Director Tang’s work of placating everyone took quite a while.

To sum it up, the contestants were disappointed, their families were disappointed, the judges were disappointed, and the participating schools were disappointed.

These four mountains of pressure weighed heavily on Director Tang’s shoulders, and his steps were rather unsteady as he left the office.

“Comrade Ai Qun, you heard this matter firsthand, you must testify before the leadership.”

Director Tang spoke through gritted teeth. Zhan Ai Qun felt embarrassed to say she had gone to settle the bill at that time and hadn’t heard anything. But if Wang Guang Ping could tell blatant lies with his eyes wide open, why couldn’t she stand on the side of justice and give false testimony?

“Sir, I know some inside information about this. Director Wang wasn’t entirely targeting you…”

Zhan Ai Qun explained the conflict between Xia Xiao Lan and the Wang family.

Director Tang didn’t sympathize with Wang Guang Ping at all; instead, he felt a chill run down his spine.

“Just for such a trivial matter?”

For a young girl’s dispute, Wang Guang Ping was willing to lose face to deal with Xia Xiao Lan – this person was too petty.

If he hadn’t managed to contain Wang Guang Ping this time, and Wang Guang Ping had succeeded in finding a loophole, wouldn’t he have turned around and finished him off?

Having worked in the Higher Education Department for many years, Zhan Ai Qun knew her colleagues’ and leaders’ personalities. Old Tang rarely caused trouble and seemed like a nice old man, but when someone provoked him, he wasn’t afraid of confrontation.

Zhan Ai Qun simply despised Wang Guang Ping – what kind of person was he? He was simply bringing shame to the Higher Education Department!

After speaking with the judges and having a word with Teacher Lin and Professor He, both were quite understanding and let Xia Xiao Lan leave with her family.

“The school bus and public transportation are no longer running at this hour. It would be inconvenient for you both to return to Hua Qing, so I’ve called a car for you. Thank you for taking care of Xiao Lan all this time, please don’t stand on ceremony.”

Guan Hui E arranged everything meticulously, calling a taxi for the two teachers.

Teacher Lin couldn’t refuse any longer and had to get in the car with Professor He.

These two hadn’t even eaten dinner, and despite Guan Hui E’s repeated invitations to dine, they declined. She could only arrange for the teachers to return to school quickly.

Guan Hui E and Grandmother Zhou had come by car. Old Master Zhou had a dedicated car service since retirement, though the elderly couple rarely used it. Seeing that only family remained, Grandmother Zhou was still persistent:

“That scoundrel, we can’t just let him off easily!”

Though the incident wasn’t major, the behavior was too malicious.

Labeling a student as a “cheater” would ruin half, if not all, of Xia Xiao Lan’s prospects.

Although Wang Guang Ping’s malicious intentions hadn’t succeeded, Grandmother Zhou felt they couldn’t let this slide.

If they let Wang Guang Ping off this time and he didn’t learn his lesson, he would do it again!

“Grandmother, don’t be angry with him. If a dog bites us once, we don’t need to bite back personally…”

Xia Xiao Lan worried Grandmother Zhou would make herself ill with anger. Grandmother Zhou held her hand: “You’re young and haven’t seen enough of the world. If you don’t hurt a biting dog enough the first time, you never know when it’ll jump out and bite someone again!”

Grandmother Zhou was indeed protective, but the old lady wasn’t unreasonable.

This matter was clearly in Xia Xiao Lan’s favor, so they couldn’t just let it go easily. Xia Xiao Lan remained silent. She hadn’t planned to let this matter go easily, but going up against Wang Guang Ping alone would require wit rather than force. However, she hadn’t expected Grandmother Zhou to take everything upon herself, showing a stance of backing her completely. Xia Xiao Lan felt the weight of this kindness was something she probably could never repay.

“Don’t feel too burdened. We’re all reasonable people; we won’t go around calling for violence. Just those words spoken in front of Director Tang will ensure Wang Guang Ping won’t get any advantages. We just need to give a little push from behind.”

