Retaliation

Seeing Gao Teng run into the Administration Building, Zhao Dapeng began to panic.

He had only meant to provoke Gao Teng into talking back so he could add another fifty laps as punishment and make him miss the upcoming Martial Arts Research Course.

He hadn't expected the kid to go berserk and be dead set on making a scene.

Gao Teng used to be so timid. How had he suddenly gotten so much nerve?

"Gao Teng, wait. Let's talk this out."

Zhao Dapeng had no choice but to soften his attitude. He chased after Gao Teng, admitting his mistakes as he went.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have made things difficult for you on purpose. I promise I won't treat you differently anymore."

"Can you stop and hear me out? I was just joking earlier."

But Gao Teng ignored him and ran up to the Principal's Office on the second floor.

Just as he was about to charge inside, Zhao Dapeng grabbed him by the wrist.

"Gao Teng!"

Zhao Dapeng instinctively wanted to threaten him, but swallowed his words at the last second and put on a smile.

"Don't go complain to the principal. I admitted I was wrong, didn't I?

"I shouldn't have made you run today. I'll make it up to you with a Meridian Opening Pill later."

Gao Teng's expression didn't change at all.

Zhao Dapeng was backing down now, but who knew what trouble he might cause later?

Gao Teng couldn't stay in Class Eight. He had to use this opportunity to transfer to another class.

"Teacher Zhao, why are you two blocking my door?"

As they struggled with each other, a middle-aged man walked over, looking puzzled.

He seemed to be in his fifties, with a sharply defined crew cut and a square, broad face. He was Liang Guofu, the principal of Fifth Middle School.

"Principal."

Zhao Dapeng put on an ingratiating smile. "It's nothing. We were just—"

"Principal, I want to report Teacher Zhao.

"He's recently taken on a construction project outside school, and he's trying to force me to drop out so I can work for free at his site."

Zhao Dapeng hurriedly cut in. "Principal, that's not what happened. I—"

Gao Teng took over. "I refused to drop out, so Teacher Zhao started making things difficult for me on purpose.

"He picked on me and punished me by making me run, wasting my time to practice. This afternoon, he's also arranging some kind of two-person team combat exercise, and the winning team gets an eight-percent discount on medicine.

"He deliberately paired me with Zhou Xing, the top student in the class, just to watch us clash. He wants to use Zhou Xing to get back at me."

Zhao Dapeng hurried to explain. "That's not true. I paired you with Zhou Xing to keep things fair and make sure everyone accepted the results.

"Zhou Xing is so strong that if I paired him with another strong student, no one else would have a chance."

Gao Teng said, "After class just now, Zhou Xing came to see me. He said that if I made him lose, I'd have to pay for all the money he lost, or he'd make me regret it. And you still claim this is about fairness?"

"Right, you also twisted the facts. Zhou Xing deliberately hit me, but you claimed I attacked him.

"You deliberately framed me so you could keep punishing me and stop me from attending the Martial Arts Research Course."

Zhao Dapeng said, "I..."

Gao Teng kept firing away. "And you talk a good game, saying you found us a new pharmaceutical company with cheaper prices.

"But how can medicine made by this company be any good?

"To reduce side effects, they're pumping painkillers, anti-nausea drugs, anti-dizziness pills, and sedatives into the medicine like there's no tomorrow.

"You're taking a cut and don't even care if your students live or die!"

Zhao Dapeng hurried to say, "Principal, the pharmaceutical company I recommended to the students has all the proper qualifications and paperwork. I wouldn't dare do anything reckless.

"I wanted the students to be able to buy cheaper medicine and spend less. I was only trying to help them!"

Liang Guofu furrowed his brows and stared at Zhao Dapeng without saying a word.

Zhao Dapeng immediately fell silent. Then he lowered his head and said, looking deeply ashamed, "Principal, I realize I was wrong. I'm willing to apologize to Gao Teng, and I promise I won't treat him differently again."

With that, he bowed deeply to Gao Teng and apologized with great sincerity.

Gao Teng didn't press the matter. He knew Zhao Dapeng would at most get a few words of criticism; there was no chance he'd be fired.

So he accepted the apology and made a request to Liang Guofu.

"Principal, I want to transfer to Class Five."

"After reporting Teacher Zhao today, I definitely can't stay in Class Eight.

"I hope to have a good learning environment before the college entrance exam. I want to improve my grades over these last two months."

Liang Guofu's expression turned odd.

He could clearly sense how strong Gao Teng was. At his current level, he couldn't even get into a vocational college.

Improve his grades in the last two months?

Dream on.

Still, to avoid another mess like today's, he decided to grant Gao Teng's request.

He called Chen Yan, the homeroom teacher of Class Five, briefly explained the situation, and transferred Gao Teng to her class.

"All right."

Liang Guofu hung up and said to Gao Teng, "Go report to Class Five. I've already spoken with Teacher Chen."

"Thank you, Principal."

Gao Teng thanked him, then turned to Zhao Dapeng. "Teacher Zhao, I don't have to take part in this afternoon's combat exercise, right?"

"No, no, you don't."

Zhao Dapeng smiled. "Also, I'll give you that eight-percent discount directly.

"I really was in the wrong today. Don't hold it against me, all right?"

Gao Teng shook his head. "Zhou Xing needs the discount more than I do. With cheaper medicine, he might be able to take a shot at getting into a top university. I've passed it on to him."

Zhao Dapeng was a little surprised, but immediately understood what Gao Teng was thinking.

Gao Teng didn't want to cause more trouble. If Zhou Xing found out he'd gotten the discount, he'd definitely come looking for trouble.

The kid was smart. He knew there were some advantages he shouldn't take.

"Teacher Zhao, I passed the discount on to Zhou Xing. You won't tell him I took it, will you?"

Zhao Dapeng immediately panicked. "I won't! Of course I won't! Why would I deliberately stir up trouble? What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Good. Otherwise, I'd have to ask the principal to settle things again.

"Principal, sorry for the trouble today. I'm going to report to Class Five."

Gao Teng bowed and quickly left the Administration Building.

After he was gone, Liang Guofu's expression darkened as he stared at Zhao Dapeng.

Zhao Dapeng shifted uncomfortably and gave an awkward laugh. "P-Principal..."

"Zhao Dapeng, you've been teaching for years. How can you not even manage a student?"

Zhao Dapeng looked embarrassed. "Principal, this kid usually isn't that bold. I don't know what got into him today."

"Enough. This is because you went too far.

"Be smarter about how you teach from now on. Don't make things too difficult for the students. This can't happen again."

"I promise. I promise."

As he spoke, Zhao Dapeng opened the door to the Principal's Office and ushered Liang Guofu inside.