Chapter 63: Incitement

That night, the friends who had traveled from afar to see Zhang Xingping were arranged to stay at the hotel. Lei Zhanjun, thinking it would be too troublesome to drag his wife and child all the way to the military district, also booked a suite at the hotel so that the three of them could spend the night there. Early the next morning, Lei Lei and her daughter needed to catch a flight back to Yanjing.

Lei Zhanjun originally wanted Zhang Xingping and his family to also stay the night at the hotel, so they wouldn't have to rush home late at night. However, Zhang Xingping politely declined, since his home was close by and he didn't want Lei Zhanjun to go to unnecessary expense.

Unable to persuade him, Lei Zhanjun and his family escorted Zhang Wenhao and his parents out of the hotel. He also had the hotel's VIP car wait at the entrance to drive them home.

Outside the hotel, Lei Zhanjun shook Zhang Xingping's hand, expressing his deep gratitude: "Brother Zhang, I have to thank you for everything today. You've finally helped me resolve something that's weighed on me for so many years."

Lei Zhanjun's wife added, "That's right, Brother Zhang. This has been on Zhanjun's mind for years, never fading for even a day. Now that his wish has finally come true, our whole family is grateful for all you've done."

Waving it off, Zhang Xingping replied, "I bear a great deal of responsibility in this matter as well. Today, I've also fulfilled my own wish—no thanks are necessary."

"Brother Zhang, I probably won't be leaving Jiangcheng in the next few years," Lei Zhanjun said. "We're close by now, so let's make sure to see each other often. If anything comes up, don't treat me as an outsider—just reach out."

Zhang Xingping nodded, "Don't worry, Zhanjun. The two of us are brothers, and there's a long road ahead!"

Lei Zhanjun nodded in earnest. Afterward, Zhang Wenhao and his parents bid farewell to Lei Zhanjun and his family before getting into the car and leaving.

From the moment they got in the car to the time they arrived home and fell asleep, Zhang Xingping remained excited, praising his son endlessly. In his eyes, his son was becoming more mature and promising than ever. Most importantly, Zhang Xingping saw a reflection of his younger self in his son, which convinced him even more that Wenhao's future would far surpass his own.

After settling his father down to sleep, Zhang Wenhao returned to his room. Lying on his bed, he couldn't calm his thoughts. Everything that had happened that day moved him deeply. For a man to have so many loyal friends, as his father did, was a source of pride wherever he went. It also taught Zhang Wenhao an important lesson: that life isn't about going to all lengths to make things better for oneself, but about truly learning how to be a good person—a man who stands tall and lives with a clear conscience.

The next day was Monday. Though Zhang Wenhao was still recovering from his injuries, he was well enough, so he went to school as usual. However, the mood on campus was different. The students were the same, but there were many angry parents.

Dozens of parents filled the grade office, arguing with the head and the teachers. Some even refused to let the teachers go to their classes, resulting in none of the homeroom teachers supervising the morning self-study sessions in any of the senior classes.

Curious, Zhang Wenhao asked Li Nan, "What's going on today? Why are so many parents causing a scene at school?"

Li Nan sniffed, "Who knows who contacted the parents of Class 21 and 22 over the weekend and told them about the school's 'underachievers' classes.' They even exaggerated, claiming the school was discriminating against their children and treating them like they weren't even human, inciting the parents to protest. So the parents came to school early this morning demanding an explanation."

Zhang Wenhao was even more puzzled. "But the classes were reorganized ages ago. Didn't these parents know? Why are they making a fuss now?"

"Of course not," Li Nan scoffed. "Do you really think all the students in those classes are as honest as us? Most people wouldn't dare tell their parents they'd been put in the underachievers' class—they're afraid their families will blame them. Who wouldn't just grit their teeth and try to get through the final semester? Why make their parents angry over this and ask for more trouble?"

Zhang Wenhao suddenly understood. He had been a poor student for a long time, but he never lied to his parents—always telling them the truth. Most underachievers, however, were wary of their parents, often altering their grades, hiding bad news, and only sharing the good. Being assigned to an underachievers' class was embarrassing, so many simply didn't mention it to their families.

