1979: My fiancée is a goddess

"Puff puff—"

A cool morning breeze blew by.

Countless raindrops fell from the towering Chinese scholar tree overhead, pattering against the old, rusty, black umbrella with a dull thud.

Beneath the umbrella were several slender, graceful fingers, tightly gripping the rusty ribs, struggling to lift the worn-out umbrella slowly, revealing half of a middle-aged woman's ordinary face.

She looked to be in her forties, with very ordinary features; the only striking feature was her eyes.

It is jet black and bright, full of spirit.

When you gaze at them quietly, you can feel the calm and gentle quality in their eyes.

"We don't know when the funding from above will come through this month. If things continue like this, even if the teachers contribute their own money, it won't be enough..."

Jiang Yun slightly moved the umbrella in her hand and looked up at the dilapidated street covered with Chinese scholar trees.

Low-rise houses, one or two stories high, sit on both sides of the road. Their white-painted walls have been soaked by rainwater and have become much darker.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and there was not a ray of light. In the distance, a few wisps of smoke rose sparsely from the rain and mist.

Along the dusty cement roadside, the drainage outlets of the rusted steel bars were clogged with corroded blades and silt.

The water is accumulating, and no one is dealing with it.

The shimmering water reflected the continuous shadows of the trees overhead.

From a distance, it looks like a monster with countless green branches and leaves, opening its invisible maw from another world, about to swallow the street.

"This street is so dilapidated and deserted. I remember it used to be so lively during market days, it was packed with people."

Jiang Yun looked at the scene before her, letting the cold, wet raindrops be carried by the wind and pelt her face, murmuring to herself.

The originally cool and pleasant rain gave her the illusion that she felt cold and shivered.

A sense of loneliness and desolation arose as locust leaves drifted down from above, swirling in the water and disappearing into the puddles, creating ripples.

This is Guohuai Road. More than 30 years ago, this place was called Guohuai Town.

A town built along a cement road.

Every two weeks, people from dozens of kilometers around would come to the market carrying vegetables, meat, farm tools, seeds, and other goods.

The streets were packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

The welfare home was established during that most lively and popular time.

However, in the last ten years, the town and the city were merged and a paved road was built, making it much more convenient for people from the surrounding areas to go to the city, and this place has gradually become deserted.

The grand market is now a thing of the past.

More and more people are moving away from here.

Eight years ago, when Jiang Yun took over as director, he overheard people saying that the orphanage seemed to have become unlucky because it had taken in too many disabled orphans with strange diseases.

She had always tried to avoid imposing this idea on the welfare home, but given the current situation, she was powerless to change it.

It seems that when the welfare home can no longer sustain itself, that will be the time when this street will completely die.

In a sense, the welfare home is one of the last two faint glimmers of hope here.

Another place, naturally, is the Chinese scholar tree that has been growing here for many years before the establishment of Guohuai Town.

"They are the true masters of this place..."

Jiang Yun smiled, unsure whether it was a smile of joy or sorrow.

"Comrade...why don't you want to buy some vegetables? There's been a lot of rain these past few days, and these are freshly grown vegetables. If they're not good, you don't have to pay."

Suddenly, a hoarse old man's voice came from not far away.

Jiang Yun followed the sound and found a tall, lush Chinese scholar tree about ten meters away.

An old man in a raincoat sat on the ground, smoking a pipe, his cloudy eyes looking at me hopefully.

Beside my feet, covered in yellow mud, were two baskets full of vegetables, with a carrying pole with rope wrapped around them.

Jiang Yun slowly walked up to him, holding the umbrella, and looked down at him.

The basket contained a bunch of green and red tomatoes, their skins glistening with water droplets, indicating they had just been picked and looked very fresh.

The children in the orphanage all love to eat.

Because of its sweet and sour taste, it can be eaten as a fruit or used as a vegetable in stir-fries.

In the other basket were half a green pepper, seven or eight loofahs, and half a green bean.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun smiled and asked the old man, "Grandpa, how much is it?"

"There has been too much rain lately, and the vegetables have all been flooded."

Vegetable prices will definitely rise in the market after a while.

"Young lady, I won't take advantage of you. These two baskets of vegetables weighed forty jin (20 kg) this morning. Sixteen yuan will do."

The old man thought for a moment, then held up five fingers and said in a discussion.

It seemed like they had been sitting on the curb, exposed to the cold wind and rain, for a long time.

The old man spoke weakly, probably too weak to even hawk his wares.

"Sixteen yuan? That's forty cents a pound."

Jiang Yun hesitated for a moment; this price was already about the same as that at the vegetable market.

However, generally speaking, the prices of vegetables sold by people carrying loads into the city are usually a little cheaper.

She expected the price of these two baskets to be ten yuan.

"How about... Comrade, you give it to Fourteen?"

After saying that, the old man noticed that Jiang Yun seemed somewhat indifferent, and he became a little anxious.

