CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: THREATS

Gu Xiaoqing stood up, her expression calm, without agitation or fear, only a slight peace, as if this matter didn’t concern her at all.

"Principal, what Teacher Li said about what happened is basically just Li Fengying’s personal account. Teacher Li, have you investigated this matter? You’ve only spoken to Li Fengying, heard her side, and you’ve already judged us guilty. This isn’t fair; even when a criminal commits a crime, the police have to investigate from multiple angles before issuing an arrest based on evidence.

Are you sure the facts you believe are accurate?

I don’t accept your punishment because I believe I did nothing wrong. Why should I accept this baseless punishment if I did nothing wrong? If I accept it, it means I’m admitting guilt, admitting that what I did was wrong. But are you sure that I’m wrong?"

These words left Li Zuoxin speechless. The girl had logic and reason on her side, completely unyielding, and for a twelve-year-old girl, she spoke with grace and poise.

Li Zuoxin pointed at Gu Xiaoqing with a livid face, saying, "Look, look, so stubborn, refuses to admit her mistake."

Originally, they planned to confuse the issue, but who knew Gu Xiaoqing would be so formidable.

Li Zuoxin didn’t know how to defend himself at this point.

Gu Mingying nodded and said, "Alright, since you believe you did nothing wrong, why don’t you explain what happened?"

It was time to hear Gu Xiaoqing’s account.

Li Zuoxin was anxious; if Gu Xiaoqing spoke, it would definitely be unfavorable to him, there was no way she would support him.

This would only make him a laughingstock.

Secretly resentful, why didn’t Gu Mingying, the principal, know to defend her own teacher? He was the only teacher here; if Gu Mingying didn’t support him today, then don’t blame him for being ruthless.

He could take a seventeen or eighteen-day sick leave and see how the students would manage?

It would wear out his wife.

Previously, Gu Mingying treated him well, took care of him, and many benefits were skewed in his favor, even if he made minor mistakes, like accepting some eggs or corn from parents, Gu Mingying would at most reprimand him and require him to return them without further punishment.

It was essentially a turn a blind eye situation, but damn, since the beginning of the year, Gu Mingying’s been nitpicking and constantly criticizing him in all aspects, even quibbling over this evaluation.

Just think about it, in this godforsaken place, if he weren’t teaching here without complaints, who else would be here?

If he got angry and quit, who could Gu Mingying find to take over?

That’s why Li Zuoxin felt so confident.

The teaching force was too weak.

Gu Xiaoqing began narrating the events clearly and crisply, and after hearing the detailed account, Gu Mingying nodded. The child was right, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Her notes had already been lent to someone else, and not lending them to Li Fengying was normal, but Li Fengying’s domineering attitude wanting them first was wrong.

On top of that, she spoke harshly and even had the nerve to complain to the teacher after being called out, which was really unreasonable.

And she just so happened to encounter a rather unreasonable teacher who only listened to Li Fengying’s side and really intended to punish her. No wonder the child didn’t accept it.

This matter, no matter how you looked at it, she was in the right.

If this had reached the education bureau, wouldn’t they laugh themselves silly? To be a teacher like this, could you still be fit to teach?

Gu Mingying sighed inwardly, feeling that Li Zuoxin was becoming more outrageous. Initially, she thought that with his outstanding talent and teaching skills, he was suited to be an educator, so she was inclined to nurture him, thus tolerating many things concerning him.

After all, having a decently qualified teacher in the countryside is a blessing and a stroke of luck for rural children. Gu Mingying could endure anything for the children’s sake.

Even some of Li Zuoxin’s bad habits, like taking petty advantages, or treating students based on personal preferences.

But over the past two years, he had become increasingly excessive, probably thinking he was the school’s only teacher, indispensable, which made him increasingly arrogant and excessive.

Gu Mingying had received notice before the summer break about a new teacher allocation from the education bureau, a young female college teacher would be sent here.

So she expected this dynamic to change and was subtly dealing with Li Zuoxin, hoping he’d notice the hints and correct some of his faults.

After all, competition brings pressure, and pressure brings motivation.

It turned out that instead of any change, Li Zuoxin’s behavior worsened, prompting her to consider transferring him.

She understood his intentions, just as she knew Li Fengying’s background - she was the education bureau secretary Li’s daughter.

But this couldn’t justify the way he handled students. If this incident were reported to the bureau, Director Fan Zhengcheng would likely act decisively.

He could potentially revoke Li Zuoxin’s teaching credentials immediately.

Gu Mingying looked at Li Zuoxin, who sat there defiantly, without any remorse or guilt on his face, even carrying a bit of a rogue air.

She shook her head and said to him, "Teacher Li, I’ve understood the situation. Your handling was inappropriate. In this matter, Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Juying are blameless; this matter shouldn’t be punished this way.

When you return, clarify the facts in front of the whole class, cancel all original punishments, and focus on teaching."

Gu Mingying was speaking earnestly and sincerely.

However, it was clear Li Zuoxin didn’t see it this way. Upon hearing this, Teacher Li refused, standing up proudly, saying, "Principal, since you believe your approach is correct and mine was wrong, I dare not continue misleading the students. Coincidentally, I’ve been feeling unwell for some time, initially intending to endure it for the students. But today, I’m in too much pain, so I’d like to request a leave. Whenever I’m better, I’ll return to teach. In the meantime, I’ll trouble you to manage."

With that, he swaggered out.