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

As Lin Yucai looked at the words "Greening Fund," his mind began to race.

One million.

That's enough to plant a decent row of trees along the edge of that bare concrete playground on campus.

No, it's not just trees.

He thought of the phrase that the parents of the ninth graders most often said during their visit today.

"The school is nice, but the playground looks a bit deserted."

Row.

Then let's fill in this piece as well.

On the day of the high school entrance exam application, every parent who walks into No. 13 Middle School will be unable to find even the slightest fault.

He turned off the system panel, picked up his phone, and sent a message to Su Qingyan.

"Are you free tomorrow? Come with me to the flower market."

It took half a minute for them to reply.

"Looking at flowers? When did you develop this hobby?"

"Let's add some greenery to the school."

"How much?"

One million.

The other end remained silent for a full minute before replying with only two words.

"What time is it?"

Lin Yucai smiled, put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

It was completely dark outside, and the streetlights on the playground were on one by one.

A breeze slipped in through the window cracks, carrying the warmth and scent of grass and trees unique to a June night.

I'll be busy tomorrow too.

But this kind of busyness is different from the hectic busyness of six months ago.

This busyness is all for the sake of a better life.

……

The day after the middle school entrance examination ended, the city's college application system officially opened.

Lin Yucai sat in his office from six in the morning, with a laptop in front of him and real-time registration data from the No. 13 Middle School's back office on the screen.

zero.

He stared at the number, took a sip of tea, and remained unhurried.

On the first day the system was open, most parents were still observing and comparing.

The real peak in filling out forms usually occurs on the second and third day.

By noon, the number had jumped to forty-seven.

Three o'clock in the afternoon, eighty-three.

Six o'clock in the evening, 121.

Ma Desheng would come to check on it every half hour, each time with a look of both nervousness and anticipation on his face.

"The principal has reached 120, which is three times more than the same period last year."

"Don't worry, there are still two days."

The data started to accelerate the next day.

It rose by 60 in the morning and by another 52 in the afternoon.

As of 11 p.m. that night, the total number of registered participants was... 233.

When Su Qingyan messaged him that night, her tone was noticeably more relaxed.

"At this rate, 300 is a sure thing."

"It's stable, but I want more."

"greedy."

"It's not about being greedy, it's about laying a solid foundation for next year. The more we recruit this year, the stronger our reputation will be next year."

Su Qingyan did not reply, but Lin Yucai knew that she agreed with her statement.

The third day, which is the last day for filling out college application forms.

Lin Yucai remained in his office as usual.

The data started at 23:00 in the morning and has been increasing at a rate of 20 to 30 people per hour.

It broke 280 at noon.

Two o'clock in the afternoon, 304.

At that moment, Lin Yucai pushed his chair back and let out a long sigh.

three hundred.

It crossed the line.

The number of new students enrolled at No. 13 Middle School this year has officially exceeded 300.

That official document with the heading "If we can't reach 300, we'll merge" can be used as a table leg starting today.

But the data is still rising.

Four o'clock in the afternoon, 315.

7 PM, 322.

In the last hour before the deadline, the data finally settled at... 327.

Three hundred and twenty-seven ninth-grade students and their parents solemnly wrote the three characters "No. 13 Middle School" on their application forms.

What does this number mean?

Last year, No. 13 Middle School enrolled 146 students.

The year before last it was 131.

The year before last was 108.

This year, it has more than doubled.

When Ma Desheng saw the final data, he almost dropped the thermos in his hand.

"Three hundred...three hundred and twenty-seven?" His voice was trembling.

"There are twenty-seven more than we expected." Lin Yucai leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head.

That's enough.

The office door was pushed open, and Su Qingyan walked in.

She was unusually dressed today, wearing a cream-colored knit sweater, her hair down, and without her glasses. She didn't look like a vice principal; she looked more like an office worker who had just gotten off work.

"Did you see the data?" she asked, standing in front of the table.

"I saw it."

"So..." Su Qingyan's lips curled up slightly.

"So, the 13th Middle School doesn't need to be merged?"

Lin Yucai turned his chair around to face her, his expression suddenly becoming extremely serious.

"Vice Principal Su."

"Um?"

"No. 13 Middle School will never be merged."

He spoke these words in a calm tone, without any grand pronouncements or deliberate displays of passion.

But as Su Qingyan stood there, looking at his face half-lit by the setting sun, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

She spent three years at No. 13 Middle School.

In three years, she saw four principals come and go, each saying similar nice things, and each leaving in disgrace after less than six months.

She witnessed the school's student population gradually shrink from 500 to less than 300, saw teachers resign one after another, witnessed students skipping classes to go to internet cafes, and witnessed parents coming to the school to yell and curse.

She had thought about leaving more than once.

But every time I submit my resignation, I think of the students who are still at the school.

They can't get into No. 1 Middle School, No. 2 Middle School, or any "good school".

No. 13 Middle School was their last and only choice.

If even she leaves, what will these children have left?

So she stayed, and has stayed until today.

"You..." Su Qingyan turned around, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Nine out of ten things I said in the past were unreliable, but the most crucial one always came true."

She walked to the door, then stopped, without turning her head.

I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow.

Why?

"celebrate."

The door closed.

Lin Yucai stared blankly at the air for two seconds, then lowered his head and smiled.

The system panel pops up as needed.

[Recruitment progress update: 100%!]

[Completion Rating: Excellent (Exceeded Expectations)]

[Reward quality upgraded: Blue Elite Chest → Purple Epic Chest!]

[Opening a purple epic treasure chest...]

On the virtual panel, a treasure chest with a deep purple glow slowly appeared, the lid popped open, and the light was dazzling.

Congratulations on winning:

[1. The aura of campus greenery binds students and teachers to green areas on campus. Those who spend more than ten minutes in these areas will experience a "refreshing" effect: a 50% increase in attention recovery speed and a slight reduction in anxiety and fatigue.]

[2. Legal deposit of 80000 yuan into personal account.]

[3. Personal Attribute Boost: Charisma +2, Stamina +1.]

Lin Yucai looked at the "green halo" and grinned.

A million-dollar greening fund plus this halo.

When school starts next September, once the newly planted trees on the campus of No. 13 Middle School have grown, the entire school will become a natural energy recovery station.

Students who go for a walk during breaks are instantly more engaged and focused when they return to class.

This is more effective than any tutoring class.

He closed the treasure chest, and a bank notification popped up on his phone.

His balance increased by another 80,000, but he didn't have time to count the money right now.

A message popped up immediately afterward; it was from Ma Desheng.

"Principal, the Education Bureau just issued a notice."

"July 10th, a joint meeting of high school principals in the city."

"There is only one issue... the reporting of college entrance examination results and teaching evaluation."

"Liu Jianguo personally presided over the meeting."