Chapter 49

"Ha ha, Teacher, don't worry. Daqiang came in a hurry this time, and I didn't expect the conditions at the nursing home to have become so tough. I made a bit of money, so I'm here to give you some. It's the New Year, and I want to show my respect to the elderly and the teacher."

As he spoke, he pulled out wads of crisp hundred-yuan bills from a black plastic bag!

Liu Zhanfu and his wife were dazzled by the sight. Is this real money? They instinctively touched it, and the unique smell of new bills was still there...

"Teacher, there's a total of 300,000 yuan here. Use it for now. Don't worry about the money; I earned it as a consultant for a company. It wasn't hard to come by, so just spend it freely. In a bit, Xiaojun will bring breakfast. We'll eat a bit later with the things he buys today." Zhao Zhiqiang took the steamed buns, smiled, and placed them on the table.

Liu Zhanfu and his wife were speechless for a long time.

He was doing this work purely as a volunteer.

The annual subsidy from the street office was all spent on the elderly, and his own food and expenses came from the crops of their three acres of thin land and the occasional help from his son working elsewhere.

A family used to poverty had never seen so much money.

They haggled for nearly half an hour. Zhao Zhiqiang was almost sweating!

"Daqiang, you, you are..." Teacher Liu was at a loss for words, "I know your family's conditions are not good. Your mother is also sick. This money?"

"Teacher, don't worry. My mother's condition has improved, and she is waiting for a kidney. After I returned from the army, I joined a large company. This money and our city apartment are all from my boss. Don't think too much about it. The New Year is important for the elderly. Spend it freely. If I have more in the future, I'll bring it again!" Zhao Zhiqiang put the three piles of money back into the bag and handed it to the teacher.

Tears streamed down Liu Zhanfu's face, and he sobbed silently, too moved to speak.

"Daqiang, life is hard. Now that you're old, you should enjoy some happiness—thank you on behalf of these elderly people!"

Thud!

Teacher Liu knelt down and respectfully kowtowed twice!

Very hard, very hard.

Zhao Zhiqiang did not refuse because he knew that only this way would the teacher feel at ease, accept the money, and spend it. He had a stubborn temper and would do what he wanted to do.

Zhao Zhiqiang understood that the teacher was not bowing to him but to a kind of filial piety.

This was something Teacher Liu had taught him.

So, after Teacher Liu completed his heartfelt thanks, Zhao Zhiqiang turned around.

Thud.

At this moment, the sound of a car engine came from outside the courtyard, and soon after, Zhu Zhijun walked in with a large cardboard box.

Zhao Zhiqiang knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times to Teacher Liu, who was standing by the bed.

"Teacher, without your teachings, I would not be who I am today. I would have been dismissed from the army. Now, I have learned, can earn money to support my family, and can do things. All of this is because of you. Thank you." At the same time, Zhao Zhiqiang used a bit of spiritual energy to activate the copper coin, and a stream of invisible golden energy radiated toward Zhu Zhijun.

What is Brother Qiang doing?

This scene was seen and heard by Zhu Zhijun, who had just entered with the breakfast and the cardboard box.

Boom!

It felt like he was struck by lightning, and he stood there in shock.

He was originally from Chang'an Village but later moved to Tieshan Street. His old home's dilapidated courtyard was used as a junkyard, but he had been taught by Teacher Liu in elementary school. However, he had not seen Liu Zhanfu since he graduated.

Brother Qiang? What is he doing?

More people arrived, not just one.

Teacher Liu quickly helped Zhao Zhiqiang up, wiped his tears with his cotton jacket sleeve, and smiled as he welcomed them, "Zhijun, you clever boy, ha ha, do you still recognize me?"

"Teacher Liu, I recognize you." Zhu Zhijun felt very ashamed.

With the help of the taxi driver Zhu Zhijun had hired, they quickly moved four or five boxes of different sizes.

Zhu Zhijun tried to pay the driver, but the driver held his hand down, "Brother, the fare is on me. If you need help again, just call me. Here's my card."

The driver got into the car and left, and Zhu Zhijun stared at the car for several seconds before turning back into the house.

Why are there so many good people in this world?

He felt a sudden warmth in his heart.

Soon, the four of them brought the breakfast they had just bought to the dining room, arranged the tables and plates, and for the elderly who were too sick to leave their rooms, Zhao Zhiqiang and Teacher Liu's wife brought the food to their beds.

After a busy morning, the thirty-odd elderly people, who were in their twilight years, enjoyed a delicious meal they hadn't had in years. Some cried while eating, and others laughed.

Seeing what they were wearing and what they had on their beds, Zhao Zhiqiang felt very sad, and Zhu Zhijun had never imagined there were places poorer than his own home!

Zhao Zhiqiang knew that most of the elderly here had no children or caregivers. There were no wealthy families' elderly here; in the countryside, they were people who lived by the mercy of the sky.

