"What are you afraid of?"
Su Xiaotian replied nonchalantly, her book still in hand, not yet put down.
She didn't think this matter was anything to worry about.
If Principal Guo really asked them to leave the school out of fear of the Duan family, then it would only be the county's No. 1 Middle School's loss, not theirs.
With their grades, they could enroll elsewhere even if they left the county's No. 1 Middle School.
The two older brothers were stunned. What was going on?
Little Tian wasn't worried at all?
"Little Tian, Uncle isn't in the county town anymore," Su Xiao Ba reminded Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian snorted and said, "With Uncle here, we live our lives; without Uncle, we still live our lives!"
Leaning on a big tree for shade, the saying was true, but it didn't mean that those without a big tree to lean on couldn't live their lives.
Although brothers Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu couldn't understand why Su Xiaotian was so calm, they chose to believe her unconditionally.
"There's a saying, 'If this place doesn't keep me, other places will!'" Su Xiaotian said softly and adorably, uttering this domineering phrase. It seemed a bit mismatched, but Su Xiao Ba and Su Xiao Jiu felt that their little sister was telling the truth.
In the principal's office, Principal Guo kept touching his hair.
The sparse hair left on his head was almost all pulled out by him.
The detestable woman opposite him continued to pressure him incessantly.
Principal Guo had considered what Chang Huiyun had said and found himself in a dilemma.
Should he choose to protect the Su family's children from being bullied at school, or choose his own future and position?
At the same time, Duan Xingguo heard the news that his mother had come to the school to cause trouble.
The young man was too ashamed to show his face.
He had a strong personality. Being unable to defeat the little shorty from the Su family and being thrown to the ground made him feel humiliated, so he hadn't told his family.
However, he had a talkative friend who had told the whole story to his mother.
His mother immediately said that she must find the Su family to settle the score and make them pay dearly.
However, later, she heard that although the Su family was from the countryside, they had Chen Zi'an backing them. It was only under his father's strong suppression that they gave up.
He had thought that the matter was over, but who knew that Chen Zi'an would be transferred away and go to the south.
He deeply suspected that his self-righteous mother definitely didn't know that Chen Zi'an had been promoted this time, and by two levels at once, becoming a deputy mayor at such a young age.
Don't ask how he knew this news; he heard it from someone at school.
He felt that his family should also know, so he didn't mention it at home.
Who knew it would turn out like this?
He was a scoundrel and disliked studying, but he wasn't stupid.
Chen Zi'an, who had become a deputy mayor at such a young age, had a bright future.
Let alone someone from the Duan family, even the entire Duan family combined couldn't match Chen Zi'an's bright future.
It was best not to offend such a person, and even better to befriend them.
At the same time, the other children from the Su family also heard the news.
When Su Xiao Ba and Duan Xingguo fought, they heard about it after it was over, and they didn't pay much attention afterward. Who knew that after so many days, something would still happen.
"Are you Duan Xingguo?"
Su Xiao Si and Su Xiao Wu blocked Duan Xingguo's path directly, looking down at him.
"Who are you?" Duan Xingguo looked at the two people in front of him. They looked familiar, but he couldn't recall who they were for a moment.
"We are from the Su family. We heard you lost the fight and reported it to your parents?"
Su Xiao Si looked at Duan Xingguo and thought he was an idiot.
He got into a fight and then reported it to his parents?
"I didn't!" Duan Xingguo quickly retorted loudly.
But no matter how much he retorted, it was useless.
The fact that his mother had come to the school to make trouble was undeniable.
"Duan Xingguo, you can use your influence to expel us, but you must know the consequences!" Su Xiao Wu glanced at Duan Xingguo coldly and left without saying another word.
Duan Xingguo even thought he was going to be beaten today, but unexpectedly, he wasn't.
The two older siblings from the Su family just left like that?
He didn't have time to think deeply about this issue and quickly ran to Principal Guo's office.
The moment he entered, he saw his smug mother pressuring Principal Guo.
"Mom, what are you doing at school?" Duan Xingguo said unhappily.
Chang Huiyun didn't expect her son to find the principal's office so quickly.
But in Chang Huiyun's opinion, this was nothing.
She was helping her son vent his anger, and her son would only praise her when he knew.
"Of course, Mom is here to vent your anger today!" Chang Huiyun said matter-of-factly.
"I was just sparring with Su Xiao Ba. It was just some friendly roughhousing between classmates. How can it be elevated to the level of venting my anger?" Duan Xingguo glared at Chang Huiyun with disappointment.
He admitted he lost the fight; he wasn't someone who couldn't take a loss.
Besides, Su Xiao Ba really had some skills.
Later, he also heard that the youngest daughter of the Su family, Su Xiaotian, was not someone to be trifled with easily.
It was said that the Su family children were all trained by Chen Zi'an. It was normal for him to lose to them.
"Son, what kind of family are we, the Duan family, to be bullied by a nobody?"
If it were children from other prominent families in the county town, Chang Huiyun would have swallowed her pride.
But why should the Su family be treated the same?
