As news of the auto repair shop's cooperative housing project spread, things became increasingly complicated, and more and more people joined the discussion.

It's important to understand that at this time, the number of employees in Beijing was increasing exponentially, but housing supply couldn't keep up. Only a few well-funded companies could afford to build housing, while government departments lacked both the funds and resources. For steel mill workers in that era, being assigned to a district meant a significant reduction in wages and benefits.

Some people started connecting the district education bureau's recent inspection of Hongxing Primary School, the praise given to Jiang Changkong, and Principal Jiang's efforts to prevent the auto repair shop from entering the school with the district education bureau's policies. They concluded that Principal Jiang was going to hand over Hongxing Primary School and the adjacent land to the district education bureau as a pledge of loyalty.

Jiang Changkong had spent a long time at the primary school and had a high enough prestige, but because of this long tenure, the promotion of his subordinates was delayed, among whom Vice Principal Liu Weiguo was the most frustrated.

Liu Weiguo was brought into Hongxing Primary School of the steel rolling mill 10 years ago as a young talent, and was groomed to be the successor to the principal. At that time, he was full of vigor and ambition, thinking that he would definitely get the position of principal in one or two years, or at most four or five years.

It's important to know that the principal at that time was Jiang Changkong, who was also in his forties. Principal Jiang would often pat Xiao Liu on the shoulder and say, "Work hard, and this principal position will be yours in the future."

Liu Weiguo also trusted Jiang Changkong implicitly, studying him every day and working hard to take over the position of principal in the future.

When Liu Weiguo first met Principal Jiang, he was deeply moved by her decision to decline an offer to take up a post elsewhere. He believed that Principal Jiang was a true role model for teachers, unswayed by fame or fortune, and steadfast in her commitment to teaching.

When Liu Weiguo met Principal Jiang for the second time and learned that he had declined a promotion opportunity, he felt a little uneasy, but he still praised the principal's high moral character and dedication to the school to his colleagues.

When he learned for the third time that Principal Jiang had given up the opportunity to leave Hongxing Elementary School, he smashed his cup and then gave all the troublemakers in the school a good beating that day.

From then on, Liu Weiguo and Jiang Changkong parted ways. Ten years have passed since then, and the once carefree young man has become a middle-aged man with increasingly thinning hair.

This time, after seeing and hearing that the auto repair shop intended to set up a factory here, Liu Weiguo began to observe all of Jiang Changkong's actions and collect all information that was unfavorable to him. Then, at this moment, he felt that the time had come.

Liu Weiguo led a dozen or so teacher representatives into the principal's office. These teachers, like Yan Fugui, all came from large families, but their housing was cramped, with several generations of more than a dozen people crammed into a small room.

“Principal, why are you refusing to let the auto repair shop in? Why are you refusing to jointly build housing? Do you know how much we, with our whole families crammed together, desperately want a slightly larger house?” Liu Weiguo, filled with anger, fired the first shot.

The other teachers who came echoed this sentiment. At that moment, their once respected principal became an obstacle to their better life, and they had to get rid of him.

Jiang Changkong had recently noticed something amiss at the school and suspected it was all the work of the auto repair shop or, more accurately, Xu Damao. However, he was confident in his integrity and magnanimity, believing that as long as he hadn't profited from the situation, the school's teachers and staff would stand by him.

But when all these people rushed in, he found that his convictions of the past years seemed to waver slightly. Why would these people disregard education and the future of children for their own selfish interests?

Looking at this group of once-familiar colleagues and friends, he felt utterly alienated. After a long pause, Jiang Changkong spoke again.

"Don't panic, everyone. This whole thing was a conspiracy by the auto repair shop from the beginning. Don't believe the talk about building houses; it's all a lie they told to get the land."

"Look at how many houses the steel rolling mill has built over the years. Why does a branch factory like his dare to say it's building houses?" Jiang Changkong tried to end the controversy with reason.

"Then, Principal, if the auto repair shop doesn't come, when will our school be able to build its buildings?" a teacher asked.

For them, it doesn't matter who builds it; as long as they have a house, that's enough. So-called morality is something to consider only after they've had enough to eat and wear; right now, morality means nothing.

“You know what kind of situation the school is in, how could it possibly have the ability to build houses?” Jiang Changkong was speechless in the face of the question.

The school had no ability to generate its own revenue and could only survive on funding from the steel rolling mill. If the steel rolling mill had money, it would prioritize the cadres of the main plant.

"Since you don't have the ability to build a house, why are you stopping others from building houses? I don't care if the auto repair shop is lying to me or not, at least they have the potential, so I still have some hope."

"If I rely on the school, I might not even see my house by the time I die." Another teacher also began to denounce Jiang Changkong.

“How can you be so stubborn? Do you believe that once the auto repair shop comes in, all sorts of vehicles will be running around and the machines will be constantly whirring? What will happen to our students?” The principal tried to rekindle the teachers’ love for their students.

"The two places are separated by such a large playground, and once the auto repair shop is established, it will definitely open a separate gate, so how could it possibly enter through our school?"

Furthermore, Principal, you keep saying you won't give the auto repair shop any land, so what's with the rumors circulating that you're transferring to the district and then giving that land away to the district?

These are Liu Weiguo's words. He actually knew that building the house was completely unreliable, but he just wanted to ruin Jiang Changkong's reputation.

Only if Jiang Changkong's reputation is ruined and he decides to leave the school, will he have a chance to become the principal. Otherwise, he'll really be worn down to an old man by this little old man.

"Where did you hear this rumor? Why would I go to the district? Is the steel mill bad, or is the salary too low? I've been here for so many years, if I wanted to leave, I would have left long ago. Why wait until now? Besides, if I were to go anywhere, I would go to the city. Why would I go to the district?"

Jiang Changkong dismissed Liu Weiguo's words with disdain; he had his own dignity. He could go anywhere, but his dream remained, and he would not leave until it was fulfilled.

Upon hearing the principal's words, Liu Weiguo almost blurted out what was on his mind. "Go away! Go now! If you leave, I'll set off firecrackers to celebrate!"

Just as these people were arguing fiercely, there was a knock on the office door. The person who came in was an officer from the Education Section of the Logistics Department of the steel rolling mill.

"Oh, all the principals are here, that's perfect. Principal Jiang, here's a transfer request from the district. They want to transfer you to the district education bureau."

The supervisor asked me to deliver the document to you so we can see if it was something you contacted beforehand, and then we'll review it and give our opinion.

As soon as the clerk finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Jiang Changkong.