Chapter 734: Unfair Treatment

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Li spoke, his voice trembling on the verge of tears, but he held them back with a visible effort.

As Yang Zhen watched him, a surge of anger welling up within her. She couldn’t believe how cruel Teacher Zhou was being. Even if she had some issues with Su Li, there was no need to target a child so ruthlessly. It didn’t matter that Gu Zit had asked her to look out for Su Li, even without that request, she couldn’t stand by and watch such injustice.

After Su Li finished speaking, he looked at Yang Zhen and noticed that her expression had grown increasingly stern. He became more timid, and asked in a small voice, “Teacher Yang, did I make things difficult for you by telling you this?”

Yang Zhen shook her head, feeling a sense of frustration. Look at what Teacher Zhou had done to Su Li. The poor boy was clearly the one being wronged, yet he was worried about causing her trouble.

She quickly patted Su Li’s shoulder, reassuring him, “No, you did the right thing. If you’re being treated unfairly, you should speak up.

“Now, it’s class time. Pack up your things and take a seat at the empty desk in the back row. We’ll start the lesson, and after class, we’ll go together to speak with Teacher Zhou.”

Su Li nodded, quickly packing his bag and heading to the empty seat at the back of the room.

Yang Zhen returned to the podium, preparing to start the lesson. But just as Su Li set his bag down at the empty desk, a boy sitting nearby stood up in protest. “Teacher Yang,” he said, “I don’t want to sit with him. Teacher Zhou said he’s from the countryside, I don’t want to be influenced by him.”

Hearing this, Su Li’s heart sank. He picked up his bag again, his face showing his fear and unease. He was about to sit down, but now he didn’t dare to. He could only stand there, frozen in place.

Yang Zhen heard the boy’s words and turned back to Su Li, patting him comfortingly. Then she turned to the protesting boy, “Don’t mind him, sit down. Fan Da, what’s wrong with being from the countryside? I’m from the countryside too. I worked hard and got into university, and now I’m here teaching you. Are you saying that a teacher from the countryside isn’t fit to educate you?”

Fan Da respected his teacher and seeing her genuinely angry made him back down. He could only blame Su Li in his heart, it was because of him that he had offended Teacher Yang. He quickly tried to explain, “Teacher Yang, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just worried that Su Li’s poor grades might affect me…”

Yang Zhen declared, “You shouldn’t be apologizing to me, but to your parents and ancestors. Ask your parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, who among your forebears didn’t come from a farming background? Without farmers tilling the land and growing crops, how would they have fed the countless masses?”

His words left Fan Da deeply ashamed. Even the students who had been whispering amongst themselves fell silent. They understood the implications of Teacher Yang’s words. Some of them also felt a twinge of shame.

Indeed, just because Teacher Zhou said that Su Li was a child raised in the countryside, should Su Li be considered inferior to them? This was not what they were taught when they were being educated about civility.

The children of this school, after all, had grown up in the city. Guangcheng was a highly developed city, and their families were not ordinary. Therefore, they had been exposed to the top-tier education of Guangcheng since childhood. Even though these children were still in the first grade, their comprehension and communication skills were not a cause for concern.

After Yang Zhen finished speaking, Gao Ming stood up. He had already packed his bag and walked up to Yang Zhen, carrying his bag. “Teacher,” he said, “I am willing to sit with Su Li. He is my sworn elder brother. I request to switch seats with Fan Da.”

Seeing Gao Ming take the initiative, Yang Zhen naturally wouldn’t refuse. Su Li was in an awkward situation and needed someone to help him out of it. Gao Ming could be that person.

“Alright,” Yang Zhen agreed. “Fan Da, you go sit in Gao Ming’s place. Reflect on why I had to reprimand you today. Now, students, take out your textbooks and turn to page three. Let’s begin our lesson…”

Yang Zhen walked towards the podium to officially start the class.

Gao Ming took his seat next to Su Li and, with a hint of apology in his voice, whispered comforting words to Su Li. “I’m sorry. I was slow earlier and didn’t speak up for you. But I will tell my grandmother about what happened today. She definitely won’t let Teacher Zhou off the hook.”

At first, Su Li was timid and scared. But after both Teacher Yang and Gao Ming firmly stood up for him, he was no longer as anxious. Given the current situation, he realized that he was not the one at fault. He was merely being targeted.

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