"What are you doing at the school?"
When Lin Fan’s car stopped at the school gate, Zhao Qianyue looked at him with suspicion.
"Of course, I’m here to find someone."
Being stopped outside the school gate, Lin Fan rolled down the window and said to the security guard who came out, "I am Deputy County Magistrate Lin, and I need to go in to find Principal Cui."
"What County Magistrate Lin, County Magistrate Ma, vehicles not registered are not allowed in!"
Unexpectedly, the security guard, who was over fifty, waved his hand dismissively at Lin Fan.
"I am the newly transferred Deputy County Magistrate Lin Fan... I need to get into the school!"
Lin Fan had not expected that even after mentioning his position, he still couldn’t get through the school gate, which annoyed him somewhat.
"You think it’s my first day on the job? Acting like some big shot with me, if the county magistrate really came, wouldn’t the principal come out to greet him? Get as far away from me as possible, don’t block the school entrance, or I might call the police to arrest you."
The security guard, in his fifties, retorted disdainfully while puffing on a cigarette. This left Lin Fan somewhat at a loss for words as he hadn’t formally taken office. Before County Magistrate Luan died, he had only introduced Lin Fan to a few department leaders; it was nothing more than an introduction, he hadn’t even left a phone number, after all, back then, he was just an ordinary vice mayor.
So let alone the school principal, even the head of the county education department was out of his reach, not to mention lacking their phone numbers.
"Who would have thought that Deputy County Magistrate Lin could be told off by a security guard, you’re not as cunning as Huo Ben describes you."
Zhao Qianyue watched Lin Fan with schadenfreude, and all he could do was shrug, at a loss for words.
"Letting you know who really represents Red Flag County."
Pressing the button to lower the passenger-side window, Zhao Qianyue leaned out and said to the security guard, "Open the gate!"
"Oh, it’s Miss Zhao here... I’ll open it right away... right away!"
The previously defiant security guard actually recognized Zhao Qianyue immediately, hurriedly pressed the button, and the barrier slowly lifted, even giving both of them an odd salute.
"How about that, now you should know why I can live in the county town without spending a dime," said Zhao Qianyue, proudly watching Lin Fan, who just craftily smiled: "Of course, I know how effective your name is, why else would I have provoked you to come here? Your face is quite valuable here."
"Oh... you deliberately provoked me just now!"
Zhao Qianyue finally realized that she had unknowingly fallen into his trap.
"Otherwise, how could I live up to the description Huo Ben gave me? But don’t worry, I was just using your influence to pave the way for myself, I won’t cause you any trouble."
Lin Fan stepped on the accelerator, and the car immediately drove into the school, surrounded by the echoing voices of students reciting lessons.
Even though it was summer vacation, the students who had just entered their senior year were still tirelessly continuing their classes to prepare for next year’s college entrance exams. Guided by the sounds, Lin Fan parked the car and quickly located the classroom that the girls were using.
In a few classrooms at the corner on the first floor, girls in school uniforms were studying intently. Seeing the packed classroom, Lin Fan frowned in confusion; it was supposed to be vacation for first and second-year students, but it was odd that so many people were crowded in there.
While he was curious, Principal Cui, dressed in a gray suit and hurriedly clicking her high heels, emerged from the teaching building. Observing her worn-out clothes, Lin Fan furrowed his brow, thankfully her hair was tied back today, and the thick black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose had an obvious break mended with transparent tape.
"County Magistrate Lin... you’re here!"
Principal Cui nervously wrung her hands while looking anxiously at Lin Fan.
"Principal Cui, it seems you haven’t followed our agreement."
Lin Fan had his hands in his pockets, and she still hadn’t changed into a new suit.
"No... no... I’ve prepared something... maybe if County Magistrate Lin would come to my office... you’ll see!"
Principal Cui quickly shook her head in denial, since this involved a significant amount of aid, she couldn’t afford any oversight.
"Oh, is there a surprise?"
Lin Fan examined this woman, whose actions were a bit odd; although the black-rimmed glasses covered half of her face, her eyes still looked quite attractive, but her dowdy outfit was a bit hard to swallow.
"You can wander around on your own; I need to discuss some things with the principal."
After greeting Zhao Qianyue, Lin Fan followed Principal Cui to a series of low buildings next to the teaching block. When Principal Cui opened the so-called office, a red brick room with no windows, Lin Fan frowned: "This is clearly a storage room; how could it serve as an office?"
"No choice... we really can’t afford more office space, so we have to make do here... just a moment, I’ll change my clothes right away!"
Principal Cui hurried behind a shelf, and when she reappeared, Lin Fan was stunned.
"Is this even the same person?"