Chapter 1200: Trouble at School
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 Huilan again.
“h.e.l.lo.”
“It’s me, Huilan.”
“I know.”
“Were you in a meeting? You did not answer my call.”
“Yes. It was a last-minute meeting.”
Xie Huilan 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 Huilan is outside, and Dong Xuebing can hear people talking beside her. “Why are you looking for me?”
Dong Xuebing knew Xie Huilan 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. Talk later.”
Dong Xuebing overheard someone shouting in the background. “Mayor Xie! We cannot stop them!” Xie Huilan 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 glanced at the driver. “Did something happen in Fen Zhou City?” He sensed this should be a serious incident from Xie Huilan’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 for compensation.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “So serious?”
The driver replied. “It’s not that serious. I heard the teacher had slapped 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 Huilan 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 pa.s.senger 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 pa.s.senger 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 not completely 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 Huilan on her first day. An Education Bureau Deputy Chief, an elderly man who should be the Princ.i.p.al, and a few teachers stood behind him.
Liao Yiming said loudly. “Calm down, everyone!”
The Princ.i.p.al added. “The students are having cla.s.ses now. You all will affect them.”
“Calm down?”
“How can we be calm when our children are getting abused?”
“We want an explanation from the City Leaders!”
“What kind of school is this? This is ridiculous!”
“That’s right! We demand an explanation! We are not leaving without any compensation!”
“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 Huilan.
Dong Xuebing listened to them and narrowed his eyes.
The bystanders shook their heads.
“These people….”
“The school had settled the compensation with the parents of those involved students last night. Look, the involved parties are not here. The people here are not involved. I wonder who brought them here.”
“Ah? These parents are unrelated 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 demand compensation.”
“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 want compensation!”
The parents started to shout.
A beautiful pregnant woman in a black suit walked out of the school building. Xie Huilan 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 Huilan 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 Huilan walked gracefully to the crowd and looked at them. “h.e.l.lo, everyone. I am Xie Huilan.”
“Mayor Xie! We demand an explanation!” Someone shouted.
Xie Huilan 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 Huilan replied. “We take a serious view in this incident. We will punish the wrongdoers impartially.”
“That is not enough!”
“Who is going to compensate us?”
“We refuse to listen! Just compensate us!”
Xie Huilan replied. “We can compensate, 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 tras.h.!.+”
“This is not over until we get our compensation!”
The parents got more agitated after a City leader appeared. All of them demanded money angrily.