When Teacher Liu resigned from his teaching job to take on this role, many people did not understand. Later, they learned that Teacher Liu was an orphan who had grown up on the charity of the village, and this was his way of repaying the kindness. From then on, he was highly respected by the villagers.

The money from the village and the subsidies from the elderly's land rents were like a drop in the bucket. With rising prices and little attention outside of the holidays, the nursing home was struggling to stay open.

Zhao Zhiqiang's money was like a timely snowfall. Teacher Liu was so happy that it felt like the New Year. He specially packed five large, yellow, and shiny steamed buns for Zhao Zhiqiang, "Take them home, take them home."

After the meal, Zhao Zhiqiang mentioned his intention to run for village chief.

Liu Zhanfu thought for a long time.

After tapping the ashes from his large copper pipe, he said, "Village chief, not a big position, no rank, no status, but not a small one either, responsible for the livelihood of thousands of people. Although it's not as powerful as the old production teams, the current management of interests is more complex, and people's thoughts are varied. There are many difficult situations, and issues like demolition, land distribution, and subsidies are very complicated. You must be selfless, clean, and serve the people!"

The three "musts" left a deep impression on Zhao Zhiqiang.

"Yes," Zhao Zhiqiang bowed respectfully, "Teacher, you taught me how to be a person, and now you're teaching me how to do things. I will do my best to be a good person and do good things."

Zhu Zhijun stood to the side, feeling a surge of blood flow through his body, admiring the teacher-student relationship, and feeling ashamed, thinking he was like a grain of rat droppings next to them.

"I support you in running for the position of village chief in Chang'an Village! I support you with both hands. Zhiqiang, you have really grown up. Just seeing you help the elderly here today, I am one hundred percent confident. Go ahead! Don't be timid. If you have difficulties, I can't help much, but I can help with rural matters."

Zhao Zhiqiang felt relieved, like he had taken a pill to calm his nerves.

He listened to Teacher Liu.

Teacher Liu was a talented man. After becoming an orphan in that era, he stayed in the countryside with the educated youth, married a rural woman, now his wife, and stayed in Chang'an Village for thirty years.

He started taking care of the elderly four years ago and had a high moral standing in Chang'an Village and even Tieshan Street.

Zhao Zhiqiang felt like he had found a place to rely on. With Teacher Liu's words, his heart was bright.

"Remember, a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold."

Teacher Liu patted Zhao Zhiqiang's head, "Go ahead and work hard."

Zhu Zhijun's heart was pierced again, feeling a sharp pain. A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold.

"Brother Qiang, can I help out here for a few days?"

For some reason, seeing the elderly who could barely move, his heart ached, and he suddenly had this idea.

Zhao Zhiqiang patted his shoulder and smiled, "Sure, help the teacher here. Focus on what the teacher assigns you, and call me if you need help."

After saying goodbye to Teacher Liu's family, Zhao Zhiqiang prepared to return to the village, and Zhu Zhijun saw him off to the door.

"Brother Qiang, you really want to run for village chief?"

Zhu Zhijun couldn't understand his leader anymore. With such powerful abilities, why would he want to be such a small official?

"Xiaojun, work hard here. Call me if you need help. The teacher has it tough, so do more heavy work. I'll come and help when I have time. People at their age should enjoy their lives!"

Zhao Zhiqiang didn't say anything else, got into the car, and drove toward the Chang'an Village Committee.

Zhu Zhijun thought of his mother, a rural woman almost like Teacher Liu's wife, whose health was not good...

A clear tear rolled down his cheek.

Unfortunately, Zhao Zhiqiang didn't see it.

He used a bit of spiritual energy.

Zhu Zhijun used a bit when he entered.

Teacher Liu used a bit when he spoke.

Only two bits of spiritual energy were left today!

He had to be careful, or he would have to draw blood again. There was still much to do. Although he couldn't try the acupuncture on his mother yet, he could use the spiritual energy to probe the disease location as Dr. Lin had said.

Xiaojun, don't blame me for manipulating you. You really need to change and learn to be good, not a gambling addict.

I'm not sure if using 'greed' on others will really work.

Zhao Zhiqiang wasn't sure if Zhu Zhijun would stay on the right path. Heart problems need heart medicine, and even a god's intervention requires his own willingness to change.

At a city hospital's general surgery ward a few kilometers away.

Zhao Tiejun, whose face had swollen, tried to get up several times but was pushed back down by his mother.

His uncle, Li De, the director of Tieshan Street and former mayor of Tieshan Town, stood by, his face as dark as a river that had been polluted for decades.

"Zhao Zhiqiang? What is he?" With a bang, a punch hit the bedside table, and Li De said through gritted teeth, "Sister, don't worry. If I can't deal with those bastards from Jinzun, I can certainly deal with this little punk. I can crush him with one hand."

Lin Xuerou, who was about to change Zhao Tiejun's bandages and was wearing a large mask, heard the part about "Zhao Zhiqiang" and was slightly startled.

PS: Thank you to book friends 140416075359960 and Suiyu333 for your generous support. May your fortunes soar!

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