Chapter 53: The Integrity of Plum Blossoms and Bamboo
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“Xiao Qiu is also full of youthful vigor. Enough, don’t get worked up. The school will make a judgment,” the grade leader said with a smile, trying to offend no one.
Vice Principal Wei lifted his teacup, took a sip, and spoke in a low voice, “I understand the situation.”
The moment he spoke, the office fell silent.
“At that time, some students were laughing and even talked back to the teacher, so you made them stand as a collective punishment!”
“Yes, their whole class was whispering downstairs,” Qiu Shilei attempted to muddy the waters.
Vice Principal Wei raised his heavy eyelids, glanced at Lin Cheng, and said,
“Hmm, and then someone brought drinks to those two students standing as punishment?”
“Right, they were making a show of it!”
Vice Principal Wei nodded, “So, you said that if they wanted, you would buy each of them a bottle and then let them go?”
“I was just speaking out of anger; they were deliberately raising a fuss.”
Vice Principal Yu folded his hands behind his back and said, “If even a single student can be true to their word, why can’t you?”
Why can’t you!?
That sentence landed like a hammer.
Qiu Shilei stared blankly at Vice Principals Yu and Wei—the very men he had called Uncle Wei with affection since childhood.
It wasn’t just Qiu Shilei; the entire office was plunged into contemplation... no, deep thought.
Wang Lixin was still pondering how to save his two “little kings”!
Vice Principal Wei’s words made him abruptly change his racing thoughts.
Lin Cheng and Zhao Guangtao also looked stunned.
“No, it’s not like that, Vice Principal Wei…” Qiu Shilei was flustered.
Vice Principal Wei sighed deeply:
“It’s no easy task to reason in front of over two hundred students; all the students are watching you, and so are we!”
“To nurture the righteousness of the green pine, to cultivate the spirit of bamboo and plum blossom—that is the educational spirit of Wuzhou High School!”
“If students can embody such character, then we teachers must have even greater generosity and the courage to face problems. We cannot fear wounding our pride and respond with endless quarrels and hurtful words.”
“I won’t discuss the right or wrong of your punishment, but look at these two students before you!”
“Did they argue? Did they speak arrogantly? We are teachers!”
Qiu Shilei was left dumbfounded, with all his grievances nowhere to be aired.
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Wang Lixin felt a secret thrill: “It takes effort to deal with them, but you’re still young…”
“Physical education is the class children love most. Why did it come to this? Education is a science, but more so an art! Think carefully about this!”
Vice Principal Wei pushed open the door and left. With a swoosh, a group of eavesdropping students scattered like startled birds outside.
The grade leader hurried after him, “Then, Vice Principal Wei, what about these two students...?”
Without turning back, the old man said, “They talked back to the teacher—verbal warning!”
Zhao Guangtao left the office, murmuring to himself, “A verbal warning? Then that’s settled?”
Thus, throughout the senior year, this popular school motto spread:
“To nurture the righteousness of the green pine, to cultivate the spirit of bamboo and plum blossom—that is the educational spirit of Wuzhou High School!”
Having such a principal, when these youths grow into middle age, they will look back with pride.
...
“Hey, Ding-Dang Cat! The thing about you bringing water to the Black-Faced God is all over the school!”
Zhuang Sijing met Yu Yan after class and playfully poked her ribs.
Yu Yan was startled, “Hey, don’t shout so loud!”
Recalling the scene where Lin Cheng stirred up hundreds of people, her heart raced.
“Who, who is Ding-Dang Cat?” Yu Yan caught on.
She knew Zhuang Sijing, a top student in the advanced class, loved giving nicknames! Names like “Zhao Shitao” and “Black-Faced God” were all her doing.
“Ahahaha…” Zhuang Sijing vanished like smoke.
A blush quietly spread across Yu Yan’s fair, delicate face...
That night, Lin Cheng was working on physics problems when his phone vibrated. He picked it up to see an unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Is this Lin Cheng? This is Guan Xiaomeng…”
“Ah? Oh! Guan Xiaomeng, how are you…”
Guan Xiaomeng called to tell Lin Cheng she had found a new job.
She was now working as an assistant at the funeral parlor in Yuxian.
Her mentor was kind, the salary was better than at Baodu KTV, and they provided room and board, even transportation to and from town.
She was very satisfied, and her family’s situation had improved.
What kind of work pays better than Baodu KTV?
Lin Cheng didn’t ask what kind of assistant she was—he guessed maybe a mortician’s assistant or something similar.
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Guan Xiaomeng also said she had sent photos via QQ.
Lin Cheng opened QQ and glanced at the background in the photos—it was indeed the funeral parlor.
Then he carefully looked at her eyes, curved in a smile, and felt her genuine happiness.
Lin Cheng smiled too.
When replying to Guan Xiaomeng, he erased the words he was typing halfway through and instead sent only one sentence:
“That’s very good. I hope everything goes well for you.”
After a pause, he added:
“I’ll be going to Yu Meichen Gift Factory on Saturday; we can have lunch together.”
Guan Xiaomeng showed as typing, but after a while, Lin Cheng still hadn’t received a reply...
...
At 9:30, Lin Cheng, Chen Yan, and assistant Tao Lu arrived at Meichen. They saw Guan Xiaomeng waiting by the main gate with a small backpack.
Ma Hongtao knew Lin Cheng was the son of Lin Yaoming, a “capitalist.” If Lin Yaoming was interested in taking over the factory, it would be good news.
Although Ma himself was uncertain about his future, more than a hundred workers would have a place to stay!
He was so glad he almost called to report to the leaders immediately.
Ma Hongtao wanted to treat the four to a meal but was declined. They ate in the staff canteen.
Lin Cheng’s gaze lingered briefly on the narrow security guardhouse door, then as if pulled by an invisible force, he walked inside.
The guardhouse door was small, like an old box forgotten in a corner; the space inside was cramped.
The group exchanged glances but still entered one after another, turning sideways to fit.
Inside was dim and worn, with an air mixed with old book pages, rust, and unknown spices.
The paint on the walls was peeling severely, revealing mottled cement beneath.
Faint traces of childhood graffiti and deep cracks left by time were visible.
The guard was a man in his fifties who looked somewhat flustered when he saw Factory Director Ma and the others.
“Director Ma, please have a seat. And these kids—whose children are they?”
Ma Hongtao said, “Old Liu, this is the son of Chairman Lin; these two are executives from Cherry Media, all interested in taking over our factory!”
The guard, Old Liu, was somewhat excited.
Lin Cheng smiled, “While touring the factory, Director Ma told me about your family’s situation. Whoever manages the factory will consider the difficulties of the workers. Please send my regards to your wife.”