<h4>Chapter 1200: Trouble at School</h4>
Along a road.
Inside a cab.
The driver was speechless when he looked at Dong Xuebing through the rearview mirror. He thought to himself. Why are you in a wheelchair when you can walk?
“What is it, Sir?”
“Huh? Nothing….”
“Ok.”
“Ah, which part of Fen Zhou City are you going?”
“Go there first. I got to call and ask.”
“Ok. You should ask now. We are reaching.
Dong Xuebing called Xie Hun again.
“Hello.”
“It’s me, Hun.”
“I know.”
“Were you in a meeting? You did not answer my call.”
“Yes. It was ast-minute meeting.”
Xie Hun is a Deputy City Mayor and a Party Committee member. She has to attend all sorts of meetings like the City Party Committee meetings, Provincial government meetings, etc. Other than these meetings, she also has meetings with the leaders under her.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “You can answer my calls during your meetings.”
“It was an emergency meeting. Something happened.” Xie Hun is outside, and Dong Xuebing can hear people talking beside her. “Why are you looking for me?”
Dong Xuebing knew Xie Hun could not talk freely. “What happened?”
“It is the education ministry.”
“That is under you. Is it serious?”
“It’s fine. Let’s talk after I settle it.”
“Ok. Go and do your work.”
“I will call you in the afternoon. Talkter.”
Dong Xuebing overheard someone shouting in the background. “Mayor Xie! We cannot stop them!” Xie Hun hangs up.
The driver looked at Dong Xuebing. “Where are you going?”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while. “Just drive first.”
“You need to tell me where you are going. How am I supposed to drive without a destination?” The driver replied helplessly.
Dong Xuebing nced at the driver. “Did something happen in Fen Zhou City?” He sensed this should be a serious incident from Xie Hun’s tone.
The driver replied. “The City is big, and many things are happening every day. What are you referring to?”
“The education system.”
“Education? Is it about schools?”
“I think so. I arrived this morning and did not watch the news.”
The driver thought for a second and said. “Ah, I remember. There was a report about a middle school teacher in Fen Zhou City Fourth or Third Middle School implementing corporal punishment on several students in his school. He even hit and scolded the students harshly. The media exposed him, and the parents started protesting and asking forpensation.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “So serious?”
The driver replied. “It’s not that serious. I heard the teacher had pped only two to three students. But someone was trying to stir up trouble, and it got blown out of proportion.”
Hmmm…. This incident is not severe but will affect the City’s reputation.
No wonder Hun had to settle it.
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and asked. “Is it Fourth or Third Middle School? Third Middle School is in the suburbs, and Fourth Middle School is in the City.”
“Ah, it’s Fourth Middle School.”
“Then let’s go there. Thank you.”
The driver asked. “Why are you going there?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “I am going to take a look.”
The driver felt this passenger was too nosy. They did not know the situation at the school, and he was covered in injuries. What if he got pushed and fell? He should be resting in a hospital.
The driver did not say anything since the passenger requested it.
Afternoon.
Before 1 pm.
The cab entered Fen Zhou City’s downtown and stopped near the Fourth Middle School.
A crowd had formed in front of the school’s entrance. About forty to fifty parents had gathered there.
“I cannot get closer.” The driver said.
Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s fine. I will alight here.”
The driver reminded. “Be careful, and don’t get too close.”
Dong Xuebing paid the driver and said. “Thank you. Oh, I don’t need the wheelchair. You can take it or donate it for me.”
“Huh?”
“Be careful on the roads. Bye.”
Dong Xuebing got out with his luggage before the driver could say anything.
Dong Xuebing limped away with his bag. He did notpletely heal his left leg’s injuries and could not walk properly. But it was better than moving around in a wheelchair.
The entrance of the Fourth Middle School was full of people.
Men, women, old and young, had gathered and were angry.
Dong Xuebing looked terrible when he saw so many people. This was one of the things civil servants were afraid of.
Fifty parents….
The local government would be in trouble if this were not handled well.
Dong Xuebing walked over to the bystanders and listened to the crowd. He needs to understand what happened first. The main gate was closed, and two security guards blocked the parents from entering through the side door. A few people were standing there. He saw the City’s Education Bureau Chief, Liao Yiming. He was the first person to join Hun on her first day. An Education Bureau Deputy Chief, an elderly man who should be the Principal, and a few teachers stood behind him.
Liao Yiming said loudly. “Calm down, everyone!”
The Principal added. “The students are having sses now. You all will affect them.”
“Calm down?”
“How can we be calm when our children are getting abused?”
“We want an exnation from the City Leaders!”
“What kind of school is this? This is ridiculous!”
“That’s right! We demand an exnation! We are not leaving without anypensation!”
“We sent our children to school to study and not to get beaten by your teachers!”
“I saw the Deputy Mayor’s car entering the school earlier! I want to speak to Mayor Xie! The City Government must give us an answer!”
“We will not leave!”
“Yes, we will not leave!”
The crowd was getting agitated.
Some started scolding the Education Bureau’s leaders and Xie Hun.
Dong Xuebing listened to them and narrowed his eyes.
The bystanders shook their heads.
“These people….”
“The school had settled thepensation with the parents of those involved studentsst night. Look, the involved parties are not here. The people here are not involved. I wonder who brought them here.”
“Ah? These parents are unrted to this incident?”
“Why are they here?”
“Can’t you tell? They are here to take advantage and get money.”
“Yes. They are using this opportunity to demandpensation.”
“They want money, and they are here to create trouble.”
“The Tv Station exposed this, and these people are smart. They know the City does not want this incident to blow up. That’s why they stick their hands in.”
“People are only interested in money and nothing else.”
Dong Xuebing understood what happened to the bystanders. These people’s children were not abused, and they were the parents of other students. They are using this opportunity to create trouble.”
“Get Mayor Xie here!”
“Where is Mayor Xie?”
“We wantpensation!”
The parents started to shout.
A beautiful pregnant woman in a ck suit walked out of the school building. Xie Hun and a few City Government staff followed behind her.
“Mayor Xie.”
“Mayor Xie.”
The school leaders quickly greeted her.
Liao Yiming said. “I tried talking to them, but they refused to listen.”
Xie Hun nodded. “Let me try. Let’s go.”
Liao Yiming quickly stopped her. “You cannot go out. The crowd is rowdy, and it is safer here.”
“I will be fine.” Xie Hun walked gracefully to the crowd and looked at them. “Hello, everyone. I am Xie Hun.”
“Mayor Xie! We demand an exnation!” Someone shouted.
Xie Hun nodded. “Sure. The teacher involved has been suspended, and the relevant department is investigating this incident. We will issue an official statement once the investigation is over.”
A woman shouted. “Do you think this is over with an official statement?”
Xie Hun replied. “We take a serious view in this incident. We will punish the wrongdoers impartially.”
“That is not enough!”
“Who is going topensate us?”
“We refuse to listen! Justpensate us!”
Xie Hun replied. “We canpensate, but you all need to provide evidence that your children were abused in school. Our initial investigation discovered two victims, and we had concluded with their parents.”
“Do you think this is over?”
“What about us? Who is going to stand up for us?”
“That teacher had scolded my child too!”
“Even if our children were not hit, the school must bear responsibility! This incident had affected my daughter’s mental health. She became quieter at home now.”
“My child is also keeping to himself recently!”
“My son too. I am going to transfer him to another school! This school is trash!”
“This is not over until we get ourpensation!”
The parents got more agitated after a City leader appeared. All of them demanded money angrily.