The Su family were just commoners. Marrying a daughter to a county leader didn't make them high-class like them.
Seeing her son's indifferent attitude, Chang Huiyun felt even more uncomfortable.
"Sparring? What's worth sparring with such low-class people? Son, you must remember that you are naturally superior!"
Duan Xingguo was speechless.
Principal Guo was also speechless.
He had always thought Duan Xingguo was a bad influence, but he never knew why. Now he finally understood.
With the way Chang Huiyun taught him, it was a miracle that he hadn't completely turned out like her.
Duan Xingguo looked at his mother. He didn't know what made him superior to others.
Was it better grades? Better health? Or being taller?
No, he was just an ordinary underachiever, disliked by teachers and classmates at school.
He had even thought about expelling all the studious people from school so that no one would think of him as an underachiever.
But through this period, he realized that most students in the school were willing to study, believing that learning could change their destiny.
People like him were disliked by those who cherished their time studying.
Because he felt that he was not accepted by his classmates, he had even decided to start studying seriously from now on.
Even if he couldn't go to college in the future, at least he could finish high school well.
With their family's capabilities, as long as he finished high school, they could find him a good job.
However, in his heart, he had never thought of being superior to others.
Just as he decided to study hard and plan for a good future, his mother came to the school to cause trouble for his classmates.
How could he continue to study and live in this school with any dignity?
Chang Huiyun didn't know what her son was thinking; she was just worried about him.
"Don't worry, son, they don't have any backing now!"
Her smug tone made Duan Xingguo frown.
"Mom, does Dad know you came to our school to cause trouble?" Duan Xingguo had to use his trump card.
Chang Huiyun's expression clearly froze.
"It's such a small matter, why bother your dad? Anyway, the matter your dad was worried about no longer exists!"
"No longer exists? If my dad finds out about this, he won't let you off easily!" Duan Xingguo said with a cold snort.
Chang Huiyun clearly didn't expect her son to speak to her so impolitely.
Wasn't she doing this to protect her son's reputation? Why was he treating her like this?
She almost couldn't bear the blow and pointed at her son, asking tremblingly, "I am your mother, how can you say that to me?"
"Go home and explain it to Dad yourself. I'm not dealing with this, but I'm begging you, don't come to our school again!"
After saying this, Duan Xingguo turned and left Principal Guo's office, but he didn't go back to continue studying. Instead, he turned and left the school.
Chang Huiyun stared blankly at her departing son, unable to understand what she had done wrong.
Principal Guo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With student Duan Xingguo's words, he believed that the woman in front of him would not continue to be aggressive.
Just then, the door to the principal's office was knocked again.
Principal Guo didn't want to continue to be entangled with a woman, so he quickly walked over and opened the office door.
The person in front of him was someone Principal Guo recognized.
The director of a certain bureau in the county.
Of course, this person had another identity, which was Duan Xingguo's father.
Principal Guo was afraid. Was Director Duan coming to the school with the same intention as Chang Huiyun?
Was he also waiting for Minister Chen to leave before coming to cause trouble?
"Director Duan, why are you here?" Principal Guo said very politely.
Principal Guo had to be polite. Even if this person was potentially here to cause trouble, he still had to be courteous.
The person in front of him was not the director of the education bureau, so he couldn't control him.
But the situation could change, and it was hard to say whether the director of the agricultural bureau would be transferred to the education department.
"Principal Guo, I apologize for the trouble!" Duan Xingguo's father, Duan Jinqian, squeezed out an unpleasant smile and said to Principal Guo.
Principal Guo quickly replied politely, "Director Duan, you are too kind."
Although he said that, Principal Guo's heart finally settled down.
Duan Jinqian exchanged pleasantries with Principal Guo for a moment before turning his gaze to Chang Huiyun.
Chang Huiyun looked at Duan Jinqian's gaze and suddenly became afraid.
"Chang Huiyun, who told you to come to the school and make trouble? Did you take my words as if they were blown by the wind?"
His furious scolding clearly showed that he didn't intend to spare his wife any dignity.
Chang Huiyun didn't expect her husband to suddenly chase after her and speak so impolitely.
Her dignity had truly been hurt by both father and son, one after the other.
Thinking of this, Chang Huiyun also became hysterical.
"Duan Jinqian, do you have any conscience? Who am I doing this for? Isn't it for the reputation of our Duan family?"
Duan Jinqian looked at Chang Huiyun, appearing as if he couldn't believe Chang Huiyun could say such things.
Truly unreasonable.
"Are you doing it for the Duan family's reputation, or for yourself to show off?"
Chang Huiyun stopped talking. She was indeed doing it to show off.
She had always been suppressed by others. Now that she finally had a chance to hold her head high, of course, she wanted to show off.
Besides, if she showed off, wouldn't that be the Duan family's reputation?
"If the Duan family's child is wronged, or bullied by a bunch of commoners, and it gets out, what face will the Duan family have in the county town in the future?" Chang Huiyun said, crying and shouting, feeling more and more that her husband didn't understand her.
Duan Jinqian gave her a fierce look. Why did he marry such a woman who was incompetent and only caused trouble?
