Rolling Up His Bedding, Trash Class (Part 1)

Old Jia was fuming, his face as black as the bottom of a wok. As a result, everyone in First Year Class 3 and Class 7, First Year had sat in trembling silence through the entire evening study period, not daring to make the slightest move. Every student sat properly, either scribbling away furiously or previewing and reviewing lessons. In short, they were all obedient as could be, giving "Old Jia of the Electric Current" no chance to pick a fight.

"Old Jia of the Electric Current" was a nickname the students had secretly given him. It meant that whenever his temper flared, he was like a man hooked up to electricity—enough to make your hair stand on end.

They had heard that Scholar Stone had been brazen beyond belief, and had even knocked Old Jia down before leaving. Though they did not know exactly how he had done it, in the eyes of Class 7's students, Old Jia was probably crackling with electricity from the roots of his hair to the tips, sizzling and popping. Then, when they turned to look at the empty seat in the back, some who delighted in others' misfortune had already begun eagerly anticipating Scholar Stone's fate.

But Old Jia had no mind to deal with those brats right now.

After a study period, Old Jia returned to his office. At the same time, amid a knock-knock at the door, a pot-bellied middle-aged man walked in. The man had an interesting face: broad and perfectly square, with hair round and full, a model example of Heaven round and Earth square. To the students of Fengming First High School, he was like a natural enemy. He was none other than Zheng Kaiming, the dean of discipline known as the "Square-headed Fiend."

"Director Zheng, still busy?" Old Jia rose to greet him. "It's so late. You've been working hard."

"What I do is nothing. Teachers like Teacher Jia, fighting on the front lines of education, are the ones truly working hard." Naturally, Square-headed Fiend Zheng Kaiming could not keep a stern face while speaking to a teacher. "I heard Teacher Jia was knocked down just now. You weren't hurt, were you?"

"It's nothing, nothing." This school was neither too small nor too large—how had such a minor matter reached Zheng Kaiming's ears so quickly? Old Jia considered it for a moment before speaking gravely. "I wasn't knocked down. I only made a student stand for too long, and the student was weak and staggered a little. I went too far with the punishment. That is my responsibility, and I'll reflect on it."

"What responsibility could Teacher Jia possibly have? Even if someone bears responsibility, it's that student." Zheng Kaiming sat down, his face full of authority. "Roaring in class, refusing management, and even attacking a teacher in the end—has he gone mad? Teacher Jia, rest assured. The school will uphold justice for you. For a student who has so severely disrupted teaching order and so seriously violated school discipline, the school will absolutely show no leniency! After deliberation, the school has decided to give that student a major demerit!"

Old Jia was startled. A major demerit at Fengming First High School was no trifling matter. It was not the sort of demerit that got written down in the first year and removed in the third year, where one wrote a self-criticism, claimed to have shown remorse, and then the matter simply faded away—such demerits did not exist at Fengming First High School.

What kind of place was Fengming First High School?

In Donghua Nation's Southern Zhili, across the three provinces, five prefectures, and twenty-eight districts, it was one of the few prestigious high schools one could count on one hand. Looking across the entire nation, it was also a renowned elite school. The finest students from the vast land gathered here. Entering this school was like boarding an express train straight toward a bright future.

Never mind anyone else—among just the classes he taught, there were more children of high-ranking officials and colossal tycoons than he could count on both hands. And do not take that lightly. You might think every class had a few children from wealthy and powerful families, so it was nothing special. But the high officials and colossal tycoons in Old Jia's mind possessed truly immense power and influence, truly vast wealth and privilege. Even a mayor's son would have to stand farther back in line.

Think he was bragging?

Take a sugar-roasted chestnut, for instance: the child of the Provincial Governor of North Su Province in Southern Zhili was in Old Jia's First Year Class 3. The Provincial Governor of North Su ranked among the top five people, from highest to lowest, among Southern Zhili's five hundred million residents. His position was more honored than that of the governors of the other two provinces. Only a family background like that could be called noble and peerless in Fengming First High School. As for the rest, they were all merely so-so, nothing worth mentioning.

For such a prestigious school to keep so many young masters and misses obediently in line, its rules and discipline were famously strict. Once a demerit was issued, it would definitely be entered into one's record. And once it entered the record, it would have a profound impact on one's entire future, becoming a stain that could never be erased.

"Director Zheng, this... this student Shi, he didn't do it on purpose. The matter of falling down really was a misunderstanding. If anything, it showed that he had a good attitude toward admitting his mistake. I made him stand there, and he did not move all afternoon. He did not even eat dinner, standing all the way until evening study. His legs had gone numb from standing—that was why this happened." Old Jia scratched his head and began racking his brains for kind words. "Student Shi usually performs excellently, studies diligently, endures hardship and labor, remains unyielding and steadfast, is young and promising, strives upwards..."

"Hehe, Teacher Jia, you're a Mathematics teacher. Don't force yourself to make things up." Zheng Kaiming sat there as steady as an old god. "We have already learned about Shi Tiexin's situation. The school's intention is to seek Teacher Jia's opinion on this matter as well. But school discipline cannot be undermined. Mistakes must be punished. Otherwise, Fengming First High School will no longer be able to teach and nurture students."

"But he can't be given a major demerit!" Old Jia stiffened his neck and stopped trying to compose flowery praise. "Shi Tiexin is a child with a bitter background. He struggled so hard to get here. One major demerit, and his perfectly good future will be ruined. No, it can't be like this!"

Zheng Kaiming looked at Old Jia. After a moment, his expression softened. "All right, then. The major demerit will be waived."

Old Jia let out a breath.

"But it is impossible for there to be no punishment at all." Zheng Kaiming's expression turned stern again. "If you do something wrong, you must be punished. That is the school's bottom line. Where is Shi Tiexin now?"

Where was Shi Tiexin? Of course, he was in the dormitory.

At dinner time, his mind had still been in complete chaos, and he had not remembered to eat at all. Now, he truly could not hold on any longer.

Starting from the teaching building, one would reach the dormitory district after crossing the athletic field. The dormitory district was enormous, with many buildings as well. For some reason, Shi Tiexin simply knew where his dormitory was. Swaying unsteadily, he headed toward the imposing new dormitory buildings in the rows ahead.

These four dormitory buildings had their own separate courtyard, with a gate of their own. Looking through the gate, the space inside was ample and the facilities complete. There were even many exquisite, lovely little Streetlights along the paths. It looked just like an upscale residential complex.

Shi Tiexin stood at the entrance, staring dazedly for a long while. He felt that he ought to live here, but after some time, he shook his head. He knew that he did not live here now, then turned and walked farther back.

Beyond that large enclosed courtyard, the buildings behind it were not so new. They had no fancy designs, nor could their conditions be called impressive, but overall they were acceptable. The walls looked gray and dull, nothing eye-catching, but they were at least clean and tidy. There were no delicate little Streetlights, but the place was still bright enough.

Overall, it was not bad.

There was no separate courtyard gate here, but the main road split left and right in a neat, orderly fashion. Shi Tiexin stood at the deserted intersection, looked left and right, then finally walked toward the place that felt familiar by instinct.

The building entrance was fairly clean.

The stairway did not smell too bad.