Chapter 19: I’ll Kill It
Sun Mulan was too young and lacked experience in handling such matters. After Zhou Wanfeng had finished speaking, she pushed open the conference room door and left. Zhao Shenyu’s family was unwilling to let it go and started to make a scene.
Sun Mulan was surrounded by Zhao Shenyu’s family, who were demanding an explanation.
In the end, it was Du Yong’an who stepped in to appease Zhao Shenyu’s family and persuade them to leave. He then took Sun Mulan back to the office, not forgetting to impart some experience on the way.
“Teacher Sun, when dealing with student fights, you need to analyze the specific situation. A situation like today’s is not suitable for a meeting between the two families. It’s a good thing Zhou Wanfeng’s parents didn’t come, otherwise there might have been a fight today. It’s best to call the parents at different times and emphasize their child’s fault. This is very important. When they’re in the wrong, their momentum will be lacking, and they’ll be more likely to compromise and downplay the matter.”
He then remembered what had happened in the conference room and emphasized, “Today was also a special situation. Zhou Wanfeng was using this incident to express her dissatisfaction with Teacher Li and the school. This child is not simple.”
Having been a teacher for so long, it was the first time Du Yong’an had encountered such a student.
She was clear and logical, argued her case forcefully, and used both warnings and threats. Most importantly, she was fearless throughout the entire process. She looked the teacher in the eye and confronted the parents of the student who had been beaten with composure. From beginning to end, what she expressed and what she wanted were very clear.
The teacher had to teach seriously, and the teacher had to maintain order in the classroom.
“By the way, Teacher Sun, do you know which elementary school Zhou Wanfeng graduated from?” Du Yong’an asked curiously.
Sun Mulan actually knew. She was curious about the student who had gone to the dean’s office to get her books by herself, so she had looked at her admission records. “Zhou Wanfeng graduated from Dongshan City. She only transferred to Yunhai City this summer vacation.”
“Dongshan City? Oh, then I know. When you go back to the classroom, change Zhao Shenyu’s seat. Then contact Zhao Shenyu’s parents again and tell them about the seat change. There will also be a class meeting to criticize him. It’s best to handle this matter internally. If it blows up, she might get a demerit. To put it more seriously, if necessary, tell them that Zhou Wanfeng’s family took her to the hospital for a check-up and she even got a shot…”
Sun Mulan listened attentively, preparing to do as he said.
Zhou Wanfeng left the conference room and went straight home. She was stopped by the guard at the gate when she went to get her bike. He said that students were not allowed to leave during class time.
“I got into a fight in class. The teacher told me to go home and reflect,” Zhou Wanfeng said, telling the guard to call Sun Mulan to verify. While he was on the phone, she rode her bike away.
She sped all the way home.
Yang Yijun was a little stunned to see her suddenly return. Before she could ask, Zhou Wanfeng shot her a cold glance and ran upstairs.
Yang Yijun looked at Auntie Zhang and pointed upstairs. “Why is she back at this hour? It’s not time for school to be out yet.”
Auntie Zhang craned her neck and looked up. “Her expression doesn’t look right. Could she have gotten into some trouble at school?” Her eyes and the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curve into a smile. The little bastard had gotten into trouble. She was so happy.
Yang Yijun thought for a moment. “It doesn’t look right…”
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Jiawen called. Yang Yijun thought she had found out about the things she had asked about before.
But Jiawen was crying on the phone. “Sob, sob, sob, it’s not about that. I haven’t even had a chance to ask yet. Just now, Director Du from the political and educational affairs office came to me and asked about Zhou Wanfeng. I just said she was a relative’s child who had transferred to Yunhai City this summer vacation. Because she came in a hurry, the public schools were all full, so she went to Shuangshu. I was wondering if her paperwork was incomplete or something.”
Yang Yijun could hear the real urgency in Lin Jiawen’s voice, and the sound of crying. She quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Why is she back when school isn’t even out yet?”
“Why is she back? She got into a fight in class! She dragged a boy from the back row all the way to the back door of the classroom and beat him up. He was bleeding, and his face was all swollen. The homeroom teacher notified the parents, but the boy’s parents were unwilling to let it go, so they went to the political and educational affairs office.
“And that’s not all, Auntie. Did you know that Zhou Wanfeng not only complained about the teacher, but she’s going to the Education Bureau to complain about our school? Director Du was trying to find out if I was the one who gave her the idea. He said how could a junior high school student think of so many things? How would I know? I’ve only met her a few times.”
She was so angry on the phone she was about to cry. “I told you to transfer her to a regular class. Now she knows she’s in a bad class, and that’s why she’s causing trouble. She said the teacher is inactive in class and doesn’t maintain order. After talking about the teacher, she started talking about the school, saying that putting a bunch of poor students, bad and naughty ones, in one class is discrimination, and she’s going to report it to the Education Bureau. Auntie… I was the one who introduced her. If she really goes and makes a scene, how can I stay at the school? What will the school leadership think of me? They’ll probably think I have a problem with the school and that I was the one who instigated it.”
