“Yes, yes, if the teacher says you’re wrong, then you’re wrong.”
Just like those idiotic bosses you meet at work—if they say you made a mistake, then all you’re allowed to do is admit your mistake.
So when Zhou Qing accused Xia Hua of being in the wrong, he simply waved her back to her seat without further discussion.
He passed judgment unilaterally, without any debate.
Then, as usual, he used Xia Hua as an example.
Warning the class: skipping school, ditching class—these things are not good, are bad.
Was she doomed to be the eternal scapegoat?
Yet anyone paying close attention might have noticed that the recently scolded Xia Hua had the faintest smile at the corner of her lips.
“Even though I haven’t broken free from the cycle of being made an example over every little thing,” Xia Hua muttered to herself, shaking her head, “still, the homeroom teacher… seems like he doesn’t dare go overboard anymore.”
“Look at him! His voice doesn’t even carry like it used to.”
“If it were before, he’d have definitely made me sweep the floors for a whole week.”
“……”
“…”
What’s that saying again? Don’t ever jinx the bad stuff by talking about it.
Xia Hua had just started to savor the tiny joy of not being punished with floor sweeping for once—even if it was only because she had stood up to the teacher’s authority, something she never dared to do before.
But then, a shrill voice cut through her thoughts like a knife.
“Teacher, skipping school, truancy, being late, leaving early, not turning in homework—you said it yourself before, didn’t you? That should be punished with at least a month of cleaning duty…” It was the class discipline monitor, Ye Tingzhu, reminding everyone.
Her suggestion hit the spot. The teacher was clearly pleased.
The classmates were also reminded that it would soon be their turn in the cleaning rota.
Statistically, Xia Hua had swept the classroom more than anyone else.
While others spent morning self-study reading or catching a nap, she’d be forced to clean the entire sanitation area by herself.
Each time took at least the whole session—sometimes more than an hour.
“Oh, I see!” The homeroom teacher let out a long sigh, as if finally satisfied.
“You heard that, Xia Hua. This is the class rule. Since you broke it, I have no choice. Starting today, you’ll be sweeping the classroom every day for a month.”
“And although I’ve punished Xia Hua…”
“I hope everyone else will learn from this.”
“Otherwise, next time it might be you.”
Things were looking up—everything was back on track.
Teacher Zhou Qing felt so pleased he could’ve burst into song.
Everything was back to the way it was.
Sure, he couldn’t control those kids who’d run off and complain to their parents every time something happened but Xia Hua? She was fair game.
Was he really punishing Xia Hua? No, he was punishing them.
Was he yelling at Xia Hua? No, he was yelling at them.
He just happened to be yelling at her face, punishing her body, but the pain, that was meant to hit them right in the heart.
Didn’t their consciences hurt?
If they could just behave a little better, he wouldn’t have to use Xia Hua as a scapegoat every time.
Just when everyone thought it was all settled…
Even though the teacher had already announced the punishment, Xia Hua’s expression suddenly darkened.
She picked up her water jar—the cheap kind that came with a three-yuan pineapple drink.
And smashed it to the ground.
Then pointed straight at the teacher and shouted, “That’s fucking bullshit!”
What? What kind of bullshit?
What did she just say?
Everyone in Class One froze in shock.
Most students, they’d seen, cried when scolded. A few dared to argue back.
But Xia Hua—she was the first in years who had dared to curse out a teacher to their face.
And then, all eyes turned toward Ye Tingzhu with visible displeasure.
There was bad blood between them.
Because of a competition over a government financial aid slot, Ye Tingzhu had always been at odds with Xia Hua.
“Teacher, she swore at you,” Ye Tingzhu said, pushing things to the worst possible outcome.
Now even the teacher, Zhou Qing, had no way to let this slide.
If he did, his authority and the authority of all teachers—would crumble.
“And Xia Hua,” Ye Tingzhu continued, pointing at her nose, “as a student receiving state assistance, you should be even more disciplined.”
“Acting like this—do you think you deserve the money you’re given?”
“I advise you to apologize to the teacher immediately.”
