Immovable as a Mountain Shi Tiexin (Part 1)

But how was that possible?

This student was truly unlike any student he had ever seen, and Zheng Kaiming could not quite see through him.

Looking across all of Fengming First High School, even though everyone here was a genius from across Southern Zhili, young people were still young people. Even if they had character and talent, their thoughts were basically plain to see at a glance. In his long teaching career, those he could not see through were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Every one of those few had gone on to become a figure who stirred the winds and clouds.

And among the current students of Fengming First High School, from first year to third year, the only one Zheng Kaiming could not see through was the one from the Provincial Governor's household in North Su Province.

But what kind of person was that one from the Provincial Governor's household? A true peerless prodigy of the age.

And now, another Shi Tiexin had suddenly emerged—a boy Zheng Kaiming had never paid any attention to before.

"Could I have seen wrong?"

Zheng Kaiming scratched his head and headed for the eighth floor of the office building, stopping before the door of an ordinary-looking office.

Knock, knock, knock. Zheng Kaiming rapped on the door, his manner somewhat solemn.

"Come in."

A clear voice came from within.

Zheng Kaiming pushed open the door. Inside was a very ordinary office: ordinary furnishings, ordinary furniture, ordinary size—but one person within it was far from ordinary.

He was a man who looked to be only in his thirties, not yet forty, handling affairs behind his desk. His face was lean, and his eyes were slightly narrow, giving him an edge of sharpness. Yet his gaze was warm and bright, focused and tranquil, tempering that sharp edge. Though busy with work, he remained composed amid the bustle, his back straight as a green pine.

He seemed like a scholar-official from an ancient imperial hall, brimming with refined elegance yet carrying an authority that needed no anger. He was not old, but he possessed a bearing that won one's admiration at first sight. Though Zheng Kaiming was over ten years his senior, he did not dare put on airs and instead greeted him first. "Principal Liu."

This man was the newly appointed principal of Fengming First High School.

"Director Zheng, please, come in." Principal Liu rose to his feet and grabbed a kettle, intending to pour Zheng Kaiming a cup of water himself. Zheng Kaiming hurriedly took it from him, filling Principal Liu's cup first before pouring one for himself.

Principal Liu lifted his teacup and blew on it. "Director Zheng, I had long heard of the Trash Class. I had to trouble you with making a trip there in the dead of night. I imagine the environment there was not very good?"

"It truly was not." Zheng Kaiming shook his head. "It was rotten to the core."

"Haha!" Principal Liu did not mind. "Rotten is exactly what it should be. The parents worked so hard to send their children to Fengming First High School, not so the children could eat well, live well, and enjoy life. Fengming First High School receives ample funding every year, but if we do not create distinctions between them, how will they strive to improve and pursue their studies?

"I think there is no need to repair the Trash Class dormitory building either. As long as it has not become a dangerous building and remains habitable, that is enough. Move all the saved funds to the elite students, or distribute them to the teachers as subsidies. Fengming First High School absolutely will not eat from the same big pot."

Zheng Kaiming nodded forcefully. "The principal is wise."

"It is not that I am wise. Our school has done things this way for generations. I think this method is excellent, and we must continue to carry it forward." Principal Liu recalled something. "Right, how is that student Shi doing? Do not let the blow be too great and make him do something foolish. If necessary, it would not hurt to let him know a little—we will still transfer him back to the Key Class."

Zheng Kaiming was not surprised. The two had already discussed this matter. Though the charges sounded imposing, Shi Tiexin's case could be made big or small. If they wanted to make it big, they could say anything; if they wanted to make it small, it was not much of an issue at all. Shouting out in class might not even have been as serious as that boy secretly smoking. Zheng Kaiming had merely confiscated the cigarettes over that matter, while sending Shi Tiexin straight down to the Trash Class—honestly, that punishment was excessive.

Yet in the end, Principal Liu had still decided to send Shi Tiexin there.

For one thing, as a new official taking office, Principal Liu naturally needed to make some moves. But no matter what moves he made or what reforms he wished to carry out, he absolutely could not shake Fengming First High School's foundation. What was that foundation? Of course, its university admission rate. How could they ensure that rate? It was troublesome to explain, but if school rules were not strict and school discipline did not thrive, then it certainly could not be guaranteed.

Principal Liu had long wanted to pick out an example, and Shi Tiexin was the chicken that had stuck its head beneath the blade at precisely the right moment. It would have been hard to justify not slaughtering that chicken.

For another, the two had also examined Shi Tiexin's circumstances. The First Guard Champion had fallen from the Elite Class. Usually withdrawn and self-contained, he was presumably filled with indignation and resentment. That was hardly a good state to be in, and letting it continue would do no good. Principal Liu had decided to first demote Shi Tiexin to the Trash Class, so he could understand what Fengming First High School's "survival of the fittest" truly meant. After some time, they would promote him back up.

What was lost and then regained brought the greatest joy. After this push and pull, he would presumably stop letting his imagination run wild and settle down to study.

As for whether Shi Tiexin might be unable to bear the blow and sink into permanent despair... if that was truly the case, then he was not worth cultivating. Even if he did not go now, he would slowly fall behind sooner or later. There would be no great destiny in him.

Principal Liu's only concern was that a young person might not withstand the blow. If Shi Tiexin suddenly had a foolish impulse and wanted to die, choosing some auspicious day to take a leap of faith from the teaching building, that would be extremely troublesome.

But Zheng Kaiming's answer greatly surprised him.

"This Shi Tiexin is quite different from the vast majority of students." Zheng Kaiming frowned as he carefully recounted everything that had happened, along with what he had seen and heard. In the end, he shook his head. "That kind of composure is not something someone his age, with his status, should possess."

"Oh? Such a thing actually happened? It seems this Shi Tiexin is someone with destiny on his side." Principal Liu was surprised as well. Then he raised his cup and took a sip. After giving it some thought, he nodded. "Then let us do this. I had originally intended to promote him back in a few days, but it seems he does not need our help now. The final placement examination is not far off. What treatment he earns in the end will depend on his own ability and fortune."

Zheng Kaiming naturally had no objections. After reporting on some more work and ideas, he left the unusually plain principal's office.

Principal Liu returned to his chair and picked up a scroll of writing at hand. He was reading "On Marquis Liu."

"Those called heroes in ancient times surely possessed integrity beyond ordinary men. When common men suffered humiliation, they drew their swords, rose up, and fought with their bodies. This was not true courage."

"Those who possessed great courage under heaven did not startle when sudden calamity came upon them, nor grew angry when insult was heaped upon them without cause."

"For what they bore within was great, and their aspirations reached far."

Principal Liu ran his fingers over those lines. After a moment, he raised his eyes and looked out at the night sky beyond the window.

What he bore within was great...

His aspirations reached far...

Was that truly so?

Heh. Whether it was a mule or a horse, bring it out for a run. Putting on a pose alone was not enough.

Still, he would make a note of the name "Shi Tiexin" for now.