Education Department Leaders Remind Principal Yin

The Open Class lasted two days. After teaching on the first day, Li Yuan had a much easier time on the second.

He only needed to follow along and watch the other teachers teach.

No one knew if they were imagining it, but everyone felt that the Education Department Leaders had become stricter.

Perhaps it was because of Li Yuan's outstanding performance on the first day.

The questions they asked were far more difficult than expected.

The only good news was that the worst score among the teachers was still a B-, so no one had fallen to a C Rating.

The two-day Open Class, covering twenty teachers' lessons, officially ended at 6:40 p.m.

The students were dismissed, and the teachers participating in the Open Class were also allowed to leave work and rest.

Principal Yin and Director Ma wanted to treat the Education Department Leaders to dinner.

Despite saying plenty of nice things, they still could not persuade them to stay.

Before getting into their cars to leave, Zeng Chang, the deputy director leading the group, called Principal Yin aside.

Zeng Chang wore a serious expression, his words carrying an obvious warning.

"Old Yin, we've already shown you special consideration this time.

"Look at how these teachers performed today. You and I are both old hands in the education field, so we know exactly what an Open Class is like.

"It's perfectly normal for teachers to perform two or three times better in an Open Class than they do normally.

"If this is all they can manage in an Open Class, then how bad are they usually?"

Principal Yin frowned deeply under the reprimand. Naturally, he could see it as well.

The results of those ten teachers today had truly been rather terrible.

"This time, the city sent us down to inspect you, so we could show you consideration and save you some face.

"But what if people from the province come next time? Do you think they'll still spare your dignity?"

Principal Yin's expression tightened at those words.

"Is the province coming to inspect us?"

"They definitely will, though it should still be a few months away.

"These next few months are for you to inspect and rectify yourselves. Don't drag us down with you and get us scolded too."

After delivering those warnings, Zeng Chang turned to leave.

After taking only two steps, he turned back to look at Principal Yin and added another reminder.

"One teacher performing well cannot change the overall evaluation.

"Teacher Li Yuan did perform quite well, but if you think you can prop everything up with him alone, it won't work.

"Don't play these little tricks. Find a way to improve the overall quality of your teachers.

"Lingshan No.1 High School is, after all, a key city-run school."

Having said what he needed to say, Zeng Chang boarded the official car for the return trip.

As he watched the official car start up and leave, Principal Yin's expression remained ugly.

He had not been playing any little tricks at all.

He had arranged for Li Yuan to take part in this Open Class evaluation and assigned Flickering Shadow Steps for him to teach because he wanted Li Yuan to receive a terrible evaluation.

A C Rating would establish the authority of the school leadership.

At last Friday's meeting, Li Yuan had openly defied the leadership. He had to be punished.

Only once Li Yuan had been punished could the school leaders manage the teachers more effectively.

Yet this plan to establish their authority had instead boosted Li Yuan's morale.

The dinner gathering that had been arranged now had to be canceled since the guests had left.

Inside the principal's office, several school leaders gathered to discuss the matter.

"Principal, you saw it too. Li Yuan puts real effort into teaching, and his teaching ability is indeed quite good.

"Dismissing a teacher like that would be a loss for the school..."

Before Director Ma could finish, Principal Yin snorted coldly. "What good is it if a teacher like him teaches well? He has no sense of propriety and refuses to listen to advice!

"As long as he is willing to leave, I absolutely will not keep him!"

His tone sounded quite firm, but Director Ma could tell that Principal Yin's attitude had already softened considerably.

Previously, Principal Yin had been extremely determined to dismiss Li Yuan.

In truth, Li Yuan's performance in this Open Class had indeed been excellent.

No matter what Principal Yin's attitude was, dismissing Li Yuan would not be so easy.

His softened stance was more like giving himself a way out.

The others beside them all saw through Principal Yin's thoughts and chimed in, saying they should let Li Yuan off this time.

"Director Ma, can't you still get through to Li Yuan?

"After talking with him, does he still insist on fighting for a spot in the Youth Martial Tournament?"

After some hesitation, Principal Yin asked about the latest situation.

As the principal of Lingnan No.1 High School, he did not handle many matters personally and had assigned them to Director Ma.

Director Ma nodded, a helpless look appearing on his face.

"I even brought wine to his home and spoke with him alone.

"But Li Yuan was very firm this time. He even blamed the school for taking away his opportunities in the past, dredging up quite a few old grievances."

Hearing this, Principal Yin revealed an angry smile.

"Does Li Yuan think that his martial arts strength has not improved for years because we took his resources?

"Interesting. He certainly doesn't dwell on his own shortcomings.

"He has no achievements himself, yet he places all the blame on us school leaders."

The Vice Principal and the others nearby also wore helpless expressions.

It was as though the leaders had truly been wronged.

"Li Yuan must have seen other people participate in training expeditions, gain benefits, and improve, so he thinks it would be the same for anyone who went.

"Leaving aside whether he would embarrass the school, if those past opportunities had been given to him, would he really have improved?"

The school leaders took turns criticizing Li Yuan for not knowing gratitude.

In the eyes of the school leaders, they had already treated Li Yuan very well.

But what was the truth?

Over all these years, Li Yuan had not even gotten a single chance to join a training expedition.

They had not even given him the chance to try.

There were even two training expedition opportunities that Li Yuan remembered clearly.

Back then, he had only obtained the slots because articles he wrote had won awards.

When he was young, Li Yuan had truly believed that foolish talk about taking the long view.

"Since he wants to fight for it, then give him the chance to compete with Jin Fan for it this time.

"Director Ma, after Li Yuan loses the match next Saturday, go speak with him again.

"If he still refuses to repent, find every possible way to dismiss him!"

Upon hearing Principal Yin's instructions, Director Ma nodded along.

This match had not even begun, yet Principal Yin and the others had already decided that Li Yuan would lose.

That was only natural. Anyone who knew Jin Fan's background believed there was no suspense at all.

The disciple of a Grandmaster—just that title alone carried a crushing pressure.

At this point, the Vice Principal beside them brought up another matter concerning Li Yuan.

"Over the past few days, Li Yuan has become rather popular among the first-year students.

"Many students from the advanced classes have secretly gone to ask him questions.

"Li Yuan has taken this opportunity to say quite a few good things about himself.

"Apparently, quite a few students now support his participation in the Youth Martial Tournament."

Principal Yin looked extremely puzzled upon hearing the Vice Principal's words.

"Students from the advanced classes need to ask Li Yuan questions?

"Is he really that capable? Has he surpassed even the veteran teachers of the advanced classes?"

Seeing the leaders all turn their gazes toward him, Director Ma hurriedly explained.

"The first-years have recently been learning Sinking Mountain Fist. Li Yuan has done some research on Sinking Mountain Fist, and Class Nine and Class Fourteen have learned it very well.

"The students are spreading the word everywhere. Principal, you know what these children are like—they have no ability to judge for themselves.

"Once other students say Li Yuan teaches well, they get carried away and immediately believe it."