“And accept your punishment.”
This, apparently, was the best possible resolution.
And Ye Tingzhu had even provided a path forward.
She almost looked like the good guy in all this.
Most of the class, at least on the surface, felt Ye Tingzhu wasn’t wrong.
Some even believed she was saying it for Xia Hua’s own good.
But no one seemed to stop and think—if it weren’t for Ye Tingzhu stirring the pot, would any of this have even happened?
Xia Hua took a deep breath to calm herself, then said:
“And what if I say no?”
“You’re welcome to try,” Ye Tingzhu said with a smirk, as if she had Xia Hua right where she wanted her. She was used to using that one line—“You receive aid as a low-income student, so you should follow the rules even more strictly than others.”
And Xia Hua would always cave. It worked every time. No exceptions.
Because if you received aid, you were supposed to suppress yourself more, obey the rules more. That’s how it was.
There was a time when that sentence nearly drove Xia Hua insane.
“Fine,” she said now, voice steady. “Let’s try it then.”
“And another thing,” Xia Hua looked at Ye Tingzhu with open disdain, “this grudge between us… it’s just because I took the financial aid spot you wanted, isn’t it? But what I can’t figure out is this—”
“You have a father, a mother, a nice happy family.”
“You just moved into a brand-new 140-square-meter apartment.”
“And you’re still coming at me over a little subsidy I got? Really?”
“I get government aid, and in return I’ll give back to society in the future. What business is it of yours?”
Ye Tingzhu snapped back, voice sharp, “Not bringing trouble to your classmates is contributing to society.”
Her words were cutting but the anger rising in her voice betrayed her.
After all, those “low-income student” stipends? Some went to those who really needed them.
But some… were simply redirected to high-performing students.
No one knew exactly what was wrong with the school’s system, but somehow certain students were receiving financial aid—as long as they had top grades. Sound absurd? That’s reality for you.
Originally, the homeroom teacher had nominated Ye Tingzhu for the aid slot—until he discovered that Xia Hua was the one who truly needed it.
Ever since then, Ye Tingzhu had harbored a grudge.
She was always saying to others: “Everything Xia Hua eats and wears is paid with my scholarship. I’d rather spend that money on a dog than on her.”
And from there, the feud was born.
Ye Tingzhu couldn’t stand seeing Xia Hua doing well.
If she caught sight of her wearing new clothes, she’d immediately assume they were bought with her money.
“Ye Tingzhu,” Xia Hua said, spreading her hands helplessly, “Is your heart really as bitter and ugly as the words coming out of your mouth?”
“I don’t think I’m causing trouble for anyone in this class but your nasty little soul, it’s a real stain on my eyes.”
“Teacher, she’s bullying me,” Ye Tingzhu suddenly wailed, tears in her eyes.
“Teacher, I refuse to accept your punishment—” Xia Hua started to say, but was immediately cut off by Mr. Zhou Qing shouting, “Enough! Xia Hua, stop trying to justify yourself! If you refuse to accept my decision—”
“Then you can stop attending my class altogether.”
There it was. The teacher’s ultimate move: If you won’t listen to me, then don’t come to my class.
Most students couldn’t stand up to that kind of threat.
Especially not a girl like Xia Hua… right?
But once again, Xia Hua defied all expectations.
Without another word, she picked up her books and walked out.
“I won’t argue anymore,” she said as she moved toward the door. “Because in your heart, fairness has already been twisted.”
“I am a bad student, sure—but you’re way too biased in Ye Tingzhu’s favor.”
“From today onward—”
“As long as you’re in this classroom—”
“I, Xia Hua, will not take a single step inside it.”
“……”
A bad student? What is that, really?
Anyone who didn’t meet the university entrance score was a “bad student” in the teacher’s eyes.
But despite all the commotion she’d stirred up in the class, Xia Hua didn’t feel the slightest bit burdened.
All she felt… was a deep sense of relief.
She had finally done something she hadn’t dared to do all throughout high school.
Usually, students couldn’t outlast their teachers in a battle like this.
But this time—this time would be the exception.