Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1091 Write a report for me

Xia Maosheng said, "Of course. Like with that student grant program you're running, the procedures and systems are extremely important. These days, it's not just about wanting to do good deeds; believe me, you'll get criticized after this student grant program starts."

Xiao Wei shook his head: "Let them scold me, I'll just do my own thing. Like, I know that those who received help won't remember us in the future, and they won't feel any gratitude, so should we just stop doing it?"

Xia Maosheng said, "Of course there are, but it's not like that for everyone. We help hundreds of people a year, and it's good if ten or a few remember."

Xiao Wei said, "I'll do my best and leave the rest to fate. I did this because I felt it was too difficult for rural children to go to school. I didn't think about anything else. I just felt good about it."

Xia Maosheng thought for a moment and said, "I estimate that it won't be as easy for me to get things started as it is for you. You are familiar with the county and have the support of everyone in the county, so it will definitely go smoothly for you. I can't say for sure."

Xiao Wei said, "Why don't you ask your aunt to put in a good word?"

Xia Maosheng said, "I don't want to ask my aunt for everything, it makes me feel like I'm nobody."

Xiao Wei said, "Our goal is to build schools so that children in remote rural areas can go to school and learn the same knowledge as children in the city. As long as we achieve our goal, why do you think so much? This is not a matter of seeking personal gain."

Xia Maosheng looked up in thought. Xiao Wei said, "I know what you're thinking. You want your aunt to see that you can do it, that you've grown up. But matters are matters. I suggest you discuss building the school with your aunt. Her ideas are definitely more comprehensive than ours. And you can definitely cooperate with Beipiao City on this."

Xia Maosheng said, "That's true. I'll talk to my aunt when she comes over in the next few days."

Xiao Wei said, "Building a school doesn't cost much, a few hundred thousand yuan each. The key issue is the teachers, which is more complicated and we can't solve that."

Xia Maosheng said, "By the way, I don't understand, why don't you just take over all the primary schools in your county? Wouldn't it be better to overhaul them all?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's not that simple. I suggest you do what I did and build the school buildings according to the specifications; that would be more attractive. Also, the students' food and accommodation are the real issues."

We need to build each one steadily; we can't rush this. Anyway, we're young, so we'll take it slow.

Secretary Quan emerged from inside, looking refreshed. He had just washed his face, and his hair was still damp.

Xiao Wei and Xia Maosheng stood up, and Secretary Quan asked with a smile, "What are you two talking about? I only overheard a little. The school? What big plan is there?"

Xiao Wei checked the time and said, "No, it's just that I'm planning to build a few schools in the county, and Lao Xia also wants to go back to his hometown to build them. It's not easy for children in rural areas to go to school these days. I come from the mountains, and now that I have the means, I want to lend a hand."

Secretary Quan nodded: "Are there any difficulties?"

Xiao Wei said, "There are no difficulties. I've talked to the county government, and the county committee and education commission are very happy. They're already making plans. Lao Xia plans to talk to her aunt when she visits for the New Year."

"I feel that getting local support is crucial first. We can build the buildings, but we can't solve the teacher shortage problem. Another issue is the children's food and accommodation; that's a long-term problem."

Secretary Quan sat down and said, "Come, sit down, let's chat for a bit."

Xiao Wei and Xia Maosheng sat down, and Secretary Quan said, "Tell me about the education situation in your hometown, just say whatever you want."

Xiao Wei said, "We live in a mountainous area, and many villages don't have schools. If children want to go to school, they have to walk a long way, often several kilometers. We rely entirely on walking for transportation; there are no cars."

In our village, the school only has three grades, with only one teacher, and all three grades have classes in one room.

Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders had to go to the production brigade, which was eight miles away. Junior high school was even further, in the town. The teachers were all privately hired, with very low salaries, and most of them had to rely on farming for a living.

Xia Maosheng said, "It's similar where I live. The students have to walk four or five kilometers to and from school. And there are too few teachers. The schools can't even teach all the subjects."

Secretary Quan asked Xia Maosheng, "Where does your aunt work?"

Xia Maosheng said, "Yongzhou is a county-level city, Guilongcheng. My aunt is now the Party Secretary."

Xiao Wei asked, "You only slept for such a short while? It's only been less than two hours."

Secretary Quan said, "I'm getting old, I don't need that much sleep anymore. These two hours are good enough; they'll give me energy for the evening. Come on, let's go to your house for a meal. Building this school is a good thing. Have someone write a report and send it up; I'll take a look."

The three of them went downstairs to the cafeteria.

Xiao Tao was sitting at the table with a woman whose hair was already somewhat gray. Next to the woman sat Aunt Chen, and the two were talking in hushed tones.

Old Chen, Uncle Wang, Director Qin, Li Zhongguo, and Xiaowei's father were sitting at another table smoking.

Secretary Quan strode over, smiling, and said, "Oh, it looks like I won't be able to make these dumplings. You've all worked hard."

Old Chen stood up and said, "Many hands make light work. I didn't really lend a hand, but my sister-in-law is definitely a great help. She's a virtuous wife." Aunt Chen rolled her eyes, and the woman with gray hair smiled and patted her hand.

Xiao Wei's dad and the others all stood up, and then everyone who was sitting stood up, which was quite orderly.

As he approached, Old Chen said, "Why did you only sleep for a short while? You might be staying up all night tonight, right? You still have to go down tomorrow."

Secretary Quan waved his hand: "That's enough. I don't need that much sleep anyway. I slept soundly this time. Sit down, do what you need to do, don't worry about me. I'm just here with Xiao Chen to freeload and join in the fun."

Old Chen pointed at Xiao Wei's father and said, "This is Xiao Wei's father, the host today."

Secretary Quan reached out and shook hands with Xiao Wei's father: "I'll call you Xiao Zhang. You've done a great job raising your son. You've raised such an outstanding talent for us. I have to have a drink with you."

Old Chen said, "Come on, let's not eat for nothing. Let's leave something as a souvenir. Today is New Year's Eve, a meaningful day." He waved and called Chen Hui over.

Secretary Quan paused for a moment, glanced at the camera in Chen Hui's hand, shook his head with a wry smile, and turned to call Xiao Tao, "You take the picture."

Xiao Tao ran over and took the camera from Chen Hui.

Old Chen and Secretary Quan took a separate photo, then Xiao Wei, Xia Maosheng, Chen Hui, and Old Chen and Secretary Quan took a group photo. Secretary Quan then pulled Xiao Wei aside for a separate photo.

Secretary Quan turned around and called over Wang Shuqin and Li Zhongguo to join in. Xia Maosheng also dragged Wang Guifang in to squeeze in as well.

Then came the group photo, with Secretary Quan and his wife, Old Chen and Aunt Chen sitting in the middle, and everyone else lined up behind them.

After the filming was finished, Secretary Quan glanced at the food factory workers gathered on the other side of the restaurant and asked, "Are those workers? Why weren't they given a holiday?"

Xiao Wei said, "Some shops didn't have enough orders, so we only kept about twenty people here. We had no choice. We're paying them double pay these past few days, plus other compensation. They all volunteered to stay, and most of them are from our county. I recruited several hundred people from our county."

Secretary Quan said, "This can be considered a way of giving back to our hometown. However, it's only a temporary solution; we still need to find ways to make the whole area prosperous. You've succeeded now, but with great power comes great responsibility."

(End of this chapter)