Mother Xiao hastily asked, "Big sister, you are here already? Have you had breakfast?"
"Yes, I just went dancing in the square. I ca to your house right after," Auntie Zhou smiled and then said, "Didn't you send a ssage last night? You ntioned that Xiao Han needed to talk to about sothing. I'm here now, so what's the matter?"
Mother Xiao hurriedly poured tea for Auntie Zhou and then offered so lon seeds and fruits prepared for the New Year celebration.
As Auntie Zhou cracked open the seeds, she looked at Xiao Han.
"Auntie Zhou, the road at the entrance of our community, ... isn't it under our community's jurisdiction?" Xiao Han asked in urgency.
"Ah!" Auntie Zhou was taken aback. After pondering for a mont, she asked, "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"
Auntie Zhou was reluctant to admit it, fearing that there might be another problem with that road. Indeed, the road maintenance fell under the responsibility of Fuxing Community, but due to years of neglect, accidents occurred frequently. Because of this, even Fuxing Community was hesitant to claim responsibility. The municipal authority also disregarded it, leading to both sides passing the buck, with no one willing to deal with the road. Now that Xiao Han had asked, Auntie Zhou naturally couldn't speak carelessly. If it were soone else, Auntie Zhou would have outright denied it early on.
"Oh, I just feel the streetlights on this road are almost all broken, making it susceptible to robberies and rape cases," Xiao Han urgently said. "Therefore, I think the streetlights on this road need to be replaced. Those that need repairs should be repaired, and those that need replacing should be replaced."
"You, child, are too naive," Auntie Zhou laughed and then said, "Doesn't this renovation cost money? Our Fuxing Community doesn't have the funds. Who would do such an ungrateful task? The road does indeed belong to our Fuxing Community, but the governnt won't let us set up tolls yet expects us to manage it with our own funds. Who would want to do such a thankless job? Besides, our community doesn't have money. There are many widows, widowers, and single-parent families in our community. If we have money, it should first go to helping them. This road should be repaired with municipal funding."
"Auntie Zhou, since it's our road, we must take care of it," said Xiao Han with a smile. "If the municipal governnt really took over this road, you'd probably be reluctant to let it go, right?"
"Of course, I'd hate to see it go," Auntie Zhou quickly nodded.
"How about this, the community takes care of the labor, and I will cover the cost," Xiao Han smiled and then said, "I will pay for the streetlight repair costs myself."
Pfft...
Auntie Zhou had just taken a sip of the tea Mother Xiao had poured and sprayed it out instantly. Staring at Xiao Han with eyes wide open, she exclaid in shock, "Xiao Han, what… what did you just say?!"
"I said I would cover all the repair costs myself. Is that okay?" Xiao Han asked with a smile.
"Xiao Han, where did you get the money?!" Auntie Zhou and Mother Xiao almost asked in unison.
"Don't worry about where the money ca from," Xiao Han said with a slight smile. "I assure you my money is clean and obtained legally. I just want to contribute to the community. Since we live here, we should have a safe environnt. Let's ensure the 313 incident doesn't happen again."
Upon ntioning the 313 incident, Auntie Zhou couldn't help but bow her head.
The night of March 13 two years ago, a 14-year-old middle school girl was raped and murdered on her way ho from evening self-study classes. The cri occurred just outside the wall of Fuxing Community, on the very road Xiao Han offered to fund for lighting repairs.
The 313 case shocked the whole city. Yet, even so, both the municipal governnt and the community shirked their responsibilities. Neither side was willing to take accountability, and since that ti, no one had taken the streetlight issue on this road seriously. Subsequent to that, several robberies occurred, causing panic among the residents of Fuxing Community, who feared going out at night. Even when they did go out, they moved in groups.
"Xiao Han, you are right, the community should also take responsibility," Auntie Zhou nodded. "It's rare for you to have such kindness. On behalf of the community's residents, I thank you."
"You're welco," Xiao Han shook his head.
"I assure you, every penny spent on repairing the streetlights will not go to waste," Auntie Zhou solemnly promised. "I will personally oversee the workers every day to ensure they do their work earnestly and properly."
"Good," Xiao Han nodded.
"However, fixing this road will probably cost quite a bit," Auntie Zhou ekly said.
"How much will it roughly need?" Xiao Han asked curiously.
"This road is over five hundred ters long, almost all of the streetlights need replacing, and over ten utility poles need reinstallation…" Auntie Zhou counted them off ticulously, showing her deep concern for the condition of this road. Finally, she quickly provided a figure, "It will probably need around two hundred thousand."
"No problem!" Xiao Han nodded.