He had already told her not to provoke the Su family. Did she take his words as if they were blown by the wind?
"With a woman like you, the Duan family has lost all its face!"
Duan Jinqian said this coldly to Chang Huiyun and then remained silent, turning his gaze to Principal Guo.
Principal Guo was so embarrassed that he was digging a hole with his toes.
Why couldn't they argue in another place?
Why did they have to choose his principal's office?
If people who didn't know the truth heard this, they would spread all sorts of gossip.
Tragic!
"Principal Guo, I'm truly sorry. My wife is ignorant and came to the school behind my back."
"It's nothing, nothing. They are students' parents. It's not wrong for them to come to school." Principal Guo spoke even more politely, "Director Duan, you are too kind. It wasn't a big deal in the first place."
Since Director Duan had apologized, Principal Guo naturally couldn't say anything more. Polite words poured out one after another.
Duan Jinqian knew that this was not a small matter for the school.
At the very least, the impact was very bad.
It was all this foolish woman. If she hadn't given birth to three sons and two daughters for the Duan family, he would have divorced her!
Principal Guo didn't care about all this. As long as he could see these two off from the principal's office today, he would be grateful to Buddha.
Chang Huiyun was taken away by Duan Jinqian. As she left, her eyes were downcast, a stark contrast to the haughty demeanor she had when she entered.
A farce of thunderous rain but little water was thus dissolved, as if it had never happened.
However, it had indeed happened, and it had even changed the life trajectories of several people.
From that day on, Duan Xingguo no longer appeared at school. Even the hoodlums who often followed him didn't know what was wrong with Duan Xingguo.
Duan Xingguo stayed at home for these days, not even willing to go out.
Chang Huiyun clearly didn't expect her son to refuse to go to school because of this.
She tried to persuade her son earnestly, hoping he would come to his senses.
But Duan Xingguo remained silent, not opening his mouth except to eat and drink.
When Duan Xingguo reappeared at school, it was already a month later.
He appeared very low-key, suddenly sneaking into the back row of the classroom one morning and sitting down, earnestly starting to read.
Even his former companions who came to find him couldn't get a single word out of him.
Everyone found this Duan Xingguo very strange. Wen Yufei even went over to take a look.
The Wen family and the Duan family were actually in similar financial situations, and their personalities were also similar in some aspects.
The difference was that the Wen family never interfered with Wen Yufei's life at school.
"Little Tian, do you know? Duan Xingguo is really studying hard."
Wen Yufei couldn't believe what he saw.
He saw Duan Xingguo earnestly studying hard.
It was simply unbelievable.
If Duan Xingguo were a diligent student, he would be able to get into college.
But the fact was that Duan Xingguo had truly started to study hard and diligently.
He went to school early and left late, being almost the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Su Xiaotian understood to some extent. Children of Duan Xingguo's age always valued their reputation the most.
If a fight with Su Xiao Ba had made him lose face, his mother's commotion at the school had completely stripped him of his dignity.
Su Xiaotian's guess was indeed correct. Duan Xingguo felt too ashamed to face anyone, so he shut himself at home for a whole month.
His month of silence thoroughly frightened Chang Huiyun, and she no longer dared to say a harsh word.
Finally, Chang Huiyun promised never to go to school again, and only then did Duan Xingguo decide to continue his studies.
In fact, he had originally planned not to return to school and find a way to get a job.
But he was too young, and even if there were job openings, it wouldn't be his turn. It was out of desperation that he decided to return to school.
He was now in the second year of junior high and would take the entrance exam for high school after finishing this semester.
He believed that it was entirely possible to get into high school through his own efforts.
At the same time, he also decided that after entering high school, he would not go home.
He would live in the dormitory.
With his goal set, Duan Xingguo would just sit silently at his desk every day at school, diligently studying the previously obscure and difficult knowledge.
For some reason, he suddenly seemed to understand everything.
Duan Xingguo himself felt that he had finally "opened up."
The other teachers and students at school also thought that Duan Xingguo had "opened up."
Su Xiao Liu and Su Xiao Qi, who were also in the second year of junior high but in different classes, didn't have a good impression of Duan Xingguo.
He was like a troublemaker, but the fact that even the troublemaker had started studying gave them a sense of urgency.
They wanted to work hard and strive to change their destiny through learning, becoming people of influence.
Through this incident, the Su family children all understood the importance of power.
While people don't live for power, power is very important for everyone living in this world.
Their uncle was capable, and everyone in the county town feared him. Even the Duan family had to wait until their uncle left the county town to cause trouble for them.
If they had enough ability themselves, they wouldn't have been bullied by Chang Huiyun like this.
The Su family children all quietly made a decision: they wanted to become people of influence.
Only by becoming people of influence would they not be bullied and not repeat today's mistakes.
What's wrong with being commoners? Even commoners have their spring!
[Author's Note]
Five thousand words uploaded. I will continue writing this afternoon. The next three days will be very busy, and I probably won't have time to write. The words written this afternoon will be seen by you all tomorrow!