The more Lin Jiawen spoke, the more anxious and aggrieved she became. “Auntie, you don’t like her, but you can’t set me up like this. I’m still helping you ask about Jingya’s teacher, and now my own job is on the line. I said from the beginning to transfer her to a regular class, but you wouldn’t let me. Look at the mess now. The school leadership will definitely question me later. What am I supposed to say? Even I think, what does a twelve-year-old child know about complaining and reporting? I can’t explain it at all.”
Yang Yijun frowned and held the phone away from her ear. Jiawen’s voice was like a string of firecrackers, making her eardrums ache. But she had heard everything clearly.
A wave of anger welled up in her chest. Last time, it was her who had gone to the police station to report a crime.
Yang Yijun calmed down and soothed her. “Jiawen, don’t be anxious. Explain it properly to the school leadership. I’ll talk to Zhou Wanfeng later and tell her to behave at school and not cause you any trouble. Don’t worry, with your aunt here, I won’t let her cause any trouble. You still have to help me with Jingya’s matter. I’ll give you a bracelet later. Don’t you like that gold and jade one? I’ll find it and send it to you later.”
Auntie Zhang was standing nearby, listening with her ears pricked. As soon as the phone was hung up, she saw Yang Yijun’s face darken, her voice cold. “Auntie Zhang, go and call her down for me.”
A moment later, Zhou Wanfeng came down, her hands in her jacket pockets, her eyes cold as she looked at Yang Yijun. “What is it?”
Yang Yijun’s face was stern. She put down her exquisite little teacup and said coldly, “Did you get into a fight at school?”
“Does that have anything to do with you?” Zhou Wanfeng looked at the furious Yang Yijun and suddenly sneered.
“Zhou Wanfeng, Jiawen pulled strings to get you in. Did you even think about how she would face the school leadership after the scene you caused today? You want to complain about the teacher, complain about the school? You repay kindness with enmity just because they gave you a school to attend?” Yang Yijun slammed her hand on the table, but Zhou Wanfeng, who was standing opposite her, remained unfazed, her eyes filled with sarcasm.
She suddenly sat down on the sofa next to her, leaned her head against the armrest, and looked at the furious Yang Yijun for a long time before suddenly speaking. “Two days before school started, I went to the school to fill out some forms. On the way, my dad told me: Jingya’s grandmother won’t let you into a good class…”
Yang Yijun’s pupils suddenly constricted, her lips trembled. Just as she was about to explain, Zhou Wanfeng suddenly sat up, a smile on her lips, her eyes fixed on Yang Yijun, not missing a single subtle expression.
“He told me to study hard and try to get first place in the grade.”
Yang Yijun’s heart pounded like a drum, but she watched as Zhou Wanfeng leaned slightly closer, her gaze deliberately darting around before she whispered, “He said that whether Yun Jingya is excellent or inferior, others can’t say anything about him.”
Yang Yijun’s hands clenched into fists, the veins on her neck bulging like earthworms, but she tried her best to restrain herself, to maintain her composure.
Zhou Wanfeng moved even closer, so close that she could see the fine lines around Yang Yijun’s mouth, as numerous as cow’s hair. She smiled. “He also said…”
“What else did he say? Say it all,” Yang Yijun roared, her hands trembling with anger.
“He said Yun Jingya’s surname is Yun, and someone else will take care of her, good or bad. He also said that in his eyes, I’m much smarter and more outstanding than Yun Jingya. He said that as long as my grades are good, he’ll get me into a key high school. My dad has high expectations for me. I can’t let him down. I have to study hard. But the class I’m in is really terrible. The teachers are so perfunctory in class. How am I supposed to study? My dad told me… ah, my dad said my surname is Zhou, and if my grades are bad, he’ll lose face.” Zhou Wanfeng paused, changing the subject, her gaze shifting to the side.
Yang Yijun’s expression was silent for a moment, then her eyes widened in anger. Smack. Her hand slammed down hard on the table, much harder than before. She gritted her teeth and said, “Good, really good. The one with the surname Yun will be taken care of by someone else? Really good.”
Zhou Wanfeng stood up and chuckled. “Junior high is like this. You don’t know, do you? For some people, the worse the environment, the more it stimulates their sense of challenge.”
With that, Zhou Wanfeng put her hands in her pockets and went upstairs to read.
Yang Yijun’s face turned from white to green, the veins on her temples throbbing. Anger made her body as stiff as a rock. She sat there for a long time.
Meanwhile, at Shuangshu Model Middle School that afternoon, all the substitute teachers for First Grade, Class Nine were called to a small conference room.
Du Yong’an had called a special meeting to emphasize the issue of classroom etiquette. The other teachers were still confused. Why were they suddenly discussing this? The matter couldn’t be kept under wraps. A student had caused trouble, and was going to complain about the teacher and the school.