"Are you really willing to spend two hundred thousand on the repairs?!" Auntie Zhou still couldn't believe it.
"Auntie Zhou, why would I not want to do sothing that benefits our fellow villagers?!" Xiao Han earnestly said.
"Okay, okay." Auntie Zhou was overjoyed, but she imdiately cald down and turned to look at Mother Xiao beside her, asking, "Well, Xiao Yang, what do you think about this?"
"I have no objections," Mother Xiao said with a smile, shaking her head. "The money Xiao Han earns should be at his own disposal. I won't interfere. Besides, this money is for the benefit of our fellow villagers; how could I possibly stand in the way?"
"That's great, I represent all the residents of Fuxing Community in thanking you both," Auntie Zhou said, overwheld with emotion.
"Auntie Zhou, you should hurry and see to this matter," Xiao Han said with a smile. "It's just three days until the New Year; let's strive to have this matter sorted out before then, so we can all enjoy the brightness of the streetlights before the New Year."
"Right, right, I'll get on it," Auntie Zhou nodded repeatedly. She ran off quickly, like a bird taking flight.
As soon as Auntie Zhou left, Mother Xiao looked seriously at Xiao Han.
Xiao Han felt sowhat embarrassed.
"Mom, don't look at like that," Xiao Han said, his face blushing.
"Xiao Han, are you keeping sothing from ?" Mother Xiao asked seriously.
"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded.
"The BMW parked at our door belongs to you, doesn't it?" Mother Xiao asked. "Yesterday, I sneaked a look at the vehicle registration, and the na on it was yours. That ans the car is yours, right?"
"Um," Xiao Han took a deep breath.
"You should give an explanation, right?" Mother Xiao glanced at Xiao Han and then said, "I'm well aware that the scholarship from your college entrance examination went to buying a house. As for the surplus money, where did it co from? Shouldn't you explain?"
"Mom, actually, I've always wanted to tell you," Xiao Han said timidly, looking at his mother. "It's just, I never knew how to say it properly. But today, I've decided to be honest with you. Actually, Hann Restaurant, Hann Technology, and Hann Training Class were all founded by ."
Bang!
Upon hearing this, the teacup that Mother Xiao was about to put down fell from her hands. It crashed to the floor and shattered.
"What?!" Mother Xiao stared at Xiao Han in disbelief.
These familiar nas that Xiao Han ntioned made Mother Xiao unable to believe her ears. Recently, Hann Restaurant had been thriving in Linjiang City, with one location right at the entrance of Fuxing Community where countless people dined daily. Thus, Fuxing Community's residents frequently praised Hann Restaurant as the most profitable restaurant, and it employed quite a few people from within Fuxing Community itself.
Everyone knew that Hann Restaurant was a money-making enterprise, and Hann Technology needed no introduction. Xiao Han had previously worked part-ti at Hann Technology, the only Apple authorized dealer in the whole of Linjiang City. Although many places in Linjiang City sported the banner of being Apple authorized dealers, only Hann Technology was genuinely authorized. It didn't need to be said how much money Hann Technology made.
As for Hann Training Class, it had already beco famous nationwide; the booming, prestigious training class had once seen her pleading with the instructor in a mask. Thinking back now, it turned out all this was Xiao Han's doing behind the scenes.
Mother Xiao couldn't believe any of this was real; she simply couldn't believe it, staring at Xiao Han in shock. "Xiao Han, what... what did you just say?!"
"Mom, I said Hann Restaurant, Hann Technology, and Hann Training Class are all my businesses," Xiao Han said earnestly to his mother.
"No, no, no!" Mother Xiao shook her head hastily, saying, "This cannot be true. It's impossible!"
"Mom, it is true," Xiao Han said earnestly. "I never lie; you should know your son better than anyone, right?"
Xiao Han's words radiated sincerity. Mother Xiao could hardly believe such words. Together, these companies must be worth millions annually, at least. Could it be... could it be that her son had inadvertently beco a millionaire? This... Mother Xiao felt her mind going blank.
"Xiao Han, is this true?" Mother Xiao's gaze trembled as she looked at Xiao Han.
If all this was true, then Xiao Han had indeed beco the pride of the Xiao family. She had waited for this mont for a very long ti. She had always firmly believed that her son would make a na for himself, that he would bring honor to the family, that he would uphold the family's glory. Unexpectedly, this day had co so suddenly.
"It is true," Xiao Han nodded solemnly, saying, "Mom, all this is true. Your son has now succeeded."
"My son has succeeded," Mother Xiao was extrely emotional, her gaze trembling, her eyes becoming unfocused as tears rolled down, large and round, falling one by one, a sight profoundly heart-wrenching.
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