Besides, you guys bullied our class, then still had the nerve to come to our class looking for witnesses. Were you idiots?
"Didn't see anything."
"Didn't hear about it."
"Didn't notice."
"Probably not."
Class 28 spoke with one voice, firmly backing Shi Tiexin.
The four lackeys panicked. If they failed to seize this last chance, their grievance would truly never be redressed. The four immediately charged into Class 28 and shouted, "Nonsense! You're all lying! You all saw it!"
That morning, these people had been silent as cicadas before the Black Hand Hungry Tiger.
But that afternoon, everything had changed.
Our class had Brother Old Tie. Why should we fear little pests like you?
"What did we see?"
"This is simply absurd."
"What a load of nonsense!"
The four lackeys were alarmed, then bewildered. Looking at the disgusted, loathing, contemptuous faces throughout Class 28, they truly felt their standing in the schoolyard hierarchy had sunk to rock bottom. Normally, this little clique ran roughshod over everyone, and the Street Sweeping Tiger cut an imposing figure, as though they were incredibly formidable. But did those who feared them really hold no anger in their hearts?
It was only that everyone knew the gun fired at the first bird to stick its head out. No one dared to be the first to step forward—or rather, no one could step forward without being knocked down afterward.
Now, Shi Tiexin had become that person who stepped forward and did not fall. Since he had not fallen, he became a banner. That banner might not have worked so well elsewhere, but when it came to opposing Teng Chaoguo and the Street Sweeping Tiger, it was extraordinarily effective.
No one would fear them anymore.
No one.
The four panicked. No, this wouldn't do. If no one cheered them on, then their whole performance would truly be ruined! They had to find someone. They had to find someone to testify for them! Who? Who else would still fear them? Right, wasn't there a cowardly little fellow in this class? The one they had slapped hard across the face that morning, yet he hadn't even dared to fart!
"Zhao Qingmiao! You saw it, didn't you?!"
The four roared at Zhao Qingmiao in the front row.
But Zheng Kaiming would not let these brats swagger about. He barked, "What are you yapping about? Shut up, all of you!" He looked at Zhao Qingmiao and asked sternly, "Did you see him? What did Shi Tiexin do during the second break?"
"Hello, Teacher Zheng." Zhao Qingmiao stood up, looking every inch the honest, bookish nerd. He said timidly, "Student Shi Tiexin... went to the restroom."
The four immediately rejoiced wildly. This guy really was still afraid of them!
Zheng Kaiming pressed on, "What did he do in the restroom?"
Zhao Qingmiao looked utterly baffled as he answered matter-of-factly, "He went to the restroom. Of course he went to use the restroom. What else could he do?"
"He didn't do anything else?"
"No. Student Shi Tiexin had just transferred to Class 28 and wasn't familiar with the layout, so we went to the restroom together." Zhao Qingmiao said with certainty, "He took a huge piss, then came back."
This, this! The four felt as though boundless darkness had buried them. Lies and false appearances surrounded them, leaving them unable even to breathe. It was as if they had sunk into an endless deep sea—suffocation, oppression, darkness, powerless to save themselves.
Was there still fairness and justice in this world?!
"This student," Zheng Kaiming looked Zhao Qingmiao over twice, "what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?" Zhao Qingmiao was drenched in sweat, panting heavily, his face flushed from exertion. He truly did not look quite normal.
"No, I just like to get some exercise after lunch. I ran all the way here just now and worked up a sweat." Zhao Qingmiao smiled shyly. "Doesn't the school say we should develop morally, intellectually, and physically? I think physical exercise shouldn't be neglected either."
"Mm, good. I have no further questions." Zheng Kaiming turned and walked down from the podium. He showed no politeness toward the four who were still staring at one another, and kicked the fat boy in the backside. "What are you standing around for? Get out here!"
The four followed Zheng Kaiming out of the classroom in disgrace.
The moment they entered the corridor, Zheng Kaiming did not care that class was about to begin or that students were coming and going. He had no intention of saving the four any face. A torrent of roaring abuse erupted from him. "You four have some nerve! Fooling a teacher, falsely accusing a classmate, framing someone else—do you take teachers for idiots?!"
"Teacher Zheng, we..."
"Shut your mouths, every last one of you! If you dare argue one more word, I'll make sure you can't swallow this and walk away today!" Zheng Kaiming's face was thunderous as he pointed viciously at the four. "You four, and that Teng Chaoguo—I've heard a thing or two about what sort of goods you are. Don't think the school can't do anything to you just because you have a bit of petty cleverness."
"I'll remember what happened today. If I hear of one more serious incident involving you, even if I don't catch you with evidence on the spot, I'm telling you now—I have ways to make every last one of you get the hell out of Fengming First High School! First a major demerit, then expulsion, so you'll never be able to hold your heads up for the rest of your lives!"
"Scram!"
Far away by the corner of the wall, Zhou Nan poked out half his face and secretly watched this way. Hearing Zheng Kaiming's roar, Zhou Nan was completely dumbfounded. With evidence so clear and facts so obvious, Zheng Kaiming ignored it all, even lecturing those four and calling it slander and false accusation. This was simply turning black into white!
The Square-headed Fiend had always been sharp-eyed enough to spot every detail. Why had he lost his head today?
No, perhaps he had not lost his head...
Zhou Nan's heart jolted as a possibility suddenly occurred to him. When that kid had arrived at the dormitory... Zheng Kaiming had cleared the way... the three Discipline Committee members had escorted him... and today Zheng Kaiming had openly called a deer a horse and turned cause and effect upside down, clearly shielding that kid... Could it be that the kid was not some ordinary poor loser at all, but someone hiding a major identity?
No, put that possibility aside for now. Just judging from what had happened before his eyes, Zheng Kaiming had openly and forcefully backed Shi Tiexin. So who could Shi Tiexin possibly fear in this school now?
He was probably already able to run rampant through the Trash Class without obstruction!
I... was I really going to make an enemy of someone like this over the position of Class 28's big brother?
Zhou Nan grew another three parts more fearful of Shi Tiexin. From last night until now, three parts before, three parts in the middle, and three parts after—he was already nine parts afraid.
Over at Zheng Kaiming's side, after roaring and cursing at the four until they slunk away, he had outwardly completely established the nature of this incident. But after all four had scrammed, Zheng Kaiming listened closely and heard the irrepressible whispers and muted cheers of Class 20's students, as though they had won some great battle.
Thoughts flashed through Zheng Kaiming's mind. He suddenly turned and headed back to the Black Toilet.
Standing at the entrance to the Black Toilet, Zheng Kaiming carefully examined the ground and discovered something unusual—it was too clean. He knew perfectly well what the Black Toilet was like. Who would be so diligent as to come scrub the restroom?
"This was... washed with water?"
Thinking of Zhao Qingmiao's sweat-soaked appearance just now, Zheng Kaiming pondered for a moment, then got up and walked out.
"Discipline Committee, bring Shi Tiexin from Class 28, First Year, to my office. Yes, that Shi Tiexin. I want to have a little talk with him."
The first day of the Lunar New Year—may the Year of the Pig bring great fortune! We're continuing today too, three updates coming up~
Before you continue