Chapter 1281: Chapter 1331: The Donation for Another Purpose
After returning from Japan, Li Yifei’s life was quite pleasant. The company’s developnt was excellent; besides cooperating with Aoki Group, there were also partnerships with the Noah’s Ark Organization. He was currently in a phase of large investnt, but it wouldn’t take long for him to reap significant returns.
Life at ho was harmonious as well; the atmosphere among family mbers was exceptionally good. Li Yifei helped his family with Dual Cultivation every day. There were already six or seven people in the household who possessed True Qi, and soon everyone would have it. Though they might not be strong now, with persistence, they would at least reach the abilities of those nuns in the future. Additionally, cultivating with a master like Li Yifei ant their achievents would undoubtedly surpass those of others—it was simply a matter of ti.
However, the lack of news about his son remained a constant source of lingering grief for everyone.
The family mbers were busy with their respective responsibilities—those who worked were working, and those who studied were attending school. Currently, the ones still in school were Chu Xiaoyao and Jiang Ningxiang. Jiang Ningxiang’s school was located in Mile City, and except for school-related matters, she was practically ho every day. Her relationship with the rest of the sisters was very harmonious; she shared Su Yiyi’s gentle deanor and was extrely accommodating. Everyone genuinely liked this newcor to the family, Jiang Ningxiang.
Since Chu Xiaoyao beca Li Yifei’s official partner, she was no longer as mischievous as she used to be. At the very least, she refrained from causing trouble. However, today, Li Yifei received a phone call from Chu Xiaoyao, informing him that sothing had happened.
Her school had organized an activity—a charity event where participants donated money and goods for children in impoverished mountain regions.
Chu Xiaoyao, Zhou Xiaoyue, and a few others thought that simply sending the money and goods to certain Public Welfare Organizations often ant that many items might not actually reach those children who truly needed them. After discussing the matter among themselves, they decided to personally deliver these donations directly to the children’s hands.
They pooled their money and resources, purchasing many books and educational supplies, as well as clothing and other necessities. The group then traveled to a remote impoverished mountain village.
Witnessing the plight of these children deeply shook them. Although they had always lived comfortably and were aware through online sources of poverty in so places, seeing these children in person—wearing tattered clothes, sitting in dilapidated classrooms, eating cold als in winter—made them truly realize that the world was far from being as ideal as the one they were accustod to.
The realization that simply donating part of their pocket money could dramatically improve the lives of these children filled them with a sense of purpose. It made their charitable work feel incredibly aningful, and they found great joy in continuing such efforts.
However, after so ti, not everyone persisted in the endeavor. Ultimately, only five people remained. Engaging in charity requires financial resources—it’s not sothing everyone can sustain. The final five were mainly led by Chu Xiaoyao and Zhou Xiaoyue, with the other three (two boys and a girl) assisting them.
In fact, even Zhou Xiaoyue’s pocket money had nearly run out. While she ca from a prominent family, her funds were not infinite—they had their limits. On the other hand, Chu Xiaoyao was different. As Li Yifei’s partner and an official mber of the Li family, she enjoyed the sa treatnt as all the other spouses of the Li family. Her monthly pocket money exceeded 100,000 yuan, and she had unlimited access to funds through a credit card.
Li Yifei fully supported Chu Xiaoyao in this aningful endeavor. After all, her charitable work was far better than idly wandering around and wasting ti.
This ti, Chu Xiaoyao and her group returned to an elentary school in a village they had previously supported, hoping to further help where needed.
Upon arrival, they discovered that the school hadn’t seen any improvents. The rundown school buildings were still dilapidated, with no windows installed. They had clearly left 20,000 yuan for repairing the buildings, and while certain repairs might not have been feasible during the cold season, at the very least, the windows should have been installed!
They located the school principal, who oversaw only thirty-so students and four teachers. The principal, a man in his fifties, was a retired rural instructor nad Wang Limin.
"Principal Wang, what’s going on at this school?" With a furrowed brow, Chu Xiaoyao asked.
Wang Limin let out a sigh and replied, "I’ve approached the village chief several tis, but he always says he’s busy and doesn’t have ti. He claims they’ll address it in the spring."
Infuriated, Zhou Xiaoyue exclaid, "But at the very least, the windows should be installed! How could the children endure freezing in the classrooms?"
"Sigh..." Wang Limin sighed again, hesitating as if unwilling to speak further.
"Principal Wang, if you have sothing to say, just say it outright," sensing his reluctance, Chu Xiaoyao softened her tone to encourage him.
