Chapter 845 Sponsoring Impoverished Students After leaving the elegant but somewhat restrictive Western restaurant, Zhou Fang touched his still empty stomach and couldn't help but suggest, "Let's find a proper place to fill our stomachs; my stomach is still rumbling."
Lu Qingyang felt the same way, so the two of them found a small but brightly lit and very popular noodle shop called Noodle Shop near the Bund.
As soon as you enter, a wave of heat, a mixture of lard, scallion, and rich broth, hits you, instantly making you feel much more at ease.
We found a seat against the wall and ordered two bowls of their signature scallion oil and dried shrimp noodles, plus a steaming basket of fresh pork dumplings.
The noodles are chewy, the scallion oil is fragrant, and the dried shrimp adds freshness. It's simple yet flavorful.
Xiaolongbao has a thin skin and a generous filling, with plenty of soup inside. One bite and your mouth is filled with its fresh and delicious flavor.
Zhou Fang ate until his forehead was sweating, and said repeatedly, "This is more like it! So satisfying!"
Just as they were enjoying their meal, a small commotion arose from the next table.
A young woman who looked like a female student was frantically rummaging through her cloth bag, her face flushed, and said to the shopkeeper in a tearful voice:
"Boss, I'm so sorry, I... I clearly remember putting the money here, but it's gone... Could you please make an exception and I'll definitely bring the money back tomorrow?"
The noodle shop owner, a middle-aged man wearing a white apron, threw the rag he was holding onto the table upon hearing this. His brows furrowed, and his loud voice carried a street-smart straightforwardness: "Young lady, that won't do. My business is so small, how much do I make per bowl of noodles? If I give credit once, everyone will come and give credit too. How will I stay in business? I'm not running a charity. Paying for your meal is only right!"
The words, though rough, were not without merit, attracting the attention of several other diners at nearby tables.
The girl's eyes reddened even more from what she was said. She stood there helplessly, so embarrassed that she almost burst into tears.
Lu Qingyang didn't say anything, but silently sped up his eating.
After finishing the last xiaolongbao, he wiped his mouth, stood up, and went to the counter to pay.
"Boss, how much is our table? Including the lady next to us."
The shopkeeper paused for a moment, glanced at Lu Qingyang, then at the still embarrassed girl, before realizing what was happening. His face immediately brightened: "Oh, okay, two bowls of mixed noodles, a basket of small steamed buns, plus a bowl of plain noodles, that'll be five mao in total."
Lu Qingyang paid the money readily.
The girl had obviously heard it too. She looked up in surprise at Lu Qingyang, her face still streaked with tears, her eyes filled with gratitude.
She walked over quickly, bowed deeply to Lu Qingyang, her voice still choked with emotion, "Comrade, thank you so much! Please leave your address, I will definitely return the money to you tomorrow!"
Lu Qingyang smiled gently and waved his hand: "It's nothing, just a small matter. Don't worry about it. Just be more careful when you go out in the future."
Walking on the streets of Shanghai, Zhou Fang couldn't help but laugh and tease, "Qingyang, you really are like Lei Feng, doing good deeds anonymously."
Looking at the bustling crowd on the street, Lu Qingyang said calmly, "Everyone has their difficulties. The price of a bowl of noodles can solve someone's urgent problem."
The female student behind him stared in the direction Lu Qingyang had left, remaining in a daze for a long time.
...
After visiting the university where they were interning, Lu Qingyang and Zhou Fang began to implement their plan to sponsor impoverished college students.
Through the school's recommendation, we finally selected three students who were academically excellent and whose families were indeed in financial difficulty. We decided to use the "Jasmine Scholarship Fund" to pay for their tuition and basic living expenses. The only condition is that we hope they will give priority to working for companies under our name after they graduate.
That day, Ng and Zhou Fang went to that familiar little noodle shop near the school again.
I had just sat down and ordered when a clear, slightly urgent voice rang out beside me: "Brother, what a coincidence, we've run into you again!"
Lu Qingyang looked up and saw the girl with the ponytail and simple clothes standing next to the table.
"Hey there, classmate," Lu Qingyang greeted with a smile, "You look much better than last time."
"Yes!" The girl nodded vigorously, then handed over what she was holding: a few neatly folded bills and a few coins.
"Brother, I've been remembering the money you paid for my noodles this time. You must accept it."
Lu Qingyang paused for a moment, looking at the small change she had clearly saved in her hand. He felt a pang of emotion, but still gently declined, saying, "It's just a bowl of noodles, classmate, no need to be so polite..."
"No, brother, I appreciate your kindness, but I must repay this money. Otherwise, I won't be able to get over this hurdle in my heart, and I won't even enjoy my meals. Besides, I'm able to repay you now. I've secured a grant from a company that's willing to support me through my studies. So my financial situation is much better now, and you absolutely must accept this money!"
Lu Qingyang coughed lightly, "That's great news, congratulations!"
Knowing that if he didn't accept the money, the girl might really keep thinking about it.
"Alright, alright, then I'll accept it. It seems your classmate has quite a strong sense of principle."
Seeing that he had accepted the money, the girl immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and her smile became even brighter: "Thank you for understanding, brother. One should always be grateful and repay kindness. I should only do what I can. When I graduate and start working, and earn more money, if I meet you again, I will definitely treat you to a better meal."
As she spoke, she winked playfully.
The girl's wish had been fulfilled. She happily said goodbye to the girls and left the noodle shop with light steps.
Watching her energetic back, Zhou Fang finally couldn't help but chuckle: "This is too interesting. She used the money you gave her to pay back the money for noodles, and she thinks she's very capable and principled."
"This girl is quite interesting. She's self-respecting, strong-willed, and grateful. She's a promising talent. It would be great if she could work for our company in the future."
Zhou Fang asked ambiguously, "Is that really all you're thinking?"
"Otherwise what? What else do you think I have in mind?"
"Look how beautiful this girl is."
"No matter how pretty she is, she can't be as pretty as my wife."
In my eyes, there's simply no room for anyone else.
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