How can you ascend to heaven when you are a star?

Chapter 496 Leading the Way
As dusk falls, the sky is gradually enveloped by night, and neon lights illuminate the city with a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

Zhang Wen drove to Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center, intending to make a congratulatory notice to put on the wall, but when he opened the door, he saw that the lobby was crowded with people.

'what's the situation? ’

Zhang Wen was taken aback. This year's art exams were over, and next year's art exam training classes wouldn't start until the summer vacation. It should be a quiet period for the training center now, so why were there so many people?
"Principal Zhang is here!"

Someone shouted, and the previously crowded hall instantly parted into a path in the middle, with unfamiliar faces warmly greeting Zhang Wen.

"Principal Zhang, congratulations! I just saw Xingxiang's good news and immediately brought my child here to register."

"Principal Zhang, Xingxiang's art exam results this year are amazing. A total of 28 students passed the final exam of Beijing Film Academy. It's practically a mini-Beijing Film Academy."

“Principal Zhang, my child has been studying at another institution for half a year, and I plan to study here from now on.”

"Teacher Zhang, I heard from the front desk that all 30 students in the special training class have passed the exam. What do you think of my child? Is he/she eligible for the special training class?"

"..."

Looking at these enthusiastic parents, Zhang Wen instantly understood what was going on.

So they came to register.

That's right. Such an amazing performance training program—what if everyone rushes to sign up and all the spots are filled? It's all about the children's future!

Zhang Wen responded with a smile as he walked to the front desk.

Xu Zining was engrossed in filling out the registration form, her hair soaked with sweat, looking like she had been busy for quite some time.

"Principal, you've finally arrived." Xu Zining breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the boss. "Ever since you posted Xingxiang's good news on Weibo, parents have been coming to register non-stop. The phone has been ringing off the hook. Please help me register quickly, I need to go to the restroom, I'm about to burst."

After saying that, he shoved the pen and registration form into her hand and hurriedly ran to the bathroom.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Wen couldn't help but laugh.

That's really dedication.

He turned to look at the hall, where there were at least two or three hundred people, and parents were bringing their children inside. He and Xu Zining were really struggling to keep up.

Besides, we can't keep so many parents waiting, can we?

Thinking of this, he immediately took out his phone from his pocket, found He Yang's number, and dialed it.

Soon, the call was connected.

"Hello, boss, what can I do for you?" He Yang's voice came through the receiver, sounding quite pleased.

"Teacher He, are you busy right now?" Zhang Wen asked.

"Not busy," He Yang replied.

Once the college entrance exam season for arts students was over, he, as a teacher at a performance training class, had some free time after get off work.

Although I have more time to spend with my wife and children, I'm really reluctant to give up the income from training courses.

He had prayed more than once that the training course would start soon, as the monthly income of 20,000 to 30,000 yuan had become the main source of income for his family, even surpassing that of Tianxi Media.

“There are many parents here at the training center asking questions and registering. You should come over here and help,” Zhang Wen said.

“Okay, boss, I’ll be right there,” He Yang said immediately.

Zhang Wen could even clearly hear the chair being moved through the microphone.

After the call ended, he called Han Wanling and Zhou Min separately, asking them to come to the training center to help.

Han Wanling and Zhou Min are both acting training teachers. With so many parents and art students enrolling in Xingxiang Art Exam's acting classes, they naturally can't ignore it.

Xu Zining returned from the restroom, her expression noticeably more relaxed. She picked up her pen and resumed her registration work.

When the parents saw the principal start registering, they immediately surrounded him, bombarding him with questions.

"Principal Zhang, I heard you'll be personally leading the special training class. Can the special training class really guarantee passing the final exam?" A female parent wearing glasses approached and asked.

“The special training class is quite unique.” Zhang Wen explained after hearing this: “Before the art exams begin, I will gather some of the more talented students from various training classes together for instruction, without requiring students to enroll.”

"Huh?" The parent who asked the question was slightly taken aback. She had only heard of special training classes, but she did not expect that the students were personally selected by the principal.

The parents gathered around were somewhat disappointed when they heard that the students in the special training class were selected by Principal Zhang. For them, things that could be solved with money were not a problem, but things that could not be solved with money were the real issues.

