What's wrong with me, a school principal, listening to students' suggestions?

In stark contrast to the bustling activity at No. 13 Middle School, the atmosphere in Liu Jianguo's office on the fourth floor of the Education Bureau was somber.

Liu Jianguo sat in a leather chair with a printed copy of a screenshot from his mobile phone spread out in front of him.

The above is a collection of Douyin and WeChat Moments posts from students of No. 13 Middle School.

From cafeteria food to air-conditioned shower rooms, from smart blackboards to voting on new school uniforms.

The combination of pictures and text is quite jarring.

Sitting opposite him was Zhao Hongliang.

Zhao Hongliang finished turning the last page, glanced up at Liu Jianguo's expression, and didn't dare to speak.

"Heh." Liu Jianguo squeezed out a single word through his nose.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window are high-rise buildings in the city center, and the sunlight shines on the glass curtain wall, making it painful to look at.

The land where No. 13 Middle School is located is right next to the core business district in the city center.

Three years ago, a developer in the city had his eye on that piece of land and had approached him to inquire about it.

The terms of cooperation offered at the time were that if the relocation or merger of No. 13 Middle School was facilitated, the developer would pay Liu Jianguo a "consulting fee" of two million.

two millions.

Liu Jianguo worked for fifteen years, and his salary, bonuses, and illicit income totaled less than half of this amount.

He originally thought that given the dilapidated state of No. 13 Middle School, merging it was only a matter of time.

The previous principal was lazy and irresponsible for three years, leaving the school barely alive.

If they can't recruit 300 students by the end of August, they can sign the merger agreement and get the land.

But Lin Yucai's appearance disrupted all his plans.

First, the cafeteria was renovated, then air conditioning and showers were installed.

Then they canceled morning and evening self-study sessions, upgraded multimedia facilities, and introduced extracurricular classes; now they're reforming school uniforms.

Everything was done perfectly, and every time he sent someone to investigate, they couldn't find anything wrong.

What's even more infuriating is the guidance on "strengthening morning and evening self-study."

He tailored it specifically for No. 13 Middle School; the meaning is very clear...

If you dare to reduce class hours, the Education Bureau will not agree.

The results of it?

Lin Yucai not only ignored it, but also started an extracurricular class and a school uniform vote.

The name "No. 13 Middle School" is appearing more and more frequently in the city's education system's internal groups.

Some principals began to discuss privately: what exactly is the background of the new principal of No. 13 Middle School?

This made Liu Jianguo feel extremely uneasy.

If No. 13 Middle School really turns the tables, not only will he lose the land, but his record of suppressing No. 13 Middle School over the past few years will also become a dark history for him.

"Zhao Hongliang."

"Yes, sir." Zhao Hongliang immediately straightened his back.

"Go and look up the name of the fashion designer Lin Yucai hired."

"What's the background? What procedures were followed?"

"Has it been approved by the Education Bureau?"

Zhao Hongliang hesitated for a moment.

"Director, strictly speaking, school uniform design does not require approval from the Education Bureau; each school has the autonomy to design it."

Liu Jianguo turned around and stared at him.

That look made Zhao Hongliang swallow back the rest of his sentence.

"No approval needed? Then create a reason that requires approval."

"School uniforms involve students' image and unified management, and fall under the scope of the school's daily management."

"The Education Bureau has the authority to guide and supervise the daily management of schools within its jurisdiction."

"Draft a notice stating that... the Education Bureau requires all schools to submit their design plans to the Education Bureau for review and filing before changing school uniforms."

Zhao Hongliang opened his mouth, wanting to say that the notification came too suddenly and was too targeted.

But after glancing at Liu Jianguo's expression, he chose to remain silent.

When will it be released?

"tomorrow."

Zhao Hongliang got up and walked out.

As he reached the door, Liu Jianguo called him back.

"Also, please arrange for Qian Wenhua to have lunch together tomorrow."

"Yes."

The door closed.

Liu Jianguo sat back down in his chair, picked up the thermos on the table, and took a sip of goji berry tea.

The tea has gone cold.

Just like his current mood.

……

The next day at noon, Liu Jianguo and Qian Wenhua sat down in a private room at a private restaurant in the city center.

Qian Wenhua's beer belly was even bigger than last time, and his shirt buttons were taut.

He unscrewed a bottle of Moutai and poured a glass for Liu Jianguo.

"Old Liu, I saw your notice. School uniform designs need to be submitted to the Education Bureau for review and filing?"

Qian Wenhua's smile carried a knowing meaning.

"This isn't targeting schools; it's for better management."

Liu Jianguo picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and looked completely at ease.

"Come on, you and I both know that, apart from No. 13 Middle School, which school in the whole city would suddenly change its uniforms?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Old Qian, let's not beat around the bush."

Liu Jianguo put down his wine glass, his voice lowering several octaves.

"I understand Lin Yucai less and less."

"They can take millions without hesitation, hire a five-star chef without a second thought, and install air conditioning without a second thought."

"Now they've hired designers to reform the school uniforms."

"You're asking where a school principal with a monthly salary of several thousand yuan gets his money from?"

"Didn't we check last time? Overseas investment dividends, all the procedures are clean." Qian Wenhua picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks.

"Clean? You believe that?"

Believe it or not, they won't find any problems anyway.

Liu Jianguo was silent for a moment, then said, "So I don't plan to investigate from a financial perspective."

"Oh?" Qian Wenhua put down his chopsticks, intrigued.

"I'll start by addressing the students' grades."

Liu Jianguo held up one finger.

Midterm exams are at the beginning of next month.

"No. 13 Middle School canceled morning and evening self-study sessions, and started some extracurricular classes, e-sports experiences, and school uniform reforms."

"Can these fancy things really improve grades?"

"Once the midterm exam results come out, No. 13 Middle School will still be at the bottom of the city..."

"No, I should say that as long as my grades don't show significant improvement, I have ample reason to submit a report."

How do I write a report?

"Take the example of the principal of No. 13 Middle School, who neglects his duties and engages in vanity projects at the expense of students' academic progress."

"A lot of money has been invested in hardware, but there has been no improvement in teaching."

"It is recommended that he be given a reprimand and that merger procedures be initiated at the same time."

"This angle is sharp." Qian Wenhua thought for a moment, then nodded. "Performance is the most objective indicator; no one can find fault with it."

"So all we have to do now is wait."

Liu Jianguo raised his glass and clinked it against Qian Wenhua's.

"Let him do whatever he wants, let him spend money, let him expand his business as much as possible."

"The bigger the scale, the harder the fall will be once the midterm results come out."

The two looked at each other and smiled, then each drank a cup.

Sunlight streamed into the private room through the window, casting a halo around the wine glasses on the table.

No one noticed that the middle-aged woman sitting in the next private room had arrived before them.

Her name is Liu Huiying.

The head of the senior three grade group at No. 13 Middle School.

She came to this private restaurant today to have a meal with her old classmates, but one of them had something come up and stood her up.

Just as she was about to leave, she overheard the conversation coming from next door.

The soundproofing between the private rooms is not good.

She sat in the chair, her chopsticks untouched, listening quietly to the entire conversation.

Then she got up, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

After standing by the roadside for a while, she took out her phone and sent a WeChat message to Ma Desheng.

"Old Ma, there's something I need to tell you in person."