Only at eighty-two does one truly become captivating.

The principal agreed, but then added, "It's not easy. After all, selling pills is a serious crime."
Zhang Pa sighed, "You really are kind-hearted."
Principal Qin said, "They're just kids! Only fifteen. Should their entire lives be ruined over this?"
Zhang Pa replied, "All right, boss. I'll go and see if I can get them out."
Drug dealing is a grave offense; some people sell a thousand of those party pills and end up with the death penalty.
The principal said, "I'll be at school. Let me know as soon as you have any news."
Zhang Pa agreed, went downstairs, and watched the dozen or so idiots still running circles. He sighed, called them to stop, brought them back to the classroom, and announced, "Good news for you all—you've got role models now."
None of the students understood what he meant.
Zhang Pa continued, "Our class has forty-five students, and two unlucky souls never wanted to attend school. Last night, they were caught selling party pills—pure idiots. Let me be frank: if you keep fooling around, you might end up just like them."
"Impossible. We're not that stupid," someone protested.
Zhang Pa replied, "So you're saying the police are stupid?" He shook his head. "Go to class, memorize your poems. I'm off to the police station." With that, he left.
Just outside the school gate, Zhang Lao Si called, saying he was at the street corner and asked where Zhang Pa was.
Zhang Pa gave him Fatty's number: "Call Fatty. He's with Dog. Something urgent came up for me."
Zhang Lao Si acknowledged and hung up.
Zhang Pa hurried on and soon arrived at the police station.
The case was handled by the district branch; there were so many suspects that buyers and sellers were interrogated separately. Sheng Yang and the others were held at the Central Road Police Station.
For the sake of two students he'd never met and the principal's request, Zhang Pa went there, playing the humble supplicant, speaking softly to every officer he met.
Once they knew he was a teacher from 119 Middle School, the officers didn't give him a hard time nor speak harshly. They gave a brief overview and asked directly, "How does the school want to handle this? If it's inconvenient, we can send them to the juvenile detention center."
Zhang Pa replied, "No rush. May I ask, can I learn more about the case? How serious are my students' offenses?"
The officer glanced at him, thought for a moment, and asked, "Can the school contact their parents?"
"We should be able to. But, as the principal sees it, we'd like to understand the situation first before deciding what to do."
The officer said, "Whatever you do, you still need to notify the parents."
Zhang Pa asked, "Can you brief me on the case?"
The officer considered for a moment, "Wait here." He went to consult his superior, then returned. "Your two students are fairly lucky. Although they were involved in drug dealing, they had no contraband on them, and they're so young—they just acted as contacts. If someone wanted to buy, they'd notify others to deliver the drugs."
Zhang Pa remarked, "That's corporate management—clear division of labor."
The officer added, "Yet, even if they didn't sell directly, they're accomplices. If not for their age, they'd be prosecuted."
Zhang Pa asked, "How do you plan to handle this?"
"For cases like this, we need to talk to the parents. You should help contact them."
Zhang Pa thought aloud, "No drugs on them, and they're underage..."
The officer interjected, "That's why we're considering juvenile detention."
Zhang Pa said, "Please, let's not send them there."