Guan Hui E sensed that Xia Xiao Lan had her own opinions.

Why else would she have gone directly to Deputy Director Tang?

To strike a snake, you must hit its vital point. Rather than explaining endlessly to the judges, one word in front of Director Tang was more effective.

Grandmother Zhou belatedly remembered something. “We have no grudge against the Wang family, why did he suddenly go crazy?”

Only seeing the result without knowing the cause, Grandmother Zhou was also confused. Even if he wanted to cause trouble, there were 20 students in the finals – why target Xia Xiao Lan specifically?

Xia Xiao Lan wanted to explain herself, but Guan Hui E shook her head at her and jumped in first, briefly explaining the “grievance” between Xia Xiao Lan and her cousin.

Xia Xiao Lan discovered that Guan Hui E was telling the “abridged version”!

She looked at Guan Hui E in surprise – was she trying to save face for her in front of Grandmother Zhou?

Speaking truly was an art. Through Guan Hui E’s diplomatic narrative, Grandmother Zhou could understand why Wang Guang Ping acted this way while not holding anything against Xia Xiao Lan. Instead, she shared Xia Xiao Lan’s indignation:

“Such family members and relatives are better off without! You should draw a clear line with them!”

The Xia family was truly muddle-headed, throwing away a watermelon to pick up sesame seeds. And that Xia Zi Yu, so scheming – she wasn’t a good girl!

Like attracts like, no wonder she got mixed up with the Wang family.

“When you took Xiao Lan to the social gathering last time and met the Wang family, they knew she was one of our family members, yet they still dared to act against her?”

Grandmother Zhou was a bit confused.

The old man always boasted to her about how well he had taught their children and grandchildren, how the Zhou family was prospering – perhaps it was all nonsense? If someone like Wang Guang Ping could bully Zhou family members, how powerful was the Zhou family?

Guan Hui E coughed twice: “You don’t know, but Wang Guang Ping’s former position is now held by Zhou Cheng’s uncle… He probably has some grievances against the Zhou family and is using this opportunity to vent.”

Zhou Wen Bang’s abilities weren’t great, and his position wasn’t as high as his brother Zhou Guo Bin’s. To prevent her eldest son from feeling sensitive about this, Grandmother Zhou had put in a lot of effort.

Among the grandchildren, she liked Zhou Cheng best; among her children, she loved Zhou Wen Bang most. When she had Zhou Wen Bang, she and Old Master Zhou were living in their most difficult times. Zhou Wen Bang couldn’t even go to school as a child and only started learning to read and write with Zhou Guo Bin when he was in his teens. The old lady felt her eldest son had been disadvantaged – hearing Guan Hui E’s words, Grandmother Zhou could barely contain her anger. Her eldest son might not be the smartest, but he had earned that position through diligent work, and it was a state appointment!

Zhou Wen Bang didn’t take bribes or actively harm others, so why couldn’t he hold that position?

What, did Wang Guang Ping mean the position should be vacated and returned to him?

Ridiculous! Since when did organizational appointments have to follow Wang Guang Ping’s wishes?

Grandmother Zhou fell silent.

When she was most angry, she wouldn’t make a fuss but would quietly make up her mind.

Xia Xiao Lan understood now.

It had been right, to be honest with Guan Hui E last time. Though Guan Hui E might have minded for a while, she had now accepted what Xia Xiao Lan had told her.

Look, Guan Hui E was actively helping her get revenge. Poor Wang Guang Ping – several pits had been dug for him tonight, and if he avoided one, he couldn’t avoid them all!

Xia Xiao Lan didn’t feel any sympathy for Wang Guang Ping.

If it hadn’t been for Xu Guo Zhang and other judges’ support today, the accusation of “using connections” would have stuck firmly to Xia Xiao Lan, becoming an indelible injustice.

Given Xu Guo Zhang’s character, if he had believed Xia Xiao Lan had cheated, how could others trust her?

Carrying such a reputation, how could Xia Xiao Lan have the face to continue her relationship with Zhou Cheng or even enter the Zhou family’s door?