Chapter Fifty-Six: Dongshi Imitates the Frown

When Mr. Zhu pushed open the door to the office, he saw Director Guo on the phone with someone. His face was twisted with discomfort, yet his voice still carried a perfunctory, forced smile.

“Director Chen, you’re being too formal. We’re old classmates—how could I refuse you? Haha, yes, don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get it done for you. But there’s little I can do. Some student wrote a letter of complaint, and now the school leadership suddenly wants a thorough investigation. Young Mr. Qin has become the scapegoat… Yes, yes. I’ll do what I can.”

Hearing Director Guo’s conversation, Mr. Zhu pondered quietly: Could someone really be pleading on Qin Luo’s behalf? Are the rumors true? Does he actually have some powerful backing?

But then he shook his head, thinking, if he really were so well-connected, he wouldn’t have been fired by the director. He’d heard Qin Luo was introduced by Principal Li Yonggang—perhaps those people are the ones advocating for him.

No one was happier about Qin Luo’s dismissal than Mr. Zhu. Compared to the silence when Qin Luo was around, these past two days he’d been speaking much louder in the office, reveling in the respectful attitude of the other teachers toward him.

Mr. Zhu wasn’t about to let the opportunity to kick a man when he’s down pass him by. He’d sighed in the office, “Young people just stepping into society lack experience and don’t understand the rules. The one who laughs last, laughs best… I think Miss Min is excellent. She’s got great potential for development.”

Miss Min smiled awkwardly but didn’t respond.

She’d been a student council officer herself and was well aware of office politics. Mr. Zhu was deliberately elevating himself by belittling Qin Luo, and as one of the parties involved, she wouldn’t be so naive as to believe he was genuinely praising her.

Director Guo hung up the phone and rubbed his aching temples. He said to Mr. Zhu, “Take a seat, Mr. Zhu.”

“Alright,” Mr. Zhu nodded. He was somewhat related to Director Guo and was also one of the most senior teachers, so he didn’t show much respect to his superior. If anything, he seemed arrogantly self-important.

“Sigh. We’ve invited a plague to our doorstep,” Director Guo said angrily. Thinking of Qin Luo leaving with a credit card and mocking him, his anger flared anew.

“Was someone just calling to plead on his behalf?” Mr. Zhu asked, looking at Director Guo.

“This was the thirty-sixth call. All of them were for him. Heh, who’d have thought? The kid really has clout. People from every department, even the National Security Bureau.” As Director Guo said this, he wasn’t smiling at all. He felt more like crying.

On one hand, his old boss was insisting, and on the other, so many influential people were pressing him. He’d offended so many at once, he realized he’d have to stick to his patch at the Medical University from now on. Otherwise, who knows how they’d make trouble for him.

Mr. Zhu was secretly astonished, somewhat grateful he hadn’t made his relationship with Qin Luo too tense. But he said, “Director, you’re just doing your job. For the reputation of our College of Traditional Medicine and the students’ future. I always say, ‘Those who speak without restraint don’t work reliably.’ That kid—Qin Luo—is he even of age? Even if he started studying traditional medicine in the womb, he wouldn’t necessarily have learned much.”

“I heard he never even entered the school gates. How could someone like that have a solid foundation? So I say, dismissing him is justified. The sooner, the better. If he causes trouble later and gets fired, who’d bear the responsibility but you?”

Director Guo waved his hand and said, “We know our own business. You can’t imagine the pressure I’m under right now. Thankfully the old principal is bearing the brunt. Otherwise, I’d be tempted to invite this Buddha back myself. You have no idea who’s been calling me. Who wants to offend so many people?”

Seeing Mr. Zhu about to console him, Director Guo said, “Forget it. What’s done is done. We’ll just have to stand our ground. I’m within my rights and procedures. Even if they want to complain, there’s no excuse. That kid was never qualified to be a teacher.”

Director Guo stood up, walked to the sofa opposite Mr. Zhu, and looked at him. “Mr. Zhu, I called you here today to discuss something.”

Mr. Zhu nodded, making a show of listening intently.

“It’s like this. The department has dismissed Qin Luo, but the course ‘Traditional Medicine Diagnostics’ still needs someone to teach it. Apparently, the students are restless. If there’s no teacher next class, I fear they’ll cause trouble.”

“I’m to teach ‘Diagnostics’?” Mr. Zhu felt uneasy.

‘Traditional Medicine Diagnostics’ was a course demanding high practical knowledge. Not only did one need to understand medical theory, but also treatment methods. A teacher who taught it well would have to be a highly skilled doctor.

He’d always taught ‘Selected Readings from the Inner Canon’, a theoretical course. Now, faced with this emergency, he wasn’t confident.

“Yes,” Director Guo nodded.

