162: Chapter 160: Getting a Hold of the Handle 162: Chapter 160: Getting a Hold of the Handle The two kept silent all the way, as if they were maintaining a tacit understanding between them.
“Haha, I finally caught you, Tangyu, this time you’re definitely doomed,” an excited and smug voice suddenly rang out.
Three figures jumped in front of Tangyu and Xia Xiaoyu, it was none other than Wang Ba and his two minions.
They hadn’t expected to run into them here; it really was a case of enemies on a narrow path.
Seeing Wang Ba, Xia Xiaoyu was also slightly startled, her gaze becoming somewhat evasive.
Wang Ba was a well-known bully at Linshan Middle School, and it was uncertain what might come out of his mouth.
Most importantly, such rumors could change in nature once they passed through his lips.
Xia Xiaoyu had always been somewhat afraid of Wang Ba.
Now, to be called out by Wang Ba in such a situation naturally made her face turn red with embarrassment.
Wang Ba was unusually pleased with himself; these past days he had been feeling frustrated and suppressed, constantly thinking about how to deal with Tangyu.
This time, encountering Tangyu and Xia Xiaoyu walking together so intimately on the road, he knew his chance had come.
At the same time, he also felt jealous of Tangyu; why should Lin Feifei be close to him, and Xia Xiaoyu too?
Although he had never pursued Xia Xiaoyu, as one of the three great beauties of Linshan Middle School, Wang Ba naturally coveted her.
Besides, who doesn’t like beauties?
Liking several beauties at once didn’t seem like a problem to Wang Ba either.
“Wang Ba, what do you want to do?” Tangyu asked, looking at Wang Ba.
As for how Wang Ba intended to deal with him, Tangyu remained indifferent, but he didn’t want Wang Ba to bother Xia Xiaoyu.
“Haha, what do I want to do?
Tangyu, there’s a time when I even catch you in the act.
Don’t say there’s nothing between you two.
Look at you, Tangyu, eating out of the bowl and looking into the pot.
Didn’t you say you were Lin Feifei’s boyfriend?
How come you’re now together with Xia Xiaoyu?
Just imagine, what kind of reaction would there be if I spread this around?” Wang Ba laughed out loud.
Xia Xiaoyu looked at Wang Ba with a mix of anger and fear and said, “What nonsense are you spouting?
There’s nothing between Doctor Tang and me, and the innocent have nothing to hide.
Even if you gossip, no one will believe you.
Besides, I don’t care what nonsense you say.
Doctor Tang, let’s go, don’t mind him.”
“Humph, you say there’s nothing, and there’s nothing?
The eyes of the people are sharp.
With you two behaving like this, who would believe that?
You believe it, at least I don’t.
I think no one in the school will believe it either,” Wang Ba said.
“You—do as you please.” Xia Xiaoyu, who was rarely angry, was truly a bit upset at this point.
Although she didn’t care much about these slanders, and didn’t mind what others said behind her back, she didn’t want to be misunderstood, especially when it concerned her benefactor Tangyu.
This was something she couldn’t tolerate.
Wang Ba looked at Tangyu triumphantly and said, “Tangyu, now that I have something on you, if you don’t accept my punishment, get ready for your bad luck.”
“Humph.” Tangyu let out a light smile and said, “As you wish, but let me remind you again, whatever you want to hit me with is fine.
If you dare to mess with Xia Xiaoyu, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
“Humph, you still dare to threaten me?
I think you’re unclear about the situation.
You say you’ll be impolite to me, I’d like to see how you could possibly do that,” Wang Ba said, getting somewhat angry.
“Let’s go,” Tangyu said to Xia Xiaoyu.
Seeing that the two of them were not affected by his threats, Wang Ba felt exceedingly annoyed, “Humph, you’ll see, Tangyu, you damn lecher, I’ll make sure you pay dearly.”
This little incident didn’t really affect Tangyu, but he started to worry; given Wang Ba’s character, he probably would exaggerate and spread the story just encountered.
Rumors, once started, could negatively impact Xia Xiaoyu.
Xia Xiaoyu was also one of the three great beauties of Linshan Middle School, and she was already the centre of everyone’s attention.
Once rumors started, it was unclear what kind of consequences they might lead to.
This situation indeed gave Tangyu a headache—would he really have to take drastic action against Wang Ba?
No matter how badly Wang Ba behaved, he was still just a brat, a middle school student after all.
It wasn’t that Tangyu was overly kind-hearted; it’s just that being heavy-handed with a middle school student wasn’t in line with his character.
“Doctor Tang, I’m sorry for dragging you into this,” Xia Xiaoyu said, biting her lips.
Tangyu shook his head and said, “Why would you say that?
It should be me saying sorry for dragging you into this.”
“Not at all, Doctor Tang.
Let others say what they want, I don’t care.
There’s really nothing between us; justice lies in people’s hearts,” Xia Buyu said.
“It’s good that you think that way,” Tangyu said with a faint smile.
He was relieved Xia Xiaoyu didn’t think too much of it, and he himself was quite indifferent about the rumors.
Upon arriving at the school entrance, they happened to run into Lin Feifei who was also walking over.
Lin Feifei’s gaze fell on Tangyu and Xia Xiaoyu, and when she noticed Xia Xiaoyu’s expression seemed a bit off, she couldn’t help frowning and said, “Tangyu, surely you haven’t bullied Xia Xiaoyu?
