Chapter Five: I Object

The principal strode up to the podium and abruptly seized the conversation from Huang Li. He declared, “You can leave now. The school does not keep scum.”

“Did you hear that? The principal said you can go. Why are you still here?” Huang Li pointed at Yang Le and barked sharply.

Yang Le watched Huang Li with amusement; the man couldn’t even read the situation. Yang Le wondered how someone as clueless as Huang Li could ever become a grade supervisor.

“What are you staring at me for? Should I have the school security drag you out?” Huang Li hadn’t expected Yang Le to be so shameless. Even after the principal had told him to leave, he dared to linger.

Some students below sensed something was off. The principal’s words seemed directed at Huang Li. But they couldn’t believe the principal would dismiss Teacher Huang Li.

“Huang Li, I meant you,” Liu Guoxi said, naming Huang Li directly, seeing he lacked any sense.

“Principal, are you mistaken? It’s Yang Le who made mistakes, and he’s done so repeatedly. We can’t keep him in our school!” Huang Li hurried to explain, insisting Yang Le was at fault.

The students were stunned. Wasn’t this supposed to be Huang Li’s assembly to expel Yang Le? Why was the principal now firing Huang Li? The reversal was dizzying.

Song Fei’er believed her father must have pulled some strings to prevent Yang Le’s expulsion. Still, she couldn’t figure out why Huang Li was being dismissed. Perhaps her father had told the principal Yang Le was his future son-in-law, and the principal was currying favor by firing Huang Li. Song Fei’er’s imagination truly knew no bounds.

“Huang Li, pack your things and get out.”

“Taking bribes!”

“Bullying students who didn’t give you money!”

“Sleeping with students!”

Liu Guoxi recited Huang Li’s offenses one by one.

“No need for me to spell it out, right?” Liu Guoxi looked at Huang Li meaningfully, his voice cold.

“Liu Guoxi, what are you saying? Who gave you the authority to fire me? Has the education bureau approved this?” Huang Li could hardly believe Liu Guoxi dared to dismiss him. He had connections at the education bureau; his uncle, Huang Jiashen, was the deputy director. In the past, Liu Guoxi had tolerated him, or rather, tolerated his influential family. He had turned a blind eye to Huang Li’s misdeeds. Huang Li couldn’t understand who had emboldened Liu Guoxi now.

“To be honest, this is indeed the education bureau’s decision. If you don’t believe it, ask Huang Jiashen yourself.” Liu Guoxi had previously refrained from acting against Huang Li out of respect for Huang Jiashen. But today was different; Huang Jiashen was about to fall, and he couldn’t protect his nephew anymore. Most importantly, the bureau director had called, instructing Liu Guoxi to take good care of Yang Le. And that wasn’t all—earlier, Tang Wanjiang called, and just as the students assembled on the field, Song Yiming, the director of the land bureau, called to say Yang Le must not be expelled.

If Liu Guoxi still failed to grasp the situation, his days as principal were numbered.

The teachers on stage and the students below were bewildered. How had the principal and the senior supervisor suddenly turned on each other? Wasn’t this supposed to be Yang Le’s expulsion? Was it all just empty talk?

The funniest part was Huang Li himself. He had swaggered in, threatening to expel Yang Le, only to find himself expelled in the end.

“Li Yifei, probation.”

“Zhao Yu, Cai Cheng, Jiang Wang: all three will receive a major demerit.”

Liu Guoxi ignored Huang Li and announced disciplinary actions for Li Yifei and his cronies.

“I protest! I’m the victim, why are we being punished?” Li Yifei protested loudly. Even though Huang Li was out, they were still the victims. Why were they being disciplined? Was the principal out of his mind?

“You really have the nerve. Four against one, and you lost. Did Yang Le practice some secret martial arts and defeat all four of you?”

“Yang Le is an outstanding student, works hard, and supports himself. Would such a person impulsively attack others, risking his future?”

“Should someone like him be bullied? Absolutely not. So he resisted.”

“Students, do you agree with punishing Yang Le? I certainly don’t.”

Liu Guoxi’s passionate speech struck a chord with students from ordinary families.

“We don’t agree!” many students replied in unison.

Most of these students came from humble backgrounds; many had suffered at the hands of wealthier classmates. Liu Guoxi’s words inspired them, kindling a spirit of resistance.

“Since everyone disagrees, Yang Le will not be punished. Meeting adjourned—everyone, return to class.”

Liu Guoxi concluded, sparing Yang Le from discipline.

