txolops Chapter 30 Kindergarten Visit
Chapter 30 Kindergarten Visit
Eight o'clock in the morning.
The early summer morning breeze still carried a hint of coolness.
Today, Lin Chen didn't go to the kitchen early to wash rice and prepare vegetables as usual.
He changed into a clean white short-sleeved shirt and took Tangtang's hand, who was wearing a brand new little dress.
Wang Hai, unusually, wore a shirt, and the three of them arrived at the gate of "Qiming Bilingual Kindergarten," three kilometers away.
It is the peak season for kindergarten enrollment.
Outside the gate, a cordon was set up, and two security guards in neat uniforms stood at the entrance, watching the crowds coming and going with vigilant eyes.
Parents dropping off their children can only drop them off outside the isolation zone, where teachers will pick them up one by one.
"Brother Chen, look at this level of security."
Wang Hai pointed to the security guard at the main gate and the row of surveillance cameras, and said to Lin Chen in a low voice, "When I used to deliver food, they wouldn't even let me get close to this gate. The food could only be placed in the delivery locker."
Anyone trying to sneak in has no chance.
Lin Chen nodded slightly as he watched the orderly handover process at the door.
For a single father, safety is always the top priority when his child is not by his side.
The security standards here made him feel much more at ease.
Once the peak visitor period has passed, the gates will be closed again.
Wang Hai then stepped forward and explained his purpose to the security guard through the retractable gate.
The security guard contacted the admissions office inside via walkie-talkie and then produced a visitor registration form.
Lin Chen took out his ID card and cooperated with the registration.
A few minutes later, a young female teacher wearing a business suit and a name tag came out.
"Are you Mr. Lin and Mr. Wang?"
The female teacher asked through the door with a smile and a gentle voice.
"It's us. We made an appointment over the phone yesterday, and we brought the kids to see the place today."
Lin Chen answered calmly.
"Okay, please come in."
After the security guard verified that everything was correct, he opened the pedestrian access gate next to it.
The female teacher came forward and introduced herself: "Hello Mr. Lin, I am Ms. Liu, who is in charge of admissions."
Since you brought your child today, I'll first give you a tour of the campus to familiarize you with our kindergarten's facilities and learning environment.
"Thank you for your help, Teacher Liu."
Lin Chen nodded politely.
"You're welcome, this way please."
Teacher Liu led the way.
Lin Chen held Tangtang's little hand and followed her into the kindergarten.
The yard is very spacious. The ground is covered with a thick, odorless, green, environmentally friendly plastic running track.
On the left is a large outdoor playground with slides, swings, and a sandpit that are kept very clean.
To the right is a small lawn, where several cleaning ladies in uniform are clearing fallen leaves.
"Mr. Lin, our kindergarten's outdoor activity area is thoroughly disinfected twice a day, morning and evening."
As she walked, Teacher Liu explained, "All the corners of the playground equipment have been padded to prevent children from bumping into things and getting injured while running."
Lin Chen didn't speak, his gaze calmly sweeping over the edges of the amusement facilities. Indeed, as Teacher Liu said, there were no sharp or hard objects exposed.
The three of them crossed the courtyard and entered the corridor of the teaching building on the first floor.
The walls of the corridor are covered with children's whimsical drawings.
On both sides of the corridor are spacious and bright classrooms.
"This is our small class area."
Teacher Liu stopped in front of a large, transparent glass window in a classroom. "Mr. Lin, you may take a look."
Lin Chen turned his head and looked into the classroom through the glass window.
The classroom floor is covered with soft, anti-fall mats.
A dozen or so three- or four-year-old children were sitting around a low table playing with building blocks.
There are three teachers in the classroom.
What caught Lin Chen's attention was the action of one of the young teachers.
A slightly mischievous little boy spilled the building blocks on the ground.
The teacher didn't yell at him. Instead, he immediately went over, bent his knees, and squatted down to be at the same eye level as the little boy. He smiled and said something, then helped the little boy pick up the blocks.
Lin Chen's gaze softened slightly.
These kinds of details can't be faked.
Only those who are truly patient and have received professional early childhood education training will habitually squat down and communicate with children on an equal footing.
After looking at the classroom, Teacher Liu prepared to take them to the second floor to see the rest area.
"Teacher Liu."
Lin Chen suddenly spoke and stopped in his tracks.