After hesitating for a mont, Wang Limin finally shook his head and said, "I’m truly grateful to all of you; you’re good-hearted people. But our school’s poverty has persisted for years, despite multiple groups coming to donate money and materials. Collectively, the donations are more than enough to rebuild the school entirely."
"Then why is it still like this?" Zhou Xiaoyue jumped in to ask.
"Our village is poor. Once the money reaches the village, it’s often allocated elsewhere," Wang Limin admitted.
"That money was donated to the school! How can the village divert those funds for other purposes?" Anger flared in Chu Xiaoyao.
Wang Limin chuckled bitterly and explained, "The village chief said this: the village is so poor that obtaining funding is extrely difficult. The school’s hardships attract outside donations. As long as the school isn’t repaired, there will constantly be people donating money, which can then be used to lead the village to prosperity."
"That’s absurd! Did the village even use the money appropriately?" Chu Xiaoyao’s face grew colder.
"Appropriately? Haha..." Wang Limin laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "The village did see so people get rich. The village chief renovated his ho, bought a car, but the other villagers... they’re still the sa."
"This is sheer audacity!" The group was collectively incensed, their outrage evident on their faces. Imdiately, Chu Xiaoyao demanded, "Has nobody noticed these issues?"
"Many groups co to donate money and supplies, but they simply go through the motions. Once they donate, they never return, so nobody knows about the village’s situation. You’re the only ones who have co back a second ti," Wang Limin revealed.
Fuming, Zhou Xiaoyue declared, "This is utterly inhumane! Exploiting children as a fa??ade to embezzle wealth!"
Suddenly standing up decisively, Chu Xiaoyao announced, "Let’s confront him directly!"
Wang Limin quickly tried to dissuade her, saying, "Don’t be impulsive, please don’t. Our village chief isn’t soone to be trifled with. His two sons are influential—one holds a position in the township governnt, and the other runs rampant in the local area. If you provoke them, who knows what trouble they might bring upon you."
"So what?" Both Chu Xiaoyao and Zhou Xiaoyue showed no fear.
Sighing again, Wang Limin elaborated, "I understand your anger, but our village chief isn’t soone easy to deal with. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remained untouchable for so long. There have even been people who offended the village chief and ended up beaten by his younger son—one man still walks with a limp."
After a pause, Wang Limin continued, "On behalf of all the students, I deeply thank you. If you’d like to support us, donating books and educational supplies or providing clothing for the children is more than enough. Money... you should refrain from giving us money in the future."
As they spoke, Wang Limin’s expression suddenly changed. He quickly warned, "Please, children, don’t act rashly. The village chief is coming."
Through the broken windows, Chu Xiaoyao saw two n approaching. One of them was in his fifties, dressed in a mink coat that contrasted starkly with Wang Limin’s tattered padded jacket. He seed hurried and was making his way to the principal’s office.
"Ah, aren’t you our generous donors? Welco, welco!" The village chief entered the office, his deanor overly warm and enthusiastic.
However, Chu Xiaoyao and her companions showed the village chief no courtesy, their expressions grim. Chu Xiaoyao directly questioned him, "We donated money to the school—why hasn’t the building been repaired?"
The village chief quickly responded, "It’s not that we didn’t want to fix things, but winter isn’t the right ti for repairs. If we install windows now, co spring, they might warp and require a second round of fixes, which would incur extra costs. Our village is so poor—every penny must be spent wisely, and we can’t afford to waste a di."
Chuckling coldly, Chu Xiaoyao retorted, "Really? Well, judging by your coat, Village Chief, it seems you’re doing quite well yourself. This mink coat must’ve cost at least ten or twenty thousand yuan."
Shaking his coat, the village chief replied bitterly, "I had no choice—my sons are filial and insisted on buying this for . I told them it wasn’t necessary, but they insisted. You see, the coat was already bought; if I didn’t wear it, I’d be rejecting their filial piety. Actually, my sons have wanted
to move to the county for a more comfortable life, but seeing how poor our village is, I can’t feel at ease leaving it behind. Even if life here is tough, I want to lead our village to prosperity before I can truly join my sons and enjoy life."
If they hadn’t heard Wang Limin’s earlier confession, the group might’ve been fooled into thinking the village chief was noble. But now, his words rang hollow and hypocritical, appearing downright shaless.
"Since the village chief insists, may we take a look at the accounts for the money we donated? Surely that’s within our rights? I wouldn’t want funds we donated diverted elsewhere," Chu Xiaoyao challenged directly and sharply.
The village chief’s face stiffened montarily before he forced a laugh and said, "Of course, that’s possible. However, our accountant isn’t in the village right now—the accounts are in their possession."
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