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

The skinny monkey's face fell.

Zhang Yang ignored him and turned to look at the school gate in the distance.

Lin Yucai was standing there, explaining something to Zhou Dahai.

"Alright, get in the car."

Five buses split up and headed south of the city.

First stop: Yucai Junior High School.

The name felt particularly familiar to Lin Yucai, even though it had absolutely nothing to do with him.

At 7:00 a.m. sharp, many parents were already waiting to pick up their children at the gate of Yucai Junior High School.

Saturday's make-up classes had just ended, and students poured out of the school gate in twos and threes.

When a dark blue bus slowly pulled up to the side of the road, everyone around looked over.

The car door opened, and Zhang Yang jumped out, holding a small whiteboard with several large characters written on it.

"No. 13 Middle School Campus Experience Day: Free admission, shuttle service included!"

The parents standing nearby were stunned.

"Which school is this from?"

"No. 13 Middle School," Zhang Yang replied with a strong voice.

"No. 13 Middle School? The one that was in the news a while ago?"

"Yes, the one with the e-sports arena, the one with the school uniforms, the one with the five-star chef in the cafeteria."

The crowd immediately erupted in uproar.

The No. 13 Middle School has become incredibly popular on short video platforms in the past few months, especially after the episode of the "Seeking Truth" program aired. Almost every parent in the city has heard of the school.

Hearing about it is one thing, but actually filling out the form is another.

Most parents still have reservations...

It looks good in the video, but the reality is different.

But who knows?

"To tell you the truth," Zhang Yang said, setting the whiteboard aside and putting his hands in his pockets, his relaxed demeanor making him seem less like a student recruiter.

"I'm a student at No. 13 Middle School, a second-year high school student."

"I used to be the kind of troublemaker that teachers dreaded. I skipped classes, got into fights, and talked back to teachers. I did it all."

"Now? I improved by more than forty points in the midterm exam, and my English score went from forty-seven to sixty-eight."

"I'm not here to brag, you'll see for yourselves when you go."

"The bus has air conditioning, water, and snacks."

"There are free tastings when you get to school. Our cafeteria's head chef used to work at Jinlan Hotel and won a national gold medal."

When Zhang Yang spoke, there was a strange sense of pride in his tone.

Parents in the crowd began to whisper among themselves.

Some hesitated, some were tempted, and some even brought their children over directly.

The first person to board the bus was a middle-aged woman wearing a plaid shirt, holding the hand of a thin boy.

"My son is quite mischievous, but I don't want to enroll him in a school that's too strict. I'd like to see if your school can help control him."

"You'll find out once you get on the bus, Auntie."

Zhang Yang smiled at her; the smile had a roguish charm, but it wasn't unpleasant.

The woman hesitated for two seconds, then took her son's hand and got into the car.

Five or six more parents followed, some with their children, and some couples together.

At the first stop, eleven people boarded the bus.

The second stop was Wenchang Junior High School, where nine people boarded the bus.

The third stop was Xinhua Junior High School, where fourteen people boarded the bus.

After completing the three stops, more than thirty parents and students were already seated in the five vehicles.

The air conditioning in the carriage was running at full blast, the seats were covered with disposable cushions, and there were bottled water and individually packaged egg yolk pastries next to the armrests.

"This car is even more comfortable than the ones used for business transportation in our company."

An older man sat down, looked around, and whispered to his wife.

Zhang Yang sat in the front row, flipping through the brochure in his hand, answering parents' questions from time to time.

Is the tuition expensive?

"It's a public institution, so there are no extra fees."

"How are the accommodations?"

"Six-person rooms, air-conditioned private bathroom, hot water 24 hours a day."

"Are there really esports arenas?"

"Yes, but it's not something you can just do casually; you have to meet the academic requirements to get in."

"Isn't that the same as not having anything?" a bespectacled ninth-grade boy interjected.

Zhang Yang turned to look at him, a smirk playing on his lips: "Do you think passing is difficult?"

The boy paused for a moment, then remained silent.

"To be honest, I used to think that passing was like climbing to the sky."

Zhang Yang closed the brochure and leaned back in his chair.

"But when you really want to play games, those questions don't matter."

Someone in the carriage laughed, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

It was nearly nine o'clock when the bus entered the gate of No. 13 Middle School.

A banner was hanging at the school gate...

"Welcome all parents to the No. 13 Middle School Campus Experience Day."

The gatekeeper was wearing a new uniform today, and when he saw the car arrive, he quickly lifted the barrier.

The moment the car door opened, the aroma of food wafted over from the direction of the cafeteria.

The meat has a rich aroma, with a hint of sweetness from the scallion oil and sauce.

A chubby boy on the bus suddenly stood up, snorting, and asked, "What's that smell?"

Zhang Yang stood at the car door and gestured with his chin towards the campus.

"Let's go, everyone, let's eat first and then see what happens."

"Eat your fill before deciding whether to apply or not. Our No. 13 Middle School doesn't do marketing by starving people."

Zhou Dahai decorated the cafeteria to resemble an experiential banquet.

Three rows of long tables were covered with white tablecloths, and every two tables had a small nameplate with the name of the dish and the source of the ingredients.

The plates were new, the chopsticks were individually wrapped, and a delicately carved radish flower was placed next to the soup bowl.

When the first group of parents walked in, they all stopped in their tracks in unison.

"Is this the high school cafeteria?"

The woman in the plaid shirt looked around, her tone full of disbelief.

"Is it usually like this? Or was it arranged specially today?"

The uncle next to him was even more direct.

"We don't usually have table cards or radish flowers," Li Daqiang answered honestly, standing at the cafeteria entrance as a guide. "But the dishes are the same."

"Chicken soup, steamed buns, fried eggs, and side dishes for breakfast."

"Two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup for lunch, and a different menu for dinner."

"The menu changes every week. It's posted on the wall by the door. You can take a look, or if you really can't find it, you can ask your classmates."

Zhou Dahai was dressed in a snow-white chef's uniform today, with his hat on, and stood at the food serving area.

His three apprentices behind him were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground, their spatulas flying, and the exhaust system sucked away all the fumes.

Today's tasting menu was meticulously designed by Zhou Dahai over two days.

Braised pork ribs, steamed sea bass, garlic broccoli, tomato beef brisket, and egg drop seaweed soup.

We also added a dessert, osmanthus ice jelly.

Each dish is small in portion, but there is a wide variety of them. When you sit down at a table, you can try seven or eight different dishes.

"Come on, sit down and eat, don't be shy," Zhou Dahai said, leaning half his body out of the window in a loud voice.

"I, Zhou Dahai, have been cooking for thirty years, and today's table is full of my signature home-style dishes."

"It's not some rare delicacy, but I guarantee it's clean, fresh, and delicious."

"If you feel it's not good after you've eaten it, tell me on the spot, without any arguments."

The parents sat down with some skepticism.

The woman in the plaid shirt's expression changed after taking her first bite.

The braised pork ribs are coated with a thin layer of dark brown sauce. When you bite into them, the meat is tender and juicy, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet flavors. Even the flavor permeates the crevices of the bones.

"These ribs..." She chewed a couple of times, then turned to look at her husband beside her, "are much better than the ones you made."

The man didn't argue, because he was also engrossed in picking at the second piece.