Chapter 1The After-School Program That Changed Everything

I ran an after-school care program in my neighborhood.

A thousand dollars a month, including dinner and homework help.

The parents who were too busy with work to pick up their kids were very satisfied with it.

Until a new mom joined the homeowners' SnapChat group.

"Are you kidding me? The after-school programs back in my hometown only charge six hundred a month."

She sent a shocked emoji.

"Tell you what, I'll pick up and drop off your kids for you. Five hundred a month."

"I'm not doing this for money. I just love children."

I thought about those little tyrants who'd started picking apart even premium wagyu beef and asking increasingly demanding questions, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, these days of running myself ragged while losing money would come to an end.

I was getting ready to pick up the kids when messages started popping up in the group.

The messages were from a new mom who'd just joined the group.

Her SnapChat name was "Content and Happy," with a cartoon family portrait as her profile picture and an American flag in the corner.

I didn't pay much attention to these two messages.

After all, my monthly rate of a thousand dollars was already below market price.

Every day for dinner, I used premium ingredients like imported wagyu beef.

The fruit after meals was also top-tier stuff like golden pillow durian.

Not only that, I drove them in my SUV for pickup and dropoff, and helped with homework every day.

And the next morning, I would promptly summarize each child's progress and areas for improvement and post it in the group.

So parents could adjust their parenting approach accordingly.

Anyone with half a brain could see that my price was an absolute bargain.

I was about to close SnapChat when I saw Ethan's mom mention Content and Happy.

[Are you serious? You're really willing to run an after-school program at half price? You do know it's not just about picking kids up and bringing them home, right?]

Content and Happy replied instantly.

[Of course, it's just picking them up after school and having them stay at my place until 8:30, plus providing dinner and study time.]

[My husband has advanced degrees. Tutoring kindergarten and elementary homework is a piece of cake for him.]

[I already make nutritious meals for my two sons every day. How much can a dozen kids eat? It's nothing extra. I feel guilty even charging you five hundred.]

[I don't know how some people can be so heartless.]

The other parents in the group started wavering.

[Yeah, I heard from people in the neighboring community that someone there runs a program for only eight hundred a month.]

[But it's still more convenient being in the same community. It would be great if Grace's mom could lower the price a bit.]

Content and Happy pressed her advantage.

[Everyone can think it over. I'm not forcing anyone.]

[Anyway, my rate is twenty-five per day or five hundred per month. Everyone saves five hundred a month to buy clothes or take the kids to an amusement park. Everyone's happy!]

[Don't underestimate that five hundred. Five hundred a month is six thousand a year. Back home, that could buy four whole pigs.]

[Make them into bacon, and the whole family couldn't finish it in a year.]

The group fell silent for a few seconds before Ethan's mom continued trying to negotiate with me.

[@Grace's mom, none of us are wealthy. If you're willing to charge a little less, we'd still prefer to stay with you. After all, the kids are used to it.]

[We'd rather give you this money. We know it's not easy being a single mom. Please think about it.]

Haggling with me while acting like they're doing me a favor—how disgusting!

Last year, I helped Ethan's mom pick up her kid for free a few times.

After she found out how I treated her son, she excitedly said even two hundred per pickup wouldn't be excessive.

But it was all talk.

Not once did she actually show appreciation.

Later, when I stopped helping her with pickups, she got upset and complained in various group chats.

Said that as neighbors, I was being too harsh.

The other parents didn't think I'd done anything wrong, but they begged me to open an after-school program to benefit everyone.

When I first switched from free pickups to a thousand dollars a month, Ethan's mom already had some complaints.

Now she'd finally found an opportunity to pressure me on price.

I was tired anyway. Let them do as they pleased.

I started typing my response.

[No need to think about it. Anyone who wants to withdraw from the program, contact me and I'll refund the remaining days of this month.]

As soon as I said this, everyone stopped holding back and started responding.

[@Content and Happy, I'm the first to sign up. I'll send you my daughter's information in a bit.]

[School's almost out today, so Grace's mom should still pick up the kids. You get prepared and take over starting tomorrow.]

[Count me in, count me in!]

[I just realized we live in the same building. That's even more convenient. Count me in too!]

This time, Ethan's mom's message came last.

Looking at the uniform responses, I felt somewhat hurt.

But soon, that tiny bit of negative emotion faded.

I just felt completely relieved.

These days of being overwhelmed with work while losing money—I'd had enough.