Chapter 117: I Lead Your Whole Family!

Port City University is the oldest and most prestigious university in Port City, known for producing many notable figures in domestic history.

Lin Muqing drove Zhou Ming to the university and parked the car. They headed to the lecture hall, where, according to the page from Luo Han, their group had run into trouble. Although Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing couldn't quite understand what kind of trouble they could have encountered at a university, given the recent debacle at the Peninsula Hotel involving Qiao Weijiang, anything seemed possible.

Zhou Ming could have chosen not to get involved, but since Qiao Weijiang had directly wronged him, and Luo Han and others were innocent, he decided to help them out, even if it was just to rescue the others from the mess.

When they arrived at the entrance of the lecture hall, Zhou Ming saw Luo Han pacing anxiously.

Seeing Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing arrive, Luo Han quickly approached them and said, "Consultant Zhou, Ms. Lin, I've been waiting for you! Your arrival is a relief. I'm so glad you're here."

"Calm down and tell us what happened," Zhou Ming said.

Luo Han nodded and briefly explained the situation. Zhou Ming listened and realized it was a classic case of an official making a fool of himself in a setting he wasn't suited for.

The issue was simple: Qiao Weijiang came to Port City University to give a speech promoting the development of the securities market in Nanjiang. He used his usual bureaucratic rhetoric, which didn't resonate well with the university students. Port City's students were generally more open-minded and critical, and they found his speech unacceptable. As a result, the lecture turned into a protest against bureaucratic arrogance.

In typical bureaucratic fashion, Qiao Weijiang reacted poorly. Instead of addressing the students' concerns or adapting his approach, he chose to berate them, which only incited more outrage.

Upon arriving at the lecture hall, Zhou Ming could immediately hear a chorus of boos, which amused him. "What did Qiao Weijiang do to stir up such resentment?"

Luo Han, looking embarrassed, didn't answer but seemed to agree with Zhou Ming's assessment.

They reached the backstage where the Nanjiang delegation was gathered. They all looked downcast, aware of the debacle.

Zhou Ming patted them on the shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong. Cheer up."

On stage, Qiao Weijiang was still berating the students. "You are students, not street thugs! You should support the government's policies and contribute to the country's development, rather than oppose everything. Don't you feel that your actions are a betrayal of your education and the efforts of your parents?"

Zhou Ming found this laughable. He turned to Luo Han and asked, "Is this how Qiao Weijiang usually speaks?"

Luo Han nodded, and Zhou Ming commented, "He's completely out of touch. Get him off the stage before he makes things worse."

As if to prove Zhou Ming's point, students shouted even more loudly. "You're the real thugs! You're parasites living off the people. This country will fail because of bureaucrats like you!"

"Teach us about supporting the country? What have you done except talk nonsense? Your mouth is just a backside!"

"Get off the stage, you bureaucratic scum! You're desecrating our sacred lecture hall!"

The students' anger reached a peak, and someone threw a shoe at Qiao Weijiang, hitting him in the face. Enraged, Qiao Weijiang slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "You are not worthy of being called students! You are thugs and scum! You deserve to be punished!"

The students' reaction intensified, "Go away, you vile bureaucrat! Port City is a land of freedom, not a place for parasites like you!"

"Luo Han! Get him off the stage now!" Zhou Ming ordered.

Luo Han and Qiao Weijiang's secretary hurried onto the stage to pull Qiao Weijiang down. Seeing this, the students cheered, "Haha! Look at that bureaucrat's disgraceful exit! Like a stray dog, or rather a dog that bites its master!"

As Qiao Weijiang was dragged off stage, he was clearly still furious and demanded, "Luo Han, Xiao Zhang, why are you dragging me off? I need to educate these students!"

"Qiao Weijiang, do you still not see how badly you've embarrassed yourself? Do you want to keep making a fool of yourself?" Zhou Ming interjected.

Qiao Weijiang was taken aback. "Zhou Ming? Aren't you expelled from the delegation? Why are you here? Who authorized your presence?"

"That's not important. What is important is that you need to listen to the students' voices. Do you realize how unwelcome you are here?" Zhou Ming said.

Qiao Weijiang, being a bureaucrat who couldn't admit fault, retorted, "These students have ideological issues. I don't know what kind of education they're getting in Port City. I need to correct their thinking. You're responsible for dragging me down. Luo Han, Xiao Zhang, you both need to write a report about today's events."

Hearing this unreasonable response, Zhou Ming exploded, "I lead your whole family!"

"What did you say? Say it again! Are you also lacking leadership qualities?" Qiao Weijiang responded angrily.

"I'm telling you to shut up!" Zhou Ming shouted, and before Qiao Weijiang could continue, Zhou Ming slapped him hard across the face.