Chapter Sixty-One: Farce

Xu Hui had already prepared his answer, but he deliberately paused for a moment before speaking. “Principal, Jiang Xiwen struck a teacher in class and should be dealt with seriously, but…” Xu Hui habitually hesitated, “But Teacher Zhu used corporal punishment first. Though there was a reason, her reaction was too impulsive. I find it hard to make a decision, so I came to seek your guidance, and bring the teachers’ opinions to you.”

Brilliant—after speaking at length, he hadn’t given a single opinion of his own, even framing the letter as the teachers’ collective view, absolving himself completely. Li Changtian sneered inwardly, though his face remained expressionless. “Xu Hui, this happened in your grade. If you, as the director, can’t offer an opinion, then let’s not deal with it at all.”

Old fox! Xu Hui cursed silently, wearing a troubled expression. “Principal, since both sides are at fault, perhaps Jiang Xiwen should apologize to Teacher Zhu, and let’s leave it at that.”

Xu Hui was forced into a neutral stance, which, for now, was his best option. Regardless of Jiang Xiwen’s background, Li Changtian had managed to provoke a collective protest from Teacher Zhu Wen’s colleagues, who was the wife of Fang Sixiang. That implied internal discord between Li Changtian and Fang Sixiang.

Li Changtian glanced at Xu Hui’s gloomy face and smiled slightly. “Alright, alright, if that’s what you recommend, let’s do it your way. Once it’s resolved, just let me know.” With that, he tossed the suggestion letter back to Xu Hui and took another sip of tea, ignoring him further.

Damn it, Xu Hui couldn’t help cursing inside. Li Changtian’s dissatisfaction with Fang Sixiang had made him a scapegoat. He’d worked dutifully as grade director for years, never offending Li Changtian. Muttering complaints inwardly, he still had to smile and leave. Xu Hui even regretted ever scrambling for this petty official position; it would have been better to be an ordinary teacher, free and easy.

Leaving Li Changtian’s office, Xu Hui trudged toward the ninth-grade math group, dreading how to explain to the teachers, especially to the formidable Zhu Wen, causing him a headache.

“How did it go? Did Principal Li meet you? What did he say?” Before Zhu Wen could speak, Teacher Wu with the nine moles jumped in, and four or five teachers quickly surrounded Xu Hui.

The ponytail teacher chattered, “Director Xu, I’ve already contacted all subject groups. Everyone is furious. Some suspect Jiang Xiwen’s family has connections. The teachers all say—even if his father is the mayor, if the principal won’t act, we’ll take it to the Education Bureau. A student hitting a teacher cannot be tolerated.”

Zhu Wen spoke third, with the air of a female leader. Now, she was calm and composed, a stark contrast to her earlier anger. “Director Xu, what did Principal Li say?”

Xu Hui gritted his teeth. Since Li Changtian was so heartless, he’d stop caring. Glancing at the crowd, he said, “The principal believes Jiang Xiwen should apologize to Teacher Zhu Wen, and that’s the end of the matter. For some reason, he doesn’t seem concerned about Teacher Zhu being assaulted.”

Zhu Wen had anticipated this response. Having chosen to involve her colleagues, she was determined to embarrass Li Changtian. She wanted her husband Fang Sixiang to see that, though she was just a teacher, she could outshine his position as director.

“It seems Principal Li is afraid. Maybe Jiang Xiwen really has some backing. Forget it, I don’t even want an apology. Since…” Her voice began to choke, letting her secretly gloat—her acting skills were enough to fool these naive colleagues.

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“No, we can’t let it end like this!” Teacher Wu with the nine moles exclaimed loudly. He had always possessed a rebellious spirit, though rarely a chance to show it. Now, he seized the opportunity, displaying the same straightforwardness he’d had since college, unchanged after years of teaching.

“That’s right! I’ll draft a petition and have all teachers sign it in protest…” The ponytail teacher barely finished her sentence before running out.

