Chapter 35: Smashing the Iron Rice Bowl

The negative impression Jiang Changyuan had left on everyone was so profound that the school’s sudden certification of him as a "good student" felt entirely surreal to the crowd.

Had the threshold for being a good student really dropped so low these days?

Within the ranks, only one person’s expression shifted violently. Zhang Chengliang was drenched in cold sweat, his face pale and panicked as he stared fixedly at the area just below the podium. He had never dreamed in his wildest nightmares that Yan Chang would sell him out!

"...Even though Yan Chang has acknowledged his mistake and turned informant, the impact caused is far-reaching. Following the school's deliberation overnight, it has been decided that both individuals shall receive a formal reprimand and be expelled!"

"Bring Yan Chang up!"

The vice-principal and Director Lu flanked Yan Chang, their expressions so stern it looked as if they were escorting him to prison. Having spent the entire night in a state of terror, Yan Chang’s hunched figure appeared even more weathered. He kept his head bowed, afraid to meet the sea of hateful, accusing glares.

"Bring Zhang Chengliang up!"

With a signal from Principal Pei, the homeroom teacher standing at the end of Class 2 moved immediately. Today was the day for the public disciplinary hearing of Yan Chang and Zhang Chengliang.

*Thump!*

Overcome by terror, Zhang Chengliang’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, his mind buzzing. He had only committed the kind of mistake any student might make; why were they expelling him?

A limp, trembling mess, Zhang Chengliang was dragged onto the stage. He looked toward Yan Chang for help, but Yan Chang didn't spare him a single glance. With his last hope shattered, Zhang Chengliang felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

It was over.

"I don't accept this!"

"Why should I be expelled?"

Amidst his overwhelming panic, Zhang Chengliang recalled Jiang Changyuan causing a scene in the auditorium... If the school could favor Jiang Changyuan, why couldn't they favor him just once? If he made a scene too, could he force the school to retract the expulsion?

Before Principal Pei could even open his mouth, someone else acted as his mouthpiece.

"Why are you being expelled? Don't you have any self-awareness?"

"If it weren't for you being jealous of Jiang Changyuan and reporting him out of spite, why would he have been wronged by everyone?"

Yan Chang, his expression twisted, finally looked at Zhang Chengliang with eyes that seemed ready to devour him. If he was going down, he wouldn't let the person who caused his ruin get off easy. Spare the "he's just a child" nonsense. What kind of child spends every day at school not studying, but racking their brain on how to frame their classmates?

"What does his being wronged have to do with me? I didn't tell everyone to wrong him."

"Ha! If you hadn't reported him and started that cheating scandal, would Jiang Changyuan have suffered such unmerited disaster?"

"I, I... that was all your fault too!"

Zhang Chengliang’s face turned beet red as he lashed out irrationally. "I only reported him casually; who knew you would actually believe it and continue to suppress Jiang Changyuan in class?"

"Fine, I did wrong, I admit it!" Yan Chang let out a mocking laugh, not caring in the slightest about hurting himself to spite his enemy. He knew that even if he knelt and begged, he couldn't stay at the high school anymore. Adopting a repentant attitude now was better than offending the Jiang family and finding himself unable to survive in Beining City.

Lacking any real wit, Zhang Chengliang was left speechless, his throat choked with frustration.

"Is Jiang Changyuan really innocent?"

"The school is holding a public disciplinary hearing, and both Zhang Chengliang and Teacher Yan have confessed. Are your eyes too rusted over to see that?"

"Damn, I just find it impossible. How could Jiang Changyuan suddenly score so well?"

"So if someone is better than you, it's cheating, but if they're worse, it's the truth?"

"Damn you! Do you want to fight?"

"Stop bickering, it's none of your business anyway."

"Anyway, I don't have an opinion on Jiang Changyuan. But come to think of it, Yan Chang wasn't a great homeroom teacher anyway. Good thing he doesn't teach us..."

The three thousand students below initially whispered in small groups, but as different viewpoints emerged, the clamor grew louder. Their attitudes toward Jiang Changyuan split into three distinct camps: the first group remained indifferent, the second group held onto their prejudices and chose to remain blind, and the third group consisted of the small number of students who had been helped by the Student Association over the past month and knew how to be grateful. They were few, but their fighting spirit was high.

"Young Master Jiang is awesome!"

"In front of our Young Master Jiang, homeroom teachers are nothing!"

"He deserves it. He’s been cursing at us so viciously these past two days; I’ve been wanting to snap back for a long time."

Little Fatty and the others couldn't hide their excitement, cheering in low voices. At this moment, they finally set their anxious hearts at ease—Young Master Jiang wouldn't be expelled!

Gu Qing, who was maintaining order, felt his emotions in turmoil. His gaze drifted past the sea of heads toward the direction of Class 1. He had thought he would have to carry this humiliation until graduation, but he hadn't expected someone to stand up for him the very next day.

"Quiet!"

Principal Pei commanded with a deep voice, and the noisy atmosphere instantly fell silent. Then, with an expression shift that resembled a magic trick, he smiled with a somewhat eerie kindness.

"Changyuan, bring your people up here and let these two apologize to you all."

The teachers lingering at the back of the ranks exchanged subtle glances. Why did the principal act like a different person today? Did he take the wrong blood pressure medication?

Jiang Changyuan led Little Fatty and the others out of the ranks and beckoned to Gu Qing in the distance, as if calling a cat or dog.

Gu Qing pursed his lips. Between pretending not to see and letting out his frustration, he easily chose... the latter!

"You two, apologize properly and try to earn their forgiveness."

"I will, Principal. I have deeply realized my mistake." Yan Chang lowered his head and closed his eyes, swallowing bitter tears. His only feeling was regret. He had smashed his own iron rice bowl!

"Why should I apologize to Jiang..."

"If you don't apologize, you can try it and see if any high school in Beining dares to take you!"

Zhang Chengliang, still defiant, wanted to resist, but the moment he opened his mouth, the stern and icy gaze of Principal Pei silenced him. Principal Pei’s words were less of a threat and more of a final act of kindness toward Zhang Chengliang. Offending the Jiang family wouldn't kill you, but it would certainly unlock a hundred different ways to end up destitute. He wouldn't reveal the reason; since Jiang Changyuan hadn't announced his own status, the principal assumed he wanted to keep a low profile.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have cursed at you..."

After Yan Chang finished apologizing to each of them, he walked nervously toward Jiang Changyuan. Whether he was forgiven or not would determine his future life. Being expelled was one thing, but if he could at least get into another school—or even a training center—it would be a chance. But if Jiang Changyuan didn't forgive him...

"I do not accept your apology."

Before Yan Chang could even finish his plea, Jiang Changyuan extinguished his hope.

The entire playground became as silent as an empty lot. Even Gu Qing watched with curiosity. Was Jiang Changyuan still holding onto his anger?

"Student Jiang, I am truly repentant, I..."

"Can spilled water be gathered back up?" Jiang Changyuan let out a scoff and continued. "You think a simple apology makes up for two days of cursing at us?"

"Since you weren't the one being cursed at, you think an apology makes everything fine?"

"Insults, targeting, cold ridicule—when you were doing all that to us, did you ever think that you were a teacher, an adult, and we were students, children?"

Every question made Yan Chang’s face turn another shade of pale, but he couldn't let Jiang Changyuan continue!

*Thump!*

Yan Chang fell to his knees in terror.

Jiang Changyuan stepped aside, looking down at him with cold, indifferent eyes.

"You kneel... does that mean the fact that you accepted bribes simply ceases to exist?"