Director Zhao was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "That's a good idea, you guys can try it."

Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing thanked Director Zhao and turned to leave the Cultural Bureau.

The two of them remained silent all the way, each thinking about their own countermeasures.

After returning to the village, Shen Qiqi immediately called a meeting of the villagers and laid out her plan.

"Fellow villagers, in order to pass on our culture, I have decided to mobilize everyone to donate!" Shen Qiqi spoke passionately and generously.

"I know it's not easy for everyone, but for the sake of future generations and for the continuation of our culture, I hope everyone can do their bit!"

The villagers looked at each other, all hesitant.

Nowadays, no one’s money comes from the wind, so donating money is no small matter.

"Qiqi, it's not that we don't support you, it's just that..." an elderly man sighed, "You know, we're living on a tight budget these days, and we really can't afford to spend much money."

Shen Qiqi understood the villagers' difficulties, but she did not give up.

She looked at everyone sincerely and said, "I know it's not easy for everyone, but even a penny is a token of my appreciation! A little bit of effort adds up to a lot, and I believe that as long as everyone works together, we can definitely raise enough funds!"

Lu Qing also stood up to support Shen Qiqi, "Fellow villagers, my wife is right! For the sake of our culture and for our future generations, please support us!"

Looking at the sincere eyes of Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing, the villagers were moved by their persistence and expressed their willingness to donate.

"I'll donate one dollar!"

“I’ll donate fifty cents!”

"I'll donate two cents!"

For a while, the sounds of donations came one after another, and the scene was deeply touching.

Shen Qiqi looked at the enthusiastic villagers, her heart filled with gratitude.

Lu Qing quietly took out a pen and paper and began to count the amount of donations.

As time went by, the amount of donations continued to increase. One hundred, two hundred, three hundred...

"Five hundred!" Lu Qing's voice trembled a little. He raised his head and looked at Shen Qiqi.

Shen Qiqi was also so excited that tears welled up in her eyes.

Five hundred yuan!

Although we are still far from our goal, this is just a start!

As the night deepened, the villagers gradually dispersed. Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing were still sorting out the donation list under the dim kerosene lamp.

"Qiqi, are you tired?" Lu Qing looked at Shen Qiqi with heartache, her face full of fatigue.

Shen Qiqi shook her head. "I'm not tired. As long as we can achieve our goal, no matter how hard or tiring it is, it's worth it!" She paused and said, "Lu Qing, you say..."

"Lu Qing, what do you think... can we really pass on our culture?" Shen Qiqi's voice was filled with uncertainty, but more with anticipation.

Lu Qing put down the pen in his hand and gently held Shen Qiqi's hand. His palm was warm and dry, giving her infinite strength.

"Of course! With my wife here, there's nothing I can't do!" He said firmly.

The next day, Shen Qiqi and Lu Qing went to the Cultural Bureau again.

This time, Director Zhao's expression was obviously much better than last time.

He smiled and said, "Lu family daughter-in-law, you are really good! You actually raised so much money!"

Shen Qiqi smiled modestly and told Director Zhao about the fundraising situation.

After listening to this, Director Zhao said, "You are really great! Although the bureau is short of funds, we can still allocate some to support your cultural heritage activities."

Hearing Director Zhao say this, Shen Qiqi almost jumped up with excitement.

"Really? That's great!"

In the end, with a small amount of funding from the Cultural Bureau and spontaneous donations from the villagers, Shen Qiqi successfully raised more than 500 yuan!

This was a huge sum of money at the time!

Cultural heritage activities are in full swing in the village, with veteran artists using their unique skills to teach young people traditional operas, handicrafts, etc.

The young people also showed great enthusiasm and studied seriously, imitating every move and technique.

Looking at this vibrant scene, Shen Qiqi was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes.

She knew that their efforts were not in vain and that the seeds of culture were taking root and sprouting in this land.

Lu Qing hugged Shen Qiqi tightly and whispered in her ear: "Wife, you are awesome!" He knew how much effort she had put in for this day.

At this moment, happiness overflowed in the hearts of the two, as sweet as honey.

The whole village is immersed in a joyful atmosphere, full of laughter and liveliness. This is what a real "home" looks like.

After the celebration, Shen Qiqi began to think about her next plan.

She plans to sell the handicrafts made in the village at the market, which can increase her income and allow more people to understand their culture.

But when she asked the elders in the village about the market, she heard that the market was not peaceful recently.

There were thugs who collected protection fees there, bullied merchants, and even robberies occurred.

This made Shen Qiqi's heart skip a beat, as if a basin of cold water had been poured on her.

What should I do?

Is it possible that something I worked so hard on would be snatched away for nothing?

No, absolutely not!

She frowned and swore secretly in her heart that she must find a way to make these ruffians pay the price!

As the night deepened, Shen Qiqi carefully placed the newly made handicrafts into the bamboo basket. She stroked the delicate little gadgets,

"There's a market tomorrow, I hope it goes well." Shen Qiqi said softly, with a firm look in her eyes, and walked out of the house step by step.