Chapter 159: Give the Teacher a Calming Pill

"Dongfan, it's good that you came, why bring so much stuff, wasting money."

"Madam Xiao Fengyi, still as enthusiastic as before."

"The only noticeable change is that she's gone from education circles to dark circles under her eyes. Probably because she's been constantly caring for Professor Luo at the hospital without proper rest."

"At over forty years old, she should be phoenix-singing on Mount Qi and her rosy light should shine a thousand miles."

"She has somehow developed the weathered look of someone in their fifties or sixties; she looks much thinner than before, and the ice-type jade bracelet on her wrist looks a size larger."

""Madam, I'm not short on money now, don't worry about money.""

"Lin Dongfan tossed the big and small packages of high-end gifts onto the empty bed nearby, dragged a chair over, and sat down beside the hospital bed, not treating himself as an outsider at all."

"Xiao Fengyi smiled and criticized: ""You little brat, you speak with such a big tone—be careful Professor Luo will whip you.""

""Then I'll sit farther away.""

"In the midst of their laughter, Lin Dongfan moved the chair back half a foot."

"Luo Xiang, leaning against the hospital bed, looked speechless: ""Do you believe I could get up and whip you? You're almost thirty, yet you still have no proper shape.""

""Alright then, let's discuss the square problem, master and disciple.""

"Based on past experience, sitting in this kind of chair with a backrest, crossing one's legs is the most comfortable posture, but Lin Dongfan today truly feels a bit unable to relax."

"He dare not cross his legs."

"Because Professor Luo really will whip him."

"Lin Dongfan sat up straight, maintaining the humility a junior should have: ""Professor Luo, I haven't come to visit you these past few years; I hope you won't be angry. It's not that I didn't want to come, but because I had no face to come.""

""You didn't get into Nanzhou's Political and Legal Affairs Commission?""

"Luo Xiang still quite approves of Lin Dongfan's ambition and has always held high expectations for him."

"Lin Dongfan himself knows this as well."

"Lin Dongfan frankly said: ""I did get into the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, but before I was just a menial worker, with no sense of achievement. Now I've been transferred to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau, just handled a major case, which I suppose counts as not disgracing you.""

""Then that's good.""

"Luo Xiang smiled with relief."

"Over these years, his students have come out in batches one after another; most of them go into the public security, procuratorate, and judiciary after graduation, and there are no shortage of those holding key positions as leading cadres."

"But people like Lin Dongfan who don't forget their original aspiration are not many."

"Luo Xiang sighed repeatedly: ""Even after you rise smoothly to high office and still come to see me, I would die without regret……"""

""Don't say such depressing nonsense.""

"Seeing Professor Luo's despairing demeanor, he apparently already had the tendency to jump off a building to commit suicide, to die making a statement; fortunately I arrived in time and seized the lifeline."

"Rise up, Old Luo!"

"A straightforward old man like you shouldn't be destroyed by rumors!"

"You should wield a forty-meter broadsword and carve a bloody path!"

"Lin Dongfan decisively threw out that olive branch that could defy heaven and change fate: ""Teacher, I came to see you today because I want to ask you to come out of retirement.""

""Come out of retirement? Come out of what mountain?""

"Luo Xiang looked utterly bewildered, with no hint of excitement."

"Without a doubt:"

"Now he has no concept of 'coming out of retirement' in his mind, only the concept of 'going up the mountain'—that is, lying in a coffin and then being carried up the mountain to the sound of suona horns, drawing a tragic end to his life."

"Lin Dongfan laughed and said: ""Leave teaching for politics, give up your senior professor status, and enter the political arena. The road, I've already paved it for you; all that's left is for you to nod.""

"As soon as those words were spoken, it could be said to have shocked everyone."

"Luo Xiang and Xiao Fengyi stared at each other, speechless, seemingly thinking, 'This foolish child must have forgotten to take his medicine, right?'"

"In their view as a married couple:"

"Leaving teaching for politics—that's nothing but Arabian Nights!"

"Old Luo, he's already a senior professor; if he were to switch to an administrative post, he'd have to be matched with a ministerial-level position anyway—where could one find such a vacancy?"

"Even if such a vacancy existed within the system, it wouldn't be his turn to fill it."

