Chapter 249 Lack of Funds

"Nonsense. What are you thanking me for? Between us, is there any need for that word?"

He paused, his tone slightly lower: "I'm going back to my unit tomorrow. There won't be much I can do to help you on the front lines. You'll be in the rear, so please stay calm, don't overwork yourself, don't rush, take it one step at a time."

"I know!"

She looked up, her eyes still wet, but a smile had already appeared on her face, like the sky after the rain. "I have Zishu helping me. She's so clever, full of ideas, and efficient. Besides, the doctor said yesterday that the baby is perfectly healthy, with a stable heartbeat and normal development. There's absolutely no problem!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Li'an finally smiled with relief.

He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips still warm from his body, and gently placed it on her flat stomach. His palm was pressed against the fabric, as if he could feel the presence of that tiny life.

He gazed at her, his eyes filled with tenderness, like rippling spring water. "I hope we can have a daughter as stubborn as you. Stubborn, opinionated, and no one will dare to bully her."

Three days later, Fu Li'an recovered and officially rejoined the team.

Qiao Wanyin and Qiu Zishu plunged headfirst into the preparatory work for the kindergarten, like two tireless little bees, shuttling back and forth between various departments.

Deputy Commander Qiu's secretary was indeed reliable, handling matters with thoroughness and meticulousness.

On the day of the coordination meeting, not only was the meeting room cleaned in advance, but even the teacups on the table were neatly arranged, hot water was steaming, pens and notebooks were provided for each person, and even the projector was set up.

With colleagues personally backing them up, everyone cooperated actively, and no one dared to slack off or shirk responsibility.

But there was one exception – Director Wang from the Logistics Department.

"Comrade Qiao," Director Wang said at the coordination meeting, his face stern, his brows furrowed, his tone tinged with doubt and displeasure, "I still think this matter is too hasty. Right now, factory funds are tight, and appropriations are being repeatedly cut. Even basic training is a struggle. Where would we find the extra money to tinker with these fancy-looking but actually useless new gadgets?"

Qiao Wanyin smiled faintly, her expression calm, and met Director Wang's gaze steadily. "Director Wang, what you said makes sense. But I want to clarify one point—we will not ask the military for a single penny. The start-up funds have already been raised by me personally from various sources."

She paused, her tone still calm but revealing an undeniable firmness, "We only ask for the organization's approval to use the vacant land of the nursery, and for help in coordinating a few literate and responsible factory workers to serve as teachers and assist in running the kindergarten."

"Hmph, all talk and no action."

Director Wang, with a cold face, let out a soft snort, clearly not buying it. "Now you say you won't spend public money, but won't you still have to ask for subsidies in the future? Then a whole bunch of trouble will fall on our shoulders!"

After he finished speaking, he flicked his hand, turned around and left, his steps hurried, his back view full of impatience.

Finally, after several days of deliberation and reporting at each level, the kindergarten's application was approved.

Although the approval was reluctant and the process was tortuous, at least a result was achieved.

Qiao Wanyin breathed a sigh of relief. As she walked out of the office, the sunlight slanted into the corridor, and she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glare.

But she knew in her heart that the real difficulties were only just beginning to emerge—the approval was only the first step; the people's hearts were the most difficult hurdle to overcome.

Even before the kindergarten officially opened, gossip had already spread throughout the residential compound, seeping into every window and every crack in the wall like the wind.

"Have you heard? Qiao Wanyin is going to open a fee-charging kindergarten, claiming it's a 'convenience service,' but I think it's just a way to make money! Is she going down the old capitalist road?"

Near the water room, several factory workers huddled together, whispering and their faces filled with gossipy excitement.

"That's right! I heard she has a sum of money of dubious origin, a considerable amount. Who knows where it came from? Could it be from some kind of collusion with those businessmen outside?"

"I heard that she's getting very close to that businessman surnamed Chen from Hong Kong. They talk on the phone often and even have coffee together..."

"Tsk tsk, a young widow, getting involved with so many men outside, what good could she possibly be up to?"

"Hey, wasn't the reason her mother-in-law forced her to divorce Commander Fu last time because of this? She was afraid she would ruin the family's reputation and tarnish the military's image?"

Qiao Wanyin stood quietly in the shadows of the corner, carrying an aluminum kettle, her body pressed against the mottled cement wall, motionless.

Those words, like needles, pierced her ears, each one causing a tightness in her heart.

She gripped the handle of the kettle so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and her fingernails almost dug into her palms.

But she didn't move or make a sound. She just bit her lower lip, suppressing all her grievances and anger deep in her throat.

"Sister Wanyin, ignore them!"

Qiu Zishu caught up from behind and saw this scene. She stomped her feet in frustration, her eyes reddening. "These people are unhappy with their own lives, so they love to gossip. What do they know? Do they understand education? Do they understand the future of children?"

Qiao Wanyin took a deep breath, her chest heaving as if she wanted to inhale all the noise into her lungs and then exhale it little by little.

She finally spoke, her voice low and steady: "It doesn't matter whether they understand or not, but I must make things clear in advance—we can't let rumors kill a good thing in the cradle."

After saying that, she raised her chin, her eyes clear and firm, and pushed open the door to leave.

The wooden door creaked open, and the chatter inside abruptly ceased, as if a thread had been cut.

The factory workers scattered in a panic. Some bent down to rummage through their pockets, some pretended to adjust their scarves, and others rushed to turn on the taps. The water was flowing freely, but no one was there to stop them.

Embarrassment and guilt appeared on everyone's face, and no one dared to look up at her.

"Dear sisters-in-law," Qiao Wanyin said, standing in the center of the room. Her voice was not loud, but it was unhurried and clear to everyone. "If you have any thoughts or doubts about the kindergarten, you can ask me now."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over each face. "I solemnly promise here that I will not charge a single penny. All children of active-duty soldiers, regardless of age, will be able to attend kindergarten for free and receive education on an equal footing."

She had already planned this out—this garden was not just for the children, but also the first step towards her ideal.

She wanted to ensure that these children who grew up in the factory camp had access to education, places to play, and hope to look forward to.

Once it gains a reputation and achieves tangible results, the subsequent recruitment of teachers, equipment, and expansion will naturally follow.

Connections, factory rules, and resources will follow.

A woman with curly hair crossed her arms, pursed her lips, and said sarcastically, "Free? Easier said than done! Where does the money come from? Does it fall from the sky? Can it be a magic trick?"

Qiao Wanyin looked at her, her expression calm and without any fluctuation. "The start-up capital was my own savings over the years, plus the support of relatives and friends, which I scraped together little by little. As for future operating expenses, I will formally submit an application to the factory to try to include them in the 'Factory-Owned Welfare Project' and apply for special subsidies."