Xu Hui had already cursed Li Changtian, so he decided to let things go and fanned the flames. “I support everyone. We teachers aren’t pushovers. At Second Middle School, many students have family backgrounds. If they all act like Jiang Xiwen, how can we teach?”

Though he said this, Xu Hui had already made up his mind. When the petition was presented, he’d still act as spokesman, but never sign his name. He wanted to see how Li Changtian would handle a crowd of teachers blocking his office.

Half an hour later, the principal’s office at Yangjiang Second Middle School was in uproar. Xu Hui and the other grade directors had gathered, taking turns to question Li Changtian—why was he tolerating a teenager attacking a teacher?

Outside, the radicals demanded answers, and the corridor was packed to the brim.

Li Changtian sat unmoved, silent as a mountain. Xu Hui had once been a diligent, conscientious teacher, which was why Li Changtian had promoted him. He seemed bright, and Li Changtian had intended to groom him gradually.

Earlier, Li Changtian had shifted responsibility to Xu Hui—not to trouble him, but to clarify matters. Fang Sixiang would naturally restrain his wife, and Xu Hui was merely a messenger.

Such a trivial issue had overwhelmed Xu Hui, who had ended up turning the tables on Li Changtian. Clearly, he was not someone to rely on.

“Principal Li, aren’t you going too far, trading teachers’ dignity to curry favor with the powerful?” Amid the commotion, Zhu Wen’s loud voice rang out, full of sarcasm.

Li Changtian’s temper flared instantly. Fang Sixiang, this isn’t me targeting you. If you can’t even control your wife and she challenges me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.

Bang! Li Changtian slammed his palm on the desk and stood up. All the teachers jumped, and the room fell silent.

“Zhu Wen, as a teacher, you vented personal frustrations on a student. Because Zhang Ya was late for the bell, you punished her physically. Jiang Xiwen’s response was impulsive and wrong, but you were at fault first. Setting aside your professional role, as an adult, you failed to show tolerance or patience to a child. What right do you have to be a teacher?”

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Li Changtian’s words stunned all the teachers. Some turned to look at Zhu Wen, others at the ponytail teacher, whose knack for embellishing was no less than Zhu Wen’s—she had stirred up outrage in every office, dragging most teachers into the emotional turmoil.

Zhu Wen, always reckless, was shocked that Li Changtian showed her no mercy, rebuking her in public. She was momentarily at a loss.

She never considered who had rallied everyone to confront the principal, or who had first refused to give Li Changtian face.

Fang Sixiang sat in the office next door, separated by a wall. He had heard the commotion outside but pretended not to notice. His wife’s actions annoyed him, but after thinking for a moment, he decided to wait. Since things had already happened, whether he went out now or later made little difference. He would see how the principal handled it—letting Li Changtian lose face for once was no bad thing. If not for Li Changtian’s obstruction during the vice-principal selection, Fang Sixiang would already be the top vice-principal at Second Middle School.

“Li Changtian, you’re outrageous! How can you slander me like this?” Zhu Wen's shriek was now unrestrained, venting directly at Li Changtian. “Look at this, Principal Li fawns over officials and treats us like this. Where is the dignity for us ‘lowly teachers’?”

Teacher Wu with the nine moles and the ponytail teacher were quickest to respond. After Li Changtian’s remarks, they had begun to doubt Zhu Wen’s earlier narrative as evasive, but for now, they had no choice but to stay the course—until the situation clarified, they’d continue feigning ignorance.

When people are agitated, their reason is lacking. At this moment, eighty percent of the teachers were like that, and the commotion resumed.

Li Changtian was furious. He knew Fang Sixiang was next door but wouldn’t come out. He wanted to push aside the teachers and confront Fang Sixiang, but his position forbade it.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, hope came with a voice.

“Teachers, does defying the powerful make you feel more heroic?” The half-mocking, clear voice carried to everyone present. They all turned to look, and saw Jiang Xiwen, grinning, striding from the stairway, pushing past the teachers blocking his way. “Make way, the main character is here. At the very least, let me take a turn on the stage and be publicly denounced.”

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