"Really?" A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Wanqiu's eyes. "But what about your situation..."
"It's alright, everything's arranged." Shen Tingzhou smiled. "Doing something so meaningful with you is more important than anything else."
A few days later, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou, along with members of the fund management team, embarked on a journey to the southwestern mountainous region. They traveled by train, then by bus, and finally by local tricycle, enduring a bumpy ride until they reached their destination—Qingxi Town in the southwestern mountainous region.
As the car entered Qingxi Town, the scene before them was shocking. Surrounded by mountains, the mountain roads were rugged, and along the muddy roads were low, dilapidated mud-brick houses with thatched roofs. Some houses were even leaning, threatening to collapse at any moment. The primary school in the town center was even more heartbreakingly rudimentary. A few dilapidated mud houses served as classrooms, with windows without glass, only covered by plastic sheeting, which rattled loudly in the cold wind. The desks and chairs in the classrooms were all worn out, with pitted surfaces and wobbly chairs. The blackboard was a wooden board that had been brushed with ink, and the writing was blurry and illegible.
The children, dressed in patched clothes and carrying worn-out schoolbags, walked barefoot on the muddy mountain path, yet each had an innocent smile on their face and a thirst for knowledge in their eyes. Upon seeing Lin Wanqiu and her group, the children curiously gathered around, their big eyes looking at them timidly, but without a trace of malice.
Lin Wanqiu felt a pang of pain in her heart. She recalled her happy childhood in the modern world, and Shen Nian'an's spacious and bright study. Tears welled up in her eyes. She stepped forward, gently patted a little girl's head, and softly asked, "Little friends, do you like reading?"
The little girl nodded vigorously, her voice clear yet tinged with shyness: "We love it! We want to study, we want to go to university, we want to leave the mountains!"
A simple sentence, yet it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer. Lin Wanqiu fought back tears and said with a smile, "Good children, I will help you from now on so you can study with peace of mind and realize your dreams."
Accompanied by the principal of Qingxi Town Central Primary School and local education officials, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou toured the school, learning in detail about its teaching practices and the children's living conditions. The principal, an elderly man with gray hair who had taught there for over thirty years, grasped Lin Wanqiu's hand and said emotionally, "Ms. Lin, Mr. Shen, thank you so much! Conditions here are very difficult; many children have to give up their studies because of poverty. Your scholarship fund has truly brought hope to these children!"
Seeing the tears in the principal's eyes, Lin Wanqiu was deeply moved: "Principal, you've worked so hard. Teaching and nurturing students is a noble cause, and we've only done what we should do. Next, we will donate a batch of books, desks, chairs, and teaching equipment to the school to improve its teaching conditions. At the same time, we will expand the scope of our assistance so that all eligible impoverished students in Qingxi Town can receive aid and not have to worry about tuition and living expenses."
Shen Tingzhou added, "We also plan to build a Hope Primary School here so that children can study in spacious and bright classrooms. We will arrange for a professional construction team to come and start construction as soon as possible."
The principal and teachers were moved to tears upon hearing this, and repeatedly expressed their gratitude. The children cheered and jumped for joy, their faces beaming with bright smiles—smiles that were pure and beautiful, like wildflowers in the mountains, blooming with tenacious vitality in adversity.
Over the next few days, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou visited more than a dozen impoverished student families. The sights they encountered at each home broke their hearts. Su Xiaoyan's family lived in a mud-brick house halfway up a mountain. The house had no decent furniture, only a worn-out wooden bed and a small table. Her grandparents were elderly and in poor health, unable to work, leaving the entire burden of the family on the shoulders of twelve-year-old Su Xiaoyan. Even so, Su Xiaoyan never gave up on her studies. Every day after school, after finishing her chores, she would study by the dim light of a kerosene lamp, consistently achieving top grades.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Sister, Brother, please sit down." Su Xiaoyan thoughtfully poured them water, a shy smile on her face. Her little hands, roughened from years of housework, were still tightly clutching a well-worn textbook.
Looking at the sensible girl in front of her, Lin Wanqiu felt a pang of heartache and admiration. She took out some nutritional supplements and school supplies from her bag and handed them to Su Xiaoyan's grandparents: "Uncle and Aunt, please accept these things and help the child get better. We will take care of Xiaoyan's tuition and living expenses from now on, so she can focus on her studies and not worry about things at home."
Su Xiaoyan's grandmother held Lin Wanqiu's hand, tears streaming down her face: "Thank you, kind person! Thank you for giving Xiaoyan hope! Our Xiaoyan is a good child. If she can continue her studies, she will definitely have a bright future!"
Su Xiaoyan's eyes also reddened, and she choked out, "Sister, thank you! I will definitely study hard and repay you and everyone who has helped me in the future!"
Lin Wanqiu patted her head gently and said, "You're welcome, child. Studying hard is the best way to repay us. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just tell us. We will always support you."
During their visits, they encountered many similar touching scenes. There was a boy who had lost his father and whose mother was seriously ill, yet remained optimistic and cheerful; there was a girl who lived with her aunt and kept her thirst for knowledge hidden in her heart. They all possessed indomitable spirits and aspirations for the future. Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou noted down their situations one by one and promised to provide them with long-term financial assistance so that they could complete their studies with peace of mind.
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