Noon.
The conflict intensifies.
The officers are afraid a fight might break up when they see Dong Xuebing and Huang Shizhong unwilling to give in to each other, and they quickly separate them. They know Huang Shizhong will not start the fight. It is Dong Xuebing they are afraid of. He has a record of beating up others, including government staff. Dong Xuebing and Yu Qianqian remained in the medical room with Qian Dong and the Principal. Huang Shizhong was escorted to the teachers’ office next to the medical room. The officers used the excuse to record their statements to separate them. They hope they can help both parties to reach a private settlement and end it.
The medical room.
Dong Xuebing ignored the Principal and the Police.
The Principal knew he had to say something. “Director Dong, this is my mistake. I had overlooked this.”
Dong Xuebing glanced at him. “I sent Qianqian to your school is not to be bullied. Don’t tell me you don’t know Huang Tingting had been bullying other students in school.”
The Principal quickly explained. “I don’t know about this. Huang Tingting was just transferred to the school, and we are busy with the examinations. All my focus is on the exams. If I knew about this, I would have stopped it.”
Dong Xuebing looks at the Principal. “It’s not too late now.”
The Principal asked. “What do you think….”
Dong Xuebing patted Yu Qianqian’s head. “Her injuries and humiliation cannot be forgotten like this. I have a few requests. First, the class teacher of Year 2 Class 1 had not taken any actions against Huang Tingting and her friends for bullying others, indirectly helping them. Such irresponsible teachers must be punished.”
The Principal had this in mind too, and he readily agreed. “Don’t worry. We will punish him.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Second, Huang Tingting and the ones who hit Qianqian must apologize to her.”
The Principal thought for a while and nodded. “Ok.”
Dong Xuebing continued. “Third, Huang Tingting and her friends must be expelled from school as their punishment.”
The Principal is troubled. “Director Dong, expel….”
Dong Xuebing looks at him coldly. “Why would you want to keep such students in your school? This is the top middle school in the County and not a rubbish dump. If these bullies are not taught a lesson, how would they learn?”
Ring…. Ring…. Ring…. Dong Xuebing’s phone rang.
Dong Xuebing looked at his phone and answered. “Hello, Secretary Duan.”
Yan Tai County’s Commission for Discipline Inspection’s Secretary, Duan Zhengan, said in a tired tone. “Xiao Dong…. Why did you come back and create trouble again? Are you trying to make things difficult for me?”
“No. It is someone else who is making things difficult for me.”
“Fine… fine…. I heard about it. Don’t be too unreasonable and quickly settle it.”
“Secretary Duan, I am not creating trouble for you. You should know about my goddaughter. Others had beaten her up for no reason. Would you let it go if you were me? Huang Shizhong’s daughter is so arrogant because of her father. You should have seen his attitude. He must have allowed his daughter to do such things in the past. Secretary Duan, the Commission for Discipline Inspection, should look into this. We cannot allow such bad apples in the government service.”
Duan Zhengan is speechless. “Stop creating more troubles for me. You barged into the school and attacked a teacher and three students. Now, you are asking me to investigate Huang Shizhong?!” Dong Xuebing had saved Duan Zhengan’s son from a tiger at the safari zoo. They become closer after that incident. “I am telling you this. The County Government Leaders have started asking about this incident. Don’t ask for too much. If not, Public Security might arrest you for intentional assault. Don’t say I did not warn you.”
Arrest me?!
Go ahead! I don’t believe anyone will dare to arrest me.
But Dong Xuebing did not say that to Duan Zhengan. He acknowledged and hung up.
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and decided to give Duan Zhengan face by giving in a little. “I think I can do away with the expel, but the school must place them on probation.”
Yu Qianqian’s injuries are considered minor, and there’s nothing for the school to place the culprits under probation. But Huang Tingting and her friends had gone too far. They ganged up against her and even posted the video online. Their actions are more than enough to get expelled from the school. The Principal and Qian Dong knew Dong Xuebing had taken a step back.
Qian Dong is relieved. It will be easier to resolve this incident with Dong Xuebing’s current attitude. It will be settled if Huang Shizhong takes one step back, and Dong Xuebing pays some money as medical fees. The Police will not need to arrest anyone, and this incident will be settled privately.
