This is a typical ploy by schools to hurry you up into signing a contract. Delay, delay and then set a last minute deadline. One of the first requests that I always had with a school is to show me the apartment and contact names of other foreign teachers that have worked there so that I can contact them and ask about the working and living conditions at the school and city. I have never had the "good cop bad cop" routine done to me until I was at a school working and when the school management wanted me to work extra hours, do promo work "English Corners" etc. Schools in China are like what is now being built in many parts of Canada "3P", "public, private partnership". A school is set up to educate the students at the same time make money for a few people. I have yet to find out what different people might be involved in making money from a school (head master, investors, education department people, what freinds etc). How you are treated by the different people in a school (head master, FAO, fellow teachers) is all over the board and it also varies from school to school on how you are treated. I am glad to hear that you gave this school a pass as there are better places there to work for. Keep looking and pass any good reports on to your friends and others. Enjoy your time there in China.