CHAPTER 612: CHAPTER 612: THE PRINCIPAL’S EMBARRASSMENT

Principal Zhao passed by the gathered alumni, intending to show his friendliness and approachability, and stopped to interact briefly with the crowd.

He singled out Liu Qiang, the best-dressed among them, and inquired about his current situation.

Liu Qiang bragged about himself, saying he was a supervisor in a factory with an annual salary of 300,000 yuan, had just bought a BMW, and couldn’t help but embellish his accomplishments.

Principal Zhao expressed satisfaction, noting that for ordinary people, someone like Liu Qiang was doing quite well and hadn’t embarrassed the school.

Following that, Principal Zhao asked a few others nearby.

"Principal, I’m currently a teacher, educating people just like you are."

"I’m in sales at a Fortune 500 company, earning an annual salary of a hundred thousand."

"I’m now running a business and recently bought a house in Tianhai thanks to my own efforts."

Everyone chimed in.

Principal Zhao nodded with a smile, "All very good, it’s great to see each of you succeeding, which makes me very pleased as a former principal."

Next to him, someone who seemed like a leader noticed Lin Fan and asked, "Is this young man also an alumnus of the school?"

Immediately, everyone’s eyes fell on Lin Fan.

Wearing entirely unfashionable street stall clothes!

It was obvious he hadn’t done well. If he were also an alumnus, it wouldn’t be bringing honour to the school, but embarrassment.

Lin Fan hadn’t even spoken yet when Liu Qiang jumped in, saying, "His name is Lin Fan, he was in our class in high school, got into a university, and now delivers food."

What?

Graduated from university and delivering food?

The crowd was initially stunned and then burst into laughter. Damn, this Lin Fan was so disgraceful, completely tarnishing the school’s reputation.

"Delivering food, doing so poorly, why come to the centennial celebration!"

"Truly a disgrace to Tianhai Middle School!"

"I wouldn’t dare show my face here!"

"A university graduate, why deliver food, can’t understand, aren’t you ashamed!"

The crowd murmured, and everyone could hear these words clearly.

"Old Zhao, it seems your Tianhai High School can’t always produce talents."

The man who had just mocked Lin Fan spoke with a teasing tone.

Turns out, he was the principal of a neighboring school and a friend of Principal Zhao. He was invited here to participate in Tianhai High School’s centennial celebration, and he was deliberately using Lin Fan to mock Principal Zhao.

Principal Zhao’s face turned a bit red with embarrassment, showing slight displeasure, but since he was experienced in social dealings, he quickly adjusted himself.

"Delivering food is still earning money through labor, and labor is honorable, nothing to be ashamed of!" Principal Zhao laughed.

The neighboring principal said, "Old Zhao, I don’t agree with that. Anyone can deliver food as long as they know the way. Why go through years of hard study and spend so much of parents’ money on university? Such a waste!"

Principal Zhao was left a bit speechless, all blaming Lin Fan for doing so poorly, yet attending the celebration, allowing the neighboring principal to have a laugh at his expense.

"Lin Fan, aren’t you delivering food today? Won’t attending the celebration affect your work?"

Principal Zhao patted Lin Fan on the shoulder, although it seemed like he was showing concern, everyone could hear the implied meaning.

It was a suggestion for Lin Fan to leave.

Lin Fan laughed coldly to himself, they were such snobs, even Principal Zhao included.

So what if he was doing poorly? What was wrong with delivering food after graduating from university? Everyone’s circumstances are different. If you haven’t endured his hardships, you’re not qualified to judge.

Back then, after graduation, Lin Fan also worked in a company. However, he encountered backstabbers, was dismissed, and became disheartened. He detested office politics and realized that the white-collar job market was not for him, finding more freedom as a delivery person.

His fellow delivery guys got along happily, with each doing their own runs and no conflicts of interest. There was no competition, speeding along the roads alone each day, chatting and boasting with buddies in group chats during free time, living freely and happily.

This kind of happiness, how could outsiders understand, and how could they pass judgement?

Now, although Principal Zhao didn’t say it outright, he looked down on Lin Fan’s status as a delivery person and subtly hinted for him to leave.

But Lin Fan wasn’t going to comply.

"I’m currently free at home, with plenty of time. By chance, I was passing by the school and came to take a look, reminisce on my high school days, Principal Zhao, you don’t mind, right?" Lin Fan said with a smile.

Could Principal Zhao say he minded!

Of course, he couldn’t say that.

Since Lin Fan wouldn’t leave, he couldn’t speak plainly either.

"I don’t mind, not at all, the school welcomes all alumni back for the celebration. So take your time and enjoy the event, it’s about to start. Classmates, we need to move ahead first, very glad everyone is here for the celebration. On behalf of the school, I thank you all once again."

After Principal Zhao’s appropriate remarks, he no longer looked at Lin Fan and left with a group of leaders behind him.

Principal Zhao slightly regretted the earlier casual interaction, mainly because of Lin Fan. If everyone was doing as well as Liu Qiang, it would be fine. But having someone like Lin Fan, working as a delivery person, it was too embarrassing.

If time could turn back, he certainly wouldn’t have come over to chat with these gathered alumni. The school chose some accomplished former students to specially invite to attend the celebration, aiming to show externally that Tianhai Middle School was excellent and had fostered many outstanding talents who have become pillars of the country, elites in various industries.

Yet, nearly having an incident due to someone like Lin Fan.

Lin Fan was just doing too poorly.

After Principal Zhao and others left.

Liu Qiang cast a smug glance at Lin Fan and said with a laugh, "Lin Fan, you’re welcome, I just introduced you and told the truth, since you’re a delivery guy, see how even the old principal got unhappy."

Hearing this, everyone laughed out loud.

Lin Fan didn’t speak, appearing to be ashamed and at a loss for words.

Jia Xiaoling tugged on Lin Fan’s sleeve and whispered, "Lin Fan, why don’t we leave?"

Lin Fan shook his head and said, "Since we’re here, there’s no rush to leave. This celebration seems quite interesting, and I’m waiting for someone, might as well enjoy the spectacle."

Jia Xiaoling sighed softly. Since Lin Fan wouldn’t leave, she stayed with him, but seeing Lin Fan being the target of ridicule, she couldn’t bear it.

She really didn’t expect people to be so snobbish now. Whether it was Principal Zhao or those classmates, Jia Xiaoling felt a bit disappointed.

But this is the stark reality, after all. Reality is like this no matter where you go, it’s all about comparisons, and there’s no escaping it.

For instance, going home for the New Year, the elders will definitely catch you and ask where you’re working now, how much your salary is, and how so-and-so has bought a house or a car, or who is doing well.

These seem like eternal topics.

Those doing well return home with high spirits, almost walking with a breeze, eager for the whole village to know they’re doing great.

Those doing poorly act much more low-key, feeling a lack of face upon returning to the village, and many young people even avoid going home for the New Year for this reason.