Zhang Wen ignored the parents' reactions and continued, "As for whether or not we guarantee passing the final exam, the motto of this special training program is: if you don't get into the top art schools, you get a full refund. This special training program has only run for two sessions so far. The first session had 8 people, and they have all entered the Huazhong Opera and Beijing Film Academy. The second session, which is this year, has a total of 40 people. 5 people passed the final exam of Huazhong Opera, 10 people passed the final exam of Beijing Film Academy, 12 people passed the final exam of Beijing Dance Academy, and 13 people passed the final exam of Huazhong Conservatory of Music."

Upon hearing these words, the surrounding parents all became agitated.

You should know that the schools Principal Zhang just mentioned are the best performing arts, dance, and music schools in the country. Which child who wants to study performing arts, dance, and music would not want to go to these schools?

At that moment, all the parents understood that as long as they were selected by Principal Zhang to enter the special training class, they would definitely be able to enter these top art schools.

"Principal Zhang, could you lower the requirements for the special training class? I just want my child to be able to get in and study there," the female parent said.

For her, whether or not she gets a refund is irrelevant; it's just a training fee, what's more important than her child's future?
“Principal Zhang, I heard the tuition for the special training course is 30,000 yuan. I’ll pay five times, no, ten times. Regardless of whether my child can get into these top art schools, I don’t need you to refund the money,” another middle-aged man with a big gold medal around his neck said.

"Principal Zhang, I don't need you to refund the money."

"Add me one!"

Others echoed.

Studying art is very expensive. From childhood to now, over the years, it has cost at least hundreds of thousands, and many people have even spent millions.

With the art college entrance exam just around the corner, after studying and preparing for so many years, all that's left is this final step. Who would care about a few hundred thousand?
As long as the child can get into Huaxi and Jingying, after graduation, let alone hundreds of thousands, even millions, is just a matter of one movie or one TV series. Even if it's just a minor supporting role, they can easily earn it back by filming a few more movies.

There's a saying: "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

If you're unwilling to spend the money, how can you send your child to Peking University or Beijing Film Academy?
"Quiet, everyone, quiet down." Zhang Wen raised his hand and made a downward gesture, and the hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone stared intently at Principal Zhang, awaiting his reply. Some had already reached into their bags, ready to pull out their cards.

Zhang Wen waited until no one spoke before speaking: "Dear parents, I understand your feelings, but this is not about money. My original intention in establishing the special training class was to prevent talented students from being overlooked, and the content of the special training course is only effective for talented students."

At this point, he changed the subject and continued, "Of course, it's not that the students I didn't select don't have talent. Take the students who applied for the Huaxi and Jingying performance majors this year, for example. In addition to the 15 students in the special training class, 10 students from other performance training classes passed the final exams of Huaxi and Jingying, and 31 students from Shanghai Opera passed. So parents don't need to blindly pursue getting into the special training class. Our Xingxiang's advanced class and full-course class are also very strong."

After hearing this, only a small number of parents gave up the idea of ​​enrolling their children in the special training program; the majority still didn't abandon the idea of ​​sending their children there. While advanced and full-course programs are good, who wouldn't want the best for their child?

Some parents' eyes started darting around. It didn't matter if the principal didn't agree here; they could find connections to get the principal to agree privately.

There are always people that Principal Zhang can't refuse.

"Alright, I think we shouldn't make things difficult for Principal Zhang. Let's register first, since the special training class won't start until before next year's art exams anyway," a parent said loudly.

When the other parents heard this, they didn't press the issue of the special training class any further. Those who knew better might think they were just trying to make things difficult for the principal.

At this moment, everyone had only one thought in mind: before the special training class started, they had to find connections to get their child into the special training class.

Not long after, He Yang, Han Wanling, and Zhou Min all arrived.

The three men's eyes lit up when they saw the hall full of people; the more people who signed up, the more they would earn.

"Principal, what do you need us to do?" He Yang asked as he approached the front desk.

"Go to the next classroom and bring three tables. They'll be responsible for answering your questions about the course content." After giving the instructions, Zhang Wen looked at the parents in the hall and said, "Dear parents, these three are our Xingxiang Art Examination Training Class teachers. If you have any questions about the performance class, you can ask them."

After speaking, he nodded to He Yang and the others.

He Yang, Han Wanling, and Zhou Min immediately set to work, moving tables from a nearby classroom to answer questions for parents and art students.

Zhang Wenben thought that He Yang and the others would be able to share some of the work with him and Xu Zining, but that was not the case.

The parents who came here tonight all signed up immediately after seeing the good news. They don't care at all what the performance class teaches.

For them, what they teach is not important; their art exam scores are the most important thing.

