Chapter 20: Did Xiaofan Hide the Book at His Waist?

Wei Xiaoping and Wei Xiaofan arrived at the door of Wu Wenbin’s office.

Wei Xiaofan knocked lightly.

From inside, Wu Wenbin’s voice called out, “Come in!”

Wei Xiaofan pushed open the door and entered.

“Student Wei Xiaofan, are you alone? Where is Li Bufan?” Wu Wenbin asked in some surprise, thinking to himself, Li Bufan really is a troublemaker—he wouldn’t just leave and disregard my authority, would he?

“Wei Xiaoping came with me. He’s waiting outside. Li Bufan and a few classmates are searching my desk drawer.”

“Wei Xiaoping, come in as well. Searching your drawer? Why would he do that? Who gave him that right? Honestly!” Wu Wenbin said angrily.

“Teacher Wu, Li Bufan is searching Wei Xiaofan’s drawer because he suspects Wei Xiaofan was reading inappropriate books in class and wants to find proof,” Wei Xiaoping explained.

“I know about this already. Teacher Li from physics has told me. Li Bufan is simply stirring up trouble out of nothing!” said Wu Wenbin.

“Teacher Wu, I heard that Li Bufan has transferred schools three times. Is that true?” Wei Xiaoping asked.

“Who told you that?—Wei Xiaofan, open the door a bit wider,” Wu Wenbin said to Wei Xiaoping, then asked Wei Xiaofan to open the door further.

“Almost everyone in class knows about it,” Wei Xiaoping replied.

Wei Xiaofan did as Wu Wenbin instructed and opened the door, thinking, Is Teacher Wu worried Li Bufan might come by and eavesdrop on our conversation?

Wu Wenbin walked to the door and looked out. He asked, “Did you ask Li Bufan if he was coming when you came here?”

“Seeing Li Bufan’s bullying face, I can’t stand him, let alone invite him,” Wei Xiaofan said.

“Students shouldn’t hate each other. Li Bufan has his flaws, but who doesn’t? He just has more than most. With time, maybe he’ll change,” Wu Wenbin said. He checked his watch, then glanced outside again.

“Li Bufan is here,” he announced, returning to his desk and sitting down.

Wei Xiaofan looked at Wei Xiaoping, then outside, and sure enough, he saw Li Bufan and several classmates who had searched his desk entering together.

Wei Xiaofan grew anxious: Why is Wei Xiaoping acting so calm? He actually let Li Bufan search my desk, and now that we’re here, he hasn’t spoken up for me. What if Li Bufan really found that risqué book and brings it here? What will I do, especially if those classmates back him up?

At that moment, Li Bufan and his so-called friends reached the door. Li Bufan told the others to wait outside, then entered without knocking.

“Li Bufan, please step outside and knock before entering,” Wu Wenbin said, displeased.

“Oh, sorry, teacher, I forgot.” Li Bufan stepped back out and knocked with his knuckles, but didn’t wait for Wu Wenbin’s permission before coming in again.

“Li Bufan, do you really not understand even this basic courtesy? I haven’t told you to enter, yet you walk right in?”

“Teacher, I’m just naturally careless. Sorry!”

“Do it again!” Wu Wenbin insisted.

Li Bufan knocked loudly, just as before.

“Come in,” Wu Wenbin said, checking the time, sounding impatient.

Li Bufan entered, his shifty eyes scanning the office. Spotting a stool in the corner, he fetched it and sat down.

Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping, since Li Bufan’s arrival, stood quietly by the wall, watching him. Seeing Li Bufan repeatedly ignore the most basic manners, they thought to themselves: Truly ignorant—no wonder he’s changed schools so many times.

Wu Wenbin stepped outside and addressed the students watching from the hallway.

“Huang Yongliang, Huang Yongsheng, classes are over for lunch. Why are you still standing here?”

“We’re here to testify for Bufan, to prove that Wei Xiaofan was reading extracurricular books in class, and even those indecent ones!” Huang Yongliang flicked his hair, evidently proud.

“Yes, we’re here to be witnesses for Bufan!” another chimed in, giggling.

