Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Chen Daji and Zhao Fei fooled around for a while, but once drowsiness hit, they each called it quits.
After all, neither of them had slept all night. They really couldn’t hold out anymore.
Sure enough, the two of them lay on the heated brick bed and cursed at each other for a bit, then soon their snores rose one after another.
Hua Jiunan was unbearably sleepy too. After telling Deaf Granny that the three of them would be skipping breakfast, he went back to his room and fell into a deep sleep.
They were asleep, but the adults were anything but idle.
After breakfast, Zhao Aiguo looked at the snowflakes beginning to drift down again, worry filling his eyes.
“The earthquake these past two days wasn’t large, but a lot of old houses were damaged to some extent.”
“If the snow piles up on them, I’m afraid they won’t be able to bear the weight!”
“No, I need to go out and inspect the villages and towns in person, especially places like schools and nursing homes!”
Chen Fu looked up and asked, “How are you planning to go? Driving the government car, making a big show of it, with people clearing the way and trailing behind you?”
“If you do that, you won’t see a damn thing. The people below will just fool you, reporting only the good news and hiding the bad!”
Zhao Aiguo thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right!”
“This time I’ll go quietly by myself and won’t tell anyone.”
“Sigh. We’re a poor county with tight funds. I’m afraid the little bit of money in the treasury won’t even be enough to reinforce all the schools!”
Chen Fu chuckled. “Don’t talk to me about money. The moment you bring up money, I get constipated!”
“When I drive you over in a bit, I’ll withdraw one million for you first.”
“If it’s not enough, tell me. I’ll figure something out!”
Chen Fu’s words made Zhao Aiguo see him in a whole new light. From then on, he truly regarded Chen Fu as a friend.
“I didn’t expect you to have such a high level of awareness, Brother Chen! Since you’ve put it that way, I can’t fall behind either.”
“Honey, give me our bankbooks. We’ll donate it all!”
“Just leave enough for living expenses. As long as we can last until I get paid next month…”
Zhao Fei’s Mother was a little reluctant. Hesitating, she said, “Are we really donating all of it? Not keeping any…”
Zhao Aiguo sighed and spoke earnestly. “After what happened to our son this time, do you still not understand?”
“We were wrong before. Terribly wrong!”
“Especially that money I took from improper sources. Keeping it in my hands is a sin!”
“We might as well donate it to people who need help!”
After hearing that, Zhao Fei’s Mother immediately took two bankbooks from her bag and stuffed them into Zhao Aiguo’s hands.
“All right, all right, I’ll listen to you!”
“As long as you and our child are safe, I’d be happy eating bran and swallowing wild greens every meal!”
It should have been a touching scene, but Chen Fu burst out laughing when he heard that.
“Sister-in-law, don’t be ridiculous. With me around, how could it ever come to eating bran and wild greens?”
“Isn’t that looking down on me… no, looking down on my dozen-plus mines?”
At this point, Chen Fu started to worry.
“You don’t think I’d be that unlucky, do you? That every single one of my mines has filthy things buried underneath?”
“If that were the case, I really wouldn’t be able to afford meals anymore…”
Just then, Hu Fei’er walked in, supporting Deaf Granny.
The old woman laughed and scolded Chen Fu.
“What nonsense are you thinking, you little brat!”
“What, does your family’s mine have such good feng shui that all the filthy things are scrambling to lie down under it?!”
“Why don’t they go lie on your family’s bed instead!”
Chen Fu scratched his head awkwardly.
“Old Auntie, don’t tease me.”
“The head of my bed will always belong to my wife.”
Deaf Granny ignored Chen Fu after that and shakily took out two red paper packets.
Inside were two heavy bundles of cash.
“This old woman heard what you were all saying just now.”
“This is a little token of goodwill from me and my late Old Li.”
Zhao Aiguo hurriedly refused.
“How could I possibly accept this? I absolutely can’t take your money!”
“You’ll have plenty of places to spend money in the future!”
“Jiunan and Qianyue still need to go to school, and you need to support yourself in old age. All of that costs money!”
Deaf Granny smiled and stuffed the money into Zhao Aiguo’s bag.
“Aiguo, remember this: children and grandchildren have their own blessings.”
“Rather than save money and land for them, it’s better to build up hidden virtue!”
“Money can protect a person for a time, but virtue can safeguard a family for generations!”
Deaf Granny’s simple, kindly smile deeply touched Zhao Aiguo’s heart.
The instant he turned and walked out the door, he wiped at his damp eyes.
At the same time, he felt the burden on his shoulders grow even heavier!
Zhao Aiguo swore to himself:
Damn it, the moment I get back, I’m starting an internal purge!
Those parasites who squeeze the people’s lifeblood dry-however much they’ve swallowed, I’ll make them spit out twice as much!
Ten years!
Within ten years, I will make sure every common person in this county lives a good life!
The book makes this clear in passing:
As the saying goes, when ancestors accumulate virtue, their descendants benefit.
The good deeds Deaf Granny, Chen Fu, and Zhao Aiguo performed throughout their lives made the road ahead for Hua Jiunan and the other two much smoother.
Unseen, they were spared many disasters.
Note: When it comes to donating money and doing good, it isn’t about who gives the most.
As long as it doesn’t affect your own life, doing what you can within your means is enough.
For example: if you donate every cent you have and then fail to support your parents, wife, and children, that isn’t doing good. That’s committing a sin!
It’s just like the couplet pasted outside some City God Temple gates:
Good done with an agenda, though good, earns no reward. Evil done without intent, though evil, incurs no punishment!