Principal Sun was deeply distressed.

Although he valued students’ academic performance and could overlook minor flaws, Xia Ziyu’s actions were far beyond that. Whether motivated by jealousy or something else, sabotaging her cousin’s future showed a malicious heart!

Principal Sun felt a chill run down his spine knowing that such a malicious student was educated at his Anqing County First High School.

If Xia Ziyu could be this wicked while still a student, what would happen when she entered the workforce? If she happened to secure an official position or become a unit leader, her negative influence would affect even more people. What use was such a person to the country? Despite being a college student, she might be worth less to society than hardworking farmers.

After returning to Beijing, Xia Ziyu wrote several letters to him.

When Zhao Gang exposed Xia Ziyu, Principal Sun became thoroughly disgusted with his once-proud student. Of course, now that her parents no longer ran their shop outside the school gates, Xia Ziyu cared little about whether Principal Sun despised her or not. Principal Sun also knew he had no means to control Xia Ziyu – despite his disgust, he couldn’t exactly write to Beijing Normal College to expose and criticize her!

Zhao Gang’s testimony implicated Xia Ziyu, but there was no evidence.

It was a moral stain, but from a legal standpoint, Xia Ziyu couldn’t be punished.

Xia Xiaolan had anticipated this outcome, just like when Ding Aizhen had instructed the joint defense team to do bad things – they had exploited legal loopholes. If investigated, they just needed to deny everything firmly. Since Xia Xiaolan’s side hadn’t suffered any real devastating losses, the other party’s punishment would be insignificant. Zhao Gang was caught before he could do any real harm, and even with evidence proving Xia Ziyu’s instigation… the most severe consequence would be a school disciplinary action.

Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t let Xia Ziyu off so easily.

Principal Sun also found this topic unpleasant, so they returned to discussing Zhao Gang:

“Chief Liang said Zhao Gang intended to commit burglary. It turns out Zhao Gang secretly enjoyed playing poker with people from the agricultural machinery factory. He lost quite a bit of money gambling, and his monthly salary all went to paying gambling debts. He was spending more than he earned.”

The first statement was false, but the rest was true.

Some teachers knew about Zhao Gang’s card-playing habit but didn’t think much of it. However, Zhao Gang had accumulated massive gambling debts. He was extremely selfish – despite his modest rural background, while his family was still toiling in the fields, he spent money extravagantly, using his salary for entertainment and accumulating huge debts.

The attempted burglary wouldn’t result in a life sentence like Zhang Erlai’s case involving huge sums. He would probably serve just a few years in prison. But for Principal Sun, this provided a legitimate reason to dismiss Zhao Gang.

How could someone who served prison time continue being a teacher?

Zhao Gang’s most valuable asset was his job. With a prison record, he would struggle to find any work, let alone continue teaching!

Zhang Erlai, Ding Aizhen, and now Zhao Gang.

Xia Xiaolan realized that the country’s justice system was quite fair – if these people hadn’t done wrong, could she have dealt with them through legal means? Evil deeds would inevitably lead to downfall! Those who considered themselves above others and bullied people at will would eventually be taught a lesson by reality.

Principal Sun mentioned launching an “anti-gambling campaign” at school, and Xia Xiaolan wholeheartedly supported it.

Playing cards was a form of recreation, but when it escalated to gambling, it became detestable. Gambling, along with drugs and prostitution, had destroyed countless families. While neither Xia Xiaolan nor Principal Sun could control others, they could certainly stamp out this gambling trend within the school!

“Principal, this might not be appropriate for me to say, but you should look after Teacher Sun. I’m worried that Zhao Gang’s crimes might be psychologically burdensome for her.”

Sun Tian had likely considered accepting Zhao Gang at some point.

Others had already viewed them as a couple.

With Zhao Gang’s arrest and impending sentence, people who didn’t know the inside story would inevitably affect Sun Tian.

Young Teacher Sun was too shy. Xia Xiaolan, though younger, was more emotionally mature. If it were Xia Xiaolan, she would feel relieved about dodging a bullet, but Teacher Sun might not be able to see it that way.

Principal Sun agreed – wasn’t his niece lucky to avoid disaster, having been targeted by Zhao? If this incident hadn’t exposed Zhao Gang’s despicable character, and if he had become Principal Sun’s nephew-in-law through persistent pursuit, Principal Sun shuddered at the thought.

Yet Xiaolan, though even younger than Sun Tian, handled the situation more calmly.

Sometimes Principal Sun couldn’t quite figure out Xia Xiaolan – she was excellent but seemed perhaps too mature for her age.

…

Neither Principal Qian nor Principal Luo had convinced Xia Xiaolan to transfer – she was determined to stay at County First High. Principal Sun felt it was time to hang the banner.

“Warmly congratulating our student Xia Xiaolan for achieving first place in science across the city in the preliminary examination!”

Displayed alongside the banner showing the 75% pass rate, Principal Sun found himself increasingly satisfied.

Even Old Zhao the gatekeeper stood straighter.

Principal Sun’s favoritism toward Xia Xiaolan had been vindicated by her preliminary exam results. At this point, Principal Sun could do no wrong – not just with the anti-gambling campaign, but even his metaphorical breaking wind would smell sweet. The decision to dismiss Zhao Gang met no opposition at school and quickly received approval from the County Education Bureau.

Li Dongliang now viewed “Miss Xia” with genuine reverence.

Actually, upon arriving in Shangdu, he realized that “Miss Xia” didn’t have the background he had imagined. But what Li Dongliang had witnessed made him admire Xia Xiaolan even more. What did her young age matter? She could run her own business while excelling in her studies – Li Dongliang respected capable people.

“Miss Xia” was still young with a bright future ahead.

He wondered if “Miss Xia” would need his services long-term. Li Dongliang hoped to transform his short-term bodyguard position into a permanent one. He didn’t need such high pay – he just felt that Xia Xiaolan would surely treat him well in the future.

Work was work anywhere, and following an employer like “Miss Xia” wouldn’t dishonor the Bai Family Martial Arts School!

When Xia Xiaolan’s report card was brought back to Shangdu, even the worldly Grandmother Yu was stunned. For once, she spoke without sarcasm or harshness: “I never expected my house would host a potential top scholar.”

Achieving first place citywide was truly remarkable.

Grandmother Yu had seen wealth and prosperity – Xia Xiaolan’s business success barely warranted raising an eyebrow.

But Xia Xiaolan’s academic excellence marked her as truly upper class, worthy of Grandmother Yu’s respect.

All pursuits are inferior, only studying ranks supreme!

Academic excellence was truly impressive – citywide first place wasn’t easy to achieve. Xia Xiaolan had outperformed not just female students but male students her age as well. Grandmother Yu felt she had done them proud. If she had such a studious granddaughter, no amount of doting would be excessive. How could there be such foolish old women in the world who would push away a granddaughter like Xia Xiaolan? Grandmother Yu knew something of the Xia family situation and thought Old Lady Xia’s head must be completely waterlogged.

While Xia Xiaolan was certainly clever, she had a basic conscience – she would never forget the kindness shown to her.

In the future, the Xia family would deeply regret their actions…

Liu Fen hadn’t given any thought to the Xia family – the report card was just a thin slip of paper, but she looked at it again and again, hardly daring to believe these were her daughter’s scores.