Chapter Forty-Seven: Who Is This Person?

"Principal! What did you say? I don’t need to participate in the Knowledge Competition? Then who will?" Guo Qingyuan instinctively blurted out, then immediately glanced at the three sitting calmly to the side. His face twisted in anger as he shouted, "You’re not letting me compete—are you planning to let those three go instead?!"

"Qingyuan, don’t be impulsive. It’s not a bad thing," the vice principal tried to console him, though he was actually quite dissatisfied with Guo Qingyuan’s outburst. "The Knowledge Competition is just an empty honor, nothing that really matters. Only your final scores in the college entrance examination are truly important. The school is doing this for your own good."

The vice principal’s kindness toward Guo Qingyuan had little to do with his background; it was mainly because of his stellar academic performance. Guo Qingyuan was one of the school’s strongest candidates for the provincial top score in the college entrance exam. As for Guo Qingyuan’s father, the city’s secretary-general, he might intimidate ordinary teachers, but at the level of vice principal at Changqing No. 1 High, that influence was greatly diminished. Of course, the respect and politeness due would still be shown, but nothing like the deference shown by regular teachers.

"Heh, Vice Principal Li, let’s not kid ourselves," Guo Qingyuan sneered. "True, the Knowledge Competition doesn’t have any real substance, but the experience of competing in a national-level event in Ludong Province—what does that mean?"

"Alright now, lunch break is almost over. Head back to class," Vice Principal Li said with a cheerful smile, rising from behind his desk. He walked around and shook hands with the three students one by one. When he shook hands with Qin Anyi, he remarked casually, "Anyi, do your best. Many people have high hopes for you in this competition. And, by the way, remember to send my regards to Secretary Wei."

Qin Anyi understood instantly whom Vice Principal Li meant. What surprised him, however, was that such a trivial matter seemed to have been handled by Wei Dong’s father himself. When Qin Anyi had mentioned it to Wei Dong, he hadn’t expected him to involve his father directly. After all, as the top official in a provincial capital and a deputy to the provincial party committee, Wei Dong’s father wielded real power. On a national scale, he might be considered second-tier, but within the province, he was an absolute heavyweight.

In Qin Anyi’s mind, the normal route would have been for Wei Dong to use his influence as the top young master in Changqing to approach the director of the city’s education bureau, applying some pressure to the school. This pressure wouldn’t even need to be significant—Changqing No. 1 High would feel compelled to reconsider if the choice for the competition boiled down to Guo Qingyuan or Wang Yiran. Given the school’s interests, they would obviously choose Wang Yiran, but with Guo Qingyuan’s background, they needed a legitimate reason. Qin Anyi just needed Wei Dong to give the school that reason.

He hadn’t expected Wei Dong to go all out and directly have his father make the call himself. That was giving him far too much face.

While Qin Anyi was surprised, he didn’t realize Vice Principal Li was even more shaken.

After watching the three students leave the office, Vice Principal Li finally found a moment to light a cigarette and collapse into his large leather chair, lost in thought. He had only received the call from Principal Wang earlier that afternoon and had been so shocked by the content that he’d nearly leapt from his seat. Without time to reflect, he had hurried to make the necessary calls, summoned Guo Qingyuan, and conveyed the principal’s decision.

So when Guo Qingyuan threatened to complain to Principal Wang, Vice Principal Li found it almost amusing. After all, this was Principal Wang’s own decision; he just didn’t want to deliver the message himself, so he left it to his deputy.

Now, having completed his task, Vice Principal Li’s mind began to churn. The situation was strange. While Principal Wang held a special status in the school—equivalent in rank to the director of the city’s education bureau—he was still technically subordinate to the bureau. For a matter as minor as the Knowledge Competition, a word from Secretary Wei to the education bureau director would have sufficed. Principal Wang would never refuse such a request. Yet, for some reason, Secretary Wei had bypassed two layers and contacted Principal Wang directly.

The difference between having someone else handle a matter and taking action personally was immense. Principal Wang was not only surprised but also deeply anxious, and his unease was evident in his voice when he relayed the matter to Vice Principal Li—who, in turn, became anxious himself.

What was the reason behind all this?

With the cigarette burning forgotten between his fingers, Vice Principal Li sat motionless, lost in thought.

Who exactly was this Qin Anyi? What kind of background did he have to warrant a personal intervention from the municipal party secretary?