At this moment, Zhu's mother also came out from the inner room. Her steps were still a little unsteady, but her spirits were obviously much better.
Hearing their conversation, her eyes reddened, and she said emotionally, "Child, I know our family is poor and we don't have any delicacies to treat our benefactors, but can you at least let my daughter make some dumplings to show our appreciation?"
Zhu Shuang, standing to the side, also urged them to stay, saying, "Yes, Liu Feng, Sister Jingya, please stay a little longer. I'll go make some dumplings so you can eat something hot before you leave..." Her words were full of anticipation.
Liu Feng and Yu Jingya exchanged a glance and finally nodded.
Before long, Zhu Shuang had quickly prepared the dumpling filling, which consisted of scallions and eggs. Afterward, Zhu Shuang and Yu Jingya sat together, laughing and chatting as they wrapped dumplings.
Little Sweetie joined in, her little hands fiddling with the dough, turning a perfectly neat dough into all sorts of strange shapes; she was such a troublemaker.
By the time Zhu's father boiled the water, the dumplings were already wrapped; his hands were incredibly fast.
The steaming dumplings, served in a bowl, have a simple and honest flavor that warms both the stomach and the heart.
Just as Liu Feng and his group finished eating the dumplings and were about to get up to leave, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. Everyone was startled, and Zhu's father quickly went to the door to look. He saw a group of people walking towards the house, led by the school principal and several teachers.
It turned out that when the principal heard that Liu Feng had come to Zhu Shuang's house, he felt bad about the fact that no one from the school had attended the wedding. So he brought the teachers over in a hurry, firstly to apologize to Liu Feng in person, and secondly to take this opportunity to get closer to Liu Feng.
However, they did not state the purpose of their visit directly. Instead, they came under the guise of caring for teachers in need at the school and even brought gifts such as oil, rice, and noodles to express their goodwill.
When they saw that Zhu's father could walk normally again, they were shocked. After asking around, they learned that it was Liu Feng who had cured him, and they felt even greater respect for Liu Feng. They couldn't help but wonder if Liu Feng had obtained some great opportunity during his five-year disappearance.
So, they looked at Liu Feng with a gleam in their eyes.
Seeing this, Liu Feng couldn't help but secretly admire the school leaders' perfectly timed appearance. He smiled and stepped forward, exchanging a few warm greetings with several of his former teachers, before getting straight to the point:
“Principal, I visited Teacher Zhu Shuang’s home today and noticed that her living conditions are really poor. It’s also far from the school, making it very inconvenient for her to commute to and from get off work. I was thinking that our school might be able to improve the living conditions of our teachers. I’m willing to donate funds to build a teachers’ building so that every teacher can live in a spacious and bright house and teach with peace of mind.”
Upon hearing this, the principal's spirits lifted. He hadn't expected Liu Feng to be so direct and quick to offer such an inspiring suggestion on the spot. His eyes widened, filled with surprise and disbelief, as he exclaimed, "Liu Feng, your suggestion is fantastic! The school has always wanted to improve the teachers' living conditions, but funding has always been a major problem. We are truly grateful that you thought of contributing to the school!"
Liu Feng smiled and gently shook his head, his expression calm and humble: "Principal, please don't say that. I am also a student who graduated from this school. I am grateful for the source of my blessings, and I am happy to do something practical for my alma mater. However, I hope that the construction of this teachers' building can start as soon as possible, so that teachers like Zhu Shuang who have made silent contributions can move into new homes as soon as possible and no longer be troubled by the trivialities of life."
Upon hearing this, the teachers nearby exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with astonishment and delight. Then, their eyes lit up with excitement, and they began to whisper amongst themselves in enthusiastic discussion.
An elderly teacher with graying hair said in a slightly trembling voice, "This...this is truly a wonderful thing! Our school has been hoping for this teachers' building for so many years. Now, thanks to Liu Feng's help, we have solved our urgent problem."
Another teacher nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, Liu Feng has really made something of himself. He still remembers his alma mater and us teachers. That's rare!"
The principal gripped Liu Feng's hands tightly and shook them vigorously, raising his voice several octaves: "Liu Feng! This is like sending charcoal in snowy weather! I don't know how to express the school's gratitude to you."
Liu Feng smiled, his expression still calm and composed: "Principal, you should discuss this first and see what other difficulties the school is facing. Please compile a list of them all, including teachers and students who are experiencing financial difficulties. As long as it's a problem for the school, don't leave anyone out. Once you have the list, tell Teacher Zhu Shuang, and I will arrange for someone to contact her. The funds can be available at any time."
The principal and several teachers were overjoyed to hear this. They had thought Liu Feng was simply donating money to build the building, but they hadn't expected him to be willing to help others in need as well. This gesture was truly profound.
Zhu Shuang stood to the side, deeply moved. She thought to herself that Liu Feng's willingness to offer financial assistance to his alma mater was mostly out of consideration for her.
Thinking of this, she could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. She quickly walked to Liu Feng's side, her voice choked with emotion, "Liu Feng, thank you."
After drinking the wine infused with the vital energy-replenishing pill, Zhu's mother felt much better and got out of bed refreshed. Her eyes never left Liu Feng, and she thought to herself, "This child is not only handsome, but also incredibly kind-hearted. He has given our family a second life, and he's probably very devoted to my daughter. If my daughter could marry him, even as a concubine, she'd have someone to rely on for the rest of her life..."
Women's minds are always delicate and sensitive, and as soon as Zhu's mother had this thought, Yu Jingya seemed to sense it, and she would occasionally turn her head to look at the sky outside.
Seeing this, Liu Feng stood up again and politely but firmly took his leave.
Although the principal and teachers were reluctant to part with Liu Feng and wished they could keep him a little longer, they knew it was inappropriate to force him to stay. They all expressed that they would keep in touch in the future and thanked him again and again.
Mr. Zhu, Mrs. Zhu, and Zhu Shuang's family escorted Liu Feng, Yu Jingya, and Xiao Tiantian to the crossroads. Watching their departing figures, Mr. Zhu was filled with emotion, his voice slightly hoarse: "Our family has truly met a benefactor today. This Liu Feng is so kind and righteous! If he ever needs anything in the future, we will repay him even if it means going through fire and water."
After this incident, Zhu Shuang's status at school rose rapidly.
Her life got better and better. Her parents recovered completely, and she quietly helped many students from impoverished families, earning the respect and love of the entire school.
But in Zhu Shuang's heart, the most beautiful memory of her life is still that rainy night. The boy she had a crush on for a long time held an umbrella and walked side by side with her in the rain.
Although the road was short, and the raindrops soaked the hem of her clothes, every time the rain fell, she couldn't help but think of him, of that innocent and beautiful time, until the end of her life...
[Poem]:
Time flies like an arrow, impossible to catch; but our feelings remain intertwined, our intentions unwavering.
A cup of wine warms a heart that has endured for a hundred years; a lifetime is spent cherishing those under the umbrella.
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