reluctant to send their children here."

Now that you put it that way, I think I can understand it.

The current global trend is a low birth rate and a small number of newborns. Minami-nagi District is a very remote district. Even if a child is born to parents living nearby, the parents hope to give their children a better starting point and will try their best to send their children to primary schools in the city. This resulted in Xingguang Primary School recruiting only a small number of students in the first grade last year.

If this trend continues, the school may not even be able to recruit 20 students for the first grade this year, so the newly appointed principal is anxious.

So he came to me to be this... spokesperson in the hope that I could use my recent influence in the coffee shop to increase the popularity of Xingguang Primary School?

Is he really an image spokesperson?

"I think I know what you mean."

After thinking for a while, I took a big sip of fruit in a small chair and calmed myself down a little: "You want me to help promote the school, right?"

"That's pretty much what it means."

The principal nodded vigorously. "I will give you an official identity, as well as a school card and a meal card like the students here. You can come and go freely in the future, eat here, buy things at the canteen, or go in and out of the library, computer room, and activity room. You can go anywhere. It would be even better if you could broadcast live. Bring a camera to take pictures of the children during evening self-study or normal classes. We will announce to the public that you are a special student here. In this way, parents who are still hesitating whether to send their children here can have a better understanding of our school, and maybe they will be willing to send their children here at that time."

"Uh……"

For a moment, I didn't know how to complain about this young principal: "Are you planning to make the school an internet celebrity?"

"No matter what route it is, as long as it can save the school, it's a good route for me."

The principal had an expression that was either a wry smile or a helpless one: "The mayor of Minami-nagi District came here to take a look and said that the district is really out of money. The salaries of many teachers and employees here have been decreasing, and they are almost unable to make ends meet."

"private school?"

"Now I don't know whether it is a private or public school. It was private before, but now it's the only school around, and the district doesn't want the school to close down."

The principal looked frustrated. "I have tried everything I can think of. It feels hopeless. The school is entering its enrollment season again. I am new here. If I only recruit a dozen students, I don't think this place will survive until next year."

so sad...

"Well... you see, I usually have to go to work here. I usually have to go to the restaurant to work at 8 in the morning and come back very late."

Thinking that I didn’t seem to have done similar work, I planned to politely decline the principal’s offer: “Besides, I’ve never been a special guest of this kind. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, and I might not do it well. So, let’s just forget about it.”

"There are no requirements. Just register your name and say you are a special student of our school. It doesn't matter when you come or if you don't come. Once our finances are stable, we can negotiate the money."

Pulling open the drawer in front of him, the principal quickly searched inside for a few seconds, took out a school card, and handed it to me: "We have already prepared it for you. From now on, you can enter and exit the school at any time with this card."

So fast?

It appears that your situation is indeed very serious.

I took the school card and took a quick glance at the screen.

Kamihama City Minami Nagi Seiko Elementary School One Card, Yin Nuoer, special guest, student number 2022.

It is similar to Li Denghua’s school card, but the “photo” column on the right side of this school card should be a screenshot of my appearance on Tongmeng.com. It is different from ordinary ID cards and looks particularly cute.

"We just need your publicity, and we heard from Li Denghua that you seem to be planning to tutor her recently. Isn't it... it would be more convenient to get you a school card, so you can come to the school when you are free."

Seeing that I was still hesitating, the principal in front of me took out his phone again and said, "Also, some people are secretly spreading rumors online that you are a primary school student. Maybe some passers-by took a photo of you when you came here last Saturday, and then they started to attack the coffee shop for employing child labor. I think with this special school card, or if you can take some time to do a live broadcast and come to our school to dispel the rumors, you can directly slap those haters in the face."

As expected, someone really did make a fuss about me wearing an elementary school uniform before...

When I heard Principal He say this, I sighed quietly in my heart.

I feel like this principal is something.

He had just been transferred to this elementary school that was on the verge of bankruptcy. Conventional methods were definitely no longer effective in saving the enrollment rate, so he planned to use some "unconventional" methods.

What is the most popular thing in this society nowadays?

Big data, big entertainment.

If a product is not selling well, you can contact internet celebrities, do publicity, and do live broadcasts to attract popularity instead of just working hard.

The principal doesn't look very old, around 30 years old, and it is obvious that he knows what today's young people like.

What kind of families are there now who are able to have children and whose children are just six or seven years old and go to elementary school?

Go back six or seven years, and they are couples between 24 and 30 years old.

In other words, these couples...are exposed to areas similar to those of today's young people, and are very interested in the Internet, big data, and big entertainment, and perhaps even the "second dimension", and have a certain degree of overlap with my "fan" group.

