Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire
Chapter 403 - Chapter 403 392 Chapter Supporting Poor Students from the Clan

Chapter 403: 392 Chapter Supporting Poor Students from the Clan Chapter 403: 392 Chapter Supporting Poor Students from the Clan Big Uncle Lu knew he couldn’t change Lu Jiaxin’s mind, so he said, “Since Shanzi has been adopted into your parents’ name, he is their grandson. This time, let Shanzi go with you so at least he knows where your mother’s grave is, and later he can also take the kids to pay respects at the tomb.”

Lu Jiaxin nodded and replied, “Big Uncle, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have taken Lu Shan with me. I’m going to Rong County tomorrow, and Shanzi will come with me.”

Big Uncle Lu knew she planned to move Guh Lanlan’s grave, but he didn’t realize it was happening tomorrow. “The Ding Family folks are not easy to handle, they will definitely create obstacles. Just Shanzi alone is not enough; let Jiazong, Jiajie, and Xiao An go with you.”

Lu Jiaxin declined, indicating that she had already made arrangements and was not afraid even if the Ding family caused trouble. Everyone was busy, and there was no need to make a big fuss over her affairs.

Seeing her firm stance, Big Uncle Lu could only give up.

Lu Jiaxin changed the subject and inquired about Lu An’s college entrance exam scores: “How much did Xiao An estimate he scored?”

Big Uncle Lu shook his head, saying he didn’t know, as Lu An hadn’t told them: “The kid said that if it’s compared to last year’s scores, then there would be no problem.”

That meant he estimated his score was higher than the admission cutoff for Public Security University last year. If that was the case, then it really should be enough.

As far as Lu Jiaxin knew, Lu An had studied extremely hard this year to get into Public Security University. To be able to choose a career one loves was a kind of happiness, and Lu Jiaxin hoped he would achieve his wish.

Big Aunt spoke from the side, “Jiaxin, Zao Hua called Xiao Qiu and said she estimated her score to be 653. The first choice she filled in was the ‘Gold Child Program’ at People’s University that you and Xiao Qiu talked about. With such high scores, she should have no problems.”

Lu Jiaxin hadn’t expected the girl to apply to People’s University after all; she had advised her to be on the safe side. But with these results, there should be no problem. As she understood, the total score for the college entrance exam in her hometown this year was 710, including 120 for Chinese and mathematics, and 100 each for English, physics, chemistry, and politics, with 70 for biology. If Zao Hua got 653, then surely there would be no issue.

“Xiao Qiu told me that after the college entrance exam, Zao Hua planned to come to the Forty-nine City to find work, so she could save some money for university and not be so strapped for cash, right? Why didn’t she come?”

Although there were subsidies for university, they barely covered meals–there wasn’t enough for other things. Zao Hua had a strong character and probably wanted to repay Xiao Qiu’s money as soon as possible.

Big Aunt explained, “Jiajie knew she was good at English, and said that there was a big demand for English speakers in Yangcheng City. If she did well, she could easily earn one to two thousand a month. Hoping to earn more money, Zao Hua followed Jiajie’s advice and went to Yangcheng.”

“Did Fifth Brother arrange for someone to take care of her?”

Big Aunt’s face lit up with a smile as she said, “Of course, he took care of it; otherwise it would be too dangerous for a young lady out there! That girl is especially capable–now she’s earning thirty to forty yuan a day. Jiaxin, you’re right, one has to study. Only through education can one have a better future.”

Take the second oldest’s family, for instance; they work from dawn to dusk and also only make a few dozen yuan a day. But Zao Hua just sits inside to work and makes nearly the same amount daily. Jiajie said this is just because she’s new and not yet proficient; once she has experience, she could make hundreds to a thousand a day!

Big Uncle Lu felt depressed. Their family had only a few children from the oldest sibling’s lineage who were okay with studies, while the children of the second and third siblings were like blocks of wood. Taozi was smart and agile, but even he had to be coerced with sticks to finish high school.

Lu Jiaxin looked at Big Uncle Lu and said, “Our clan can’t have just Zao Hua as the only scholar; there must be other promising youngsters who can study as well.”

Big Uncle Lu sighed and replied, “Definitely, there are not just Zao Hua who can study. Take Little Fish from Shitou’s Family, that child has been smart since he was young, grasping everything his teachers taught. But his grandma’s paralyzed, his mom couldn’t handle it and ran off, and his dad has to support four children while taking care of the paralyzed elderly, so he stopped studying because they couldn’t afford it.”

Though he felt sorry, there was nothing he could do. He was old now and living off his own son, hence he had no ability to help the child. Even helping Zao Hua was mainly due to Lu Jiaxin’s contribution; he had only provided some grain.

Lu Jiaxin said, “Big Uncle, I can pay for him to continue his studies. Not just him, I can support all the children in the Lu Clan who had to drop out of school because of poverty.”

Big Uncle Lu was stunned.

Big Aunt reacted quickly and said, “You child, what nonsense are you talking about? Our Lu family is a large clan; there must be over one hundred children studying. Even after screening, there are bound to be more than twenty, are you going to support them all?”

“I’ll support them all.”

Big Aunt, seeing her serious expression, felt a pang of apprehension: “Jiaxin, tuition and miscellaneous fees for studying are not small things, and there are so many people. A year’s expenses would amount to a few thousand yuan.”

Based on twenty, with a hundred per person per year, that would already be two thousand, which would not be bearable for just middle and high schools. For example, Zao Hua spent over six hundred during her senior year of high school, and this was considered on the low end.”

Having heard this, Lu Jiaxin had a good idea of the cost: “Big Uncle, when you go back, register the children who meet the criteria. I’ll transfer the money to you, and you manage it.”

Since it was just sponsoring the children within the clan, not the village or society at large, they could simply let Big Uncle Lu handle it.

Big Uncle Lu, suppressing his excitement, asked, “Jiaxin, are you serious about this? Are you really going to sponsor those children?”

“Big Uncle, when have I ever lied to you?”

Big Aunt, sensing something was amiss, scolded Big Uncle Lu, “What are you getting all worked up for? Don’t you know how hard it is to make money? Several thousand yuan–it’s not something you can just donate willy-nilly. How long would it take to earn that?”

After saying this, she sternly added, “Jiaxin, don’t talk like that again in the future. Big Aunt knows you’ve made some money these past two years, but that’s not how you should spend it. Also, you should understand the principle of not flaunting wealth, otherwise everyone will think you’re an easy mark.”

Lu Jiaxin knew Big Aunt’s soft spot and said, “Auntie, paying for those children’s education, giving them a chance to change their fate, is more meaningful than donating any amount of money to charity. If in the future they pass on this kindness, changing even more people’s fates, that would be truly virtuous.”

Big Aunt found herself at a loss for words of dissuasion.

Big Uncle Lu, more calm, said, “Jiaxin, are you really sure you want to support those children? What your Big Aunt has mentioned about the amount, it is underestimated; it will probably cost around five to six thousand a year.”

Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, “I’ve earned quite a bit of money in Hong Kong these past years; I can afford it.”

Big Uncle Lu, holding her hand, said, “Jiaxin, if this comes to fruition, those children and their entire families will be grateful to you.”

Like Zao Hua, who is especially grateful to Jiaxin and says she must repay her. As for Zao Hua’s mother, she’s clueless, better left unmentioned.

Lu Jiaxin stated, “I’m merely offering a little help. I just hope they study hard and get into university to secure a good future.”