“Witnesses? Over a small dispute between classmates? A little criticism is enough—are we going to court? Are you leaving or not? Or do you want to stand here and guard the door for me until tomorrow?”

“No way! Bufan, I’m off for lunch,” one student said.

“I’m going too, Bufan. Should I grab an extra meal for you? In case you come out late and get hungry?”

“Bufan, I’m off as well. If you’re delayed, will you still get home for lunch? Or should I bring food back for you?”

“It’s fine, you all go ahead. My dad is picking me up for lunch at home,” Li Bufan replied, then looked smugly at Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping, as if to say, See? I have so many friends, do you?

“Li Bufan, you and your friends seem very close—some even call you ‘boss.’ Are you their leader?” Wu Wenbin asked.

“What boss? That sounds awful! We’re just ordinary friends. Some of them come from tougher backgrounds, so I help them out financially sometimes, and they call me that. What can I do?” Li Bufan put on a look of feigned grievance, but his heart swelled with pride.

“So you’re not their leader, yet they want to testify for you? Remember, this is a school, not the outside world. You can’t form cliques here, understand?”

“We’re not a clique. I just help them out, and they call me that. If you think it’s wrong, should I stay away from them?” Li Bufan said.

“It’s good for classmates to help each other, but not to form cliques or bully others—understand?” Wu Wenbin said.

“Who’s bullying anyone?” Li Bufan shouted angrily, glaring at Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping. “Wei Xiaofan, did you tell the teacher I bullied you? Hah! All I did was tell Teacher Li that you were reading dirty books in class—is that bullying?”

Li Bufan sneered.

“Wei Xiaofan never said you bullied him! Stop making things up,” Wu Wenbin said. “Li Bufan, tell me: what happened between you and Wei Xiaofan during physics class?”

“What else could it be? Since Teacher Li already told you, you must know, so why ask?” Li Bufan replied.

“Li Bufan, what is that attitude? What others say is not the same as what you say yourself. I need to hear it from you!” Wu Wenbin said sternly. This Li Bufan, he thought, is truly insolent, with no respect for teachers.

“It’s just that Wei Xiaofan was reading obscene books in class, and I reported him to Teacher Li. That’s all!”

“Li Bufan, you’re spreading lies and slander, making baseless accusations, and using malicious words! Which of your eyes saw me reading that kind of book? What does such a book even look like? Tell me!” Wei Xiaofan retorted angrily, so agitated that he was out of breath.

“Xiaofan, don’t get so worked up. Let him speak,” Wei Xiaoping whispered, tugging at Wei Xiaofan’s sleeve.

“My, Wei Xiaofan, you really are a scholar—look at all the idioms you can spit out in one breath! Teacher Wu, is Wei Xiaoping perhaps Wei Xiaofan’s sworn brother? Why is he here? Tell me, between you two, who’s the boss?” Li Bufan mocked.

“Li Bufan, don’t be ridiculous. Xiaofan and I are desk mates and old friends. Of course we look out for each other,” Wei Xiaoping answered.

“Old friends—so that’s as good as sworn brothers. Teacher Wu, if my friends aren’t allowed in here, then Wei Xiaoping shouldn’t be either. Please ask him to leave!”

“Let’s get back to the main issue! Li Bufan, you say Wei Xiaofan was reading obscene books in class. Do you have any evidence?” Wu Wenbin pressed. “Let’s clarify things quickly so we can all go to lunch.”

“I saw Wei Xiaofan with such a book in his hand, not in mine. What evidence could I possibly have? My eyes aren’t a camera—I can’t record him sneaking a look at an obscene book!” Li Bufan argued.

“But didn’t you forcibly search both my and Wei Xiaofan’s desks?” Wei Xiaoping asked, a bit annoyed.

“I only searched Wei Xiaofan’s desk! We didn’t touch yours, don’t make things up!” Li Bufan retorted.

“Li Bufan, did you find anything?” Wu Wenbin asked.

“Of course not—he must have hidden it somewhere else!”

“So you have no evidence, is that it?”

“I suspect he’s hidden the book somewhere—if it’s not in the desk, it must be on him. Wei Xiaofan, turn around. Did you stick the book in your waistband?”