Teacher Yu couldn't figure out what had happened, but he followed Principal Gu's instructions and found a few people from the logistics department to help.
The young, strong lads were quite powerful. After more than ten minutes, the archive room door was smashed open.
Since a lot of time had already been wasted, Principal Gu didn't want to waste any more. The moment the door opened, he didn't even bother with the precarious doorframe and ducked inside.
Just then, Principal Jin and Director Wu, who had heard that someone was smashing the archive room door, rushed over.
Director Wu was startled to see the archive room door open, and in such a pathetic state.
It was a good door, made of fine solid wood. How could it be broken like this? How much force had been used?
Earlier, the principal had asked him to retrieve some archives. He had intended to do so, but just as he reached the door, he met Principal Jin.
Principal Jin said he had something to discuss, and since the door wouldn't open, Principal Jin offered to help. The key had broken off inside the lock.
As the lock was broken and the door couldn't be opened immediately, he didn't think much of it and followed Principal Jin.
The two of them were drinking when they heard someone smashing the archive room door.
He originally thought it had nothing to do with him, but Principal Jin insisted on rushing over!
His craving hadn't been satisfied yet!
"Who did this? Who damaged the school's public property?"
Principal Jin hadn't seen Principal Gu, who had already entered the archive room, so he spoke with great authority.
Teacher Yu, remembering that he had asked people to come and even led the charge in smashing the door, couldn't help but want to hide.
Principal Jin happened to see Teacher Yu retreating and immediately understood. He assumed Teacher Yu was stealing and destroying evidence.
He immediately reprimanded, "Teacher Yu, you are in charge of the archive room. How could you allow people to damage it?"
"It's just that the key broke, and the door wouldn't open..." Teacher Yu spoke in a very small voice.
His voice was so low that Principal Jin felt even more that Teacher Yu had acted on his own.
"You dare to damage public property privately! I am now informing you that you are fired!" Principal Jin said with a dark face, showing no politeness.
Upon hearing that he was fired, Teacher Yu also became anxious.
It wasn't easy for him to find this job. How could he be fired like this?
If he were fired, how would his family eat and drink?
"Principal Jin, I am a permanent employee. You cannot fire me!"
But Principal Jin was planning to make a fuss to write off previous matters.
Those exam papers stored in the archive room were always a hidden danger. The best way was to destroy them, once and for all.
Teacher Yu smashing the door open was the best opportunity. He just needed to destroy those exam papers at this time, and all problems would be solved.
Then, by firing Teacher Yu, everything would be reset to zero.
"What does it matter if you are a permanent employee? The person in charge of the archive room can't even keep the door of the archive room intact. What use are you?" Principal Jin said with a stern face.
Teacher Yu opened his mouth, wanting to say that it wasn't him who smashed the door, but the principal.
But Principal Jin wouldn't give him a chance.
"You should leave quickly and not waste time. Think carefully. If you are unwilling to leave on your own, I will find someone to throw you out."
Principal Jin's words were very impolite. As he spoke, he waved his hand, looking impatient.
He had even looked around, intending to find a couple of people to throw the tall and strong Teacher Yu out.
It was necessary to find someone tall and strong because Teacher Yu was tall and very strong, and ordinary people were no match for him.
When people are anxious, they can sometimes have a flash of inspiration.
Although Teacher Yu was not academically gifted, at such a critical moment, he could find what was most beneficial to him.
"Principal Jin, although you are a leader, you cannot be so aggressive. I am a permanent cadre. If you want to fire me, you need to follow procedures and have documents from the Education Bureau!"
Teacher Yu was anxious and didn't even think about explaining that the principal had done it and it had nothing to do with him.
Instead, he started arguing with Principal Jin.
In his haste, Teacher Yu even approached Principal Jin and raised his palm high, as if he were about to hit him.
One was a little over 1.6 meters tall, the other over 1.8 meters. Teacher Yu standing next to Principal Jin was like a mountain pressing down.
"You want to hit someone?"
Principal Jin's voice changed under Teacher Yu's pressure, no longer the same as before.
