Chapter 72

In Jiang Han's view, now should be the busiest time for Zhao Zhiqiang, whether it's the proposal or fundraising, both are extremely stressful tasks. But why would he run into him at the entrance of the welfare home?

Zhao Zhiqiang had just heard someone come, and it was a woman. But he didn't turn back to see who it was. Suddenly, he was patted, and he was slightly startled!

Who?

Focusing his eyes, he saw it was her.

Jiang Han.

Her hair, cut to her ears, was shiny and black, her face fair and delicate, and this time she was wearing glasses. Paired with a wool coat and flat boots, she looked very different from the two times he had seen her at the village committee, very fashionable.

"Oh—Director Jiang, hello." Zhao Zhiqiang had adapted to this form of address, regardless of rank, he called all officials by their titles, like District Chief Gu, Director Jiang, Secretary Zhang... Zhao Zhiqiang also followed the trend and called her Director Jiang.

"Hehe, I'm just an intern, don't call me that." Jiang Han was amused by his exaggerated title and laughed.

Very beautiful.

Her smile was like a blooming flower.

Zhao Zhiqiang, who didn't have many words, thought of this, really like a blooming plum blossom.

Jiang Han's face turned slightly red under his gaze.

"Ha ha—Do you always look at girls like this? Haven't you ever been hit?"

Zhao Zhiqiang's face also turned red.

He felt a bit embarrassed, "Ha ha, when I was looking at you just now, I got distracted."

"Distracted?"

"Um, I thought of a plum blossom. Really, it's very similar."

Hearing this, Jiang Han's heart tightened!

"Hehe, it seems you're not a blockhead after all. You even use metaphors to compliment people, quite different from the soldier image I saw before!"

Zhao Zhiqiang laughed self-deprecatingly, "Hehe, actually, I haven't looked at a girl like this for three years. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. In the vast desert, the only females I saw were sand rats..."

"Hehe!"

Jiang Han secretly admired Zhao Zhiqiang's frankness. This guy was too straightforward, and the way he spoke was both amusing and endearing.

"What are you doing at the children's welfare home? Aren't you busy with the election?"

"Oh, I happen to have some money in my hands, and I want to donate it... It only arrived after the New Year. I originally planned to come before the New Year to give the children a New Year's gift."

Zhao Zhiqiang made up a story on the spot, standing at the door with a black plastic bag, speaking earnestly.

"Ah, isn't your family—quite poor? How..."

"Oh, I recently did a job for a company, and they gave me some extra money. My family's difficulties have been resolved, so I decided to use the extra money to improve the children's lives. By the way, why are you here?"

"Hehe, my mom works here. Come on, I'll take you in. Grandpa Han, could you open the door for us..."

Inside the courtyard, under Grandpa Han's suspicious gaze, Zhao Zhiqiang walked up to the second-floor office.

"Right, we just got back after the New Year. She's here, come on."

Jiang Han smiled warmly and walked quickly ahead.

Zhao Zhiqiang subconsciously touched his ear and followed her into the room marked "Director's Office."

It turned out her mother was the director here...

"Auntie, Happy New Year."

Zhao Zhiqiang first put on his trademark smile, bowed slightly, and greeted her.

"Good, good, Happy New Year to you too." A woman in her fifties, dressed simply and elegantly, with a dignified demeanor, greeted him kindly.

"Xiao Han, who is this?" The woman's gaze clearly had an extra layer of inquiry, with surprise and consideration.

Jiang Han jumped to her mother's side, pulling her arm, "Mom, this is my colleague from Chang'an Village. He wants to donate some money to the children's welfare home."

"Ah, that—welcome!" The woman was slightly surprised at first, then personally welcomed Zhao Zhiqiang to the living room, asked Jiang Han to get water, and had him sit down. She always treated donors with such respect, without any airs of a district-level official.

Zhao Zhiqiang didn't beat around the bush and directly turned the bag upside down, spilling out the money...

"Auntie, here is 500,000 yuan, for the children to use!" He even placed the bag on top of the money.

Ah!

Uh—

The mother and daughter never expected that this young colleague's bag would contain bundles of 10,000 yuan notes!

500,000 yuan!

"Auntie, here is 500,000 yuan, not much. Just use it to improve the children's living conditions or medical expenses. Please keep the money." He had to repeat it, feeling strange. Did no one come to donate frequently?

Jiang's mother was greatly surprised.

She had seen donations before, many more than this, but such a straightforward and simple donation, except for anonymous transfers, was the only one of its kind.

There were no media following to report, no need to pose for photos, no need to write materials or publish them, and no leaders or organizations coming to have the children express their gratitude.

"Comrade, I represent all the children in the welfare home to thank you!" She was about to bow, but Zhao Zhiqiang stopped her.

"Auntie, no need for thanks. This is something I should do within my capabilities."

"Then, we need to arrange for media coverage. Young man, this is a charitable act. By the way, are you a Party member?"

Zhao Zhiqiang was taken aback, laughed, "Auntie, I haven't reached the standard of a Party member yet. Auntie, please keep the money, and treat it as an anonymous donation. I'll play with the children for a while and then leave. Jiang Han knows, I still have election matters to attend to, so I won't stay long."

Jiang's mother thought for a moment, "No, we must issue a receipt. We will inform your community after completing the necessary procedures."

"Auntie, really, no need. Please don't!" Zhao Zhiqiang smiled bitterly, "Auntie, please handle the procedures, but don't inform anyone!"

After saying that, he smiled and left the room.

In the Director's Office, the old and the young looked at each other in surprise.

"This young man really doesn't seek fame for his good deeds. What does he do, Xiao Han?"

Jiang Han shook her head, "He was a soldier before, now he's running for village chief. He said he's working as a consultant for a company... Hehe, quite complicated, but he was seriously injured saving his comrades and now has a bowl-sized scar on his chest!"

Jiang's mother was stunned!

"Ah, you've seen his chest?"

Jiang Han immediately knew her mother had misunderstood from her tone.

"Mom—where are you going with this? When he was making his campaign speech, he patted his chest and made a pledge to the whole village and the street supervision group. Everyone saw it..."

"Oh, I see."

Jiang's mother hesitated, "His family, are they very wealthy? Hmm, 500,000 yuan, to donate it so easily, many people can't do that. Without love, even with money, they can't do it."

"His family? They probably don't have much money," Jiang Han had a rough understanding, "Both his parents are farmers, and he has a younger brother. It's quite difficult. But he said this money was earned as a consultant. Forget it, I won't talk about this with you. I'll go play with the children..."

Jiang Han sensed her mother's hidden meaning and quickly went downstairs.

Jiang's mother looked at her clever daughter and smiled.

"How can I know what you think if I don't test you? Bringing people to me for testing... This young man seems very honest and has a heart of love, quite good."

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