In short, there was a tough nut in First Grade, Class Nine. The other students didn’t want to study, but she did. As a teacher, you couldn’t neglect your duties.
“Teacher Li, is that student tough?”
Li Jianbang, who was asked, was furious. “Tough? Of course she’s tough. She dragged a boy to the back wall of the classroom and beat him up. Several students couldn’t pull them apart and were even kicked down. You all better be careful. Who knows, one day she might even dare to hit a teacher if she doesn’t like your teaching.”
Du Yong’an frowned. “Teacher Li, you can’t let your emotions affect your work, especially towards classmate Zhou Wanfeng. There’s nothing wrong with her wanting to study hard. Of course, I also understand the actual situation in Class Nine. The students are difficult to manage, but difficult to manage doesn’t mean you don’t manage them at all. If you don’t manage them at all, that’s wrong. Now that you’ve been caught, are you not going to change? Then she’ll complain.”
The other teachers whispered, “Her name is Zhou Wanfeng?”
“Yes, yes, her name is Zhou Wanfeng.”
“I have a class with Class Nine tomorrow. I’m actually a little curious…”
Sun Mulan sat to the side and said nothing. Zhou Wanfeng’s last words to her were still echoing in her mind. She was a little touched, but she didn’t understand what she was trying to do.
Zhou Wanfeng, of course, didn’t know that the school had held a special meeting for her. She was in the study, memorizing the chapters that were required for Chinese.
As she was memorizing, Zhou Zhiru pushed the door open and stood at the entrance. He had just gotten off work and was still in his work suit, his face cold and stern. “Come to the study with me.”
Zhou Wanfeng packed up her books and stationery and went over.
In the study, Zhou Zhiru had loosened his tie and was sitting in a chair, scrutinizing Zhou Wanfeng with a cold gaze. He looked at her for a full minute, his brow tightly furrowed. “You caused trouble on the first day of school?”
Zhou Wanfeng’s gaze was like ice. “As a parent, you don’t even ask, and you just assume I caused trouble?”
“Zhou Wanfeng!” he roared.
Zhou Wanfeng sneered. “Zhou Zhiru, last time you didn’t even ask me. As a result, your intention to move out of this house was revealed. This time, you’re not even asking again? It’s better to learn from your mistakes.”
Zhou Zhiru’s eyes narrowed, a cold, dark glint flickering in them. He asked with a hint of doubt, “So, you knew what I was trying to do last time?”
Zhou Wanfeng sneered, her expression cold and hard as she looked back at him. “Do I look like a fool? In that atmosphere of shouting and killing, my own biological father’s desire to perform was really strong. It’s fine to fool a bunch of people with the surname Yang, but you’re trying to act out a father-daughter drama in front of me? Moving out under the pretext of taking care of me? What were you doing all those years I was in Dongshan? If you’re going to act, you should at least make it convincing. At least ask me first, maybe I would have believed you. But you were even more eager for me to hit someone than that group of Yangs. You confessed for me, apologized for me?”
“So that’s what you were really talking about when you smashed the door and went in last time?”
Zhou Wanfeng nodded. “She knew you wanted to move out, that you weren’t happy living here. But it seems she doesn’t want you to leave, but she really wants me to leave.”
“I analyzed it a little. It’s a very simple principle. Have you ever seen a landlord sell off his strong, hardworking ox that plows the fields? The little fatty’s surname is also Yun. She’s driving me away just because my surname is Zhou, right? She’s worried that the Changfeng Electrical that you built up with your own hands will be given to me. I heard that the Yun family’s fortune will be passed down to Yun Lang’s older brother in the future. You and Auntie Yun are married, so your post-marital assets should be split fifty-fifty. Perfect, half for Yun Jingya, half for Yun Chengbin. But then I came along, an eyesore.”
Zhou Wanfeng looked at Zhou Zhiru and continued to analyze with a sneer, “I can leave, preferably back to Dongshan. But if I stay in Yunhai City, just the two of us, Yang Yijun is afraid that a deep father-daughter bond will develop. It’s better to keep me under her nose. After all, in this house, with so many pairs of eyes watching, any sign of preferential treatment will be seen by others. And then, the good school and good class that Yang Yijun found for me. She’s so afraid that I’ll succeed. It would be best if I just fell into depravity in a class of hooligans. That’s what she wants to see most.”
Zhou Zhiru’s brow furrowed even more. He asked, “Don’t you want to live alone in peace?”
“I do. But wanting to live in peace doesn’t mean that the trouble and darkness around me will disappear. That’s just escaping. If my very existence is a problem, and the conflict itself is very sharp, then there’s no use in running. If I have to become someone I hate just to avoid trouble, I’ll let it die.
Zhou Wanfeng’s eyes were fierce. She stared at Zhou Zhiru and said coldly, “Anything that stands in the way of me living my own life, I’ll kill it.”