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

The next day at 9:00 AM.

Two Buick minivans were parked at the entrance of No. 13 Middle School.

As soon as the car door opened, Liu Jianguo was the first to get out.

He wore a dark gray suit and carried a black briefcase, looking very businesslike.

Following behind him were Zhao Hongliang from the Discipline Inspection Section and two young staff members, carrying folders and inspection forms.

The gates of No. 13 Middle School are already dilapidated enough...

The iron gate was rusty, and the school nameplate hanging on it was missing the character "中" (zhong), making it look like "十三" (shisan) from a distance.

"With these conditions, they dare to build a five-star cafeteria?"

Zhao Hongliang muttered something under his breath.

Liu Jianguo didn't reply and strode into the school gate.

Lin Yucai and Su Qingyan were already waiting at the door.

"Director Liu, welcome back to our school for guidance."

Lin Yucai greeted him with a smile and extended his hand to shake his.

"Principal Lin, this is a routine inspection; there's no need for these formalities."

Liu Jianguo glanced at him, gave him a symbolic touch, and then let go.

I've already heard about the recent situation at your school cafeteria.

"Improving the food in the cafeteria is a good thing, but it must be done legally and in compliance with regulations."

He turned and nodded to Zhao Hongliang.

"Principal Lin, as required by the Education Bureau, we need to check the following content."

Zhao Hongliang immediately opened the folder and cleared his throat.

"First, the canteen food business license."

"Second, health certificates for employees."

"Third, the sourcing channels and traceability materials for ingredients."

Fourth, the source of funds for the canteen renovation and detailed account information.

"Come with me."

Lin Yucai nodded and gestured for him to enter.

The group crossed the playground and headed towards the cafeteria.

As we passed the teaching building, many students leaned out of the windows to look outside.

"Are those people from the Education Bureau? Here to cause trouble again?"

"Will the principal be alright?"

"I don't know, but they don't seem to have any good intentions."

Zhang Yang stood in the corridor of Class 3, Grade 11, with his hands in his pockets.

She stared at the men in suits downstairs, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.

"Brother Yang, the Education Bureau is causing trouble again," Skinny Monkey said, sidling up to him.

Who cares?

Zhang Yang said this, but his gaze never left Lin Yucai's back.

At the entrance of the cafeteria.

As soon as Liu Jianguo entered the room, he began to look around.

It must be said that although the cafeteria's facilities are old, it is indeed kept very clean.

The stove was polished to a shine, and food safety management regulations and disinfection record sheets were posted on the walls of the kitchen.

Zhou Dahai and his three apprentices, dressed in neat chef uniforms, hats, and masks, were preparing lunch.

Zhao Hongliang walked to the workbench, put on gloves, and touched the surface of the cutting board.

Clean.

He then opened the freezer to check the food storage.

The food is well-organized, with raw and cooked foods separated, and the labels are clear, making the expiration date easy to see.

Can't fault it.

"What about the food business license?"

Liu Jianguo spoke, his tone unfriendly.

"Here."

Su Qingyan took a certificate out of the document bag and handed it to Liu Jianguo.

The brand-new food business license was just issued yesterday afternoon.

The market supervision bureau expedited the approval process, and the official seal was bright red.

Liu Jianguo took it and looked at it twice, but couldn't find any problems.

"Health certificate for employees".

Su Qingyan then pulled out four more health certificates, one for Zhou Dahai and one for her three apprentices, none of them missing.

Liu Jianguo flipped through it.

The medical examination was conducted last month and is still within its validity period.

"What about the food purchase receipts and supplier qualifications?"

His tone grew increasingly urgent.

Su Qingyan slowly pulled a thick stack of documents from the file folder...

Purchase contracts, invoices, copies of supplier business licenses, and inspection and quarantine reports are neatly bound and have clear catalogs.

Liu Jianguo flipped through the pages one by one, his face growing increasingly grim.

Absolutely no problems?!

Every document is compliant with regulations and laws, and every step can withstand scrutiny.

This level of preparation is more standardized than that of many school cafeterias in the city.

"Director Liu, there's nothing wrong with these materials."

"Licenses, health certificates, receipts... everything is complete."

Zhao Hongliang leaned close to Liu Jianguo's ear and lowered his voice.

"Where did the funding come from?"

Liu Jianguo's temples throbbed twice.