I got up at five o'clock, carried my load on my shoulder, and walked more than ten miles in the rain to reach the nearest street.

To my surprise, there was no one outside early in the morning.

"Sir, your price is a bit high..."

Jiang Yun shook her head.

Although it was only a few dollars, the orphanage was already very strapped for cash, and every penny had to be spent wisely.

"Why don't you tell me... name your price, and I'll sell it if I can."

The old man took a deep drag on his cigarette, and the wrinkles on his aged face deepened.

"ten bucks."

Seeing this, Jiang Yun felt relieved and offered a price.

"This this……"

The old man bit down hard on his cigarette, his two worm-like eyebrows furrowed together, his face looking tired and conflicted. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Young lady, how about you add two more yuan? Ten yuan really won't do, how about adding two more yuan? My grandson needs to pay tuition next semester, so please add a little more."

"..."

Jiang Yun fell silent, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

No matter how financially strapped the welfare home is, it should not make things difficult for poor families like theirs.

"Here's fourteen, sir. Can you deliver this to my workplace for me?"

Jiang Yun took a deep breath and said.

"Sure, sure, sure! I'll bring it upstairs for you!"

When the old man heard that Jiang Yun was willing to give fourteen yuan, he immediately agreed. His tightly wrinkled old face relaxed, like a blooming chrysanthemum.

The old man scrambled to his feet, extinguished his pipe, and nimbly picked up the load, looking quite spirited: "Comrade, we agreed on the fourteenth, right? I'll deliver it to you, let's go."

“Okay, it’s not far, it’s just over there by that big, dark iron gate.”

Jiang Yun nodded and pointed forward.

The two walked side by side on the street, which was wet with rainwater and slippery with fallen leaves.

As Jiang Yun led the way, she inquired about the old man's family situation.

It wasn't that I was worried about being scammed; we were just having a casual chat.

After all, such poverty is quite common these days.

The old man certainly wasn't lying to her.

He comes from a rural area near Chaoyang, and he has no children; he is an elderly man living alone.

The grandson he was talking about was an abandoned baby he found outside one winter ten years ago.

My grandson is now in fourth grade at the village primary school, and his grades are pretty good.

My family is struggling financially, but we can barely scrape together the tuition fees by gritting our teeth.

The cost of books and chairs could only be covered by borrowing or credit.

After listening, Jiang Yun sighed.

In her view, even a small mistake that many people would consider a minor one could cause the boy to drop out of school immediately.

"You're so young, why are you sighing?"

The old man, carrying a load weighing several dozen kilograms, walked steadily. Hearing the sigh, he grinned and said, "When you were your age, I was still fleeing famine and hardship. I didn't have the good life I have now. As long as you're alive, there's always a way out."

"Yes, I hope it won't be cut off."

Jiang Yun used to be the one to comfort the teachers and children at the welfare home, but this time she was comforted by someone else, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart.

My previously low and heavy mood has improved somewhat.

After all, people always find comfort in comparison.

A short while later, the gate of the welfare home, bound with rusty chains, came into view.

"When we arrive, sir, just leave it here. I'll have someone take it inside in a bit."

Jiang Yun said.

"it is good."

The old man bent down to put down his load, then looked up and saw the sign hanging at the entrance that read "Chaoyang Children's Welfare Home" in large characters.

Quite surprised, he asked, "Comrade, are you... are you a staff member of the welfare home?"

"I am the dean, please come in."

Jiang Yun smiled, seeing the hesitation and conflicted expression on the old man's face, and led him through the small door next to him, opening the gatehouse and coming in.

The two entered the house, and the old man put down his load, took out vegetables and placed them on the table. "Actually, I've been here before."

"Is it because of that child?"

This time it was Jiang Yun's turn to be surprised. "Yes, but at the time I was worried that the orphanage wouldn't take good care of them, so in the end I gritted my teeth and raised them myself... Luckily they survived. Not bad!"

The old man chuckled, a sly, triumphant smile on his face.

"That's amazing. Actually, none of the children in our orphanage have any relatives. Even if they cry, no one will hold them. It's the best to have relatives in this world."

As Jiang Yun spoke, she took out a small purse embroidered with lotus flowers from her pocket, licked her fingers, counted out a black ten and five one-yuan bills, and handed them over.

"Why did you give me an extra dollar, comrade?"

The old man took it, counted it, and found that there was an extra dollar, so he quickly handed it back.

"Grandpa, please accept it. I'm the one who's getting a good deal."

Jiang Yun shook his head and explained.

"But I know a little about the situation at your orphanage, otherwise we wouldn't be arguing over a few dollars..."

The old man quickly realized what was happening.

“The welfare home receives government funding, so you don’t need to worry about us.”

Jiang Yun smiled and pushed the old man's rough, cold hand back.

"Okay, I'll bring you some vegetables later, it'll be free."