“But I’m not familiar with the subject. I don’t have a teaching plan—it won’t be easy to teach,” Mr. Zhu said.

“Mr. Zhu, you know how hard it is to recruit teachers for this course. If their level is low, the students aren’t satisfied, and we don’t want them either. If their level is high, they’d rather be doctors in the hospital than teach. You’ll just fill in temporarily. Once we hire someone, you’ll be replaced. What do you think?”

“Well... I’m still a bit worried.”

“Old Zhu, you’re the most senior and experienced teacher in our department. Who else in the office is suitable?” Director Guo patted Mr. Zhu’s hand earnestly.

Hearing the leader value him so highly, Mr. Zhu was deeply grateful. It would be inappropriate to decline further, so he nodded, “Alright. Since you value me so much, I’ll give it a try.”

“That’s the spirit. Seniors should set an example and take charge when things happen,” Director Guo said with satisfaction.

“Old Zhu, then it’s settled. But there’s one thing I need to remind you. The students are close to Qin Luo. Be careful they don’t embarrass you in class. If they misbehave, show them some authority. I’m giving you permission to expel one student and record three major demerits. Use your discretion.”

Mr. Zhu replied confidently, “Director, rest assured. I’ve taught for decades. I know how to handle these young pups.”

“Good. I’ll leave it to you.”

That afternoon, there were two periods of ‘Traditional Medicine Diagnostics’. When the bell rang, Mr. Zhu entered the classroom with his textbook tucked under his arm and a thermos in hand.

He glanced around; there were about a hundred students. His ego swelled with satisfaction.

Previously, students rarely attended his lectures. This was the first time students from other majors had come to hear him teach.

Mr. Zhu placed his textbook and thermos on the desk, swept the class with an imposing gaze, cleared his throat, and spoke, “Some of you may already know, some may not. Let me explain on the school’s behalf.”

“Because Mr. Qin, who previously taught ‘Traditional Medicine Diagnostics’, didn’t hold a teacher qualification certificate, he wasn’t eligible to teach. Therefore, the school dismissed him. For now, I’ll be covering this course. Once we recruit an outstanding teacher, they’ll take over. What do you all think?”

As he said this, Mr. Zhu forced a stiff smile, hoping to take a gentle approach and bring a sense of spring-like comfort to the students.

“Not so good,” the entire class replied in unison.

Mr. Zhu’s smile froze. His expression darkened.

He swept the classroom again, and said sternly, “You are students of the school and must abide by school discipline. Now, open your textbooks.”

“When Mr. Qin taught, he never made us open the textbook,” a student spoke up.

“Exactly. Mr. Qin always lectured without notes. Having us open the textbook—ha, you’re not even close.”

“Mr. Zhu, didn’t you used to teach ‘Selected Readings from the Inner Canon’? You taught that course well—we loved sleeping in your class. Why are you here teaching ‘Diagnostics’? Why do something you’re not good at?”

The students chattered, mocking him, completely disregarding his years of being rated as an excellent teacher.

Mr. Zhu’s facial muscles twitched. He grabbed the eraser and banged it hard on the podium, shouting, “Quiet! Be quiet! Every teacher has their own teaching habits. Who says only teachers who lecture without notes are good teachers? That’s laziness. That’s irresponsibility. If you don’t even prepare a teaching plan, how can you be a good teacher?”

“I think Mr. Qin is amazing.”

“Yeah. Mediocrity loves making excuses for its own banality.”

“Mr. Zhu, don’t compare yourself to Mr. Qin. It’s self-defeating. Go back to teaching ‘Selected Readings from the Inner Canon’. I love your lullabies.”

---

Smack!

Mr. Zhu slammed his palm on the podium and barked, “What kind of students are you? Do you understand the rules? Listen, when I came, the department told me: I have the authority to expel one student and record three major demerits. I don’t want to make trouble for you, but don’t force me to. A major demerit is a lifelong stain on your record. You won’t even be able to find a job afterward.”

He pointed to the classroom door and said, “If you don’t want to listen to my lecture, you can leave. I won’t stop you. Rest assured, I’ll give you a score of sixty in the final exam.”

He’d heard that Qin Luo had conquered these students with this approach. He decided to try it himself—he didn’t believe these students would really dare leave in front of him.

Sitting in the front row, Wang Jiujiu took off her headphones, stuffed them in her bag, picked up her bag, and walked out without so much as a word.

The whole class erupted. All the students hurriedly packed their things and rushed out.

In the blink of an eye, only one student remained.

A boy with bandages on his leg sat there, dejected, and shouted after the departing students, “Hey, you bunch of idiots! Take me with you if you’re leaving—my leg was injured playing football. Where’s your sense of camaraderie?”