Chapter Twelve: Director Wang of the Political and Religious Affairs Office

Comrade Wang Jialiang had worked in education for more than twenty years, and had spent a dozen years handling student discipline. From his hard-won experience, he had reached one clear conclusion: when students lack the will to study and turn bad, the corrupt ones must be dealt with ruthlessly at the seedling stage, so that the school can remain a harmonious and pleasant place for learning and working.

When he heard that a teacher had actually been beaten up and sent to the hospital by a student, the muscles at the corners of his eyes kept twitching. In nearly ten years at the school, no student had ever dared to challenge a teacher’s authority in that way. After he took charge of discipline, no one in the school had ever behaved so wildly.

“Knock, knock, knock…” The door rapped.
“Come in,” Wang Jialiang called from behind his wide desk.

Xia Qianrou brought Zuo Nan into the office. The first thing that struck Zuo was Wang’s desk—so enormous and so out of proportion to him that, unless you looked closely, you could hardly tell where he was.

It was only his second week at the school, and this was his first time entering the Student Discipline Office. It was his first glimpse of the much-talked-about head of the office, and the image could not have been more different from what he had imagined. A discipline director, one would expect, should be tall, broad, and imposing, with a heavy-set frame that announces authority. But Wang was thin as a rib, dark-skinned, and heavily wrinkled, nothing about him matching the title he wore.

Xia spoke with practiced courtesy.
“Director Wang, I’ve brought Student Zuo Nan.”

With a face of mild kindness, Wang said, “Oh, Teacher Xia, please sit.” In the next instant his expression changed. He glared at Zuo, rough and cold.
“So you’re Zuo Nan? Do you know what you’ve done?”

Fortunately for Zuo, this was old terrain. He was not rattled. In an even tone, he replied, “Director Wang, I’d like to clear one thing up. I am a student, not a criminal. There’s no need for you to dress me in a police officer’s role. Why are you interrogating me like this?”

The words slipped out, and Xia winced inwardly, thinking, This is bad. She was about to stand up and smooth things over, but Wang didn’t give her the chance. He shot to his feet and slammed his hand down on the desk with a sharp crack. He stared, eyes blazing.
“What attitude is this of yours? I’ve seen students like you before. Do you think I can’t expel you right here, right now?”

Zuo did not care to be impressed. He had seen too much of people parading their authority, and at this point it made him want to laugh. He turned to Xia.
“Teacher Xia, why don’t you go back? I’ll talk to Director Wang alone.”

When he said it, both Xia and Wang stared at him in disbelief. What now, was he about to take the director apart with his fists? Given Wang’s build, he probably could not have survived two punches from Zuo.

Xia’s face tightened.
“What are you trying to do, Zuo?”

Zuo gave a small laugh.
“Teacher Xia, you don’t think I’m here to hit Director Wang, do you? He is the head of the Student Discipline Office. If I knocked him down, do you think I’d still have any chance to study at all? Don’t worry. I just want to admit my fault privately.”

Wang relaxed at that and waved his hand toward Xia.
“Teacher Xia, go ahead and leave. I’ll handle this student.”

Since Wang had said it, Xia naturally could not stay. He was, after all, her superior. Yet she was still uneasy and looked to Zuo once. Seeing him give a tiny nod, she sighed and said,
“Director Wang, I’ll leave it to you.”

Wang answered with only a short nod.
“Mm.”

Xia gave another breathy sigh and left the room.

Only Wang and Zuo remained. Wang spoke first.
“Speak. What is it you want to discuss alone?”

Zuo said nothing. He opened his schoolbag and rummaged through it. After a moment he produced two bundles of banknotes and placed them on Wang’s desk. Wang’s eyes lit up instantly. Zuo noticed the quick shift and thought to himself, *Got him.*

Yet Wang, the supposed moral guardian, could not let himself seem too obvious. He hardened his face and shouted,
“Zuo Nan, what do you think this place is?”

Zuo sat back down, propped one leg over the other, and then pulled out two more bundles, tossing them onto the desk.

Money had its own gravity. These days, after Zuo had become flush, he had kept the instincts of a newly rich man: he carried cash wherever he went, because only cash seemed to give him peace.

Wang sat stunned, staring at the forty thousand yuan now on the desk. A joke, truly—he was a humble director with two thousand yuan a month, and in this line of work no one offered gifts for nothing. Forty thousand in hand—how many years would it take to earn that cleanly?

Feeling he had pressed enough, Zuo said slowly,
“Director Wang, do you think this is an earnest enough apology?”

