Chapter 16 The Gloomy Little Darling of the 1970s
Shen Ci withdrew her hand from the principal's overly enthusiastic hands and smiled somewhat awkwardly.
"Principal, you're too kind. This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope it can help more children who are eager for knowledge to have no worries about their education."
"However, I'm afraid I won't have time to attend the subsequent thank-you ceremony."
I intend to entrust this matter entirely to my son, Zhou Huai. If it requires him to go on stage to offer his greetings, let him represent him.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowded, curious, and shocked little faces outside the window, and raised her voice slightly.
"Ultimately, it was because Zhou Huai studied here that I saw the school's efforts and the children's eagerness to learn, which gave me the idea to donate money."
I hope that more students as smart and motivated as him can study peacefully in a better environment.
The money was all spent, and the system's reward notification had arrived. Shen Ci now just wanted to find a quiet place to carefully study the identity selection card. As for these empty titles and thanks, she had only done them for Zhou Huai.
She knew better than anyone that Zhou Huai's ultimate descent into darkness stemmed from the extreme deprivation of his family of origin.
He received neither genuine care nor basic material security. He possessed neither love nor money. This double lack eroded his young mind like poison, becoming the root of his corruption.
As he grew older, his extraordinary intelligence only exacerbated his suffering.
He was acutely aware of the injustice he was in and the unbearable circumstances he faced, yet he was powerless to escape them. This acute despair, coupled with the long-term contempt and insults he suffered, ultimately pushed him down a path of estrangement from his family and ingratitude.
Therefore, providing care and material support is only the first step.
Helping Zhou Huai build genuine self-confidence and allowing him to personally experience the feeling of being respected, recognized, and admired is also a crucial step in changing his fate.
Raising a healthy child requires both material and emotional support.
"Okay, okay! You go ahead and do your work!"
The principal nodded repeatedly, his smile almost overflowing.
"We will definitely communicate the specific details with Zhou Huai! Ms. Shen, this is truly a timely help!"
On behalf of all the teachers and students of the school, I thank you!
In the principal's office, the stack of banknotes, piled up like bricks, was still on the table, creating a strong visual impact.
The windows were covered with the faces of the students, their eyes wide open, all witnessing firsthand Shen Cihao's inhumane act.
"Oh my god! Zhou Huai's mother... she... she threw money at the principal!"
"That's a lot of money... I can't even count it all!"
"Who says Zhou Huai's family is poor?! They're at least a family with ten thousand yuan! No, a family with a hundred thousand yuan! Someone is definitely jealous and spreading rumors on purpose!"
"What exactly does the Zhou family do? They're incredibly wealthy!"
"What window did God close for Zhou Huai? Looks, grades, family background... and now even his mother is so beautiful and capable! Is there any way for anyone else to live?!"
A cacophony of voices, a mixture of disbelief, astonishment, and blatant envy, surged forth like a tide.
Zhou Huai stood calmly in place. These words, when they entered his ears, were indeed much more pleasant to hear than the harsh slander and defamation he had heard before.
Even though he wasn't one to enjoy flattery and praise, he was in a good mood right now.
Chen Ziwei's expression kept changing as he stared intently at Zhou Huai, trying to find the slightest flaw in his face. Although they couldn't hear the specific conversation in the principal's office, they clearly saw the scene of Zhou Huai's mother taking out money and the principal being moved to tears.
At this moment, Shen Ci came out, her leather shoes making a crisp sound on the cement ground.
She walked up to Zhou Huai and very naturally straightened his already neat collar, her voice gentle.
"Son, Mom has something to do at the company, so I have to go now."
Come home early after school, and I'll ask Aunt Fan to make your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs. School must be tiring, honey.
That natural and affectionate "baby" made Zhou Huai's ears burn slightly, and under the gaze of countless eyes, he nodded.
"……good."
What a treasure! It's really... so embarrassing!
Shen Ci smiled, turned and left. The sound of her heels clicking on the ground faded into the distance, and as soon as she was gone, all those burning gazes instantly focused on Zhou Huai—curiosity, inquiry, envy…
"Zhou Huai, is that really your mother? She looks so young! I thought she was your older sister!"
"Zhou Huai, your mother is so good to you! I'm so envious!"
"You two have such a good relationship..."
Hearing these words, Zhou Huai surprisingly did not feel uncomfortable. Instead, a strange warmth welled up in his heart, and he nodded slightly in response.
Yes, that's his mother.
Just then, the principal and Teacher Liu came out with solemn expressions.
"Zhou Huai, we've been looking for you."
Teacher Liu's voice carried an unprecedented fervor and a hint of barely perceptible respect.
"Your mother donated a large sum of money to the school in your name to improve teaching conditions and establish a scholarship fund."
The school will be holding a formal thank-you ceremony in a few days, and we hope you can speak on stage as a student representative.
boom!
This news was like another bombshell, exploding in the crowd!
"Donate?! My God!"
"It really is a donation! A donation to the school!"
"What exactly does Zhou Huai's family do?! This is terrifying!"
"This is what a truly wealthy family looks like!"
In those days, most families struggled to make ends meet, and with many children in each family, it was already difficult enough to barely survive and avoid starvation; they certainly couldn't afford any spare money.
There are many cases of people starving to death, yet the Zhou Huai family is so wealthy that they can donate money to the school!
At that moment, Zhou Huai felt envied by everyone, lifted up by curious gazes, feeling light and airy, as if he were walking on clouds.
A feeling I'd never experienced before—of being genuinely admired and envied by everyone—slowly replaced the gloom and inferiority that had always followed me.
...
On the other side, Shen Ci found a quiet corner and couldn't wait to call out to the system in his mind.
"System, this identity selection card... does it mean that whatever I describe will become real?"
She had a wildly imaginative mind.
"For example, could I simply set myself up as a runaway queen of a tropical island nation, possessing countless treasures waiting for me to inherit?"
"Host, please stop your unrealistic fantasies." The system's electronic voice was completely indifferent.
The identity card can only generate reasonable character background information; it is not a magic wish-granting machine.
It cannot conjure wealth, territory, or supernatural power out of thin air.
Currently, the host already possesses Shen Ci's original identity. Using this card, you can rationalize and improve your recent experiences based on this identity, making them consistent with your current financial resources and temperament, and generating corresponding supporting documents.
Please note that the edited content must be logically sound and will not directly grant you additional assets.
Having his illusions ruthlessly shattered by the system, Shen Ci awkwardly touched his nose. Well, as expected, there's no such thing as instant success.
She composed herself and began to think seriously.
As Zhou Huai's mother, the original owner's experience was tragic. She was sold by her family to the Zhou family as a child bride and was subjected to endless domestic violence and forced labor from the beginning of her marriage, like a silent old ox.
Even after giving birth, she was beaten every day. In the end, she could no longer bear it and chose to escape, but unfortunately died on the road of wandering.
Her life was lonely and miserable, short and tragic. The only thing she did not regret was choosing to run away in the end, and perhaps the only thing she regretted was giving birth to her child in such a family.
They brought him into the world, but also gave him pain.
However, in this era, a married woman often has little control over whether or not to have children, and countless women even lack control over their marriages. Reality is just that cruel.
Since that's the case... well, she's made up her mind!
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