Li Nan clicked his tongue, "Now the school is in big trouble. With so many parents causing a scene, it's impossible to smooth things over. I overheard some parents threatening the grade head, saying they'd escalate the issue to the education bureau. The principal was so frightened that he came over himself to try and calm the parents. Who knows, he might even get roughed up."

Zhang Wenhao frowned, "Something's not right. Who would bother to contact all those parents over the weekend? This can’t be a coincidence—it must be deliberate."

Li Nan nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible someone from another school is behind this. You know our school has always been the top in the city, even the province. Plenty of schools see us as rivals." Then he added, "But it could also be a parent. Maybe one found out their child had been put in the underachievers' class and, feeling powerless alone, rallied others to resist the school."

"This is getting out of hand," Zhang Wenhao said, a bit worried.

"Who cares?" Li Nan dismissed it. "Let them make a fuss. We'll just sit back and watch."

Even by the time the first period was supposed to start, not a single teacher had managed to leave the office. The parents had blocked the entrance, and even outside the windows, seven or eight angry parents stood guard. The whole school was in chaos, especially the senior grade. With no teachers in class and parents making a scene in the office, the more mischievous students sneaked out to watch.

Li Nan couldn't resist his curiosity and went to have a look. When he came back, he was grinning from ear to ear. "Wenhao, you have to see this—it's hilarious! The principal’s glasses got smashed by a parent, and now he's surrounded and can’t get out. They won't even let him use the phone. It's really something!"

Zhang Wenhao wasn’t very interested. Whether there were teachers in class or not made little difference to him—he’d already mastered all the high school coursework. With only review and practice exams left, he was confident he could ace the college entrance exam even if he never opened another book.

It wasn’t until near the end of the first period that a teacher from the junior year, realizing things were out of control, quietly called the police. In truth, the principal hadn’t wanted to involve law enforcement, since the school was at fault for openly discriminating against students—a move that would draw public outrage, much like making racist remarks. No one wanted it to come to that.

Dozens of police officers arrived and managed to bring the situation under control. The principal, worried that things weren’t truly resolved, promised the parents that within twenty-four hours, he would give them a satisfactory answer.

Only then did the parents leave, but before dispersing, a parent representative warned the principal, "If this isn’t resolved in twenty-four hours, we’ll be back to demand justice! Even if the mayor comes, we won’t back down!"

As soon as the parents left, the principal announced that all substitute teachers should return to class and all homeroom teachers should attend an emergency meeting to discuss a solution.

At the meeting, twenty-one out of twenty-two homeroom teachers voted to abolish the special classes and end the root cause of the parents’ anger, sending the students of Classes 21 and 22 back to their original classes. Only Song Yanni, the homeroom teacher of Class 21, firmly opposed this.

To Song Yanni, this class was the perfect start to her career. The reason was simple: Zhang Wenhao was in her class. If an intern teacher could produce a top scorer in the college entrance exam, it would be an honor to last a lifetime. Dissolving the class because of parental complaints would shatter all her hopes.

However, as an intern, Song Yanni's position in the grade was simply too low. She had no decision-making power, and her words carried no weight.

The principal had no interest in Song Yanni’s opinion. Now, with disaster looming over him, he knew that if things weren’t resolved and the parents returned—or worse, if the media or education bureau got involved—he’d be the first to be disciplined. He wasn’t about to gamble with his own career.

He angrily scolded the senior grade head, blaming him for proposing the class reorganization in the first place, which had now landed them in such trouble. The grade head was berated until he couldn’t even lift his head.

The principal then issued an order: "You have until tonight to visit every parent’s home and apologize in person! And you must promise each one that starting tomorrow, the students from Classes 21 and 22 will return to their original classes! Classes 21 and 22 are hereby abolished!"

"Principal!" Song Yanni, desperate, tried to speak, but the principal cut her off brusquely: "The school’s reputation comes before everything else. All other considerations are secondary. After the meeting, you and the Class 22 homeroom teacher will go to your classes and announce the dissolution!"