At that test of money, Wang surrendered the mask and stepped forward with a smile.
“Enough, enough. Young people make mistakes; it’s one thing to admit it and turn around.”

Zuo watched his expression and found it almost funny.
“Director, do you have a cigarette? Give me one.”

By then Wang seemed to care only for rank and cash. He immediately pulled out a Red Pagoda Mountain cigarette and handed one over.

Zuo held it in his mouth. Wang promptly lit it for him, fussing more over him than he might ever have for his own father. Zuo drew lightly and said,
“Director, this is a poor cigarette. Pick better ones next time. You are, after all, a person with a position, aren’t you?”

Wang nodded quickly.
“Yes, yes—of course. I’ll get better tobacco from now on.”
Then, with a thoughtful pause, he added, “Zuo Nan, from my side this matter is sorted. But with Teacher Gao, you may still need to smooth things over there.”

Zuo tapped the ash and, impatiently, replied,
“Don’t worry about that. I have arrangements on that side. And besides, this school will keep requiring your help from now on. I’ll give you ten thousand yuan every month. You handle my school business for me—for instance if I’m busy and can’t come to class, you see to it. Can you manage that?”

At the promise of money, Wang snapped to attention.
“Zuo Nan, don’t worry. Small matter, leave it to me.”
Then, with a flatteringly servile smile, he added, “My son is planning to go abroad. Could you maybe add a little more for that expense?”

The cursed measure of greed is endless, Zuo thought; once a man tastes sweetness, he wants an elephant. He considered for a moment.
“One more ten thousand. If you keep helping me, I’ll definitely keep helping you.”

Wang immediately beamed, bobbing his head furiously.
“Of course, of course…”

After finishing the cigarette, Zuo stood, slapped his backside against the chair, and said,
“Director Wang, nothing else. I’ll be going now.”

Wang, seizing the moment, said with a sycophantic tone,
“Zuo Nan, shall we have dinner together tonight?”

Zuo gave him a patronizing tap on the shoulder and replied slowly,
“No, thank you. My mother called me home for dinner.”

“Ah… then I won’t hold you. We’ll meet another time.” Wang’s face wore a look of regret, as though they had narrowly missed their chance to become close.

Zuo shot him a glance and left without saying goodbye.

Once in the hallway, he muttered under his breath,
“What kind of thing—these people call this teaching and educating.”

His voice was low; no one nearby could have caught it.

From somewhere near the doorway, Xia’s voice called, “Zuo Nan…”

He startled, hand to his chest.
“Teacher Xia—don’t do that. You can scare someone to death.”

Xia stepped forward with a smile and a hint of apology.
“Sorry—I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Zuo waved it off. “It’s fine; I wasn’t paying attention.”
Then, as soon as he spoke, he thought something odd and asked, “Wait—weren’t you gone? Why are you still here?”

Xia covered her mouth and smiled, all grace and easy charm; the poise of a mature woman flashed across her face. Zuo suddenly went a little dumb. Seeing that expression, Xia understood at once that he was drifting into one of his usual side thoughts.

She said, a bit annoyed,
“What are you staring at? Tell me—how did Director Wang handle it?”

Concerned that she might get angry, Zuo replied honestly enough.
“It’s all right. He scolded me a bit and then let me go.”

Xia looked unconvinced.
“Really?”

“Teacher Xia,” Zuo said with a grin, “Why would I lie to you? If there’d been real trouble, your homeroom teacher surely couldn’t have avoided it.”

She regarded him with lingering suspicion.
“I still don’t believe it. Director Wang is not that easygoing.”

Inside, Zuo thought, *He certainly isn’t. Damn. Forty thousand just to settle him. And from now on two thousand a month would be the least— no, twenty thousand.*

“Teacher Xia, truly nothing happened. Tomorrow’s decision will be out, and you’ll know then. It’s getting late now; let’s go home.”

Xia thought a moment, then nodded.
“After worrying all this time, if nothing happened, let’s go.”

Zuo had not expected Xia to be so concerned and felt a flicker of embarrassment.
“Teacher, since it’s late, let me treat you tonight.”

Xia looked him over and thought it over before saying,
“Forget it. Let me treat you. You’re still a student—where would you have money from?”

“Now that’s not right, Teacher,” Zuo laughed. “You’re my teacher, so naturally I should treat you. How can I let you?”

She laughed softly.
“You haven’t earned anything yet. When you get into college and graduate, then you can treat me.”

Zuo nodded.
“Fine. We’ll settle it that way—tonight you treat me, and later I’ll treat you.”

“Then come on,” she said, turning and walking ahead of him.
Zuo watched her back and swallowed hard. The teacher had a figure to admire.