78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

"The note was written by Zhou Mingyuan, the head of the Physics Department, at the instruction of Zhao, the deputy director of the Academic Affairs Office." Ye Bingwen's tone was calm, as if he were reporting experimental data. "I have handwriting comparisons, and I also overheard the conversation last night. Zhou Mingyuan said to Deputy Director Zhao in the alley, 'So what if they find out? Will the school take action against me for his sake?'"

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Liu Deben didn't get angry, nor did his expression change. He simply put on his glasses slowly and then picked up the phone on the table.

"Get me Zhou Mingyuan from the Physics Department."

After the call connected, Liu Deben only said one sentence: "Come to my office now."

He hung up the phone and looked at Ye Bingwen. "Sit down and wait."

Ye Bingwen sat down in the chair, his back ramrod straight.

Ten minutes later, Zhou Mingyuan pushed open the door and came in. He was wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he had his usual gentle smile on his face.

"Principal Liu, you wanted to see me..."

He was speaking when he saw Ye Bingwen sitting to the side. His smile froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Sit down," Liu Deben said, pointing to another chair.

Zhou Mingyuan sat down, glanced at Ye Bingwen's face, and then looked away.

Liu Deben pushed the note in front of Zhou Mingyuan. "Have you seen this before?"

Zhou Mingyuan glanced down and shook his head. "Never seen it before."

"What about Deputy Director Zhao? Did you see him last night?"

Zhou Mingyuan's eyelids twitched, but he quickly regained his composure. "I was at home last night, I didn't go anywhere."

Liu Deben didn't ask him any more questions. Instead, he picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Tell Zhao Zhiguo to come to my office."

The three waited in silence. Ye Bingwen could feel Zhou Mingyuan's gaze occasionally falling on him, carrying something indescribable. It wasn't anger, nor fear, but more like scrutiny.

Deputy Director Zhao arrived quickly. When he pushed open the door and saw the three people sitting in the office, his face turned pale.

"Zhao Zhiguo, did you write this note?" Liu Deben asked directly without any pleasantries.

Deputy Director Zhao's lips trembled slightly. "Principal Liu, I..."

"To be honest," Liu Deben said, his voice not loud, but every word was like a nail.

Deputy Director Zhao lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. Zhou Mingyuan sat beside him, motionless, like a statue.

"I wrote it," Deputy Director Zhao said softly.

Why?

Deputy Director Zhao remained silent. He glanced at Zhou Mingyuan, then quickly looked away.

Liu Deben turned his gaze to Zhou Mingyuan. "Director Zhou, do you have anything to say?"

Zhou Mingyuan slowly stood up, and the gentle smile on his face finally disappeared.

"Principal Liu, I didn't think this through." His voice was calm. "I just wanted to see how this student would react to pressure. After all, physics research requires strong mental fortitude. If he can't even withstand this little bit of pressure, then he's not worth my time to train."

Ye Bingwen sneered inwardly. What a plausible excuse!

Liu Deben slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup to jump and spill tea.

"Training?" Liu Deben's voice echoed in the office like thunder. "You call this training? Framing, fabricating rumors, is this training?"

Zhou Mingyuan's expression finally changed. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but Liu Deben didn't give him the chance.

"You're the department head, a highly educated intellectual cultivated by the nation, not a street thug! Do you realize the negative impact your behavior will have on the school? A freshman, just enrolled, is framed by his own teacher. What will other students think of you? What will society think of Harbin Institute of Technology?"

Liu Deben stood up, walked up to Zhou Mingyuan, and stared into his eyes.

"And you said, 'The school would take action against you because of him'? Let me tell you right now, the school not only stands up for its students, but also eliminates the bad apples!"

Zhou Mingyuan's face turned a deep purplish-red. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Deputy Director Zhao stood to the side, trembling all over.

Liu Deben returned to his seat, picked up a pen, and wrote a few words on a piece of paper.

"Zhou Mingyuan receives a Party warning, which is announced to the entire school. Zhao Zhiguo is transferred from the Academic Affairs Office to the library."

He pushed the papers aside and looked at the two of them. "Is there anything else you want to say?"

Zhou Mingyuan took a deep breath, his voice a little hoarse. "Principal Liu, I accept the organization's disciplinary action."

Deputy Director Zhao lowered his head, his voice barely audible. "I accept."

"Go out."

The two walked out of the office one after the other. Deputy Director Zhao's legs were trembling as he left, while Zhou Mingyuan's back was ramrod straight. But Ye Bingwen noticed that when he closed the door, his fingers lingered on the doorknob for a long time.

Only Ye Bingwen and Liu Deben remained in the office.

Liu Deben leaned back in his chair, took off his glasses, and rubbed his temples. He looked much older than before.

"Ye Bingwen, are you satisfied with the outcome of this matter?"

"Principal Liu, I'm not in a position to say whether I'm satisfied or not," Ye Bingwen stood up, "but thank you."

"No need to thank me." Liu Deben waved his hand. "I'm the principal, and it's my responsibility to maintain the school's atmosphere. But I must warn you, Zhou Mingyuan isn't a very magnanimous person. He suffered this loss today, and he might cause you trouble in the future. Be careful."

"I see."

"And one more thing," Liu Deben said, looking at him, "I heard about your brushless motor from Cai Xun. Do a good job with it, get good results, that's more important than anything else. Results are the best protection."

Ye Bingwen nodded, "I've got it."

The corridor was empty when I came out of the school office.

Ye Bingwen leaned against the wall and closed his eyes for a while.

My heart was still racing, but it wasn't from nervousness; it was an indescribable feeling. It was like finishing a long-distance race and finally reaching the finish line.

Footsteps sounded behind him. Ma Kui appeared out of nowhere, looking anxious.

"How is it?"

"Zhou Mingyuan received a party warning, and Zhao Zhiguo was transferred to the library."

Ma Kui let out a long sigh of relief, then laughed. "Good! That felt better!"

He patted Ye Bingwen on the shoulder, "You're really bold, going to see Principal Liu all by yourself without even asking me. What if Principal Liu doesn't believe you?"

"No, that won't happen," Ye Bingwen said. "Principal Liu is a smart man; he knows I'm telling the truth."

Ma Kui shook his head. "Let's go, I'll treat you to lunch. The school cafeteria has braised pork today."

Ye Bingwen smiled and followed Ma Kui toward the cafeteria.

I encountered several students on the way, and their eyes changed when they saw Ye Bingwen. Some were curious, some admired him, and some avoided his gaze.

The news spread faster than the wind. In less than half a day, the whole school knew that the head of the physics department had been disciplined because a freshman had reported him.

Some say Ye Bingwen is incredibly audacious, some say he's ignorant and reckless, and others say he's a true man.

But no matter what, everyone remembered one name.

Ye Bingwen.

The one you shouldn't mess with.