Why Are You Stealing My Students

Dean Chandler had just gone out to meet the parents of those three students when suddenly, Qin Sanniang and Zhang Zhuzi heard Dean Chandler's roaring and cursing from outside: "Ungrateful wretches, you ungrateful lot!"

Then came the voices of several strangers: "Dean Chandler, we truly apologize! The tuition at your Greenfield Academy is too expensive. Our family is poor and can't afford it! The Haizi School's fees are cheaper, so we poor folks pool our money to barely afford it! It's not that we don't care about the teacher-student bond, but we really have no money!"

"Yes, Dean Chandler, please have some compassion for us poor people!"

Dean Chandler roared, "Get out, all of you! Go to that lousy Haizi School! I'll have you regret it someday and come crawling back to me on your knees!"

Dean Chandler stormed back in anger. Qin Sanniang looked at him, angry as well, but secretly felt pleased inside.

Because the deeper Dean Chandler's hostility toward Haizi School, the more it would help Zhang Zhuzi secure the village chief position and shut down Haizi School.

Dean Chandler paced back and forth, hands behind his back, fuming with smoke coming out of his ears, muttering, "That shameless woman Su Li, how dare she run a school? How dare she snatch my students!"

Qin Sanniang and Zhang Zhuzi exchanged a glance, their eyes betraying barely concealed smiles.

Qin Sanniang poked Zhang Zhuzi with her hand. Zhang Zhuzi immediately said, "Dean Chandler, as long as Haizi School doesn't close, it'll keep stealing your Greenfield Academy's students! If you help me become the village chief, I'll make sure Haizi School shuts down immediately!"

Dean Chandler was so furious he was about to explode. Without thinking about the loopholes in Zhang Zhuzi and Qin Sanniang's words, he said, "Fine, I'll go find a few of my old classmates to help! I refuse to believe that in Greenfield City, where I'm a big shot, I can't beat a local woman! You two go back and wait for news. The village chief position will definitely be yours, Zhuzi!"

Qin Sanniang and Zhang Zhuzi hurriedly responded, put down the gifts, and happily left Greenfield Academy.

Qin Sanniang linked arms with Zhang Zhuzi and said, "How about that, Zhuzi? I'm amazing, right? If it weren't for my idea, you definitely wouldn't have gotten the village chief position!"

Zhang Zhuzi gave a thumbs up and said, "Sanniang, you're amazing! Ah, I, Zhang Zhuzi, am really lucky to have married such a capable and virtuous wife like you!"

Dean Chandler, now thoroughly enraged, headed straight to the homes of a few of his old classmates.

Among these classmates were some who had passed the imperial exams and some scholars; all were highly respected figures in Greenfield City.

Dean Chandler first went to the home of the most familiar, Liu the Juren, but to his surprise, the usually wide-open door was closed.

Dean Chandler tried to enter as usual but was stopped by the gatekeeper: "Dean Chandler, unfortunately, our Juren master has gone back to the countryside to visit relatives and is not home."

Dean Chandler was taken aback and said, "Oh? I hadn't heard that your master was going back to the countryside."

The gatekeeper smiled and said, "It's because a letter suddenly came from his hometown in the countryside, saying an elder relative is unwell and he must return immediately."

Dean Chandler asked, "When will he be back?"

The gatekeeper replied, "The master didn't say. I guess it will be at least a month or two, but it could be as long as a year or more."

Dean Chandler sighed heavily and muttered to himself, "Why is it that when I need him, he's not home? What bad luck!"

The gatekeeper respectfully said, "Dean Chandler, since the master is not home, you should please take your leave."

Dean Chandler sighed and left, preparing to go to another scholar named Wang's house.

After Dean Chandler left, the gatekeeper hurried back inside and told Liu the Juren, "Master, I have sent Dean Chandler away!"

Liu the Juren finally relaxed and said, "Good, he's gone. That fellow somehow offended a big shot and doesn't even know it himself. For now, don't let him in when he comes; just say I'm away in the countryside. Tsk, that big shot is not someone to mess with, I don't want to bring trouble on myself!"