40: The truth comes out

"Teacher Zhang, we cannot accept that you issued a demerit without investigating the cause of the incident or reviewing the key evidence."

Lu Jianchuan's voice was clear and calm, like a stone thrown into the thick air of the office. He no longer looked at the ashen-faced Teacher Zhang, but turned to the panicked and helpless Liu Yuqin and the stubbornly silent Li Zhe, his tone steady and unquestionable: "We'll find someone who can take responsibility."

He supported Liu Yuqin, who could barely walk, and led Li Zhe straight out of the homeroom teacher's office. Following the signs on the wall, they quickly found the Moral Education Office. After knocking and entering, they found the director of moral education to be a slightly chubby, amiable middle-aged man who, at first glance, seemed much easier to talk to than Teacher Zhang.

After listening to Liu Yuqin's tearful summary, Director Wang's face broke into his usual, smooth smile: "Oh, Li Zhe's mother, please don't worry, don't worry at all. Teacher Zhang might have been a bit overzealous in her methods because she's concerned about the academic atmosphere of the senior year. Our school's surveillance management is indeed very strict, mainly to protect student privacy. Retrieving it is a complex process that requires layers of approval..."

He skillfully spoke in official jargon, preparing to use "stalling tactics."

Lu Jianchuan didn't let him finish. He stepped forward, leaning slightly, creating an invisible sense of pressure. His gaze was calm yet sharp as he looked directly at Director Wang: "Director Wang, we understand the school has rules and regulations. But rules exist to ensure fairness, not to serve as an excuse to obstruct the truth."

He pulled out his phone, the screen lighting up to clearly display the public complaint hotline page for the Municipal Education Bureau he had just searched for. His thumb hovered right over the dial button.

"If the school's regulations mean that, even with clear surveillance evidence, you can choose not to investigate the truth of a potential campus bullying incident and instead allow a student who might have acted bravely to suffer an injustice, then we believe this regulation is being abused at this moment."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight, pounding on Director Wang's nerves.

"Like you, I hope the matter can be properly resolved within the school. But if the Moral Education Office cannot initiate a fair investigation process, then we can only seek supervision from the higher authorities and ask them to judge whether the school's handling is appropriate. I can make this call right now."

The smile on Director Wang's face froze instantly, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. Looking at Lu Jianchuan's unruffled gaze and his thumb hovering over the dial button, he knew very well that the young man before him wasn't bluffing. Once that call was made, regardless of the truth, he, as the Director of Moral Education, would definitely be labeled as 'mishandling a situation and causing a parental complaint to higher authorities.'

"No! No! Comrade Lu, please don't be hasty!" Director Wang waved his hands hurriedly, his attitude doing a complete 180-degree turn. "We can talk this over, talk it over! I'll contact the Security Department right now and push them personally! We'll watch the surveillance immediately!"

As he spoke, he practically jogged out of the office. In the hallway, while walking quickly toward the Security Department, he swiftly pulled out his phone and, avoiding everyone's gaze, sent a brief but information-packed voice message to a chat group named 'Working Group': "Leader, things aren't looking good. Li Zhe's family is being very firm, and they might take it to the top. Do you think we should..."

Just as Director Wang was frantically calling the Security Department, the door to the Moral Education Office was cautiously pushed open. A small, thin boy wearing thick glasses was being pulled by his mother, standing timidly at the door. There were tears in the boy's eyes, and his face still held lingering fear.

"Dir... Director," the mother spoke up with all her courage, "I'm the mother of Liu Yang from Class Seven, Grade One. My son... my son said Senior Li Zhe only... only got into a fight with those three to help him! They... they've been bullying my son, stealing his lunch money, and Senior Li Zhe saw it today..."

The boy named Liu Yang burst into tears and recounted the entire process: how those three had bullied him for a long time, how Li Zhe stepped in to stop them today, and how the others had insulted and pushed Li Zhe first.

The appearance of a witness was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Director Wang's face turned pale, and he could no longer make any excuses. The surveillance footage was quickly pulled up on the computer in the Moral Education Office. Although there was no sound, the footage clearly reconstructed the scene: Li Zhe tried to protect Liu Yang behind him, the three Grade One boys surrounded them, and the one with the Green Skin Head indeed took the lead in forcefully shoving Li Zhe's chest before Li Zhe was forced to fight back.

The truth was out!

Liu Yuqin pulled her son into a hug and wept aloud. Her cries were filled with grievance, heartache, and the excitement of having an injustice finally cleared. Li Zhe's tense body finally relaxed. He hugged his mother back, his eyes red, but he stubbornly refused to let his tears fall.

The three boys who had been so arrogant before were now completely deflated, hanging their heads and not daring to look at anyone.

Wiping his sweat, Director Wang said repeatedly, "It's clear now, it's clear! Our work was inadequate, and we misunderstood Student Li Zhe! This was an act of bravery, and it's worth commending! As for those three students, we will definitely handle them strictly! A major demerit! It must be a major demerit!"

The scene seemed to be rapidly progressing toward justice.

