It must be attractive enough.

Although he was eating skewers, the principal refused to eat fatty meat, piling all the fatty pieces onto a plate and handing them to Zhang Pa.

Zhang Pa said, “Are you feeding this to a dog?”

The principal ordered five more skewered kidneys, then turned to Zhang Pa with a grave look and asked, “Do you have a dream?”

Zhang Pa said he did.

“What’s your dream?” the principal pressed.

Zhang Pa replied, “Are you planning to sign me up for a singing competition?”

The principal chuckled. “You’re a teacher. You have to let the kids see your dreams—maybe then they’ll be motivated to learn.”

Zhang Pa said, “You’re eating my meat and lecturing me at the same time? Spreading your ideology? Brother, that’s not how you brainwash someone.”

The principal just smiled. “A long time ago, I wanted to visit Tiananmen Square. That was my dream. Later, I had the chance to go to the capital, but in the end, I didn’t go.”

“Why not?” Zhang Pa asked, eyeing the plate of fatty meat.

“No reason. I just didn’t want to anymore,” the principal replied. “There was a madman in ancient times who suddenly wanted to visit a friend. So he set out, traveled all night, and when his friend’s house was finally in sight, he turned around and left. The boatman asked why. The man said he was already happy, so there was no need to see his friend.”

“What are you trying to say?” Zhang Pa asked, then added, “Principal, it’s not right to keep lecturing me after work.”

Principal Qin smiled. “I’m a man out of step with my time.”

Zhang Pa made a gesture of surrender. “Brother, I give up. You’ve talked for half the night and I haven’t understood a word.”

The principal said, “Essentially, you and I are the same. ‘If you don’t teach strictly, that’s the teacher’s laziness.’ There was a radical educator who said, ‘There are no unteachable children, only teachers who don’t know how to teach.’”

Zhang Pa replied, “Principal, I’ve found one of your strengths: you’re very good at plain speech.”

The principal smiled. “You only live once—you have to have a dream. Seriously, prepare well, take the teaching certification exam, and when the time comes, I’ll try to help you become official.”

Zhang Pa said, “Is this your conscience speaking, or are you planning to trap me for life?”

“Is there a difference?” the principal asked.

Zhang Pa tilted his head in thought. “Boss, two grilled squid, please.”

The principal laughed. “Are you trying to fire me?”

“Brother, six thousand a month, and you think I’d quit before even getting paid? Am I crazy?” Zhang Pa shook his head. “People in charge always have complicated minds.”

Principal Qin grinned. “There’s a singing competition for primary and middle school students before New Year’s. Go back and see if you can dig up any talent in your class. Next year, there’ll be a calligraphy and art exhibition—ask around then, too. If anyone has a dream and you help awaken it, we can say we haven’t been teachers in vain. On a small scale, we save a child; on a larger one, we help remove unstable elements from society.”

Zhang Pa looked at him. “When are you retiring?”

“Why, want to take my place?”

“Brother, I’m just a temp. I wouldn’t dare dream that big,” Zhang Pa replied.

“If you really had that thought, I would do my best to help you,” Principal Qin said earnestly.

Zhang Pa sighed. “Is it right for you to so openly deceive a temp? Is the head of the education bureau your son?”

Principal Qin burst out laughing. “On a serious note, what are your thoughts about Class Eighteen?”

Zhang Pa said, “You ask me this every day—aren’t you tired of it?” Then added, “Keep talking nonsense and you’re paying the bill.”

The principal said, “It’s rude to take without giving. You’re treating—so you’re the boss.”

The two ate until after seven. The principal, satisfied, declared himself full, said “see you tomorrow,” and left in style.

Zhang Pa went to pay, and on the way home, ran into Long Xiaole.

That guy was sitting idly on the curb, glancing around with nothing better to do.

Zhang Pa thought to himself that the world of the rich was hard to understand. He pretended not to see him and walked quickly past.

Long Xiaole shouted, “Hey, author!”

Zhang Pa gave up and stopped. “Are you insulting me?”

Long Xiaole said, of course not, then asked, “What are you up to?”

“Going home to work.”

“Oh.”

“I’m off,” Zhang Pa said, about to leave.

Long Xiaole asked, “Why the rush?”

“If I’m not in a hurry to work, what should I be in a hurry for? I’m a responsible person,” Zhang Pa said.

Long Xiaole laughed. “I read your book online. I didn’t really get into it, but it’s well written.”

Zhang Pa sighed. “Are you treating me like your Sunday entertainment?”

“No,” Long Xiaole said. “It’s just, I’ve run into something…”

“Then solve it. Sitting in the street does nothing,” Zhang Pa replied.

Long Xiaole smiled faintly. “Among all the people around you, has anyone ever betrayed a friend?”

“Plenty. A bunch of bastards always scheming against each other,” Zhang Pa said, then asked, “Did your friend betray you, or did you betray your friend?”

Long Xiaole glared. “Who would dare betray me? I’d kill them.” Then he added, “I haven’t betrayed a friend, either.”

“Then what are you so anxious about? I’m off,” Zhang Pa said, heading for the bus stop.

Long Xiaole said, “It’s my friend’s problem, and it’s making me uncomfortable.”

“If we keep talking like this, I’ll be uncomfortable too,” Zhang Pa replied.

Long Xiaole sighed. “Fine, leave then.”

Without the slightest guilt, Zhang Pa turned and walked away. Just as he was about to reach the bus stop, he glanced back and saw Long Xiaole drawing circles on the ground.

He thought for a moment, then turned back. “Who are you cursing?”