In the past, there was no such thing as an "enrollment shortage" in primary schools. Every place was overcrowded. Children who wanted to go to school had to take exams and make appointments. Some even had to pay money to get in. Now suddenly no one is going to school. Most principals certainly don't know what to do, after all, there is no experience to draw on.

Therefore, I admire the fact that the principal could figure out the situation he was facing in such a short time, and I admire his many words to convince himself.

He first played the victim, then gave some reasons, and then showed his sincerity, gave me a school card and privileges for free, and also analyzed my situation for me.

The current situation in Minami Nagi District is a bit chaotic, and some people do not want it to be developed, so during this period of time, there will be remarks and opinions slandering the coffee shop on the Internet from time to time.

As for the fact that I was caught on camera in my primary school uniform and then being teased, I had anticipated that. At that time, I was planning to let Ouyang Xue handle it. But now it seems... it seems that according to what the principal said, it seems more appropriate to advertise to the outside world that this school is about to go bankrupt and that I agreed to be a special guest to help promote it and only then changed into a primary school uniform to visit the school?

Now "Yin Nuoer" and the coffee shop are very popular on the Internet. If I promote Xingguang Primary School a little bit, it can indeed bring them traffic, and maybe increase the number of students received this year. For me, it can not only clarify the rumors that "the coffee shop employs child labor", but also create an image of "kind Nuoer", which seems to be a win-win situation.

But I feel like this makes me a bit like a "green tea fan".

I am an old man, and I am trying to create a "kind" image. Isn't that... too scheming?

"We will start enrolling students in late June or July. If you really have difficulties...it's okay if you refuse, or you can come to the school to investigate at any time in the next few months."

Perhaps seeing my hesitation, the principal in front of me changed to a slightly relaxed tone: "I have already given you this school card. If you are worried that being a guest here will damage your image... our school cafeteria, computer room, classrooms, and student dormitories are all open to you at any time. If you have any questions, just come to me directly."

"Or whenever you pass by here, you can go to the canteen to eat something. The food here is very cheap and the variety is very rich..."

"Eh?"

Speaking of food, I suddenly became interested: "Are there many kinds?"

"For children, we will definitely consider nutritional balance and richness of dishes..."

The principal nodded and said, "You can come and try anyway. If you really don't want to, that's fine. I'll think of other ways. You can keep the school card to clarify those rumors."

Well……

I hesitated.

I still don't know what the school cafeteria is like, but the only thing that is certain is that... the nearest fast food restaurant near Elodie's rental house is behind the small vegetable garden. It's a walk along the path beside the road after passing the free market. Xingguang Primary School is right next to the vegetable garden, and if I remember correctly, the school cafeteria is cheaper than the fast food restaurants outside in most cases.

Although I can eat at the coffee shop anytime when I work, there are eight days of vacation in a month. I can't just go there to eat every day during the vacation, or buy groceries and spend an hour or two cooking them, right?

I also want to eat fast food once in a while...if I can eat it in the school cafeteria...

"I'm sorry, but I can't respond to your proposal at this time."

After another moment of silence, I slowly stood up from my seat and said, "I need some time to think about it, Principal He, is that ok?"

"No problem, here's my business card."

As if he had expected me to say that, the young man in front of me took out a small piece of paper from his jacket pocket and said, "Contact me anytime."

"Thank you."

I put the paper away and nodded: "Then I'll go down first."

"I'll give it to you."

"..."

After going downstairs with the principal and saying a simple goodbye, I took the bottle of juice and walked along the teaching building to the school gate.

"Our principal is dead. Where do people go after they die?"

At this time, two little girls who were wearing elementary school uniforms and berets like me happened to be walking towards the school gate, holding hands.

The two little girls both look innocent. They should be in the first or second grade. They have chubby round faces and are very cute.

"Mom said that when people die, they become angels and fly very high into the sky."

"Then my mother should have flown very high into the sky."

Two elementary school girls walked past me.

"Did your mother fly away like the principal?"

"Well, so I think we should call our classroom the Angel Classroom, so that I might be able to see my mom someday."

"..."

……

No. 162 Like, lily, real magic

After coming out of the principal's office, I waited for a while at the gate of Xingguang Primary School. After sorting out the current situation, I took out my cell phone and checked the time.

Hmm... I don't know why I always feel a little confused.

The sky in Kamihama City had almost completely darkened by eight o'clock, and elementary school students could be seen rushing towards this side at the school gate, panting with their short legs.

Then there was the middle-aged woman who looked like the dean, yelling and cursing—

"Hurry up, you guys! The bell is about to ring, why are you still dawdling?"