Chapter 4: The Rise of the Cobra
Well, Dad, you are right. How about this: I will stay at home for a week, and I will study and read on time every day. After a week, if no school comes to find me, you can take me to school to apologize to the principal. I will accept any punishment or scolding.
Such blatant disregard left the principal feeling an unprecedented sense of humiliation. He turned around, pointed at Liu Jingting's back, and shouted: "You will never be able to enroll again in your lifetime; you will never set foot in this school!"
Both Liu's father and mother are aware of Liu Jingting's work on the guidebook and take great pride in it. When discussing it with colleagues and neighbors, they feel a sense of honor and prestige. Upon hearing their son's account, Liu's father also began to hesitate.
Liu's father was momentarily taken aback, his tone softened as he said: "Why would I scold you?"
It is all due to the friends giving face. In the face of the serious and solemn atmosphere of the "Three Judges' Review," Liu Jingting could not help but make a joke
With a buzzing sound, the electric bike stopped in front of Liu Jingting. Liu's father looked at his son with a stern expression and asked in a harsh tone: "Principal Gang just called me and said you applied for withdrawal from school?"
The principal held the application for withdrawal, looking perplexedly at the equally puzzled Teacher Zheng
The expression on the face of the head of the three departments immediately grew darker. The homeroom teacher, Mr. Zheng, pointed at Liu Jingting and shouted, "You, what nonsensical words are you saying? Is this a place for jokes?"
Hello, Principal; hello, Teacher Zheng; hello, Director Wang. Liu Jingting greeted them symbolically. As someone who possesses the spirit and intellect of a university student, Liu Jingting simply could not endure the routine of being summoned to the office for tea.
Just two hours after these three "educational professionals" made their disruptive decision, an unexpected event undermined their plans. Liu Jingting seized the opportunity and took the initiative by submitting his application for withdrawal from school.
Father glanced at him and said, "You go home by yourself; I still have to return to the office"
"Get lost. If you truly recognize me as your brother, then from now on, focus on your studies. You may not have to listen to the teacher, but you must study diligently." Liu Jingting's unconventional farewell words left the surrounding classmates exchanging glances.
Liu Jingteng looked at the young man before him and suddenly felt an indescribable disgust. Here was a full-grown adult, glaring and puffing up his cheeks at a "little kid" without saying a word, as if they had a deep-seated enmity. It was truly a case of being overly full and having nothing to do.
The principal approached with a stern expression, hands clasped behind his back, followed by the homeroom teacher, Mr. Zheng. Liu Jingting glanced at them indifferently, slung the large blue backpack over his shoulder, and brushed past the principal.
The students who pretended to be reading while actually watching the good show were simultaneously applauding Liu Jingting in their hearts and secretly relieved that their student status remained intact. Only the class monitor stood there in silence, brooding alone.
Feigning illness? That is also not acceptable, as it is inauspicious, and it is clearly a lie, which would only cause unnecessary worry for them
Liu Fu's expression remained grim, yet it seemed he could not find any flaws. Liu Jingting continued, "Today, the principal, the class teacher, and that person surnamed Wang pressured me to have you and Mom go to the school. In fact, they just want to use you to beat me up while simultaneously insulting you. This tactic is quite common."
Liu Fu glanced at his son, a peculiar light appearing in his eyes. Liu Jingteng felt a stir in his heart; he was behaving so maturely that his father wouldn't notice anything amiss, would he
After deliberating several arguments, which were subsequently refuted, should I simply tell them that I want to become a writer? No, they would not believe it; in the end, I would still have to seek the approval of the principal of the publishing house.
Liu Jingting is very curious about how people will react when they see these stories. However, one thing Liu Jingting can be certain of is that when these novels emerge, the literary world will inevitably be stirred up like a tidal wave. As for the kind of shock it will bring to readers and the eventual frenzy it will lead to, Liu Jingting can only maintain his anticipation
Hmph, this time it's his parents coming to school, and I will make him suffer a bit more said the principal coldly
Liu Jingting submitted "Longhu Jinghua" under the pen name of Gu Yongsheng, the meaning of which is self-evident. It aims to introduce to the world the magnificent works that are so intoxicating and exhilarating, using the names of the disciples of the three great masters, Jin, Gu, and Liang.
In fact, Liu Jingting did not stay at home for a week; after three days, Liu Jingting's fairy tale novel "Mang Mang and Ti Ti" was published in "Children's Literature." Overnight, Liu Jingting became a popular figure in primary and secondary schools across the country, along with the "Cobra" that was also in the spotlight.
In fact, in his previous life, Liu Jingting had consulted relevant materials, and he understood the significance of those novels. He possessed sufficient confidence, and this time he would consciously adjust the order of their release, progressively captivating the audience's attention, layer by layer, to stir and resonate with people's souls
Dad is clever! Liu Jingtian, with the mindset of a university student, feels his humorous cells tremble once again
I have heard that the book you authored has already been sold to other towns; I must first congratulate Boss Liu.
Well then, since I am dropping out of this school, I can just attend another school. We will meet again at the high school entrance examination venue, and we shall settle our scores then—oh, there is no need to compete over books; we are merely comparing our strengths.