The officer replied, "These matters can't be handled solely by your preferences. First, they're over fourteen, and drug dealing is a prosecutable offense. Even if handled leniently, it's still enough to warrant sentencing." He looked at Zhang Pa, then continued, "But sentencing isn't the ultimate goal—education is. This case is different: first, the kids have no criminal record; second, their companions say they only just got involved; third, we suspect they've been used by others."
Zhang Pa said, "Thank you for thinking that way."
"It's not just our opinion. Cases must be judged by evidence. The most serious issue is their being used. Along with your two, there were three girls, the youngest fourteen, also selling pills in nightclubs. Like your students, they carried no drugs; if someone wanted to buy, others brought the goods. Our leaders believe that since there's no contraband and they're so young, we can't handle this lightly. So we want the parents and school to weigh in. If you can take responsibility, we can consider releasing them."
Zhang Pa could hardly believe it. "Is that for real?"
Such unprovoked kindness would make anyone suspicious. Normally, if prosecution was warranted, the police would hand it to the court. Just last year, a fifteen-year-old was sentenced to five years for trafficking thirty grams.
If Sheng Yang and Luo Chengcai were any different, it was only that they had no contraband. But the facts of the crime were clear—how could they be let off so easily?
The officer looked at him, "Put it this way: your students are lucky, at least this time."
Zhang Pa began to understand—someone powerful was intervening.
But who would help little delinquents?
The officer said, "You'd better contact the parents—there are things we need to say to them."
Zhang Pa agreed, saying he'd do it now. He stepped out to update the principal.
When he told him the police had shown goodwill first, the principal was perplexed but said he understood and instructed Zhang Pa to notify the parents.
So he did. Within the hour, the parents of the two unlucky students arrived at the station.
Just then, the principal called Zhang Pa, saying, "Your students are really lucky this time."
Zhang Pa asked what was going on.
The principal explained that last night, a certain leader's daughter was celebrating her birthday at a nightclub, and she was among those arrested. She was bailed out the same night. Another girl had even scarier connections—her parents worked in a central government department, and her grandfather was responsible for her. But he failed to keep her in check, and she ended up as one of the underage dealers.
This case had to be handled, and handled well. If possible, appropriate leniency should be extended.
Since none of the youths had contraband and were so young, there was room for flexibility—hence today's scene.
After the principal's explanation, Zhang Pa asked, "So it's really going to be dropped?"
"Not exactly. Those old enough, with evidence against them, won't escape prosecution. But for the others, education comes first," said the principal. "Your two rascals are truly lucky."
Zhang Pa said, "The parents are here. Should I head back to school?"
The principal said, "Come back, and bring those two troublemakers with you."
Zhang Pa said, "Might as well expel them. What's the point of keeping them?"
The principal replied, "If every teacher thought like you—expelling every bad kid—how many would go astray?"
Zhang Pa said, "You really have patience. If it were me, I'd advise them once; if they didn't listen, let them do as they please. The farther they go, the better—none of my business."
The principal laughed, "That's why good teachers are so rare. More and more people think like you nowadays."
Zhang Pa was speaking outside the police station. Just then the gate opened, and a tall girl in a short skirt walked out, accompanied by a kindly old lady.
The old lady said as they walked, "You just wait—see if your father doesn't deal with you when he gets back."
The girl was indifferent, "Go ahead, tell him. I'll be waiting for him to deal with me."
Zhang Pa understood immediately—this was undoubtedly the central government official's daughter. But she was so tall for fourteen? Thinking of Yun Zheng, it was clear he hadn't gotten enough nutrients as a child.
The old lady hailed a taxi and called to the girl to get in. The girl refused, "I'm not going home. You go."

The old lady was anxious, "How can you not go home? Day after day..." Before she could finish, the girl strode away.
Zhang Pa had no desire to meddle and pretended not to notice, speaking on the phone to the principal, "For kids who never learn, let them be prosecuted. Leaving them out here just harms others."
Principal Qin said, "Did you hear anything I just said?"
"I did," Zhang Pa replied. "But you can't always have things your way. Why shouldn't criminals be prosecuted?"
The principal sighed, "Come back and we'll talk."
Zhang Pa agreed, thinking aloud, "I haven't seen the two troublemakers yet, I'll bring them back when I do."
The principal said okay and ended the call.
And so Zhang Pa waited. The parents of the two delinquent students each paid a fine of two thousand yuan and endured a thorough scolding before they could take their children home.
Zhang Pa waited at the door and, when Sheng Yang emerged, called out, "Stop."
Sheng Yang replied with disdain, "Who are you?"
A middle-aged fat man accompanied Sheng Yang, looking at Zhang Pa in confusion.
Zhang Pa asked, "Are you Sheng Yang or Luo Chengcai?"
"He's Sheng Yang," the fat man replied.
"Are you Sheng Yang's father?"
"No, I'm his grandmother's neighbor. His grandmother is sick and can't move," the fat man explained.
Zhang Pa nodded, puzzled why the parents hadn't come. Then he recalled that Sheng Yang's parents never attended parent meetings—perhaps they were gone.
He introduced himself, "I'm Sheng Yang's homeroom teacher, Zhang Pa."
"Hello, teacher. This child doesn't listen and has troubled you again," the fat man said. Just then, Luo Chengcai came out with an old man.
The old man was furious, loudly declaring, "This is the last time. From now on, neither of us knows the other."
Luo Chengcai sneered, "Who cares? If the police hadn't called you, do you think I'd have asked you to come?"
"You're a little bastard," the old man said angrily as he left.
Luo Chengcai walked over to Sheng Yang, eyed Zhang Pa askance, and asked, "Who is this?"
Just then, the tall girl ran over, "Cai, you're out too?"
Zhang Pa turned to look. The old lady had already left, leaving behind the smiling, lovely girl. It was perplexing: how could someone so cute be involved in drug dealing?
Luo Chengcai looked her over, "They didn't give you trouble, did they?"
"No. My grandma told my dad, and he found someone to get me out," the tall girl said. "It's nothing serious—no murder, no arson. What could happen?"
Her attitude was pure gangster.
Zhang Pa interrupted, "Luo Chengcai, Sheng Yang, come here."