Chapter 296
The leader was also amused to the point of laughter: "Teacher Xu, you're truly magnanimous! No wonder you've taught so many outstanding students."
"But I heard that of the two students from your school who participated in the competition, one took first place, and the other came in last. And both are in your class, right?"
Teacher Xu's smile froze.
The leader looked at Zhou Zedong and asked, feigning gossip: "Could it be that our champion and his classmate have some... history?"
He had intended to mock Teacher Xu, but to everyone's surprise, Zhou Zedong, who had ignored him earlier, actually spoke up. "Yes."
Everyone stared at him in astonishment.
The leader's eyes immediately lit up with the gleam of gossip. He practically flew up to Zhou Zedong, itching to shove the microphone into his mouth.
"There really is such a thing! Then what on earth was the reason that made you show absolutely no mercy and completely dominate your own classmate?"
The newspaper reporters present thought to themselves that at this moment, leader, you seem more like a reporter than we do.
They had come specifically for this issue to report on this competition.
The municipal leadership was also paying close attention to this competition, so the newspaper team came not only to chronicle the champions' grace and bearing through the ages but also to encourage everyone to study harder and raise the advancement rate to higher education.
Zhou Zedong looked at Teacher Xu's pale face and suddenly smiled. He said, "It was our Teacher Xu who told me to do it."
The leader: "What? What?"
Even Li Youcai, who had been crying, suddenly looked at Teacher Xu in disbelief.
Teacher Xu's face changed dramatically: "What nonsense are you talking about? You... shut up."
The audience below was shocked. The teacher told him to do that? How could that be?
Aren't they all her own students? How could she make one target another?
The leader hadn't expected to stumble upon such a juicy scandal about Foreign Language Primary School. He immediately asked, "Why would Teacher Xu tell you to do that?"
Zhou Zedong said with an air of innocence, "Actually, Teacher Xu originally didn't want me to buzz in to answer. Because I'm a transfer student from the countryside and hadn't been at the school long, Teacher Xu was worried that if I buzzed in it would lower Li Youcai's score, so she told me to keep quiet and not answer."
He lowered his head, looking dejected. "I had intended to behave obediently, but I didn't expect Li Youcai to keep failing to answer. I was afraid the points would be taken by students from other schools, so I had no choice but to buzz in."
The leader found it hard to believe. "I heard that you alone buzzed in on sixty percent of the questions. Since you were supposed to let him win, why did you buzz in on so many?"
Zhou Zedong said, "Because Teacher Xu wanted to get first place. If I hadn't buzzed in, the points would have been split, and Li Youcai definitely wouldn't have gotten first. To fulfill Teacher Xu's wish, and so that Teacher Xu would accept me—a transfer student from the countryside—and stop making me stand in class, I worked very hard to buzz in. I didn't deliberately target Li Youcai."
After saying this, he showed a smile to the stunned audience below. "I just wanted to get first place. That way, Teacher Xu could have two first places."
Everyone: "..."
Teacher Xu: "..."
The venue fell into a deathly silence.
Si Nian had just pushed her way to the front. Hearing this, she stumbled and almost fell.
The leader's mouth opened and closed, even forgetting to pull the microphone back. "Y-your Teacher Xu's teaching methods are truly... astounding and unconventional."
Instantly, the audience below erupted like a boiling pot.
"My God, Teacher Xu is actually that kind of person? That's too much!"
"To make sure her other student got first, she actually wouldn't let him answer! That's too much!"
"Didn't you hear him? Because he's a transfer student from the countryside, she makes him stand in class. And this child still worked so hard for her to get first place. It's so pitiful! Does Teacher Xu have a conscience?"
"My heart is breaking listening to this. How can a teacher be so cruel to a child?"
"I heard some time ago that Teacher Xu was reported by parents for hitting a student. I didn't think it was true."
"In that case, I wouldn't dare send my child to her class. My child goes to learn, not to get beaten!"
"Yeah, yeah, and we just asked her for the contact info for her tutoring class..."
The parents who had been clamoring for her contact information just moments ago now looked like they had eaten something disgusting.
Teacher Xu's face went through the colors of the rainbow.
It was quite a spectacle!
The leader coughed. Although the juicy scandal was enticing, this wasn't the place for it.
"Don't worry, such an excellent child like you will surely meet a teacher who can properly guide you. If Foreign Language Primary School treats students so poorly, our Number Two Primary School welcomes you."
Zhou Zedong shook his head. "No, the teachers at Foreign Language Primary School are all very good. It's just that Teacher Xu's teaching methods are a bit unusual. Teacher Xu said that outstanding students only come from under the rod and the stick. Our classmates are already used to it."
Leader: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Outstanding students under the rod and stick = corporal punishment.
Already used to it = Used to being beaten.
Instantly, everyone was furious!
Teacher Xu: "..."
Newspaper people: What are you standing around for? Take pictures!
...
Just as Zhou Zedong was about to leave the stage, he was called back up.
He had also gotten first place in English.
Because everyone's attention was on the math competition, no one had paid attention to English.
Although it's called Foreign Language Primary, not many schools taught foreign languages at the time.
There were also fewer participants.
The leader, who had just put down the microphone, picked it up again. "I didn't expect it would be you again. You are truly excellent. But just now you said you were a transfer student from the countryside. Does that mean rural areas have started learning English now?"
Zhou Zedong finally looked at him properly. He was a middle-aged man, bald with a big belly.
But he seemed quite kind, probably also some school director.
Similar to that previous vice-director.
Zhou Zedong shook his head. "No."
The leader was surprised. "Then how long have you been studying?"
Zhou Zedong thought for a moment and said, "A few months, I guess."
Leader: "...You, you really are such an impressive student. Are you really not considering coming to our school?"
Zhou Zedong: "I have to ask my mom."
After saying this, Zhou Zedong noticed his younger sister and Si Nian in the audience below.
As if changing faces, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
He took the trophy from the stunned leader's hand and ran off.
Passing by Teacher Xu, he didn't even glance at her.
"Mom, I won the championship. This trophy is for you." He raised the trophy with both hands, his eyes bright as he looked at Si Nian.
Si Nian reached out to take it and was very happy. "Little Dong is so amazing! Mom is really happy!"
Zhou Zedong pursed his lips into a smile, looking at her somewhat shyly.
Li Youcai saw the scene and, green with envy, resentfully pushed Teacher Xu, burst into tears, and ran off.
(Thank you everyone for the gifts. I'm very happy you're so supportive. Here's an extra chapter as promised! Because the gift competition runs until the 30th, Shanzi might have to shamelessly beg for gifts over the next few days. Don't worry—if I can write more, I'll definitely give you extra chapters!)
Her Royal Highness the Princess requests gifts, His Royal Highness the Prince requests gifts. Shanzi's ranking can only be defended by the Niohuru.readers.