Chapter 43: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 43: A Perfect Solution
With the approval of his parents, the support of 200 stones of grain from Old Madam Yan, and the encouragement from Daohua, the next day, Yan Wenxiu, filled with anxiety, suggested to the teachers at the county school that, since the snow scenery was beautiful, they should organize the students to go out and take in the sights.
Generally, in the dead of winter, teachers at the county school would not agree to let the students go outside. However, Yan Zhigao had made prior arrangements with Teacher Yu, and so, a group of students set off from the city.
To ensure their safety on the journey, Yan Zhigao had specially dispatched several officers to escort them.
The students were out for the entire day.
That evening, they gathered at Songhe Courtyard, all curious to see Yan Wenxiu’s serious and silent demeanor upon his return.
It wasn’t until Yan Zhigao returned from the office that Yan Wenxiu spoke: “Father, the refugees’ lives are truly... harsh.”
Before today, he had never imagined that, in such frigid conditions, there were people who couldn’t afford shoes, and their clothes were nothing but a thin layer. Yet, they still had to brave the heavy snow to search for food in the mountains.
The food they found wasn’t anything luxurious; it was just tree roots and bark.
When he saw a five- or six-year-old boy chewing on a piece of tree root as if it were a delicacy, his heart was deeply shaken.
The Yan family, and some of the wealthier families in the county school, were not poor, but from childhood to adulthood, Yan Wenxiu had never worried about food or clothing. It wasn’t until today that he realized how much suffering some people endured.
Before today, he had thought of refugees as simply a group of people fleeing from danger. He knew their lives weren’t easy, but he never had a clear picture of how difficult they truly were.
Now, after seeing the reality firsthand, the shock was indescribable.
Yan Wenxiu went on to describe everything he had witnessed that day. Everyone listened in silence.
Daohua, who had been pretending to be a refugee earlier, was already somewhat aware of the hardships they faced, so she wasn’t as affected. Her thoughts were now focused on how to help them. Breaking the silence, she asked, “Big brother, how do your schoolmates feel about the refugees’ situation?”
Yan Wenxiu replied, “Naturally, they all sympathize deeply.”
Daohua continued, “Did you talk to them about helping the refugees survive the winter?”
Yan Wenxiu nodded, “I did. Everyone is willing to do their part to help.”
Daohua smiled and nodded.
The students at the county school were still young, and though some were difficult to manage at times, their hearts were generally good.
She then asked, “Do you have a plan in place for this?”
Yan Wenxiu looked confused. “What kind of plan?”
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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Daohua replied, “Of course there needs to be a plan. For example, where will the donated goods be stored? Who will be responsible for registering and checking them?”
Yan Wenxiu interrupted, “Wait, little sister, can’t the donations just go directly to the county office?”
Daohua shook her head. “This is a charity from your schoolmates, not something for the county office to handle. It’s up to you to take charge. Besides, only by doing things yourself will you truly learn from the experience. Big brother, this is a rare opportunity, so make sure to cherish it.”
Yan Wenxiu looked at his father, who appeared to be deep in thought, then turned back to Daohua. “This is such a big task…”
Daohua replied confidently, “It’s simply about collecting the donations and then distributing them. There are so many students at the county school, so each person can take on a small part. It’s not difficult. However, this needs to be done properly. You should draft a detailed plan ahead of time to avoid any issues later.”
Yan Wenxiu looked at Daohua, impressed, and asked, “Can you give some specific examples of the plan?”
Daohua said, “For example, someone will need to be responsible for registering and checking the donated goods. If there’s a large amount, you’ll need a place to store it. And when distributing, you’ll need to keep track of inventory.”
“Also, not all the students come from wealthy families. For those who can’t donate, you can have them help with other tasks, like registration or stocking. That way, everyone can be involved.”
Though Daohua wasn’t an expert in such matters, she offered what came to her mind. Yan Wenxiu, however, listened attentively, nodding thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, Yan Zhigao watched his daughter with growing satisfaction, and both Old Madam Yan and Madam Li smiled indulgently.
After Daohua finished speaking, Yan Zhiyuan immediately said, “Wenxiu, have Wenjie help you with this.”
“I’ll help too!” Yan Wenkai chimed in, eager to contribute after hearing the discussion.
Even Yan Zhigao, who usually refrained from speaking up in front of others, offered his suggestion: “Wenxiu, if you need help moving things, have Wentao assist. He’s strong.”
Old Madam Yan smiled warmly at her children and grandchildren. “Since Wenjie, Wentao, and Wenkai want to help, I’ll contribute 100 stones of grain.”
Madam Li followed suit, “Then I’ll contribute 200 stones. Altogether, we’ll donate 500 stones. It’s neither too little nor too much, and other students can use this as a reference.”
Yan Zhigao said nothing, but his expression showed that he was pleased with the situation. Although he didn’t voice his opinions, he was keenly interested in the matter.
He thought carefully about what his daughter had said and realized that this initiative, led by the students themselves, was a much better approach than having the county office handle it.
For the wealthy families, it would be easier to support their own children’s charitable efforts rather than donating directly to the county office.
The next morning, Yan Wenxiu, eager and full of anticipation, skipped breakfast and headed straight to the county school. By midday, he had already gathered more than ten students who were willing to donate.
Once a few people took the lead, it became much easier to persuade the others.
Indeed, many students at the county school came from affluent families, and soon, the donations exceeded Yan Zhigao’s expectations.
Wanting to give his eldest son some experience, Yan Zhigao refrained from interfering directly. However, he couldn’t ignore the situation entirely, so he sent the meticulous and steady Advisor Xiao to help.
The students, excited by the task, worked hard for several days. Though there were many issues along the way, they managed to complete the work before the next heavy snowfall.
The refugees received clothing and food, not in abundance, but enough to help them survive the harsh winter.
The students were satisfied, and so were their parents. How could they not be proud of their children, who had managed such a large task at such a young age?
As for Yan Zhigao, the magistrate, he was at ease.
As long as no major incidents occurred with the refugees, he knew that, even if he didn’t gain credit, he wouldn’t be blamed either.
(End of Chapter)
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