Chapter 262: Passing the Torch

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Passing the Torch

As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face, especially when it belongs to a God of Wealth here to give you money.

Although they’d had their differences in the past and the Hua Family was large and influential, Jiang Fan now had Li Jiaxiang backing him.

So he wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

"Mr. Jiang, this is a small token of the Hua Family’s sincerity."

"We’re here to apologize for what happened before."

"I’m sorry. We were arrogant, and we know we were wrong."

Right there on the livestream, in full view of everyone, Hua Qinyun actually gave Jiang Fan a deep bow, adopting an incredibly humble posture.

Jiang Fan shifted slightly to the side.

"All who come today are guests. Let’s not speak of past matters."

He hadn’t accepted Hua Qinyun’s apology.

As he’d said before, repaying malice with kindness was not in his nature.

"It’s not that you know you were wrong. It’s that you know you’re about to pay a heavy price."

Jiang Fan said this in a flat tone.

"Go on in and have a seat."

"I have important business to attend to, so forgive me for not being able to entertain you just yet."

Originally, this was where his plan was supposed to end.

But just now, Li Jiaxiang had sent him a text telling him to wait.

It didn’t say anything else.

"Jiang, shouldn’t we be going?"

"The children have all arrived, and the ceremony is over."

"Also, we really need to make teacher recruitment a priority. Can we raise the benefits a little? After all, it’s not like we’re short on cash."

Li Qian’Er said, counting on her fingers.

"We can increase the benefits for teachers, but their professional expertise must be solid. If a teacher without professional ethics gets in, it will only harm the children."

Jun Yue chimed in from the side.

"Mr. Li told me to wait a little longer. It seems someone else is coming."

"I wonder if it’s the Yang City officials."

He already had a rough guess. ’To be honest, I don’t really like this.’

’I just want to quietly do what I’m supposed to do, not throw this sort of thing into the public eye.’

’Then again, he could understand the logic. When you’re making enemies, a move like this is for the best. Li Jiaxiang was already doing his utmost to help him.’

Just then, a small red tricycle approached from a distance.

The driver was a scholarly-looking old man with glasses, though he was dressed very casually.

His hair and beard were completely white, and one look was enough to know he was quite old.

The sight of this old man suddenly appearing in the livestream frame made some people’s eyes go wide.

"Young man, is your Hidden Dragon Academy hiring teachers?"

The old man fishtailed the electric tricycle to a stop right in front of Jiang Fan.

The sight nearly made Jiang Fan’s heart leap out of his throat.

’He was genuinely afraid that if the old man’s drift hadn’t been stable, he would’ve died right at the school’s entrance.’

"Sir, could you please ride a little more steadily? That’s so scary! At your age... what if you got hurt? This is supposed to be a celebration, do you think that would be appropriate?"

The first words out of his mouth were a scolding.

The old man was stunned by the lecture.

"Th-That’s... that is my fault. I’ll be more careful in the future."

"But are you hiring teachers?"

The old man’s quick concession was even more unbelievable to some of the onlookers.

This was especially true for Hua Qinyun, who stood at the back.

Others might not recognize the old man, but he did. This was the man who had retired as the head of the Yang City Education Department...

He was notoriously stubborn and foul-tempered, a stickler who couldn’t tolerate the slightest imperfection.

"We are indeed hiring, it’s just... Sir, your age..."

Jiang Fan was in an awkward position.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Who are you looking down on?"

"I’m not asking for a salary. Just cover my room and board."

"Don’t you worry. When it comes to teaching, you could say I have a bit of experience."

"Just say the word, and I’ll call over a few of my old colleagues. They can bring some of their students with them, too."

Jiang Fan’s lips twisted into a smile.

"Sir, I’m busy right now. Can we talk about this over on the side? Even if you’re going to brag, you should pick a better time. We’re on a livestream. People are watching. Don’t you think they’ll laugh?"

Jiang Fan was genuinely trying to be kind and pull the old man aside. ’He’s so old, it would be awful if he were to be embarrassed...’

"I know it’s a livestream. Just say yes or no. Why are you being so indecisive, young man?"

"Look, I’m retired. I wouldn’t have even come if it wasn’t clear you’re doing a good thing here."

"There aren’t many people in this whole country with your kind of courage, willing to spend so much money on children like these."

"Otherwise, what? You think you’re some kind of prize? That I’m just dying to be here?"

The old man rolled his eyes.

"If you were my student, I’d rap your knuckles eight times a day."

"Fine, fine, fine. Call over your old colleagues and their students. I’ll see what you’ve got."

After saying this, Jiang Fan subconsciously shielded the old man with his body.

He was just a softie. ’I can’t just stand by and watch this old man be humiliated on a live broadcast, can I?’

But in the next second, he saw Hua Qinyun’s expression.

His heart lurched. Now he wanted to slap himself across the face.

’This couldn’t be Li Jiaxiang’s second gift, could it??’

Jiang Fan turned around stiffly and stammered, "Uh... Sir, where did you use to teach?"

"Before I went to the Bureau of Education, I was at No. 2 Middle School. After I became Director, I stopped teaching. I specialized in teaching *them* how to teach."

The words made Jiang Fan’s legs go so weak he almost dropped to his knees in reverence.

"Sir, why didn’t you say so earlier!"

Jiang Fan’s face fell. He’d been worried about the old man being embarrassed, but now it looked like he was the one who’d made a fool of himself...

"What’s the matter with you, kid? You judge people with a biased eye, don’t you?"

"I’ve already called my old colleagues. They’ll be here in a little while."

"Some of their students will be coming over, too. As for you kids," he said, "you can go now."

He pointed a finger at the reporters.

To Jiang Fan’s surprise, all the reporters seemed to recognize him, and they scattered faster than rabbits.

"Holy hell? What’s going on??"

’So, everyone else here recognizes him, and I’m the only one who doesn’t, is that it?’

At that moment, Jiang Fan was completely dumbstruck.