"No, he's absolutely right. We are public servants of the people, living off taxpayers' money, and it is we who should bow to the taxpayers," Cao Guobin said with a laugh. As an official known for his integrity, he naturally has the people's interests at heart, and found nothing wrong with what Hao Jian had said.
To Hao Jian's surprise, here was an official with authority but without the pretense – truly the mark of a good leader.
Just as Cao Guobin was preparing to bow to Hao Jian, Hao Jian quickly stepped forward to support him and said, "It was just a casual remark, no need to take it so seriously."
Hao Jian was not ungrateful, and since Cao Guobin had displayed such humility, it was only natural that he no longer maintained any arrogance.
"Are you Hao Jian?" Cao Guobin asked, looking at Hao Jian with a smiling face.
"I am," Hao Jian replied, wondering why Cao Guobin wanted to see him.
"I've heard from Du Yuelin that, aside from medicine, you have other talents as well. What can you do?" Cao Guobin was curious to know if Hao Jian was as extraordinary as Du Yuelin had described.
"Musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and composing, I've mastered them all," Hao Jian declared proudly.
"Very good, very good, now I'm reassured," Cao Guobin said, his face brimming with surprise and delight.
"What do you mean?" Hao Jian frowned, puzzled. What did his own skills have to do with putting Cao Guobin at ease?
Cao Guobin laughed somewhat awkwardly: "To be honest, I've been considering merging the Business School with the Chinese Medicine Hospital into one institution, with you serving as a teacher at both schools."
"What?" Qiu Chenggong was stunned to hear Cao Guobin's plan, to merge the Business School and the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Who would be the principal then? Surely, one school couldn't have two principals?
"I agree, but once the two schools merge, I want Principal Du to serve as the head principal of both schools," Hao Jian stated.
Upon hearing this, both Du Yuelin and Qiu Chenggong were taken aback, the former with elation, the latter with dread.
"No problem. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I was already planning to appoint Du Yuelin as the principal," Cao Guobin said, smiling genially. If it weren't for Du Yuelin discovering this Thousand-Li Horse, he could have missed the opportunity to meet someone like Hao Jian in his lifetime.
Du Yuelin's face lit up with joy. Was he about to become the principal of two schools?
This was beyond his wildest dreams; Du Yuelin had never imagined he would one day become the principal of two schools.
"But what about me, Director Cao?" Qiu Chenggong asked with a gloomy face. If Du Yuelin became principal, what would happen to him, given that he was the current principal?
"You? You'll become vice principal and manage the school alongside Du Yuelin. Your current duties will remain the same," Cao Guobin replied.
"Vice... vice principal?" Qiu Chenggong's face went pale. The two titles might sound similar, but their significance was as different as Heaven and Hell.
So, going forward, Du Yuelin was to be his superior?
Although his and Du Yuelin's status had been equal, with a single statement from Cao Guobin, he was now relegated to being Du Yuelin's subordinate?
There was no helping it. Cao Guobin now had to rely on Hao Jian, so any request Hao Jian made did not seem excessive. You, Qiu Chenggong, want the same treatment? Sure, find me another Thousand-Li Horse, why don't you?
Du Yuelin was also in a daze, feeling as though it was all just a dream, too surreal to believe.
"I hope to learn much from you in the future, Vice Principal Qiu!" Hao Jian said with a sly smile, deliberately emphasizing the last four words heavily as he extended his hand.
"..." Qiu Chenggong was dumbstruck, now regretting why he ever provoked Hao Jian, this freak. It was clearly a path to self-destruction.
Meanwhile, Ye Linglan was struggling to walk out of the Chinese Medicine Hospital; her movements were still somewhat awkward, and she had to deliberately spread her legs to walk properly.
She was on her way back to the Business School, but just as she reached the door, she saw Ye Chunliang storming out, clearly furious.
"Chunliang, what's happened?" Ye Linglan was puzzled to see Ye Chunliang in such a state.
"Sister?" Upon seeing Ye Linglan, Ye Chunliang hurriedly approached her, "Sis, are you alright? Hao Jian didn't hurt you, did he?"
At his words, Ye Linglan felt embarrassed and lowered her head guiltily, "How could he... what could he have done to me?"
Ye Linglan thought that Ye Chunliang had discovered something between her and Hao Jian. Surely that couldn't be possible – Hao Jian wasn't the kind of fool who would blab about such things, right?
"He said he defeated you, and I was worried he might've injured you," Ye Chunliang said anxiously.
"Oh, that. Yes, I did lose to him," Ye Linglan said, relieved.
"Did that bastard use some dirty tricks to beat you? How else could he possibly be a match for you?" Ye Chunliang felt indignant, unable to believe his tough sister could lose to Hao Jian.
