Chapter 24: Are We Really in Trouble?

  Chen Chufan was chatting with two school beauties in a coffee shop, but he didn't know that trouble had really found him.

  Zhang Peng was slapped three times by Chen Chufan outside the school cafeteria, then shook off two followers and ran back home with a sob.

  Zhang Peng's father was a leader in the school, so his home was naturally near the school. Therefore, Zhang Peng didn't live on campus like ordinary students every day. However, he did have a place in the dormitory, and every day he would decide where to stay based on his mood. Today, having suffered such humiliation, he couldn't bear to go back to the dormitory, so Zhang Peng immediately thought of going home.

  It was Saturday and Zhang Peng's parents were at home having dinner.

  "Didn't you say you were going to have lunch with your classmates in the cafeteria today? How come you're back now? Have you eaten?" Zhang Peng's mother asked as soon as she heard her son enter the door.

  Zhang Peng's mother is surnamed Liu, named Liu Aiyun, and is also a lecturer at Zhongbei University of Nationalities.

  "Mom, I was hit by someone at school today!" The tears that had just stopped flowing started again as Zhang Peng said with a choked voice.

  "What?!" Zhang Peng's mother hastily put down her chopsticks and rushed to the living room. She saw that her son's left cheek had indeed swollen a lot. His anxious mother carefully picked up his face and examined it closely. The entire left side of his face was completely swollen, with a purplish color, and there were even palm prints on the spot where he had been hit. As his mother stroked his injured face with her hand, Zhang Peng winced in pain and sucked in a mouthful of air.

  "Who did this?! How could you be so cruel?! Old Zhang, Old Zhang! Come quick, your son has been beaten like this, can you still eat your rice?!" Seeing her son injured like this, Liu Ai Yun was unhappy and hastily called out loudly for the child's father.

  "What's wrong? This is! Such a big person, what are you crying about! Speak properly!" Zhang Peng's father, Zhang Dingguo, put down the chopsticks in his hand and also walked out of the dining room. He looked at Zhang Peng, who was still sniffling in his mother's arms, and asked in a deep voice.

  Zhang Dingguo was a man as his name suggested, with a square and upright face like a knife cut. At first glance, he looked like a serious and conservative man. Zhang Peng had a slightly feminine appearance, which took after his mother's.

  "I was beaten up at school!" Zhang Peng said with grievance, facing his strict father, he didn't dare to rush forward and act cute like he did with his mom.

  "Who hit you?" Zhang Dingguo asked in a low voice.

  "It's a classmate in the same grade as me, that Chen Chufan who was criticized by the whole school for jumping into the lake!" Zhang Peng said fiercely.

  "What?" Zhang Peng's mother was unhappy after hearing this. "Old Zhang, you say that nowadays students are all hooligans! They can be so cruel to their classmates? Is this reasonable? He was just criticized in the school announcement and still dared to fight, his moral character is too poor! How does the school consider problems, why did they only give this student a criticism?"

  "Don't be in a hurry! I don't believe someone would hit your son for no reason. Your son doesn't provoke others, why would they hit him? Zhang Peng, tell me the truth about what happened at that time." Zhang Dingguo ignored Liu Aiyun's complaints and instead looked sternly at his own son.

  "Hey, I'm telling you, Old Zhang, what do you mean?! This is my son, not your son! You're taking the side of outsiders when someone hits your own son!" Zhang Aiyun scolded.

  Zhang Peng hid in his mother's arms, humming and thinking rapidly about various ideas in his mind. He knew that directly telling the story was absolutely not going to work. His father was a stubborn man who would only listen to reason, and if the reason wasn't on his side, not only would his father not help him, but he might even get into trouble, scolded severely, or even grounded. So he started thinking about how to come up with an excuse that would put the reason on his side.

  "A mother's indulgence can spoil the child! You only know how to protect your son, and you have to reason everything out, right or wrong! If your son didn't provoke others and they hit him, I would definitely go talk to the other party. But if your son provoked others first and they hit him, then he deserved it." Zhang Dingguo said with a low voice, somewhat displeased by Liu Aiyun's partiality towards her son.

  "Old Zhang, what's this 'a doting mother spoils her son' nonsense? How has my son been spoiled? You'd better give me a clear explanation!" Liu Aiyun felt even more displeased when she heard her husband not only refused to speak up for their son but instead criticized her.

  "Alright, stop arguing, Dad and Mom! I've got it figured out!" In just a few minutes, Zhang Peng had already come up with an excuse and made up his mind.

  "Today, it wasn't at the entrance of the cafeteria that a notice was posted on the bulletin board, announcing Chen Chufan's criticism. I happened to see it when I went to eat at the cafeteria, and after reading it, I was about to go in to eat when I ran into him coming out of the cafeteria. As the student union president, I couldn't help but say a couple of things to him. Mainly, his behavior of jumping into the lake this time was too impulsive, completely tarnishing our history department's reputation. I also advised him kindly that in the future, he should think things through carefully and not be so impulsive, taking his own life lightly." Zhang Peng paused here, sneaking a glance at his father's expression.

  "That's right! And then?" Zhang Dingguo's face remained serious as he continued to ask.