In the past, they might have asked many questions, learned more about the institution, and then carefully selected one from among many art exam training institutions.

But now?
The only thing in front of them was Xingxiang, and they only recognized Xingxiang, so why ask any more questions?
It's already quite good that Xingxiang didn't reject me.

Just like the high school entrance exam.

There are many high schools in the city, but everyone wants to attend the best high school. Are we supposed to ask about the highlights of the curriculum and the special features of the teachers?
Who would even acknowledge you? It's already a miracle they don't treat you like you're mentally ill.

The reason it's called the best is because its achievements speak for themselves; no further explanation is needed.
In the past, the art exam scene in Beijing was a battleground for the masses; now, Xingxiang stands out as the undisputed leader.

Results speak for themselves.

He Yang and the others only answered a few questions before they had nothing to do.

Looking at the long line of parents in front of him, Zhang Wen handed out the registration forms to the three people.

This time, the parents were finally dispersed, and the registration process began to speed up.

Before long, a thick stack of completed forms appeared on the table.

The hall was brightly lit and bustling with activity, while several figures loitered furtively by the roadside outside the main entrance, their eyes occasionally glancing into the hall.

Looking at the bustling scene inside Xingxiang Art Examination Center, and then recalling the deserted Jiahua Teaching Building, Zhou Maoquan felt a pang of sadness.

He was already preparing to go home, but the good news posted by Xingxiang Art Examination on Weibo made him feel uneasy. Unconsciously, he drove here and then saw a scene that made him depressed.

This scene seems familiar.

In fact, Jia Hua Art Exam used to be like this. Every time the art exams ended and the good news was announced, countless parents and art exam candidates would come to inquire and register. However, this year... everything has changed.

He felt extremely disappointed, as if a prestigious sect had been challenged and successfully defeated by a newcomer to the martial arts world.

Resentment, helplessness, frustration...

"Ugh!"

Just as Zhou Maoquan was staring intently at the Xingxiang Hall, a sigh suddenly came from behind him.

He turned around and saw that it was Cui Hongli, the principal of Mindful Arts Examination.

The other person had a cigarette between their fingers, the butt of which was almost burning their fingers, but they seemed completely unaware.

"Principal Cui, you're here too." Zhou Maoquan greeted him proactively.

"I was just passing by, so I got off to take a look," Cui Hongli said, his tone tinged with bitterness.

Actually, I was in a bad mood, so I drove out to clear my head, and eventually couldn't resist coming here.

He just couldn't understand how an art exam training institution could have so many students pass the final exams of top art schools; it was simply unbelievable.

Even if you knew the exam content in advance, you probably still couldn't do it.

Just as Zhou Maoquan was about to speak, he suddenly saw a familiar person walking towards him. It was Zhao Shulian, the principal of Huanya Art Examination Center.

"You've come too," Zhao Shulian said.

"Ah."

Looking towards Xingxiang Art Examination Center, Zhao Shulian couldn't help but sigh, "I thought it was just a flash in the pan, but this year they've completely crushed us. This place is packed with people, while I haven't received a single inquiry call."

Zhou Maoquan gave a wry smile. Wasn't the situation the same for Jia Hua?
Cui Hongli took a deep drag on his cigarette and said with a wry smile, "In the past, our few companies shared the art exam training market in Beijing. Although we competed with each other for many years, we were evenly matched and lived a very comfortable life. But now, a newcomer has emerged out of nowhere and turned this market upside down. Our hard times are about to begin."

Zhou Maoquan remained silent. It was too early to draw conclusions. Xingxiang was indeed impressive, but its strength lay only in its performing arts program. It didn't have the capability to overtake established art exam preparation institutions like Xingxiang.

Zhao Shulian thought so too. It wasn't exactly a hard life; at most, she would just eat one less bowl of meat. However, she didn't intend to give up that bowl of meat easily.

Since Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center excels in performance training, why not poach their performance teachers to Huanya? This would not only weaken their competitors but also strengthen their own. It might cost a bit more money, but it's all worth it to secure this opportunity.

She had already found information on the three acting teachers at Xingxiang Art Examination Training Center. She had originally planned to dig deeper in a few days, but now that she saw Zhou Maoquan was also paying attention to this, she had to change her plans and decided to make her move today.

After all, those three acting teachers were employees of Tianxi Media, and Li Lehua, the general manager of Tianxi Media, was one of the behind-the-scenes bosses of Jiahua.

If you're even a little slow, Jiahua might snatch it away.

……

(End of this chapter)