Liu Jingteng turned a deaf ear and left without a word
Liu Jingteng walked away without looking back, getting further and further away
The principal snorted coldly and asked, "Director Wang asked you to call the parents over, what are you hesitating for?"
Liu Jingting said with a sense of grievance, "I, I am not joking at all"
Ah, life is truly filled with helplessness. Just as Liu Jingting pretended to express his feelings, he saw his father riding a white electric bike approaching him. "So soon," Liu Jingting took a breath and went to meet him.
"Director Wang, please do not be angry. We cannot take action against him; let his parents handle it instead," Teacher Zheng said coldly.
Liu Jingting sincerely nodded, then politely said, "Goodbye, Principal; goodbye, Teacher Zheng." He turned to leave the office, and Director Wang, who felt so blatantly ignored, was furious, shouting, "Who told you to leave? Stop! Who told you to leave?"
"What kind of attitude is that?" Director Wang, known for his temper, once again slammed the table and shouted at Liu Jingting.
Liu Jingting openly mocked the principal in front of the entire class, which felt quite exhilarating. However, there were still some issues to address afterward. He was not afraid of the school revoking his student status, as he was applying for withdrawal rather than being expelled. The real problem lay in how to explain this to his parents
The principal and his companions were all astonished; they could hardly believe that a student with excellent grades, a bright future, and about to face the high school entrance examination could be so audacious. Logically, it should be they who were the audacious ones.
"Principal, I report that Director Wang is using foul language." Liu Jingting looked at the principal with a pair of pure and innocent big eyes, one hand naively pointing at Director Wang
Mr. Liu has always taken pride in his outstanding son, and upon hearing him say this and seeing his resolute expression, he truly could not find any excuse to refuse. He could only agree, saying: "I will call the principal and inform him to impose a week's confinement on you, allowing you to reflect in solitude."
What does this mean? The principal felt somewhat disheartened. According to the original plan, the subsequent story should have been that he showcased his talents in front of Liu Jingting's parents, displaying an air of authority, only to see Liu Jingting's parents being submissive... Subsequently, he would reprimand his son, while Liu Jingting himself would be in tears, sincerely repenting with great emotion...
Just as Liu Jingteng was ambitiously planning to "upend the world with his novel," Director Cobra Wang summoned him once again
Could it be that "Mang Mang and Ti Ti" has already been released? Liu Jingting thought to himself as he entered the office with a composed demeanor. As soon as he stepped inside, he was taken aback to see the principal, the director of education, and the homeroom teacher all present, their expressions uniformly stern and unfriendly.
Liu Jingteng walked quietly along the country path with a large backpack on his back and his hands tucked into his pants pockets. For him, reading had become merely a formality; he had already planned his future path, making other trivial matters seem dispensable. However, as an ordinary person, there are always some things that are unavoidable, and certain roles that need to be played.
The students erupted into laughter once again, and just as the laughter was subsiding, a cold voice suddenly remarked, "Which school do you think would want you"
My parents both have to work, and they are very busy Liu Jingting replied sincerely
The principal, extremely angry yet laughing, said: "Liu Jingteng, do you think that because your grades are good, we dare not do anything to you? Hehe, now perk up your ears and listen carefully. If you do not bring your parents to school tomorrow, I will expel you."
"Your grades are so good, are you really going to drop out of school?" The class monitor, with two braids, looked at Liu Jingting with a hint of anger on her face
Liu Jingting responded with a single sentence, watching his father leave. It turned out to be not as difficult as he had imagined. Perhaps this is the difference between maturity and immaturity. A true middle school student, no matter how juvenile he may be, still exhibits timidity, evasion, and fear when facing his father. In contrast, the calmness and composure that Liu Jingting just displayed added significant persuasive power to his words.
The principal has arrived! The onlooking students scattered like birds and beasts, returning to their respective seats to pretend to read.
Liu Jingteng looked at her as if she were a little sister, smiling as he said, "Once I leave, you will be first."
"It's turned upside down, it's turned upside down. Who does he think he is, ah, who does he think he is?"
Well, Dad, the school's director of education scolded someone
"I do not want this kind of first place; I want to defeat you openly and justly!" The stubborn girl declared proudly
However, Liu Jingteng suddenly applied for withdrawal from school, catching him off guard and cruelly depriving him of a series of pleasures
It is not a big deal that your mother and I have suffered some grievances; the key is that you must be cautious about your own future
Previously, I wrote a guidebook and sold it at a low price to my classmates. The headmaster felt that I was taking business away from his store, so he caused me trouble and even scolded me today
After submitting his application for withdrawal from school, Liu Jingting returned to the classroom to pack his textbooks. Curious classmates gathered around to ask various questions. Mei Chuan and Zhang Youlong helped with the packing while saying, "We are also dropping out with Liu Ge, and then we will sell books."
Liu Jingting, with his keen observation and discernment, took the opportunity to say: "But Dad, rest assured, I am not really planning to drop out. The news of my book-selling has already spread throughout the city, and other high schools will actively seek me out if they learn that I have been forced to drop out."