During this time, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, traversing mountains and valleys to visit impoverished students' families. Although physically exhausted, their hearts were filled with warmth and satisfaction. They saw the hope in the children's eyes and felt the value of what they were doing. Shen Tingzhou watched Lin Wanqiu's tireless efforts for the children, his heart brimming with pride. He knew that this woman not only possessed an outstanding business acumen but also a kind and warm heart. She used her own strength to help more and more people, making "Natural Taste" a brand not just a food brand, but also a symbol of love and responsibility.
Upon returning to the Hongqi Production Brigade, Lin Wanqiu immediately convened a meeting of the fund management team and adjusted the funding plan based on the findings of their investigation in the southwestern mountainous region. They included over fifty impoverished students from Qingxi Town and surrounding areas in the funding program, providing them with comprehensive assistance including tuition, living expenses, and learning materials. Simultaneously, they launched a Hope Primary School construction project, hiring a professional design team and construction crew to ensure the quality of the school's construction. Furthermore, they partnered with several charitable enterprises in the provincial capital to donate a large number of books, computers, and laboratory equipment to schools in impoverished areas, improving local teaching conditions.
After the news spread, people from all walks of life responded enthusiastically. Many kind-hearted individuals and businesses contacted Lin Wanqiu, hoping to donate money and supplies to the scholarship fund; the employees of the food workshop also generously contributed again, some donating their bonuses, and others donating books and school supplies from their homes; after learning about the news at Peking University, Shen Nian'an also organized his classmates to donate a large number of books and clothes to children in impoverished mountainous areas, and even used his holiday time to go to the southwestern mountainous areas to tutor the children.
The "Natural Taste" Special Scholarship Fund is gaining increasing influence, and the number of impoverished students it supports is constantly expanding, from the initial twenty-odd to over two hundred, covering more than twenty impoverished counties in eight provinces. The fund's operation is also becoming more standardized; the management team has established a comprehensive mechanism for screening beneficiaries, managing funds, and tracking feedback to ensure that every penny is used effectively and that every child receiving assistance receives genuine help.
To raise awareness of the scholarship fund, Lin Wanqiu regularly publishes its income and expenditure details and achievements on the food shop's official website and in local media, accepting public oversight. She also organizes "Love and Support for Education" charity events, inviting representatives of the sponsored students and donors to participate, allowing them to interact face-to-face and share the children's learning achievements and growth experiences.
At a charity event to support education, Su Xiaoyan spoke as a representative of the students receiving assistance. Wearing brand-new clothes, she had a confident smile on her face and her eyes shone brightly. "Two years ago, I almost dropped out of school because of family poverty. It was the 'Natural Delight' special scholarship fund that gave me the opportunity to continue my studies, and it was Aunt Lin and Uncle Shen who gave me hope. In the past two years, I have studied hard and consistently ranked first in my grade. I hope to be admitted to a teachers' college in the future, return to the mountains to become a teacher, and, like my principal, educate and nurture students, helping more children leave the mountains."
Her speech was sincere and moving, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. Lin Wanqiu looked at the confident and cheerful Su Xiaoyan on stage, her heart filled with satisfaction. Over the past two years, she had watched Su Xiaoyan grow from a shy and introverted little girl into a confident and optimistic young woman, and seen more and more impoverished children have had their destinies changed thanks to the scholarship fund. She knew that all her efforts had been worthwhile.
Shen Tingzhou sat down next to Lin Wanqiu, gently took her hand, and said softly, "Wanqiu, look, these children are growing up slowly. Your love has changed their destiny."
Lin Wanqiu turned to look at him, her eyes full of tenderness: "This is not my achievement alone, but the result of our joint efforts. It is because of your continued support, the support of my employees, and the help of kind-hearted people from all walks of life that the scholarship fund has reached its current size."
She paused, then continued, "I've always believed that a company should not only pursue economic benefits but also shoulder social responsibility. 'Natural Flavor''s achievements today are inseparable from the support of national policies and the care from all sectors of society. Now that we have the ability, we should give back to society and help those in need. Only in this way can a company go further and more steadily."
Shen Tingzhou nodded, deeply agreeing. Over the years, he had witnessed Lin Wanqiu's growth and transformation firsthand, from a mother who only wanted to protect her own family, to an entrepreneur who led her fellow villagers to prosperity, and then to a philanthropist with a heart full of love who gave back to society. Her vision and character had grown ever broader and higher. And he himself, under Lin Wanqiu's influence, had also become more focused on social responsibility and actively participated in various charitable activities.
Just as the scholarship fund was flourishing and helping more and more impoverished children, a breakthrough was also made in resolving the unresolved issues from Shen Tingzhou's mission years ago. He received news from his old comrade-in-arms that the traitor who betrayed intelligence and caused the mission's failure had finally surfaced and was currently hiding in the border region, requiring his personal assistance in its capture.
That evening, after receiving the news, Shen Tingzhou sat in his study, his brow furrowed and his expression grave. He knew this mission was fraught with danger; the border region was complex, and the traitors were cunning and ruthless. A single misstep could plunge him into peril. But he also knew that as a former soldier, it was his responsibility to uncover the truth and capture the traitors, and he could not back down.
Lin Wanqiu entered the study carrying a cup of hot tea. Seeing Shen Tingzhou's grave expression, her heart skipped a beat. She put down the teacup and asked softly, "Tingzhou, what's wrong? Has something happened?"
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