"I don't want to hit anyone. I just want to reason with you. What right does Vice Principal Jin have to fire me?" Teacher Yu's eyes were bloodshot, wide open.
Principal Jin became scared. He suddenly remembered that Teacher Yu had a stubborn personality and lacked knowledge, but he was good at fighting.
Why should he provoke such a brute?
"Teacher Yu, Teacher Yu, don't be anxious. I just said the wrong thing in a moment of anger. You've been at the school for so long, how could I not know you? I was just angry, please don't mind!"
It had to be said that Principal Jin was indeed a model of flexibility.
Upon seeing that Teacher Yu might hit him, he immediately backed down.
"You're not firing me anymore?" Teacher Yu asked.
Principal Jin gave a dry, hollow laugh and said, "No firing, no firing. I was just speaking casually, don't take it to heart!"
Teacher Yu then calmed down a bit.
He took a step back, and Principal Jin felt the pressure on him dissipate.
Director Wu witnessed this farce and felt helpless.
Although Teacher Yu was called a teacher, he was just in charge of logistics. Who could blame him for his lack of academic achievement?
But it happened that such a person was stubborn. If he was unhappy, he would fight with people.
However, he didn't want to provoke this brute, Teacher Yu, lest he deal with him as well.
He wasn't very close to Principal Jin in the first place. Seeing that things were almost settled, he quickly said, "The principal arranged for me to come to the archive room to retrieve archives earlier. Whether the door opened or not, I didn't retrieve them. Now that the door is open, I'll go take a look!"
Principal Jin couldn't let Director Wu go in and quickly tried to stop him.
"Director Wu, we were halfway through drinking. When can't we retrieve archives and check exam papers?"
Director Wu didn't want to continue drinking, but the wine Principal Jin had brought out today was truly good, not only expensive but also unobtainable.
After much consideration, the wine-loving Director Wu made his decision!
Seeing Director Wu's wavering, Principal Jin quickly continued.
"Director Wu, I know you are a dedicated person, but sometimes, you should relax when you need to!
After all, the exam papers are still in the archive room. If they are actually retrieved, there will be big problems.
It seems that destroying the exam papers is urgent. I will arrange for someone to take advantage of the archive room door being smashed open to completely destroy that batch of exam papers, and then there will be no evidence.
Director Wu was swayed by Principal Jin's persuasion, and coupled with his desire to continue drinking, he couldn't help but hesitantly recall what the principal had said earlier.
He seemed to have said to hurry up and retrieve them, but he didn't say they had to be retrieved within a certain time.
Perhaps he should wait until tomorrow morning to retrieve them?
In the end, his craving for wine overcame his reason, and Director Wu compromised.
"Teacher Yu, quickly find someone to repair the archive room door. However, you will have to bear the repair costs yourself. The school does not have this budget!"
Although Principal Jin dared not provoke Teacher Yu further, he still said it with a righteous sternness.
Teacher Yu saw Principal Jin preparing to leave and understood Principal Jin's intentions. He simply stopped speaking.
Hmph, he wouldn't tell him that the principal was also here!
He wanted to see what Principal Jin would say when facing the principal!
"Teacher Yu, don't overthink it. I'm not specifically targeting you. You should know that everything has rules! You damaged school property, so compensation is only right! If you don't compensate, how can there be any rules in our Seventh Middle School in the future?"
Principal Jin's words made him almost believe he was a good comrade!
Principal Gu, who was just leaving, heard Principal Jin's words and was extremely annoyed.
If his guess was correct, Principal Jin was behind all of today's events.
It was fine if he did some unsavory things on weekdays, but this time, he almost got him killed.
If he continued to indulge Principal Jin, he would only be asking for trouble.
"I'd like to hear Principal Jin explain what the rules are in our Seventh Middle School."
Principal Jin hadn't expected the principal to suddenly come out of the archive room, and his jaw almost dropped in surprise.
It was only then that he realized that it wasn't Teacher Yu who smashed the archive room door, but Principal Gu.
Thinking of this possibility, he glared fiercely at Teacher Yu, his meaning very clear: he blamed Teacher Yu for not telling him such important information.
