Shen Qinghe stood calmly in the crowd, then suddenly said loudly, "Although I am poor, I am willing to donate three taels of silver to the soup kitchens outside the city gate."
Shen Qinghe was tall and handsome, and attracted everyone's attention as soon as he spoke. "I am from Shenjia Village. More than a year ago, my father passed away for some reason. However, my family was poor and had no money for burial. We relied entirely on the help of our neighbors. Half of the people who contributed money and effort at that time were surnamed Li. After the funeral, I went to thank them and heard them say that..."
“Back then, their ancestors suffered from a drought, and their crops failed. They were forced to walk hundreds of miles, passing through many villages, but no one was willing to take them in. Only the villagers of Shenjia Village were willing to let them stay. Later, they were given land and helped to build houses so that they could settle down in Shenjia Village. The Li family swore that if any of the descendants of the Shen family in Shenjia Village encountered any difficulties, the Li family must lend a helping hand.”
"Nowadays, the Shen and Li families in Shenjia Village are as close as family, without any distinction. Although those refugees from outside the city are in dire straits at the moment, if they can settle down here, most of them will be grateful for the kindness of the county. In the future, Qing Shi County will only become more prosperous."
Meng Zhao glanced at Shen Qinghe, quite appreciating his support. But where did this kid get so much money? He had given Shen Qingze and Shen Qingyu pocket money, but never to him. Gu Shi had also said that she hadn't given him any money since he entered the county school.
I had thought things through when I donated money. I donated charcoal to the county's welfare home because the people there were from the county. I felt indebted to her and thought I would come to her shop to support her business when things got better.
The thirty taels of silver donated were to show support for the county magistrate, to tell him that he was fully cooperating with his policies, and to hope that he would think of him when good things happen in the future.
Why did Shen Qinghe donate so much money? Was it just to support himself? Was he just putting on a show? While Meng Zhao was looking at Shen Qinghe with suspicion, the people around him couldn't control their emotions anymore.
Shen Qinghe, with his scholarly appearance, spoke in a calm yet earnest tone, which was exceptionally convincing. One man, upon hearing his words, immediately burst into tears, sobbing as he spoke.
“Your Excellency, I am willing to donate three taels of silver. Twenty years ago, my father was also a refugee. He came to Qingshi County when he had nowhere else to go and settled down here. If my father were alive today and knew that there are refugees suffering and freezing outside the city, he would scold me for doing nothing.”
Immediately afterward, a woman stepped forward and said, "Sir, sir, my family still has a few quilts that were prepared for my wedding. We haven't been able to use them. I'll go and get them now and donate them to the disaster victims. It's also a way to bring good fortune to my child, hoping that he will never have to leave his hometown in the future, and even if he does, that someone will be there to give him a quilt to keep him warm."
"I'll donate one tael of silver," a young woman shouted.
"I'll donate 100 jin of rice." An old man raised his hand tremblingly.
"I'll donate ten pounds of pork," someone else immediately responded.
At this moment, someone in the crowd mentioned, "The shop that the young lady who donated charcoal earlier runs seems to be called Meng Ji Braised Pork. I must go and try it when it opens. She's such a kind person."
"I always thought that businessmen were all profit-driven and had no integrity. I never expected there to be such a heroine. I'll have to try it when it opens."
Hearing these discussions, some of the nearby merchants with sharp ears immediately had an idea. "I'm from Zheng's Grain Shop. I'm willing to donate 1,000 jin of rice to the soup kitchens outside the city."
“I am from Baisheng Pawnshop, and I am willing to donate one hundred taels of silver.”
In an instant, whether out of genuine sympathy, a desire to gain fame, or simply influenced by the atmosphere, the onlookers generously donated money and goods, all ready to do their part to help the disaster victims overcome this difficult time.
With the enthusiastic participation of the people, the few people Wang Xian had prepared for registration were not enough. Before Shen Qinghe entered the county school, he had met him once and knew that he was quite learned, so he temporarily conscripted able-bodied men to go and register.
Magistrate Wang Xian was pushed aside by the crowd participating in the fundraising, and for a moment he was both amused and exasperated. His gaze inadvertently swept over Meng Zhao not far away. He straightened his clothes and solemnly bowed to Meng Zhao.
When Meng Zhao saw Wang Xian bow, she also bowed slightly in response. They understood each other without saying anything more. Then she led her people and drove the mule cart home.
An hour later, news of the donation office reached the second-floor wing of Chunfeng Tower. It was the end of the year, a time when many things were complicated. Xiao Youzhi was usually busy with various affairs and had not been to Qingshi County for a long time.
Having finally found a moment of leisure to rest, he was dressed in a magnificent robe, lounging languidly on a soft couch, one hand casually resting on the armrest, the other gently rubbing his temples, listening to Chen Xiaowu's report below.
"Mrs. Meng said that her business depends entirely on the support of the people in the county. Now that the county is in trouble, she should do her part."
Xiao Youzhi closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. "He certainly knows how to make a name for himself."
He then slowly opened his eyes, sat up, and said with a cold look in his eyes, "Go and call Manager Xu over here."
Although Manager Xu had sensed that his master wanted to replace him because Chunfenglou's business was so-so, recently, the shop has made a lot of money from braised venison and braised beef because of the New Year.
He felt his position was secure and nothing would happen to him, so when he heard Xiao Youzhi call him, he went up without thinking much.
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