"First, he can't handle those worldly social graces."

"Second, he has just been removed from his post as dean of the Law Research Institute, and meanwhile people in the circle are splashing the dirty water of academic fraud onto him, which cannot be washed off."

"In such a situation of ruined reputation and disgrace, how could he enter the political arena?"

"Xiao Fengyi shook her head with a wry smile: ""Dongfan, we all understand your good intentions—you can't bear to see Professor Luo wronged and humiliated. But the thing you're talking about has no room for maneuver. Your habit of loving to brag, this stinking flaw, really needs to change. Working within the system, you need to give people a down-to-earth image.""

""What I wanted to say, your madam has already said."" Luo Xiang also wore a wry smile."

"Lin Dongfan replied calmly: ""I just knew that bringing up leaving teaching for politics at this critical juncture, you'd definitely lack confidence. Believe me, bragging is also a skill—not everyone can blow the cowhide to the sky.""

"Luo Xiang still wore a gloomy expression: ""Now I'm entangled in negativity, covered in dirt, I can't even stand firm at the school—how could I establish myself in the political arena?""

""Don't worry about this, trust me—right now you just need to nod and that's enough.""

"Lin Dongfan also couldn't directly claim he had a heavenly path, after all this is a hospital, with people coming and going at the ward door; some things, if spread, would sound unpleasant, and might even backfire."

"This also led Luo Xiang to be unable to understand where Lin Dongfan's confidence comes from."

"Luo Xiang gazed at Lin Dongfan with a smile."

"Like indulging one's own child, he patiently advised: ""You little fool, leaving teaching for politics isn't nearly as simple as you imagine. Don't drag yourself down for my sake.""

""Still don't believe me? Let me show you something.""

"Lin Dongfan pulled up the name of Liang Jingzhong from the Provincial Party Committee in his phone contacts, then displayed the phone screen in front of Luo Xiang."

"Luo Xiang stared intently, his brows furrowing in surprise."

"He incredulously asked Lin Dongfan: ""Is this that Liang from the province?""

""Shh!""

"Lin Dongfan made a hushing gesture."

He smiled noncommittally: "If I weren't absolutely sure, I wouldn't come ask you to leave retirement. Back then you helped me finish four years of college; now please let me help you out of life's low point."

I really can't see through you more and more, kid.

I don't want to say more about this touching matter.

This is undoubtedly Luo Xiang's most gratifying and shocking moment in his life; he stared at Lin Dongfan without blinking, truly unable to fathom where this guy's connections came from, actually being able to talk to a high-ranking provincial official.

After thinking it over, Luo Xiang still had some worries.

He worriedly asked: "Now I've been splashed with dirty water all over, negative clinging. Even if you can speak in the province, this probably can't be easily settled? You mustn't ruin your own future for my sake."

It won't be ruined; whoever splashed you with dirty water, we'll make them come out and apologize. Lin Dongfan was full of confidence.

Luo Xiang couldn't help but laugh and comment: "Your tone, kid, is really over the top."

When you publicly reported the old principal, weren't you being reckless? This is what they call 'a great teacher produces outstanding students'; my recklessness is all taught by you.

Lin Dongfan saw Luo Xiang speechless.

And he asked with a smile: "I think the main ailment of your hospitalization is depression attacking the heart; now you just need to tell me, after the other party apologizes, can your mood improve greatly? Pull out the oxygen tube and make a full recovery."

If I can wash off this dirty water, then when the time comes I won't need you to pull the oxygen tube; I'll pull it myself.

Luo Xiang felt he could now pull the tube, his mood having been cheered by Lin Dongfan this kid to boundless joy.

But he temporarily didn't want to pull it, the money already paid—why not use the oxygen since it's already paid for?

Luo Xiang turned his head and instructed Xiao Fengyi: "Teacher Xiao, don't just stand there, go close the door; I want to discuss with Dongfan the matter of the dirty water being splashed."

Right, let's discuss it thoroughly.

Lin Dongfan also couldn't wait to find out exactly which clueless thing was pulling tricks behind the scenes.

He silently cursed:

Damn it, how dare they move my benefactor teacher!

This time if I don't beat you black and blue, you won't know what "repaying a kindness with a spring" means!