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

The pile of broken glass lay on the ground for a long time, and Old Zhou didn't dare to sweep it up.

Qian Wenhua finally stepped on the crumbs and walked back to his desk.

He knew better than anyone that smashing a cup wouldn't solve anything.

"Old Zhou." He sat down, his voice leveling again, "We admit defeat this year."

Old Zhou was stunned; he hadn't expected Qian Wenhua to say that.

"We have no choice but to admit it." Qian Wenhua sneered. "Lin Yucai is riding high right now. Anyone who touches him will be roasted online."

"But he shouldn't be too smug."

"He recruited all the people he wanted, and no matter how fancy the benefits were, in the end, it all came down to college entrance exam scores."

"On July 10th, the city's principals' joint meeting will announce the college entrance examination results."

Qian Wenhua tapped his fingers on the table.

"No. 13 Middle School has been at the bottom for more than ten years. It's impossible to turn that back in half a year."

"When the results come out, he'll be the one who looks bad."

"If 500 children are enrolled and their grades don't improve, the parents will still scold them."

Hearing this, Old Zhou felt a little relieved.

That makes sense.

Benefits are temporary, but achievements are lasting.

If No. 13 Middle School's college entrance examination results are not good, this wave of enrollment enthusiasm will eventually backfire.

"Principal Qian is wise," Old Zhou said, adding a compliment.

Qian Wenhua didn't respond to that. He looked out the window at the No. 1 Middle School's admissions building, which was now mostly empty, and his gaze darkened.

He's waiting for July 10th.

He bet that Lin Yucai's efforts over the past six months wouldn't amount to a decent college entrance exam score.

……

At the same time, at No. 13 Middle School, a completely different scene was unfolding.

On the afternoon the college application system officially closed, the final data was finalized.

Five hundred and sixteen people.

When Su Qingyan read out the number, everyone in the office fell silent for a moment.

It's like a daze after a complete upheaval.

"I've been coming to No. 13 Middle School for twelve years."

Ma Desheng sat in the chair, raising the thermos cup to his lips and then putting it down.

"In the first year of enrollment, I stood at the school gate all day and only managed to recruit two students."

"One of them was the kid from the pancake stall next door. They took pity on me."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened.

"This year... 516."

Su Qingyan didn't say anything. She carefully put the final data sheet into the folder.

The movement was very gentle, as if it were the safest thing to keep.

Lin Yucai leaned back in his chair, looking at the two people who had followed him the longest in the Thirteenth Year, and felt a pang of sadness.

As a principal who came from another period, he enjoyed the benefits of the system.

But the people who truly stayed with this school through its worst times and survived until today are Ma Desheng, Su Qingyan, and Lao Zhao.

"Old Ma," Lin Yucai said, "have Zhou Dahai prepare two good tables for the cafeteria tonight."

"Call Lao Zhao, Sister Qian, Lao Wu, and a few other teachers who have contributed in the past six months."

"Our five hundred-plus children deserve a proper celebration."

Ma Desheng wiped his face and nodded: "I'll go tell them right away!"

……

That evening, the system panel finally released the long-awaited gift.

Lin Yucai was alone in his office, the control panel slowly unfolding before him.

[Enrollment target reached, final settlement in progress...]

Number of new students admitted: 516.

[Completion Rating: Excellent (far exceeds the hard target of 500 people).]

[Bonus Achievements Completed: High-quality students flow in from abroad + Teacher morale is rekindled.]

[The treasure chest is being opened...]

A treasure chest with a deep purple sheen floated up on the panel, the lid popped open, and a burst of light shone through.

Congratulations on winning:

[1. The initial "Master Teacher's Attraction Aura" (passive) binds to the No. 13 Middle School campus.]

[Results: Outstanding teachers from outside the school developed a positive impression and aspirations towards the school, significantly increasing their willingness to seek employment or transfer. The teaching performance of existing teachers received a slight but stable boost.]

[2. Legal deposit of 50000 yuan into personal account.]

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

Lin Yucai stared at the "halo of attraction of famous teachers" and inwardly exclaimed that the system could handle it.

Qian Wenhua previously used the issue of teacher qualifications to attack the most sensitive spot in the Thirteenth Middle School.

There are good teachers at No. 13 Middle School, but there are too few to support more than 500 students.

This halo is like a magnetic field that attracts good teachers to the school.

With this, I won't have to beg and plead to recruit teachers next year.

He closed the treasure chest, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.