He didn't consider that he hadn't given Teacher Yu a single pleasant look from the beginning and had even threatened to fire him. Why should Teacher Yu tell him?
After glaring at Teacher Yu, he immediately turned his gaze back to Principal Gu.
Was Principal Jin going to retrieve exam papers?
He had meticulously broken the key on purpose, precisely to prevent anyone from retrieving the exam papers.
He was still looking for an opportunity to enter the archive room and get rid of the exam papers of the Su family children, so how could they be retrieved in advance?
If anyone saw the exam papers of the Su family children, how could his actions be hidden?
Wait, what was Principal Gu holding?
It looked like exam papers.
That's right, it was exam papers!
He immediately realized that Principal Gu had smashed the archive room door to retrieve the exam papers. What did this mean?
It meant that Principal Gu had truly learned something.
Moreover, it was something with concrete evidence.
Thinking of this possibility, Principal Jin panicked. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
Principal Jin was also an old hand at Seventh Middle School and a vice principal with real power. He was used to being overbearing in front of teachers.
But he was still afraid of the principal.
Principal Gu was not without backing. At the very least, the people behind him were no match for Principal Gu's backers.
This was why he had failed in the competition, and had to watch helplessly as Principal Gu became the principal while he only became the vice principal.
Moreover, Principal Gu was a very capable person, and his work was meticulous. Whatever he decided to do, he would see it through.
If Principal Gu had confirmed that there were problems with this exam's results, he would surely investigate thoroughly, and his fate would be predictable.
No, he absolutely could not let Principal Gu see the real exam papers.
Principal Jin's eyes darted around, and he happened to see a bucket of water placed next to Principal Gu, filled to the brim.
He had a sudden idea and immediately rushed over.
As he ran, he shouted, "Principal, how can you personally do such a thing? I can do it. You should rest for a while!"
When he reached Principal Gu, Principal Jin immediately tried to snatch the exam papers from Principal Gu's hands.
But how could Principal Gu let him snatch the exam papers away?
He could now confirm that there was something fishy about the exam papers.
And the person who caused these fishy things was the person in front of him!
Principal Gu dodged the somewhat clumsy Principal Jin perfectly.
Principal Jin was short and a bit fat, so his movements were not agile.
After Principal Gu dodged, he lost his balance due to excessive force and stumbled directly into the bucket of water.
Although he didn't fall in entirely because the bucket was too small, the overturned bucket spilled all its water, and it all splashed onto him, soaking his clothes.
"Principal Jin, how can you be so careless? You've overturned a bucket of water for no reason. Do you know that the country advocates for water conservation?"
"I remember you used to be a geography teacher. Don't you know that our country's water resources are severely scarce? Every one of us should save water. Wasting water resources like this is not acceptable!"
Principal Gu snorted and began to lecture Principal Jin meticulously.
Principal Jin had originally intended to snatch the exam papers from Principal Gu and then, as if by accident, throw them into the bucket to destroy them.
Who knew that he hadn't destroyed the exam papers, but instead, he had gotten himself all wet.
Even if that were the case, this person named Gu was actually lecturing him.
Fortunately, it was summer, so even if his clothes were wet, it wouldn't matter. At most, it was a bit embarrassing.
"Principal, I..."
As Principal Jin was about to defend himself, he heard Principal Gu speak again.
"Principal Jin, I know what you want to say. You are always careless. I won't blame you for overturning the water this time, but you must learn from this and never make such a mistake again."
"As teachers, if we cannot be role models, how can we teach students?"
"How about this, Principal Jin, you write a self-criticism later, and we'll read it out at the meeting. The self-criticism must be profound and truly recognize the mistake of wasting water resources!"
Principal Gu's words were said with such seriousness, as if Principal Jin had made a grave mistake.
He even put on a look of grief and indignation, hoping that Principal Jin would mend his ways.
Principal Jin was flustered.
It was just a bucket of water, why was it being blown out of proportion?
He even had to write a self-criticism at the meeting?
Did he, a mere vice principal, have no dignity?
What kind of logic was this?
What kind of logic was this!
"Principal Jin, I have recognized my mistake. Can we not write the self-criticism?" Principal Jin finally chose to compromise with reality.