Long Xiaole was startled, then remembered the saying about drawing circles to curse someone. He smiled helplessly and said nothing.

Zhang Pa asked, “If it bothers you this much, it must be a good friend, right?”

Long Xiaole grunted in assent, then suddenly burst out laughing. “Damn it, what’s it got to do with me? Not my business. I’m going home.” He stood up and hailed a cab.

Zhang Pa asked, “Which way are you headed? Give me a lift?”

“I’m not going to Xingfuli,” Long Xiaole replied.

“I live in Hexinyuan.”

Long Xiaole asked, “Where’s Hexinyuan?”

“Sigh,” Zhang Pa said. “The driver will know the way.”

Long Xiaole couldn’t be bothered to argue. When the cab arrived, he waited for Zhang Pa to get in and then told the driver to go to Hexinyuan.

In the car, Long Xiaole kept looking at his phone, clearly still in a bad mood.

Zhang Pa didn’t try to comfort him, just sat quietly watching the road. When they arrived, he thanked Long Xiaole, got out, and went home.

As usual, he took care of his two big dogs, took them out for a walk while filming footage; then dinner, more footage; and even filming before bed.

Fatty wanted to talk to him about the web drama and the cartoon, but Zhang Pa avoided him.

That night, something else happened: Sheng Yang and Luo Chengcai got arrested.

The only two habitual truants in Class Eighteen were caught at a nightclub selling pills, after someone reported them. They were taken down immediately. Other types of cases might be negotiable, or even allow for favoritism, but not drug cases—unless you have connections in high places or family ties, otherwise, it’s arrest on sight.

That night, twenty-seven people were arrested in total, including sixteen customers—most of them girls—who were having a blast in a private room when the police swooped in.

The next day, Friday, was the tenth consecutive day of full attendance since last week’s parent meeting.

Zhang Pa arrived at school early, happily wrote a big, perfect “10” on the blackboard, pointed at it, and said, “Success! Tomorrow at noon, after class, I’m treating everyone to barbecue.”

The students cheered. Yu Yuan suggested, “Can we do it tonight instead?” only to be reprimanded by Zhang Pa: “You’re challenging my authority, so I accept your challenge.”

Yu Yuan protested, “I wasn’t challenging you.”

“I think you were. Let’s go, outside,” Zhang Pa said.

Yu Yuan immediately raised both hands. “I support barbecue at noon tomorrow!”

Zhang Pa grinned slyly. “Don’t just talk. I gave you all an assignment the other day—let’s check it now.”

Yu Yuan asked what assignment.

Zhang Pa held up a first-grade language textbook. “Remember now?”

“Ah!” Yu Yuan cried out. “Damn, I forgot.”

Zhang Pa chuckled. “That’s your second time challenging me. Come on, let’s go outside and practice.”

“No way! A real man stands by his word. I’m not going out,” Yu Yuan declared, then added, “We’re here to be educated, not to be your punching bags.”

Zhang Pa slapped the lectern. “Anyone who didn’t bring their book, stand up.”

One by one, more than ten students stood.

Zhang Pa congratulated them. “Today’s language class will use the latest teaching methods. Follow me outside.”

Yu Yuan shouted, “Teacher, something feels off about this.”

“What’s off?” Zhang Pa asked.

“I feel like you’re just looking for excuses to hit us,” Yu Yuan said, asking the others, “Don’t you think so?”

The class agreed in unison, saying the teacher obviously had ulterior motives and was just looking for reasons to hit them.

Zhang Pa said, “If you don’t come outside, that’s actually giving me the opportunity to hit you.”

Yun Zheng reminded everyone, “Hurry up and go outside.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the unlucky few went out, books in hand, and the rest followed.

First period, the playground was empty. Zhang Pa stood by the track, holding the language textbook.

Soon, the unlucky students lined up in front of him.

“Stand straight. Form a line,” Zhang Pa instructed.

The students obediently lined up. Zhang Pa said, “We’re still reciting poems, but this time, you’ll recite while running. Ten laps. Or you can run first and recite after. Either way, I’ll check after class. Anyone who doesn’t memorize it will receive extra lessons in Sanda.”

“Running while reciting poems? Teacher, are you trying to kill us?” Yu Yuan complained.

“You talk too much. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—every extra word means another lap. Of course, you can choose not to run,” Zhang Pa said, then began reading the poem aloud, asking after each time if they remembered it.

Of course, they didn’t. Zhang Pa read it again, and again, and after three times, gave the order to start running.

The students doubted whether Zhang Pa would really hit them, but looking at those eyes full of laughter, they couldn’t help but feel a chill and rushed to run laps. Ten laps—how hard could it be?

Yu Yuan tried to be clever, finishing one lap and then collapsing, claiming he was too fat to get up.

Zhang Pa walked over smiling, said nothing, and began kicking—always in places that hurt but didn’t leave marks. After a few kicks, the chubby student obediently got up and kept running.

Just then, Principal Qin called to ask where he was. Zhang Pa said he was on the playground. The principal told him to come to the office.

When Zhang Pa arrived, he was met with shocking news: Sheng Yang and Luo Chengcai were at the police station.

The police hadn’t wanted to inform the school, but the two kids refused to say anything and couldn’t provide a contact, so the police had no choice but to notify the school. In the end, it was their accomplices who gave them up.

The principal explained the situation and asked Zhang Pa what he thought they should do.

Zhang Pa glanced at the principal. “Judging by how earnestly you spoke last night, are you hoping I’ll go to the station—and if possible, try to get them out?”