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Chapter 37: A Goal
Back at school, Zhang Qiu was focusing on his textbooks when Director Zhao suddenly entered the classroom. In an instant, the room fell silent, with only Director Zhao's authoritative voice echoing.
"Zhang Qiu, come with me to the office."
Immediately, all eyes in the class turned to Zhang Qiu. Some students whispered, "He knows how to cause trouble and waste people's time." This remark drew a rebuttal from his deskmate: "You don't know, do you? He's doing this for revenge for his father. With such loyalty, how can you say that about him?"
What Zhang Qiu didn't realize was that his actions had sparked a heated debate among his usually friendly deskmates. While some felt resentment towards him, many others looked at him with admiration, especially some boys in the back row.
Zhang Qiu stood up and walked towards Director Zhao, each step steady and calm. Although he didn't know why Director Zhao had called him, he was certain it wouldn't be bad news.
Xu Qing Chu watched the scene unfold and said, "Director, Zhang Qiu..."
"Teacher Chu, the grade will handle this matter," Director Zhao interrupted her. He didn't want more people getting involved.
Xu Qing Chu wanted to say more but seeing Director Zhao's demeanor, she abandoned the thought. She could only silently pray for this student. When she caught Zhang Qiu sleeping during morning self-study, she thought he was just someone who didn’t care about studying and was wasting time. She never expected that such an unassuming person would do so much for his father. People with such courage are hard to find in today's education system that emphasizes obedience; she found it quite interesting.
In the grade office, Director Zhao pointed to a chair and said, "Have a seat." After that, he leaned back in his chair and quietly observed Zhang Qiu. Zhang Qiu couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; usually, anyone entering the Director's Office—students or even teachers—had to stand.
Zhang Qiu boldly sat down on the chair and instinctively crossed one leg. After a moment's thought, he uncrossed it; he still felt a bit concerned.
Director Zhao noticed everything and spoke gently: "Zhang Qiu, now that you're back at school, you need to study hard. Although the grade has decided to lift your punishment considering your college entrance exam preparation for your future, your situation has circulated several versions among the students."
"Director, what do you want me to do?" Zhang Qiu asked directly, feeling tired of the usual pleasantries.
Director Zhao smiled slightly, sitting up straight and looking at Zhang Qiu to appear more authoritative. "From now on, you need to focus on your studies and handle things discreetly. If anyone asks about you, you should downplay it. Do you understand?"
"Of course," Zhang Qiu replied with a smile. "I appreciate your care for me, Director Zhao, allowing me to return to class."
Zhang Qiu's words pleased Director Zhao, who thought that Zhang Qiu was not as outdated as he seemed. Director Zhao chuckled, "As long as you understand, just focus on studying once you're back. If there's anything, feel free to come to me."
"Thank you, Director Zhao," Zhang Qiu said with a smile. The last sentence from Director Zhao was worth pondering; addressing issues early could eliminate conflicts before they escalated. However, this also meant that some inconvenient matters would require discretion.
Director Zhao tore off a piece of paper from a nearby notepad and quickly wrote down a series of numbers. He then pushed the note in front of Zhang Qiu and pointed at the numbers. "This is my phone number; you can contact me. You also have my email, so feel free to send an email if needed."
"Got it, Director Zhao."
"Now go back to class," Director Zhao waved his hand. Just as Zhang Qiu reached the door, Director Zhao called out to him again, "About that video..."
"There’s only one copy in your phone, Director Zhao," Zhang Qiu replied with a smile as he turned back towards him. After seeing Director Zhao nod, Zhang Qiu exited the office and closed the door behind him.
As for the video, Zhang Qiu wouldn't be foolish enough to delete it; if it were gone, Director Zhao would surely make things difficult for him. Even if deleted, Director Zhao might not believe it. But this arrangement created a balance between them that was beneficial for both parties. If one had to benefit more than the other, it would undoubtedly be Zhang Qiu.
Zhang Qiu called out for permission before entering the classroom. A few students were waiting to see him leave, but when he sat down at his desk, he appeared unfazed, clearly indicating that nothing was wrong. Xu Qing Chu felt quite surprised; she understood that Director Zhao was not a kind person and that his position had been bought for five thousand dollars.
Although Zhang Qiu's mistake was not entirely his fault, given Director Zhao's temperament, it wouldn't be easy for him to let it go. Xu Qing Chu couldn't figure out why Zhang Qiu was safe and sound but decided not to dwell on it further. As long as her student could return to class smoothly, everything else could be dealt with later.
Zhang Qiu returned to his seat, still feeling the need to observe, showing no signs of change. Only he knew the intense turmoil within him at that moment. With a grade director accommodating him, did that mean he could do some things he usually wanted to do but couldn't? At this critical juncture, Zhang Qiu needed to take action.
In society, Zhang Qiu had offended Liu Xiaolong. Although the police had arrested some people, there were still remnants who would definitely target him. If Liu Xiaolong brought people to the school to confront him, he would be at a disadvantage due to his isolation. Although Yang Yu was there, it wouldn't help much since they were not in the same school and it wasn't very convenient. Therefore, the urgent task was to gather a group of supporters within the school.
Beiluan No. 1 High School was the most prestigious institution in Beilan County, with a college admission rate of ninety percent each year. Even in the city, it was well-regarded. The students at Beiluan No. 1 were generally excellent and followed the rules, making for a relatively stable environment. However, there were also some students who had paid to get in or had connections; these individuals often violated school regulations.
Zhang Qiu wanted to develop his influence, especially at this critical moment. While it would certainly affect his studies, building his power was necessary. Fortunately, Zhang Qiu didn't need to grow too large; being able to protect himself would suffice, which would also reduce resistance to his development. Most importantly, he could balance his studies; he firmly believed in the saying that knowledge changes destiny.
Gradually, Zhang Qiu clarified his main goals for the near future. He suddenly recalled a line from "Old Man Gao": "Being honest and simple is just another name for uselessness. If you are a good man, you should stride forward boldly. But you must fight against jealousy, slander, and mediocrity; you must struggle against everyone."
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