First Middle School Principal is also relieved. He is afraid that this incident will blow up.
The other room.
Qian Dong and the Principal went to the next room to speak to Huang Shizhong and Huang Tingting. Lei Zhi and Xiao Fan’s parents had arrived and were making a fuss.
“Why is he not arrested!? Why?”
“Look! My son, Xiao Fan, is still bleeding!”
“We will not go for private settlement! We are not short of money! You all must arrest and sentence him to jail!”
The angry parents don’t think their children are wrong to have bullied others. Their children are underage and should not be blamed for their actions. But when others beat up their children, they demand justice.
Huang Tingting is also making a scene in front of her father. “Dad, you must seek justice for me. It’s that Yu Qianqian who started it. You heard she had knocked into me along the corridor, but that’s not the truth. She is pretending. She was the one who attacked and scolded us. If not, we would not beat her up.” She knows what to say to gain sympathy and get out of trouble. After all, they are the only ones around, and the Police cannot verify their accounts.
Lei Zhi added. “That’s right. It was Yu Qianqian who hit us first.”
Xiao Fan agreed with them. “That video clip is what happened after she hit us. We are defending ourselves.”
Huang Shizhong patted the back of his daughter’s hand. “Don’t worry.”
Qian Dong entered the room and heard what they said. He frowned as he knew Yu Qianqian was not the type who would scold others from the video clip. Huang Tingting is lying, but he needs to settle this incident quickly. He went over and asked to talk to Huang Shizhong privately. They entered a small office in the room.
“What is it?” Huang Shizhong asked impatiently.
Qian Dong calmly replied. “Chief Huang, we have investigated the incident of Director Dong beating up your daughter and other students. We have witnesses and evidence. I have also checked with the school on their regulations. Your daughter and those students’ actions are enough to get them expelled from the school. You should know the video clip had been posted on the internet, and we need to consider the negative social impact. After talking to Director Dong, he agrees to take a step back. He only wants Huang Tingting and her friends to apologize to Yu Qianqian and place them under probation. He will not pursue the bullying incident and the video clip. Your side can ask for medical compensation….”
The Principal had entered the office.
Huang Shizhong’s face changed and interrupted Qian Dong. “He beat up Tingting, and she still needs to be punished and apologize to them?!”
Qian Dong thought to himself. “Your daughter is too much.”
“Tingting might be wrong, but it is Yu Qianqian who hit her first.” Huang Shizhong stares at Qian Dong. “What is the meaning of this? Is this how you handle this case?! I am the one who called the Police, and you all should arrest Dong Xuebing! We will not accept any private settlement. If you all cannot settle this, I will call the Public Security Bureau to handle it!”
Huang Shizhong felt Dong Xuebing was ridiculous to ask for such demands. So what if my daughter had hit your child?! You are transferred away from Yan Tai County, and even if you are still the Investment Promotion Agency Chief, what can you do to me? I am the County’s Ministry of Education Chief, and I oversee the schools here. You must be out of your mind to ask the school to place my daughter under probation. What a joke. Huang Shizhong has no intentions of punishing her daughter for hitting Yu Qianqian. But he will not let Dong Xuebing off for attacking a minor. Although they are not seriously injured, it is enough to get him into deep trouble.
Qian Dong is getting frustrated after hearing what Huang Shizhong said. “Chief Huang, do you want to consider it? This incident….”
Huang Shizhong ignored Qian Dong and called the County’s Public Security Bureau to report against Dong Xuebing. He is determined to push Dong Xuebing into a corner.
Qian Dong is disgusted by Huang Shizhong.
First Middle School Principal said anxiously. “Chief Huang, do you not know who Director Dong is?”
Huang Shizhong doesn’t want to talk to them. “Get out!”
Huang Shizhong does not only want to report to Public Security. He is prepared to use his new connections within the County Party Committee to deal with Dong Xuebing.
Qian Dong pitied Huang Shizhong and left.
Huang Shizhong…. I had tried my best. You are digging your own grave.
Qian Dong admires Huang Shizhong’s courage in facing the God of Plagues head-on. Only the ignorant are fearless.