Not long ago, he only had a little over 1,100 yuan in his pocket. The school was heavily in debt, and the five hundred students were all lifeless.

Now, there's no shortage of money in the account, the school is full of students, and even the teachers' morale has been rekindled.

He suddenly remembered the first suggestion that popped up on the day the system was first activated.

Zhang Yang's statement, "Hire a five-star chef," was quite something.

At that time, he thought it was just a system for taking advantage of loopholes, and that he could just get by day by day.

Now he understands that what he got out of the past six months wasn't a free lunch.

And those five hundred-plus children, their hope has been rekindled.

……

The victory celebration banquet was held in the canteen.

Zhou Dahai was in charge of cooking, and the dishes—braised pork, sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, and old hen soup—filled two large tables.

Old Zhao sat next to Lin Yucai and, for the first time ever, drank two glasses of wine.

After a few drinks, the usually quiet old man became more talkative.

"Principal Lin, I have something to tell you."

"That day's open lecture was the most enjoyable lecture I've given in the past eight years."

"The parents were sitting below, and my students were sitting in front of me. As soon as I opened my mouth, I found myself again from eight years ago."

With a flushed face, Old Zhao raised his glass and toasted Lin Yucai.

"Thank you for remembering this old man."

Lin Yucai touched his cup: "Teacher Zhao, I'm the one who should be thanking you."

"The reason why No. 13 Middle School is where it is today is not because of my own reckless actions, but because of teachers like you who are truly hardworking and dedicated."

Sister Qian and Lao Wu next to them also raised their glasses, and the table was filled with lively conversation.

Su Qingyan sat on the other side of Lin Yucai, and unusually, she didn't put on airs as the vice principal today.

She drank about half a glass, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Lin Yucai," she nudged his arm, her voice low, "Do you think our college entrance exam results... will be okay at that meeting on July 10th?"

Lin Yucai paused for a moment while picking up food with his chopsticks.

He knew there was no way to get around this.

Successfully recruiting students has won back the hearts of parents.

But the college entrance examination results are the final answer sheet for all the efforts made during these days.

Liu Jianguo and Qian Wenhua were both holding their breath, waiting for the answer sheet to come out so they could turn the tables.

"Aren't you sure?" Lin Yucai asked in return.

"A little bit," Su Qingyan admitted frankly, "these kids have a very poor foundation. No matter how hard they try, it's just last-minute cramming."

"The college entrance exam doesn't look at how much you've improved, it only looks at how many points you scored."

That hits the nail on the head.

An improvement of fifty points is a miracle in No. 13 Middle School.

It can be placed above the college entrance examination score line, but it's not enough.

Lin Yucai was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Nobody knows until the results come out." He added some soup to Su Qingyan's bowl. "But I trust these kids."

"They didn't take the exam for the grades; they took it to prove they hadn't been abandoned."

"That kind of drive is worth more than money."

Su Qingyan looked at him and didn't ask any more questions.

She picked up the bowl and drank the soup.

……

The banquet ended close to 10 p.m.

The students returned to their dormitories in twos and threes, and the teachers said goodbye to each other.

Lin Yucai walked out of the cafeteria, and the streetlights on the playground were lit one by one.

The newly planted ginkgo trees cast faint shadows under the lamplight, and they were a little taller than they were half a month ago.

My phone vibrated at that moment.

It was sent by Ma Desheng.

"Principal, this is news I just got from the Education Bureau."

"At the principals' meeting on July 10, Liu Jianguo specifically requested that No. 13 Middle School give a report on the college entrance examination results."

"They even made sure he was the last to speak."

Lin Yucai paused for a moment after reading the message.

It will be the last lecture.

The meaning is quite clear.

Liu Jianguo wanted all the schools to report their impressive results first, and then let No. 13 Middle School be at the bottom, making a huge fool of itself in public.

What he wanted was the most embarrassing ending.

Lin Yucai stared at the screen for two seconds, then suddenly looked down and chuckled.

He put his phone back in his pocket and looked up at the night sky.

He won the battle of student recruitment.

But the real battle is only just beginning.

July 10th.

The college entrance exam results that have been hidden for half a year are about to be revealed.

He didn't know what the numbers on it were.

But he knew about the nights those children stayed up, the chalk Old Zhao picked up again, and Chen Yu's unopened letter...

There has to be an explanation for these things.

Lin Yucai walked towards the office, his shadow stretched long by the streetlights.

"Liu Jianguo, Qian Wenhua," he muttered to himself, "you'll see what happens next."

"Then I'll let this joke be laughed at your faces."