"The ingredients for these dishes aren't cheap. You only earn 4,800 a month, where did you get the money?"

He put the documents on the table and stared at Lin Yucai.

That's his trump card.

The principal of a high school that was ranked at the bottom in the city suddenly took out a large sum of money to renovate the cafeteria, which was either an illegal charge or of dubious origin.

Either one of these points is enough for him to make a fuss about.

Lin Yucai smiled.

"Director Liu, this money is my personal, legitimate income."

"The source is the overseas investment income of the Lin Foundation, which is legally imported and taxed in accordance with the law."

"Bank statements, remittance vouchers, and personal tax records are all here."

He took an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it over.

"In addition, this funding will be used to improve the school cafeteria in the form of a personal donation, and I have already signed a donation agreement with the school."

"All expenses will be borne by me personally, and I will not charge students any fees."

"That means it's completely free."

He also handed over the donation agreement.

Liu Jianguo took the envelope and pulled out the bank statement inside.

A cross-bank transfer of three million dollars originated from an investment company registered in Hong Kong.

The remittance remarks were written very clearly.

Accounting records and tax payment certificates are all available.

It is so clean that it is impeccable.

Liu Jianguo clenched the stack of papers slightly.

In the past twenty years, he has seen it all in the education system.

Embezzlement, misappropriation, and substitution—the methods are varied and numerous.

But what about "spending three million out of his own pocket to improve the school cafeteria"?

This was truly the first time he had ever encountered something like this.

Is this Lin Yucai a madman, or does he have some other scheme?

"Director Liu," Su Qingyan adjusted her glasses, her tone polite yet assertive, "all the materials are here. Is there anything else you need to check?"

Liu Jianguo opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He originally wanted to continue to inquire about the background of the Hong Kong investment company, but Zhao Hongliang and two staff members were also present.

If it turns out that the money was indeed legal, then his surprise inspection today will have become a joke.

Just then, a rich aroma wafted over from the kitchen.

Zhou Dahai came out carrying a clay pot, which was bubbling away.

The soup is thick and golden in color, with abalone, fish maw and sea cucumber floating on top.

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

"Thank you for coming all this way to inspect our work, leaders. You've worked hard."

Zhou Dahai placed the casserole steadily on the table and lifted the lid.

Instantly, a rich aroma filled the air.

Zhao Hongliang unconsciously swallowed.

The two young clerks couldn't contain themselves either, their eyes fixed on the pot of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down.

"This is one of our cafeteria's signature dishes. Please, esteemed leaders, have a taste."

Lin Yucai casually picked up a few sets of bowls and chopsticks and placed them on the table.

"After all, we're inspecting the cafeteria; how can we not taste the food?"

Liu Jianguo's face darkened; he wanted to refuse.

But the aroma of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was like an invisible hand, holding him firmly in place.

What's worse, he left in a hurry in the morning and didn't eat breakfast.

"Ahem, then... have a bite."

He coughed lightly and sat down.

One bite became two bites.

Two bites turned into one bowl.

One bowl became two bowls.

Zhao Hongliang went even further, downing three bowls in a row and licking the bottoms of the bowls clean.

The two young clerks had already abandoned their composure; one was gnawing on sweet and sour pork ribs, and the other was drinking old hen soup, their mouths greasy and their faces full of happiness.

Liu Jianguo put down his chopsticks and wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth with a tissue.

He stood up, picked up his briefcase, and without saying a word, turned and left.

He paused when he reached the entrance of the cafeteria.

"I'll take the materials back and study them further."

The voice was muffled.

Then, he walked away quickly.

Zhao Hongliang quickly stuffed the last bite of rib into his mouth, grabbed the folder, and chased after them.

The two clerks glanced reluctantly at the half-eaten pot of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall on the table, swallowed hard, and ran off.

The cafeteria returned to quiet.

Su Qingyan watched their departing figures and let out a long sigh of relief.

"This time I've passed the test."

Lin Yucai leaned back in his chair, slowly picking his teeth.

"Passed the test? No, this is just the beginning."

He looked towards the cafeteria entrance, his gaze darkening.

Liu Jianguo left so decisively today not because he was persuaded.

It's not because they couldn't find any leverage, but because they couldn't save face.

Such people will only become more aggressive after being taken advantage of.

Next time, he will definitely come with even greater firepower.

"But it's okay."

"If you come, I'll take it."