You sure took your time eating.”
Xia Xiaoyu hadn’t expected to run into Lin Feifei there, and her face instantly turned red as she shook her head and explained, “No, how could Doctor Tang bully me?
It’s just that we ran into Wang Ba just now, so I felt a bit depressed.”
“Oh, it’s that damned Wang Ba again, there’s never any good when you bump into him.
With his blabbermouth, I bet it’s caused a stir and the whole school knows by now,” Lin Feifei said indignantly.
“Yo, why do I hear someone bad-mouthing me as soon as I show up?
Lin Feifei, how have I offended you again?” Wang Ba and his two friends also walked over.
Lin Feifei gave Wang Ba a glare and said, “As if there’s any bad thing about you left for me to talk about.
I was just telling some truth.
You never do anything useful, just stick your nose in other people’s business.
If you spent half as much of your free time studying, you wouldn’t always be the last in our class.”
Wang Ba smacked his lips and said, “Academic performance doesn’t mean everything, you know.
I don’t plan on studying anyway.
What’s the good of studying?
I disdain it.
I don’t care about other people’s business, but I really do want to meddle in both of yours.
What’s up, Lin Feifei?
Didn’t you say he’s your boyfriend?
Seeing your boyfriend with another girl, you don’t even show a little reaction?
So cool about it, you’re slapping your own face, aren’t you?
Your lies are exposing themselves now, so stop pretending in front of me.
Do you really think everyone else is an idiot?”
“I don’t think everyone else is an idiot, just you.
Tangyu is my boyfriend, and I don’t mind him being with other women.
So what?
He’s not two-timing me; why should I interfere?” Lin Feifei retorted.
Wang Ba was momentarily speechless and stared at her.
Lin Feifei took Xia Xiaoyu by the arm and said, “Let’s go.
Don’t mind this guy.
If he dares to bully you in the future, tell me, and I’ll stand up for you.”
Tangyu gave Wang Ba a dismissive glance and said, “Keep your thoughts straight, or it won’t be good for you.
Be careful, or you might trip over yourself one day.”
Wang Ba glared at Tangyu angrily, “You better watch out yourself.”
Watching Tangyu and company leave, Wang Ba waved his hand and said, “Let’s go.” But he’d barely taken two steps when he indeed tripped and stumbled forward, his bulky body crashing to the ground, tripped by his shoelace.
He fell hard, skewing his nose and swelling his lips.
What made Wang Ba even more furious was the sticky sensation on his palm; looking down, he saw a disgusting lump of spit.
Seeing the spit on his hand, he nearly vomited up his lunch, his face turning the color of eggplant in his rage.
He stood up cursing, “Who the hell spits so carelessly?
If this young master catches you, you’re going to pay.
What are you two staring at?
Hurry up and get some paper and water to clean my hand.”
“Pfft—”
“Hahaha!”
Lin Feifei and Xia Xiaoyu couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Wang Ba’s sorry state, feeling a wave of satisfaction.
After saying goodbye to the two, Tangyu went straight to the school infirmary and the first thing he did was clean the chair that Doctor Yang had urinated on in the morning.
After sorting everything out, it was almost time for class.
Just after sitting down, someone walked into the infirmary.
Seeing the visitor, Tangyu stood up and greeted warmly, “Good day, Director Chu.” The incoming person was none other than the director of academic affairs, the third in command at Linshan Middle School.
Linshan Middle School was a semi-private, semi-public institution, so its organizational structure might be different from other schools, resembling more of a corporate management style.
The school had only one principal and one vice principal, followed by the academic director.
These three people formed the leadership and decision-making team of Linshan Middle School.
Although there was also a board of directors above them, they didn’t interfere with the school’s affairs.
“Hmm,” Director Chu nodded amiably at Tangyu and said, “Sit down, Tangyu, I have something to discuss with you.”
“Okay,” Tangyu nodded, brought a chair over for Director Chu and sat opposite him, and said, “You can tell me anything, Director Chu.”
“Hehe, I told you this morning that your efforts would definitely be rewarded by the school.
I discussed it with the principal and vice principal at lunch, and we unanimously decided to commend you in a school-wide announcement and credit you with a first and second-class merit.
Your reward will also be increased by three hundred yuan every month.
Tangyu, this is a significant award.
Keep up the good work and don’t let the principal’s kindness go to waste,” Director Chu said.
Linshan Middle School had a comprehensive system for rewarding and disciplining teachers, with merits divided into three classes.
Accumulated merits could add to monthly bonuses and also lead to promotions within the school.
Of course, positions might not have much official function, but the clearly defined bonus system based on merits enticed teachers to focus wholeheartedly on educating their students.
The school’s teacher salaries were based on a basic guaranteed wage plus monthly incentives.
If you had enough merits, you could even earn more than the principal.
This humanized management approach was why Linshan Middle School performed increasingly well, producing many outstanding students and earning high praise from the people of Donglin City.
Being directly credited with a second-class merit was indeed a substantial reward.
“Hehe, thank you, Director Chu, thanks for the principal’s favor.
I will surely continue to work hard to ensure the safety of the students,” Tangyu declared.
“Hmm, it’s great that a young man like you has such enthusiasm.
Tangyu, I’m very optimistic about you.
At such a young age, you possess such impressive medical skills—your future is immeasurable,” Director Chu said, full of praise.