"No, he won fair and square. I truly am not his match," Ye Linglan shook her head. If Hao Jian hadn't defeated her, she would've never acknowledged him.
"How is that possible? How could that scoundrel have beaten you, a black belt ninth dan? He must have used some conspiracy!" Ye Chunliang refused to believe it was true.
Hearing Ye Chunliang refer to Hao Jian as a scoundrel, a frost appeared on Ye Linglan's face, "I've made it very clear, there was no conspiracy, and he's not a scoundrel, don't you dare speak of him that way again."
"Sis, what's gotten into you? Why are you defending that guy?" Ye Chunliang was stunned. Was Ye Linglan actually speaking up for Hao Jian? Didn't she swear before that she would definitely teach Hao Jian a lesson? How come she seemed like a completely different person now?
"It's nothing, I just suddenly feel that guy isn't as detestable as we thought," Ye Linglan said with an embarrassed expression, she knew that saying one thing and doing another was somewhat shameful. But she had no choice now, since she had already become Hao Jian's woman. She couldn't possibly raise her hand against Hao Jian, could she?
Ye Chunliang couldn't accept this explanation and said, "Sis, what's really going on? Has that guy got something on you? Just tell me, and I'll take care of him!"
"There's nothing, don't think nonsensically!" Ye Linglan said with a cold face.
"Then what is it?" Ye Chunliang pressed, anxious to know what Hao Jian had done to make Ye Linglan change her attitude towards him.
Ye Linglan looked deeply at her brother and then answered reluctantly, "I've fallen for him!"
"You, are you joking with me?" Ye Chunliang's eyes twitched, unable to believe it was true. How could his sister, known as the Violent Queen, possibly fall for such a scoundrel?
Ye Linglan fell silent, just calmly looking at Ye Chunliang.
Ye Chunliang was completely dumbfounded, "But you met for the first time today!"
"Love at first sight!"
"But he's a scoundrel!"
"I'm not a good woman either!"
"I'm going to kill him right now!" Ye Chunliang ground his teeth fiercely, he wouldn't allow his pure and innocent sister to be defiled by a beast like Hao Jian!
Ye Linglan looked indifferently at Ye Chunliang, "You can't beat him."
"I..." Ye Chunliang didn't know what to say, what on earth was going on? He felt like crying, not because Hao Jian had humiliated him, but because Ye Linglan was now infuriating him.
Pointing at Ye Linglan forcefully, Ye Chunliang also tapped a few times, "So disappointed, so disappointed in you!"
With one punch, Ye Linglan floored Ye Chunliang, veins popping on her forehead, she said coldly, "Don't be too smug, I'm still the older sister!"
"Wuwuwu. I will never let that guy off the hook!" Ye Chunliang pounded the ground fiercely.
"Hello, classmates, I'm Hao Jian. Starting today, I'll be your teacher. If I do anything wrong in the future, please feel free to point it out, though I'm not going to change it anyway."
The very next day, Hao Jian appeared in a junior classroom at the Business School, grinning and greeting the students.
At this time, Li Jiasheng, Ye Chunliang, and He Zexi, who was in a wheelchair, all had grim faces, their eyes aflame with hatred, wishing they could tear him to pieces!
The students were dumbfounded, thinking if he wasn't going to change, then why bother saying anything?
"Why has this guy come here?" At this moment, Su Ran, the leader of the ten sisters, was also puzzled. She naturally disliked Hao Jian as well. Last time, if it hadn't been for Hao Jian's meddling, she would have dealt with that little bitch, Jiang Yutong, already.
"Don't you know? Yesterday, the education bureau director already announced the merger of the Chinese Medicine Hospital and the Business School and specially asked this guy to be our teacher," one of the ten sisters said.
"Our teacher?" Su Ran's eyes lit up with a scheming glint, she sneered, "It's like you deliberately shun heaven and seek hell."
"Darling, I will take revenge for you!" Su Ran gazed adoringly at Li Jiasheng beside her.
But Li Jiasheng's face was filled with hatred, he glanced at Su Ran indifferently, "You? What can you do?"
"Don't underestimate me, I have plenty of ways!" Su Ran huffed dissatisfiedly, then whispered something to Li Jiasheng.
Li Jiasheng's eyes lit up, a cold smile crossed his lips, "If you can do it, I'll marry you!"
"Really?" Su Ran was overjoyed. She truly liked Li Jiasheng. He was her White Prince, and she dreamt of marrying him!
"Of course, it's true. I, Li Jiasheng, keep my word," Li Jiasheng said, feigning tenderness, but inside he sneered at Su Ran's naivety. He knew exactly what Su Ran felt for him, but as far as he was concerned, she was just a plaything, he never had feelings for her. He was simply seducing Su Ran with his words.
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