"Mr. Lin, is there anything else you would like to know?"
Teacher Liu turned around and asked with a smile.
Lin Chen looked at Teacher Liu and brought up the assessment project that he was most concerned about and that was the most rigorous for him today.
"I've seen the environment and the teachers; they're very good."
Lin Chen said calmly, "I'd like to see your kitchen."
Upon hearing this request, Teacher Liu was taken aback.
When parents visit, they usually just ask about the menu; they rarely ask to see the kitchen directly.
But Ms. Liu quickly regained her professional smile: "No problem."
Our kitchen is managed with complete transparency, and parents can visit and supervise at any time.
Please follow me; the kitchen is at the end of the corridor on the first floor.
Teacher Liu led Lin Chen and the other two to the end of the corridor.
A huge, transparent glass wall appeared before us, completely separating the corridor from the kitchen.
Through this glass, everything inside is clearly visible.
"Mr. Lin, this is our kitchen."
Ms. Liu explained, "The ingredients are delivered fresh every morning by a dedicated supplier, and our nutritionist will create a weekly menu based on the children's physical development."
Lin Chen didn't reply. He released Tangtang's hand, took a step forward, and moved closer to the glass window.
As one of the world's top chefs, Lin Chen has an almost instinctive strictness regarding hygiene standards in the kitchen.
He doesn't need to look at any recipes; he only looks at the details.
His gaze swept over every corner of the kitchen.
First, the floor. The non-slip floor tiles in the back kitchen were very dry, without any standing water or grease, which indicates that the drainage system and cleaning work were done well.
Secondly, there's the work surface. The preparation area and the cooking area are strictly separated.
The cutting boards and knives hanging on the wall are strictly categorized into raw and cooked items using red, blue, and green colors.
Then, his gaze fell on the large stainless steel pots used for making soup and porridge.
The outer wall of the pot was so polished that it could even reflect light, and there was not a trace of accumulated black grease.
Finally, there were the staff. The four or five canteen workers who were busy inside were all wearing the same white chef's uniform, with tight hairnets on their heads and masks on their faces. Not a single person's hair or mouth and nose was exposed.
The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.
After looking around, Lin Chen's tense shoulders finally relaxed completely.
The fact that the kitchen is kept so clean and all operating procedures are followed so thoroughly demonstrates that this kindergarten has extremely high management standards.
Even a top chef like him couldn't find anything wrong with the food here; Tangtang could indeed eat with peace of mind.
"It is indeed very clean."
Lin Chen withdrew his professional scrutinizing gaze, turned to look at Teacher Liu, and gave a very fair evaluation: "The hygiene standards are met."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Teacher Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She felt that Lin Chen's gaze towards the kitchen was even more piercing than that of the health bureau inspectors.
"I'm glad Mr. Lin is satisfied."
Teacher Liu smiled and nodded, then lowered her head and focused her attention on Tangtang, who had been obediently following Lin Chen without making a fuss since they entered the room.
Teacher Liu squatted down with her legs together, making herself and Tangtang's line of sight level.
"Little friend, what's your name?"
Teacher Liu asked gently.
Tangtang didn't hide behind Lin Chen in fear, nor did she timidly bite her fingers.
She stood up straight, her big eyes clear and bright, looking at Teacher Liu in front of her.
"Hello, teacher."
Tangtang answered in a clear, childlike voice with extreme politeness, "My name is Lin Tangtang."
In one month, Tangtang will be four years old.
Looking at the little girl in front of her, dressed in a clean little dress, with delicate features and a generous demeanor, a genuine affection flashed in Teacher Liu's eyes.
She has been working in student recruitment here for many years and has seen many children who cry and make a fuss because of the change of environment, or who are spoiled and ignore people.
Children like Tangtang, who are polite, outgoing, and articulate, are truly endearing.
"Tangtang is so well-behaved, even her name is sweet."
Teacher Liu smiled and reached out to gently pat Tangtang's little head. "Does Tangtang like our slide and lawn here?"
Would you like to come here and play with the other kids?
Tangtang looked up and glanced at Lin Chen standing next to her.
Lin Chen nodded gently in encouragement to his daughter.
Tangtang looked at Teacher Liu again, nodded her little head vigorously, and smiled sweetly.
"Yes! Tangtang will listen to the teacher from now on!"