A Promising Youth

Chapter 36 Liars in Charge

This elementary school was built in the suburbs not far from the factory. The students were basically

children of workers, which was a poor elementary school.

It was not normal for a poor elementary school to ask a child to get 800 to hire a music teacher. Was it

that important to participate in the city's singing competition?

Or was it the school trying to take advantage of this opportunity and make a buck?

I was angry. Master had taught me that when I learned a skill, I had to help more people, so I had to do

something about it!

We were walking in front. Clara caught up with us and showed me a cold face.

“It's my factory, and I'll pay for it!

I really didn't want to talk to her. I did not know what I did wrong so that she was unkind to me since this

morning.

Maybe I might have gotten in the way of her and Marcel, after all, yesterday I had confessed to her by

my actions, but she didn't like me, so she was annoyed by me.

As I walked, I said.

“You don't talk when you get to school, and you do everything I say, understand?”

She looked at me coldly. She was defiant, but she did not retort.

When we got into the school, I went straight to their principal's office.

Honestly, this school was in poor condition. Even the seats in the principal's office to receive guest

were wooden benches.

“You are ......”

The principal had grey hair and a ragged felt hat and a pair of old-fashioned glasses held together with

duct tape.

“Parents of child!”

I suppressed the anger in my heart and asked as calmly as I could.

“How many kids are in the choir?”

The principal asked us to down, took some more water from a porcelain jar, handed it to me and said.

“There were 20 kids in all and they were all very good and had a talent for singing.”

I nodded, holding my anger, and said.

“20 kids, 800 each, that's 16,000. I just want to ask you which teacher can be worth that?!!! It's just

coaching. When the competition is over, he'll get paid and leave, right?!!!”

“Yes, sir!”

The coaching fee for each child in fact is 500, and the remaining 300 was for costumes; after all, we

can't go to the city and compete in rags.”

The principal bowed his head in shame and said.

“Five hundred each, that's ten thousand! I just want to ask, is participating in a singing competition an

honor for the school or for the children? Why is it that kids can't get money having to be moved to

inferior classes? What do you exactly mean?!”

The old principal took off his ragged felt hat, scratched his scalp hard and said with unmistakable

resignation.

“If the school has money, who wants to make things difficult for the students? The leader in charge of

education advocates revitalizing rural education! It is a great opportunity. Many rural elementary

schools tried hard to perform in front of their leaders and get the city's attention! Only in this way can

we get money to change the schools, and we do this for the kids!”

He squeezed his wrinkled face and said with another long sigh.

“The Education Department says it treats all schools equally, but people with money and connections

have long gotten grants, while poor schools like ours, who will pay attention if we don't try?!”

“So will you be taken seriously if you enter the competition?”

I asked suspiciously.

“As long as we can get a ranking, we will have a chance to speak to Deputy Mayor Mr. Armstrong, and

this time he will attend and personally give the kids an award.”

The old principal said excitedly.

My eyebrows twitched.

“Mr. Armstrong?”

The old principal hurriedly said.

“Yes. Mr. Armstrong is a great guy. He especially values education. If I respond to him, he will definitely

help!”

A nice guy?

I smiled coldly, maybe he was just putting on a false face to erase himself all that unsavory past!!! But

this was definitely a good opportunity for me to get close to him.

Pulling out a cigarette, I lit it and said.

“Principal, we understand the matter. We will make clothes for the children, which absolutely is not

worse than what is sold in the market. Besides I have studied music. Show me the teacher who

charges 10,000, I want to know his level. I can't let the children spend money in vain.”

The old principal smile and said.

“Of course, you as parents have the right to monitor. This teacher we hired was graduated from the

Central Conservatory of Music. He opened a music school in the city. The average family can not afford

it. We are poor, so he comes to help, otherwise, 10,000 simply can not hire him.

As I walked out, I nodded my head, it would have been understandable if it was really one of those

college graduates, but when I got into the rehearsal room, when I met him, I realized it wasn't the truth.”

He was in his early 30s with an artist's beard and dreadlocks. He was there collecting money, 500 per

student.

I didn't have to ask, but I could see by his thieving eyes and quick grasping of money that he looked

just like a crook!

A highly educated person would not have such a classless gesture.

“Matteo, with this image and temperament, he is indeed an artist. He is worth 500 yuan.”

As soon as she said that, Clara pulled out her wallet and was about to pay for a few kids.

I yanked her down and said.

“A dreadlock and a beard make him an artist?

I'd like to see what real talent he has!”

However, Clara shook off my hand violently and stared at me indignantly,

“Will you stop it? The principal said that he comes here to tutor out of sympathy. If you make him upset,

will you teach them? This is a matter of the school's fate. When will you be as mature as Marcel?!”

“I was going to teach! Also, don't compare me to Marcel, he's a scum!”

After that, I headed straight for the “artist”.

“Parents of children, right?

Have you brought the money?”

He asked without looking up, just glancing at me.

“Yes, every bit of it.”

I said!

“Then hurry up and pay up.

The kids are waiting to rehearse!”

He said with mock condescension.

I shook my head and smiled.

“It's okay to pay, but I have to see what you can do before I give you the money! 500 is not a small

amount for a family like ours.”

At my words, he jerked to his feet and tilted his head to glare at me, saying,

“What do you mean? Principal, what does he mean? I came to your school with good intentions to help,

and he doubts me?! I don't welcome this man, and throw out his kids, too!”

The principal was so anxious that his forehead was sweating and the child was crying in fear. Clara

came and pinched me hard, gritting her teeth and saying.

“What are you doing?! Are you the only one who are capable?!” Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I flung my arm around and pressed it against the broken piano next to me and said.

“I won't give you a hard time, just play a Beethoven's Symphony of Fate. Don't tell me a man graduated

from the Central Conservatory of Music can't play that piece!

If you play well, I'll give you a thousand per student, but if you don't, you can roll up and get out fuck off

immediately!”