Chapter 29: What, Is the School Run by Your Family?

Although Zhou Chengdong had no idea where Chen Liyang got the confidence that he could stand up to Qi Haohao’s parents, he was caught up in the man’s momentum and nodded as if possessed.

It was common knowledge at school that Qi Haohao’s family was loaded: his father was a government official, and his mother leased several hills for quarrying sand and gravel.

So even when he openly bullied classmates at school, no one dared to fight back.

Practically speaking, as long as Qi Haohao didn’t commit murder or arson, the teachers turned a blind eye to whatever he did.

In the past, when bullied students reported him, the teachers would turn it around on them, asking why Qi Haohao didn’t bully anyone else, insisting they must have provoked him, and sending them back to write self-criticisms^[1] instead.

Ever since then, no one had reported him again.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chengdong was famously the poorest kid in class. His clothes were never the right fit, no parent ever attended his parent-teacher meetings, and he had never gone to any school outdoor activities because they cost money.

Thus, Qi Haohao often made a game of picking on him, knowing that no parent would ever stand up for him.

Now that Chen Liyang was here and explicitly intent on getting justice for him, it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel touched.

He was only worried about what Chen Liyang could possibly use to fight Qi Haohao’s mother.

Everyone knew that Qi Haohao was arrogant and ran roughshod over everyone at school precisely because his parents doted on him.

Wanting to get justice for him, to put it bluntly, was nothing short of a fool’s dream.

Chen Liyang didn’t know what his eldest son was thinking. He only knew that as a proper father, upon learning that his child was being bullied at school, he had to get justice for him.

“Ma’am, you heard it yourself. Your son frequently bullies my son at school. As his guardian, shouldn’t you make him give my son a sincere apology?”

With that, he cast a cool glance at Qi Haohao, who was hiding behind Qi Haohao’s mother.

“That’s just your son’s side of the story. I could just as easily say your son bullies mine all the time.

“Besides, your son beat mine up like this, and the whole class saw it! What do you have to say about that?” Qi Haohao’s mother certainly knew how to shift the blame.

Of course she knew what kind of character her son had, but getting her to admit fault was impossible.

Besides, her son had the backing to bully people.

If those kids got bullied, it was only because their own parents were useless.

Instead of reflecting on why they were middle-aged nobodies with nothing to show for it, how did those parents have the nerve to blame others?

“Young man, are you sure you’re not going to apologize?” Chen Liyang was clearly smiling, yet he sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

Everyone said he was a ruthless thug who didn’t care about consequences. In that case, he would make full use of that ruthless streak. No matter what, he had to let them know that Chen Liyang’s son wasn’t someone they could mess with.

In Chen Liyang’s eyes, Qi Haohao saw a clear warning: If you don’t apologize, I’ll break your legs. Scared out of his wits, his face turned pale.

Growing up, everyone had submitted to him without complaint.

This was the first time anyone had ever looked at him with such a terrifying gaze.

If it had been anyone else, it might have been fine, but he had heard about Zhou Chengdong’s father.

He knew this man could do anything when he went crazy. Wasn’t there a saying that the foolish feared the reckless, and the reckless feared those who didn’t care about their lives^[2]?

Even if his family was rich, if Chen Liyang really set his mind on teaching him a lesson, unless he stayed indoors forever, the man would eventually find a chance.

“I… I didn’t do anything wrong! Why should I apologize?” Still, to save face, he stubbornly dug in his heels.

If he actually apologized today and word got out, who knew how many people would secretly laugh at him?

“I gave you a chance. If you don’t appreciate it, then so be it,” Chen Liyang said, his words loaded with hidden meaning.

Judging by Chen Liyang’s attire, Qi Haohao’s mother could tell he wasn’t a respectable person. Afraid he might try something underhanded against her child, she immediately turned to the homeroom teacher. “Teacher, how do you say we resolve this?”

The homeroom teacher had long been annoyed by Chen Liyang. “Mr. Chen, if you maintain this attitude, I don’t think there’s any need for your son to remain at this school.

“For the safety of the other students, I’ll have no choice but to expel him.”

“What, is the school run by your family? You say he’s expelled and he’s expelled?” Chen Liyang wasn’t intimidated by the threat at all.

“The school indeed isn’t run by me, but your son’s behavior of doing wrong and refusing to admit it is grounds for expulsion under school rules,” the homeroom teacher said.

Chen Liyang scoffed. “Teacher, are you selectively deaf?

“Did you not hear that he was the one who threw the first punch, and that he bullies my son all the time?

“Or is it that as a teacher, you only serve the rich and powerful?”

Whether hit on a sore spot or not, the homeroom teacher instantly flew into a rage from embarrassment. “You are completely unreasonable! I am merely judging this on its facts.

“Since this is your attitude, I have nothing left to say. You can take your son home now, and don’t bother coming back tomorrow.”

“Did you hear that? Hurry up and get lost with your son! You just can’t afford the medical bills, can you? Spouting all these high-sounding words here, aren’t you ashamed?” Hearing that Chen Liyang’s son was expelled, Qi Haohao’s mother was instantly in a great mood.

“Let’s see anyone dare expel my son!” Chen Liyang roared, startling everyone on the spot.

Even Zhou Chengdong flinched in surprise. In the past, when Chen Liyang was in a bad mood, he would use this exact tone with them.

Only this time, it was directed at outsiders.

The homeroom teacher stood up from his chair, suppressing his fear as he said, “Zhou Chengdong’s father, what do you think you’re doing? Don’t forget that we live in a society ruled by law. If you dare act out, you’ll face legal consequences!”

Chen Liyang gave a cold laugh. “I’m an upstanding citizen. How could I possibly break the law?

“It’s just that if you really dare to expel my son, I won’t hesitate to report this to the Bureau of Education.”

“I know you might have connections in the Bureau of Education, and reporting it might be useless.

“But there’s still the internet. I believe that as long as I tell the online community the whole story, they will definitely stand on the side of justice.

“When things escalate, I wonder if it will tarnish the school’s reputation, whether parents will still dare send their kids here in the future, and whether your career will be ruined as a result, Teacher.

“Also, you’re Qi Haohao’s mother, right? I don’t know what your family does, but the fact remains that your son bullied my son at school. Someone like him has likely bullied more than just my son.

“When the time comes, if many people step forward to expose your son’s behavior, do you think he’ll still be able to stay in this school?

“As for the consequences of cyberbullying, I wonder if your son’s fragile young heart will be able to bear them.”

He spoke very calmly, but his words struck like a heavy blow to their hearts.

They naturally knew the consequences of cyberbullying; online trolls nowadays were capable of driving people to death.

What was more, they all knew perfectly well who was in the right and who was in the wrong.