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

The parents nodded in agreement.

Liu Jianguo stood at the door, pressing the folder in his hand down slightly.

He originally intended to first use the meeting's rhetoric to label No. 13 Middle School as having "overly enthusiastic publicity," and then take the opportunity to remind parents "not to judge by appearances alone."

But as soon as these parents walked in and saw the actual product, their confidence was already halved before they could even say a word.

Lin Yucai happened to turn his head and saw him, so he raised his hand towards the direction of the auditorium.

"Director Liu, you've come at the right time. There are many parents here today, so you can come and take a look as well."

Liu Jianguo's lips twitched slightly: "Principal Lin is quite good at leveraging opportunities."

"I'm just trying to make things clear for everyone."

"What do you understand?"

"Let's see if No. 13 Middle School is just all show and no substance."

Liu Jianguo handed the folder forward, his voice carrying its usual imposing tone.

"Student recruitment is a major issue in education and cannot be judged based on a few live broadcasts and short videos."

"Parents only see a part of the picture; what they really need to see are the college entrance examination results and the order of teaching."

Lin Yucai didn't take the document from him, but instead pointed to the parents who were queuing up to see the cafeteria.

"Then let's keep watching."

"If you don't think a meal counts, then watch evening study sessions."

"If you don't think evening study sessions count, then we'll see what your grades are like next year."

"If you still don't believe me, just wait until the college entrance exam results come out."

Liu Jianguo narrowed his eyes but didn't reply immediately.

He didn't come here today to argue with Lin Yucai.

What he really wanted to do was to suppress the hype surrounding No. 13 Middle School during this open house for parents.

Then, at the afternoon admissions meeting, they used the concept of "rational school selection" to steer the application towards No. 1 High School.

But now, parents have been brought into the school and have seen the cafeteria, dormitories, playground, and even a graduation video wall made by the students themselves.

The hype has already started.

If he continues to spew sarcastic remarks, it will only alienate the parents.

Xu Wei had already arrived in the auditorium with a camera.

She had just finished filming outside and was having the staff set up the equipment.

"Principal Lin, I plan to film this route since parents are open to the public today."

She walked over and handed the interview outline to Lin Yucai.

"It doesn't involve privacy; it only shows public areas and parents' reactions."

"Okay, don't make it too formal."

"Don't worry, I know your school is most afraid of pretentiousness right now."

After Xu Wei finished speaking, she turned her head and saw Liu Jianguo. Her gaze lingered for only a moment before she looked away indifferently.

Her impression of this director was already not good.

During her previous undercover and follow-up visits, she had witnessed this person's two-faced behavior.

Liu Jianguo also recognized her.

He knew that the reporter's pen was heavy, and once the video was released, public opinion could easily become skewed.

Zhao Hongliang whispered a reminder from the side: "Director, the parents are all here, don't make things too tense."

Liu Jianguo suppressed his anger and reorganized the folders.

He knew in his heart that today's trip, ostensibly a student recruitment information session, was in reality a battle for parents' perceptions.

No. 13 Middle School is no longer the dilapidated school that anyone could casually criticize.

But precisely because of this, he can't relax.

If this round of recruitment helps No. 13 Middle School stabilize morale, it will be even more difficult to interfere with next year's enrollment process.

Just then, a series of light footsteps came from the direction of the auditorium.

Zhang Yang and a few of his buddies came down the stairs, carrying a stack of freshly printed graduation photos.

He originally came to help organize the display wall, but as soon as he arrived at the door, he saw a group of parents discussing his photos.

"Is this child from your school?"

"Yes."

"This school uniform looks nice, and it makes you look energetic."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang paused, his face expressionless, but his ears subtly turned red.

Seeing his expression, Lin Yucai didn't expose him, but simply raised his hand and beckoned, "Hang up the photo."

"Know."

Zhang Yang handed the photo to a student from the photography class next to him, and as he turned around, he ran into Liu Jianguo.

When their eyes met, Liu Jianguo's face remained as composed as ever.

Zhang Yang stood in the middle of a group of students, his back straight.

Liu Jianguo watched this scene and pressed his finger against the edge of the folder.

He suddenly realized that the group of students he used to care about the least had begun to rebel against him.

But he had no intention of stopping there.

The admissions process is still to come, and the policy explanation hasn't even started yet. Today's session is just the beginning.

He always finds a way to push No. 13 Middle School back onto that difficult path.

Lin Yucai understood this as well.

When he invited the parents into the auditorium, he already knew that Liu Jianguo would not back down just because of a visit.

If this person doesn't step down, the next steps will be the middle school entrance exam diversion, the application guidelines, and the approval process—each move is designed to pierce through people's hearts and the procedures.

But today, he held onto this goal first.

At the entrance of the auditorium, Zhou Dahai carried a pot of freshly cooked braised pork past, its aroma wafting far and wide on the wind.

Several parents had just finished looking at the playground and dormitories and were walking this way when they smelled the odor and slowed down.

"This school really goes all out."

"No wonder the kids wanted to come."

Liu Jianguo stood at the side door of the auditorium, his expression gradually tightening.

Seeing this, Lin Yucai didn't say anything more, but simply pushed the tour route map forward again.

Today is just the beginning.

The real battle for student recruitment is yet to come.

……

Three days after the end of the college entrance examination, the countdown to the junior high school entrance examination officially entered its final week.

The recruitment campaigns of all high schools in the city are in full swing.

The No. 1 Middle School is playing promotional videos on the most expensive LED screen in the city center, the No. 4 Middle School has booked the best spots at three bus stops, and even the lower-ranked schools are spending money on promotion on short video platforms.

Only No. 13 Middle School.

"Principal, something has happened."

When Ma Desheng pushed open the office door, his forehead was covered in sweat, and he was clutching a stack of printing papers in his hand, the corners of which were crumpled.

Lin Yucai was leaning back in his chair, flipping through the notes in the suggestion box, when he heard this and looked up.

Have you checked the city education bureau's enrollment information platform?

Ma Desheng spread the paper out on the table and poked at one of the pages with his finger.

"This year, the website has been updated. All high schools are now listed by region and rating, and parents can access school profiles, enrollment plans, and historical admission scores online."

"I just tried logging in using three different phones."

Ma Desheng's throat tightened: "The page for No. 13 Middle School has been folded."

Lin Yucai stopped moving.

What is folding?

"That means when parents open the platform's homepage, they can see No. 1 Middle School, No. 2 Middle School, No. 3 Middle School, and No. 4 Middle School, all of which are listed in the main list."

Ma Desheng handed over the phone, looking speechless.

"But for No. 13 Middle School, you have to click on more schools first, then click on others, before you can find it."

……