Chapter 5
Chapter 5
“You’re fired.”
Inside the principal’s office, Zhu Jiayan’s voice was cold and merciless.
Li Que froze.
He had been prepared to accept responsibility, but having his career abruptly terminated went beyond anything he’d expected.
“Teacher Li, you can’t blame me. If you want to blame anything, blame your own bad luck.”
Zhu Jiayan waved a hand. “You can go pack your things now.”
Li Que frowned. He could tell that Zhu Jiayan was determined to dismiss him.
There was no point arguing. Li Que left the office and, after a moment’s thought, decided to call Leng Qingyan and ask how things were going on her end.
But when he took out his phone, he realized he hadn’t saved her contact information.
Fortunately, he remembered where she worked. He searched online for the landline number of the Municipal Administration Bureau and dialed it.
“We’re sorry. The number you have called is currently busy-”
He tried several times, but the call never connected. Li Que stared at his phone in confusion.
Then he suddenly smacked himself on the forehead. Of course! Government numbers like this weren’t so easy for an ordinary person to get through to.
…
Meanwhile, inside the principal’s office…
“Old Qin, remember that favor you asked me about last time? It’s all arranged. There’s an opening at my school now. Have your daughter come in tomorrow to complete the hiring paperwork.”
Zhu Jiayan chatted cheerfully over the phone.
“Of course! We’re old friends, aren’t we? By the way, isn’t your son about to pass the Anomaly Suppression Bureau’s screening? My child wants to try that path too. We should have a meal together sometime and let the youngsters get to know each other.”
After hanging up, Zhu Jiayan smiled in satisfaction.
In truth, Li Que had filed every required notice for the field trip. All the paperwork was in order, and the police had ruled the woman’s death natural, with no criminal case involved. Under normal circumstances, the most Li Que would have received was a formal warning.
But his old friend’s daughter happened to need a job.
If Li Que wanted someone to blame, he could only blame himself for having no connections.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Just then, the landline on the desk rang urgently. Zhu Jiayan glanced at the caller ID and hurried to his feet. He picked up the receiver, his manner deferential.
“Hello, Director Zhou! What instructions do you have for me?”
As he listened, Zhu Jiayan’s expression shifted several times-first delight, then confusion, and finally a frown.
“Understood, Director Zhou. You have my word. We’ll make the necessary preparations immediately.”
After hanging up, he sprang into action.
“Director Zhou and his delegation from the Education Administration Bureau will arrive for an inspection in ten minutes! Notify everyone-we’re cleaning the entire school immediately!”
He promptly made another call and relayed his orders.
“Pay attention to every detail. Director Zhou rarely visits our school, so we must show him our very best side. There must not be any books on the desks or any trash in the bins.”
He accounted for everything, no matter how trivial.
Special schools like this had always been sidelined within the Education Administration Bureau and received little attention. Opportunities to make an impression on senior officials were exceedingly rare.
He had to seize this chance.
“Also, print the official notice dismissing Li Que immediately, and add minutes for the meeting where the decision was made. Director Zhou specifically asked about Li Que. He must be dissatisfied with Li Que taking the students out. We need to show him we’ve already handled the issue!”
Once every order had been given, Zhu Jiayan led the school’s entire middle management team to the front gate, where they began waiting eagerly.
Soon, several black government vehicles arrived. A balding, middle-aged man in a jacket was the first to step out. He was Zhou Chaoyang, director of the Education Administration Bureau.
But after getting out, Zhou Chaoyang personally opened the door of another vehicle, his manner surprisingly respectful.
Zhu Jiayan’s expression immediately turned solemn. There had to be a major official inside. Who else could make the director of the Education Administration Bureau personally open a car door?
His nerves tightened, and his palms began to sweat.
One word from a visiting official of this caliber could decide his entire future.
Xu Changjiang stepped out of the car and walked toward the school gate with Zhou Chaoyang beside him. Leng Qingyan followed behind.
“This is Mingjiang No. 7 Special School?”
Xu Changjiang glanced around, visibly surprised.
The school looked perfectly ordinary.
An A-class anomaly wielder was really hiding here?
“That’s right.”
Zhou Chaoyang smiled and looked toward Zhu Jiayan. “This is Zhu Jiayan, principal of Mingjiang No. 7 Special School.”
“Principal Zhu, this is Director Xu.”
Zhu Jiayan stepped forward. “Director Xu, Director Zhou, welcome to our school. Allow me to give you a brief report-”
Xu Changjiang waved him off. “Which one of you is Teacher Li Que?”
His gaze swept across the crowd, but he couldn’t detect the slightest trace of an anomaly wielder.
Zhu Jiayan hurriedly replied, “Director Xu, the incident involving Li Que exposed shortcomings in our school’s management. We immediately convened a meeting and dismissed him from his position.”
Xu Changjiang froze. Then his brows drew together, and he turned to Zhou Chaoyang.
Zhou Chaoyang was equally dumbfounded. When he recovered, he flew into a rage.
“Who the hell told you to fire him? Are you trying to lose your job as principal?”
He was beside himself with fury. Turning hurriedly to Xu Changjiang, he said, “Director Xu, I assure you, this was entirely Zhu Jiayan acting on his own authority!”
Zhou Chaoyang was genuinely terrified.
In this day and age, it didn’t matter what government bureau you belonged to. Before the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, none of them amounted to anything.
One word from Xu Changjiang could cost not only Zhu Jiayan his position as principal, but Zhou Chaoyang his directorship as well.
Zhu Jiayan was utterly dumbstruck.
What the hell?
Director Zhou wasn’t here to hold Li Que accountable?
Judging by the situation, Director Xu-a man even Director Zhou treated with the utmost respect-seemed to be on very good terms with Li Que.
Since when did Li Que have such powerful connections?
Panic seized him. Complete and utter panic.
“Find Teacher Li immediately and ask him to come here! Hurry!”
Cold sweat poured down Zhu Jiayan’s back.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Xu Changjiang waved a hand. “Teacher Li works hard enough. Why trouble him to make the trip? Where is his office? We’ll go to him.”
What a joke. Ask an A-class anomaly wielder to come see him?
Xu Changjiang might be the director of the local Anomaly Suppression Bureau, but even the head of the Provincial Anomaly Suppression Department would have to treat an A-class anomaly wielder with courtesy!
At least Xu Changjiang had that much sense.
Zhu Jiayan’s head buzzed when he heard this.
An official of such stature was going to visit Li Que in person because the teacher worked too hard?
Just what kind of connections and background did Li Que have?
Zhu Jiayan’s heart trembled. Only one thought remained in his mind.
He was finished. Completely finished!
The other teachers nearby were equally stunned.
…
Elsewhere in the school…
“Just as I thought. I can’t get through.”
Li Que shook his head. It seemed he would have to make the trip in person and find Leng Qingyan.
“Directors, this is Teacher Li’s office!”
Li Que had only just risen to his feet when he saw Principal Zhu Jiayan approaching with an obsequious smile, leading the way for two people behind him.
Li Que glanced over, puzzled. But the moment his gaze landed on Leng Qingyan behind Xu Changjiang, his face lit up.