The Class Teacher innocently spoke up, "Director, the school hasn't said we can't have hotpot in the classroom, right?"
The Director thought to herself, "Hotpot? I want to pot you right now!"
The Director took a deep breath. She tried to recall the school rules and regulations, and indeed, there was nothing specifically prohibiting having hotpot in the classroom. Consequently, there were no rules against cooking in the classroom, or even using high-power electrical appliances in the classroom.
Letting the Class Teacher off the hook like this didn't sit well with her.
At this moment, Shi Li spoke up, "Director, it's true that there's no such rule in the school regulations. Our Class Teacher only brought us together for a meal to celebrate our class's final exam results. Now that he knows hotpot isn't allowed in the classroom, he's realized his mistake and will definitely change. Could you give him a chance to make amends?"
The Class Teacher, who had supposedly wanted to celebrate with the students, maintained a blank expression. Yes, it was all his idea, he wanted to celebrate with the kids, everything was his fault. He barely got to eat any meat, but he was taking all the blame.
If it had been anyone else speaking, the Director might not have cared, but the person speaking was Shi Li, everyone's precious top student.
Her words deserved some consideration.
The Director looked at the Class Teacher with disappointment, "Even a child is more sensible than you!"
Class Teacher: If it wasn't for her suggesting hotpot, I'd drink the spicy soup like it was broth.
"Since Shi Li has pleaded on your behalf, I won't reprimand you further. But don't let it happen again."
"You can all go back now. Remember, don't be arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat. Keep up the good grades, don't let them be a flash in the pan!"
The Class Teacher nodded along with his thirty-odd little students. Just as he thought he had escaped punishment, the Director added, "However, mistakes must be punished. Write a 4000-word self-criticism report and submit it to me next Monday."
Class Teacher: Wasn't Shi Li's plea supposed to get me off scot-free? Is her influence worth so little?
Folks, who can understand? After being a teacher for several years and making students write self-criticism reports, now it was his turn to write one. Where's the justice in this world?
He only had two bites of meat, what did he do wrong?
[This is what happens when you reach out - reach out and you'll get caught]
Everyone: What a cold joke
From that day on, a bizarre new rule appeared in Qianpu Middle School's regulations: Cooking in classrooms is strictly prohibited!!!
The three exclamation points after the rule clearly conveyed the school leadership's anger at the time.
The dejected Class Teacher was followed by a group of spirited students.
Shi Li walked behind the Class Teacher, feeling a bit sorry for him in this state. After all, he had been her class teacher for two lifetimes and had taken the fall for her this time.
So Shi Li quickened her pace to catch up with the Class Teacher and console him, "Teacher, don't be too upset. The Director is strict with you because she values you. You only have to write a self-criticism report, but you've learned how important you are to the Director. Isn't that worth it?"
The Class Teacher turned to look at her, "Then will you help me write the report?"
She gave a dry laugh, "Haha, you're the teacher, you should set an example. Since it's the Director's punishment for you, how can you let a student ghost-write it? Don't you remember teaching us that we shouldn't be deceptive and should always be honest..."
What an annoying child, the Class Teacher thought. He asked her, "Wasn't it you all who first suggested having hotpot?"
Shi Li didn't like hearing this.
As if he hadn't eaten any of the hotpot himself. The Class Teacher had been eating quite happily at the pot's edge.
"Come on, we're teacher and students, why distinguish between us? Our class is one unit. When the Director punishes you, it hurts our hearts. Our hearts are already in pain, surely you wouldn't want us to write the self-criticism report, would you?"
The Class Teacher said irritably, "Get lost, you bunch of disloyal brats."
The students felt wronged, "Teacher, we didn't forget to call you when we were enjoying the good food. How can you say we're disloyal!"
Reminded of this, the Class Teacher felt quite pleased. These little rascals hadn't forgotten him when they had good food. At least they had a conscience and didn't eat without him.
Even though he was taking the blame for them, he felt quite warm inside, like he wasn't an outsider to his own class's children.
Although he had been complaining about the students' disloyalty, it was just talk. After all, he was their teacher, and taking the fall for his own students wasn't the same as doing it for outsiders.
"I never wrote a self-criticism report when I was a student, but now I have to write one as a teacher!"
Some of the more conscientious students felt a bit guilty, but others like Shi Li didn't feel guilty at all. "Teacher, this is enriching your life experience. A life without writing a self-criticism report is incomplete."
"Then I'll give you a chance to complete your life."
"No need! We can be students for many more years, who knows when we might get the chance to write a self-criticism report. We're still young, with bright futures and many opportunities ahead. No need for you to give up your chance for us."
Class Teacher: I'm your teacher, is it really okay for you to say you might make mistakes in the future right in front of me?
They returned to the classroom, still bickering, and were met with Song Ying's confused face.
"Where did you all go?" She thought something had happened!
It was a long story, but Shi Li chose to summarize, "Nothing much, the Director caught us having hotpot in the classroom and called us to the office to scold us."
"Oh no! Is everything alright?"
Knowing she was timid, Shi Li reassured her, "It's fine, do we look like there's anything wrong?"
Class Teacher: ...So you're not going to mention my 4000-word self-criticism report at all, huh.