  "Who knew that I was trying to advise him in good faith, but he didn't appreciate it at all. Not only did he not appreciate it, but he also spoke back to me, saying what business of mine is his business? He said I'm like a dog catching a mouse, meddling in other people's affairs. At the time, I felt a bit uncomfortable, so I told him that as the president of the student union, I have the right to intervene! But who knew he would become even more aggressive, saying what if I were just a broken student union president, wouldn't I think I'm the President of the country? He's really getting out of hand!" Zhang Peng said, pausing again, still thinking about how to continue his fabrication.

  "What's next? Tell him why he hit you!" Zhang Dingguo didn't give his son much time, seeing that Zhang Peng had stopped talking, he immediately asked.

  "Then I also said something wrong, because at that time I was also very angry in my heart, so I said, 'Fine, I won't care about you anymore! With this attitude and behavior of yours, even if you jump into a lake, no one will want to save you!' But who knew he heard me say that. Without saying another word, he slapped me in the face. At that time, I was stunned, and I asked him why he hit me! He said I had a foul mouth, and then he slapped me two more times.

  I'm a student council member, and I didn't want to fight with him there either, afraid of having a bad influence, so I quickly ran back!" Zhang Peng said in one breath.

  "Old Zhang, you've heard now, haven't you? You know what's going on! Our family's Penger was kind and well-intentioned in advising others, but that Chen Chufan not only didn't appreciate it, he even slapped your son in public. This isn't just slapping your son, it's also slapping your face!" Zhang Aiyun became even more furious after hearing her son's explanation, and immediately lost her temper with her husband.

  "Everything you said is true!" Zhang Dingguo asked with a stern face.

  Zhang Peng buried his head in his mother's bosom, not answering. He didn't dare to look at his father's serious expression, afraid that he couldn't withstand the pressure and reveal his secret. Fortunately, his mother did not disappoint him.

  "You don't even believe your own son, who else would you trust? Our Pong Pong has grown up like this, when did he ever cause trouble or fight with others? How can you be such a person, Old Zhang!" Zhang Aiyun complained.

  "Let's eat first," Zhang Dingguo said after a moment of thought. "After dinner, you come with me to Uncle Wang's house."

  Zhang Peng heard his father's words, and the sorrowful face that was still crying suddenly revealed a hint of a sinister smile. It turned out that the Wang uncle mentioned by Zhang Dingguo was actually the head of the Student Management Department of the College of Literature, and all the students' disciplinary actions were handled by this department. Since his father was willing to take him to see him, Chen Chufan's punishment would be unavoidable, and Zhang Peng secretly vowed in his heart: "You dare to hit me? I'll make you pay for it, you won't get away with it!"

  Director Wang's home was just downstairs from Zhang Peng's building. After finishing dinner, Zhang Dingguo directly brought Zhang Peng to Director Wang's home.

  "This Chen Chufan is too much! Originally, he was already in a romantic relationship at a young age and jumped into the lake, but only received a public criticism as punishment. I think that's too light, if Xiao didn't plead for him, according to my opinion, he should have been given a demerit at least! Now, it's even worse, the school is handling it lightly, and he still doesn't know what's good for him, actually daring to beat up his classmate in public because of a small argument. Secretary Zhang, I think we should directly give him an expulsion as punishment, our school shouldn't keep such a troublemaker." After listening to Zhang Peng's complaint, Director Wang said with great indignation.

  "Isn't it too serious?" Zhang Dingguo hesitated a little.

  "Secretary Zhang, you're wrong to say that. Fortunately, it was just Zhang Peng today, and he's still rational and didn't fight back. If it were someone else, they wouldn't have been able to hold back their temper and would have started a fight. And if something like the 'three longs and two shorts' incident happened again, it would be terrible for our college. So I think we can't be lenient with this kind of student! We need to severely punish one as a warning to others!" Director Wang continued.

  "Dad, I think Uncle Wang is right. For this kind of person, we should be tougher on him. If he continues to stay in school, who knows what other trouble he'll cause!" Zhang Peng chimed in from the side. When he heard Uncle Wang's words, Zhang Peng felt like singing a happy tune in his heart. Being able to get rid of this annoying guy from school would make it all worth it, even if he had to take three slaps on the face! But on his face, Zhang Peng didn't show any sign of joy, still looking pitiful and wronged.

  "Mind your own business when grown-ups are talking!" Zhang Dingguo glared at Zhang Peng, then turned to Director Wang and said, "Alright, let's do it as you said. After the disciplinary action is done on Monday, notify Xiao Xiao."

  Although Zhang Dingguo always had a bad face for his son, it was just a habit. Which father really doesn't care about his own son? Moreover, his own son kindly advised others and was beaten instead, making Zhang Dingguo even more uncomfortable. He also had opinions about Chen Chufan, so he accepted Director Wang's suggestion.

  "Alright, Secretary Zhang!" Minister Wang nodded in agreement.

  "Well, I won't disturb you anymore, haha, I'll take my leave first!" After finishing his business, Zhang Dingguo stood up and bid farewell.

  "Thank you, Uncle Wang." Zhang Peng stood up with Zhang Dingguo and slightly bowed to Director Wang. Neither of the two adults saw the faint sly smile that flashed across Zhang Peng's face after he lowered his head.