However, the string in Lu Jianchuan's heart did not loosen. He clearly saw that while Director Wang expressed his relief and intent to handle the matter strictly, a subtle hint of panic and anxiety flashed deep in his eyes, and he frequently glanced toward the door.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the door to the Moral Education Office was pushed open again. A middle-aged man in a suit, with a majestic aura and meticulously combed hair, walked in. Director Wang immediately stood up as if seeing a savior and respectfully called out:

"Principal!"

The Principal nodded slightly in response to Director Wang, his face wearing a formulaic, heavy expression as if he were perpetually dealing with thorny issues. He didn't look at the surveillance first or ask for specific details. Instead, he walked straight to Liu Yuqin, naturally extended his hand, and said in a tone full of concern:

"You must be Li Zhe's mother, right? I am the school's principal, surnamed Zhou. I've let you suffer an injustice. I, as the principal, am responsible for such an occurrence, and I apologize to you first."

This move of retreating to advance left the emotional Liu Yuqin unsure of how to respond for a moment, and she could only flusteredly shake his hand.

Principal Zhou then looked at Lu Jianchuan, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment as if assessing the weight of this young man. "And this is?"

"I am Li Zhe's older brother, Lu Jianchuan." "Mr. Lu, young and promising." Principal Zhou nodded, then sighed, turning the conversation to the core issue. "Director Wang just reported the basic situation to me. Student Li Zhe's ability to stand up at a critical moment to protect a classmate is a very valuable spirit, and it's something all our teachers and students should learn from!"

He first highly praised Li Zhe's actions, and then his tone became incredibly sorrowful and heartfelt:

"However, parents, in education, we cannot act solely on passion; we must consider the long-term and be responsible for every child's future." He looked around at everyone, focusing on Liu Yuqin and Lu Jianchuan.

"If this matter is strictly reported and handled as a 'campus bullying' incident, it will leave a record at the Education Bureau, which would be a heavy blow to our school's reputation. When the Education Bureau holds people accountable, I, as the principal, will be the first to be blamed." He first pointed out the interests of the school, then threw out the sharpest question:

"As the homeroom teacher, Teacher Zhang cannot escape the responsibility for her lack of oversight. She is a core senior mathematics teacher with outstanding teaching abilities. The class she leads has the highest rate of students getting into first-tier universities. If she is removed from her post now... changing generals right before a battle in the senior year, what will the parents think? If the class loses its morale and grades slide, who among us can bear that responsibility?"

Finally, he delivered the most fatal blow, looking at Liu Yuqin with a kind yet worried gaze:

"Most importantly, there's Student Li Zhe. He's a hero who acted bravely, but once a formal investigation process begins, as a core party involved, he will need to repeatedly cooperate by making statements and writing Materials. How much of his precious sprint time will that consume? Will his mindset be affected? What if the other parents are unreasonable and, in turn, constantly pester and harass him? The Gaokao is like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge; we cannot afford to gamble on any accident! We cannot let a hero bleed and then shed tears, and even more so, we cannot let him study hard for twelve years only to fail at the final hurdle!"

These words, every sentence seemingly for your sake, struck the most fragile and sensitive nerve of Liu Yuqin as the mother of a senior student. The word "Gaokao" was like two mountains that instantly crushed the spine she had just straightened because the truth had come to light.

Her face was deathly pale, and her body swayed, but she was caught in time by Lu Jianchuan. She looked at the principal, tears flowing silently, her lips trembling. Finally, maternal instinct overrode the desire for justice, and she said with difficulty through her tears, "Prin... Principal... we... we'll listen to the school. As long as it doesn't affect Xiao Zhe's Gaokao, anything is fine..."

"Mom—!" Li Zhe, who had been holding it in, finally erupted upon hearing his mother's words. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was filled with the anger and pain of betrayal and disillusioned ideals. "We're not wrong! Why should we back down! Why! I'm not going to this school anymore!" He violently shook off his mother's hand as she tried to grab him and, like a wounded cub, slammed open the door to the Moral Education Office and rushed out frantically.

"Xiao Zhe!" Liu Yuqin cried out, nearly fainting.

Lu Jianchuan steadied Liu Yuqin, his gaze cold as he looked at Principal Zhou and the subtle, "mission accomplished" composure on his face. "Auntie Liu, sign here." Lu Jianchuan's voice was low and suppressed; he had to stabilize this situation that was on the brink of collapse. "I'll go after Xiao Zhe and keep an eye on him."

Principal Zhou immediately took the opportunity to gently push a pre-prepared "Settlement Agreement" in front of Liu Yuqin, his tone gentle yet brook no refusal: "Li Zhe's mother, you see, handling it this way is best for everyone. Rest assured, we will internally conduct strict criticism and education for Teacher Zhang and those three students..."

Lu Jianchuan took one last look at that humiliating agreement and the principal's hypocritical face. No longer hesitating, he turned and quickly chased after him. He knew that staying here could no longer change the outcome; the most important thing right now was the heartbroken boy who had fled.

The door of the Moral Education Office closed behind him, isolating the room's helplessness, compromise, and cold transaction.