Thus, the assembly convened to expel Yang Le ended with Huang Li, his antagonist, expelled instead. Li Yifei and his lackeys, who had schemed against Yang Le, were disciplined by the school.

Li Yifei, having failed to outwit Yang Le, was left frustrated, unable to think of a solution for now. He would let Yang Le bask in his brief victory, but planned to deal with him later.

Pan Xiang, however, had other ideas. At noon, he gathered his gang, intent on teaching Yang Le a lesson—a reminder that the rich were not to be trifled with.

As noon approached and classes were about to end, Pan Xiang and several cronies waited outside Yang Le’s classroom.

“Yang Le, do you dare come outside the school? I’ll be waiting. If you don’t come, you’re a coward,” Pan Xiang taunted, then bolted. He had no intention of risking a confrontation with Yang Le inside the school. The principal had just backed Yang Le, and it was too soon to provoke trouble on campus.

Li Yifei was the nephew of the deputy director of the education bureau. Yang Le kicked him, not only nothing happened to Yang Le, but Li Yifei and his cronies received punishments.

Although Pan Xiang’s family was richer than Li Yifei’s, they had no connections with the education bureau. And even with connections, Li Yifei still got punished, didn’t he?

He couldn’t stir up trouble on campus, but outside was fair game.

Pan Xiang intended to lure Yang Le outside, to show him that fists and wealth still ruled. But whether Yang Le would dare show up remained to be seen.

“Maitreya, you mustn’t go outside. Even though Pan Xiang said you’re a coward if you don’t, you didn’t agree, so it doesn’t count. The principal supports you here; Pan Xiang won’t dare do anything,” Wang Peng advised.

“No worries. I’ll kick him and come right back,” Yang Le replied, walking out with a swagger, as if nothing could touch him.

Yang Le’s carefree attitude only annoyed Song Fei’er further. To accept Pan Xiang’s challenge outside the school was asking for trouble.

Even though the principal had supported Yang Le, Song Fei’er believed it was only because she had called her father; otherwise, Yang Le would no longer be a student here. It might be best for him to suffer a bit, so he’d finally settle down and focus on his studies.

Yang Le wasn’t foolish. He pretended to go to the restroom, but in truth, he called Sang Hu, asking him to come and back him up.

Sang Hu readily agreed, saying this was his territory, and he’d notify his followers to rush over and support Yang Le as quickly as possible. Sang Hu wanted to come personally, but Yang Le said it was a minor matter and promised to treat Sang Hu another day, so Sang Hu stayed away.

Just as Yang Le left the restroom, Wang Peng blocked him, urging him to reconsider.

Yang Le continued ahead, telling Wang Peng not to get involved, but Wang Peng followed closely behind, muttering, “Maitreya, don’t try to be tough. If you stay inside, they can’t touch you. Isn’t it better to stay safe in school?”

“Peng, I know what I’m doing. Go back to class and don’t get mixed up in this,” Yang Le said. Even though he’d called Sang Hu, he didn’t know if reinforcements would arrive in time. If not, and Wang Peng got hurt alongside him, it wouldn’t be worth it.

If only one gets beaten, so be it; better to bear it alone.

As they walked, they reached the school gate.

Wang Peng bit his lip. “I’ll go with you! If there’s a fight, I’ll help take some of the blows.”

Yang Le silently remembered Wang Peng’s words. This was true brotherhood. He vowed to look after this friend in the future.

Yang Le and Wang Peng walked out together. Seeing the crowd outside, Yang Le’s confidence wavered. But having stepped out, he couldn’t turn back like a coward.

Though both Yang Le and Wang Peng were tall, they were no match for the opposing group.

“So you do have guts, Yang Le! Coming out with just the two of you—do you think I, Pan Xiang, won’t deal with you?” Pan Xiang laughed mockingly.

“Leopard, it’s those two punks. Take them down. If anything happens, I’ll handle it,” Pan Xiang said, wasting no time.

“Let’s get started,” Leopard said. He raised his steel pipe and charged forward with his gang. Leopard backed Pan Xiang because Pan Xiang paid him well—ten thousand yuan for this lesson, not counting the promised party that night.

Just then, Leopard’s phone rang in his pocket. Annoyed, he pulled it out, his expression quickly changing to a smile as he answered.

“Yes… yes… yes…” he said, bowing repeatedly, uttering “yes” a dozen times before finally hanging up.

Afterward, he felt a wave of relief, patting his chest and muttering, “Thank goodness…”