The old man gritted his teeth and accepted it anyway.

"How can we not charge? You deliver it to us, and we'll pay you. It would be great if we could get a discount."

After some polite refusals, Jiang Yun finally managed to see the old man off.

The guardhouse fell silent again.

Jiang Yun squatted down and counted the dishes laid out on the table, estimating that they should be enough to eat at the Fu Canteen for a week.

Then he took a red tomato, wiped it clean with his clothes, and took a bite without any hesitation.

The greenish-red juice is sweet and sour, refreshing and appetizing.

Sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.

Currently, the welfare home houses seventy or eighty children.

The monthly expenses amount to thousands of yuan, with government funding accounting for only 50-60% of the cost, and the remainder barely covered by donations from kind-hearted people.

However, as time went on, the deficit grew larger and larger, and Jiang Yun didn't know how much longer the welfare home could hold on.

A year? Or half a year?

What will happen to these children then?
Thinking about these life-threatening things, Jiang Yun's brows furrowed tightly again.

At that moment, a light rain began to fall outside the window, the fine rain forming a curtain that blocked the view.

This made her somewhat worried about the elderly man who had just passed away.

But when she went out with her umbrella, the old man had already disappeared.

"Sigh... I hope the old man is alright."

With a sigh, Jiang Yun opened her umbrella and went to call the cafeteria staff to come and get the vegetables.

The welfare home's canteen is very lively in the morning.

A group of little kids were bustling around the cafeteria getting their food and eating, and the teachers were also eating there.

Find the kitchen helper and ask him to go to the guardhouse to get the food later.

Then, carrying two steamed buns, he returned to his office.

Just got to the door.

Then, a noisy, excited, and clamorous sound came from inside the office.

Through the window, I saw five or six teachers from the welfare home huddled together excitedly, I wondered what they were doing.

"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?!"

Jiang Yun walked in with a stern face and questioned him.

"Dean! Dean, you've arrived!"

"Dean! Have you read today's newspaper? Have you read the morning paper?"

Instead of being afraid or correcting their behavior, a group of young teachers became even more excited and crowded around.

"The morning paper? What happened?"

Jiang Yun frowned, asking with great confusion.

"Director! Our orphanage is saved! Saved!"

A young woman held up a newspaper to Jiang Yun, excitedly pointing to the large, clear characters on the page: "People's Daily, it says so!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun's pupils constricted sharply. He snatched the newspaper and scanned the latest date and the bold, blacked-out headline:
We warmly praise Comrade Cheng Kaiyan, a writer of the people, for donating US$250,000 to the Children and Youth Foundation!

"Cheng Kaiyan?! It's him!"

Jiang Yun's heart immediately started pounding, and she excitedly asked the teachers beside her, "It's that young man! Is he that rich? He donated $250,000? Can we ask him to raise funds and get his support?!"

"Dean! Keep reading, keep reading!"

"That's not what we're happy about! Look down below!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun bit her tongue to calm herself down.

Yes, just because someone has money doesn't mean you can ask for it.

She scrolled down: "Comrade Cheng Kaiyan, on behalf of the foundation, proposed two charitable projects at the gala:"

The Spring Bud Project, which helps and sponsors out-of-school children; the Hope Project, which builds and sponsors welfare homes to improve the living and learning environment for orphans…

All funds raised by the foundation in the future will be used to support the establishment and development of two charitable projects across the country…

"The Hope Plan! Comrade Cheng Kaiyan's Hope Plan is actually to build and support welfare homes."

That's great! This is exactly what Comrade Cheng Kaiyan would do!
He was such a person with a heart of crystal!

Jiang Yun's hands, which were holding the newspaper, were trembling uncontrollably.

Upon seeing the word "hope," she instantly recalled her conversation with the old man on the street.

hope!

Yes, as long as there is life, there is hope!

Thinking of this, the deep gloom that had been weighing on her heart for so long was swept away.

Instead, they were filled with excitement and joy, as well as a long-lost anticipation for a bright future.

She stared at the black text on the newspaper, but her mind kept replaying the young man's already blurred face.

Uncontrollably, tears welled up in my eyes and streamed down my face.

"Don't cry, Dean. This is a good thing."

"Yes, Dean, don't cry."

The teachers empathized with her and offered words of comfort, their eyes reddening.

No one could understand the dean's feelings better than they did.

Many of these teachers were children who grew up in the orphanage and have a very deep affection for it.

Born here, die here, I will not hesitate.

"call……"

Jiang Yun took a deep breath. "Later, let's go to Comrade Cheng Kaiyan's house together to express our gratitude and also inquire about the Hope Project. I really hope our welfare home can be one of the first pilot sites for this project!"

"Okay, let's go tomorrow!"

"Don't worry, Director, Teacher Cheng has visited our orphanage several times and donated a lot of money. I think part of the reason Teacher Cheng proposed this plan is to help our orphanage!"

"I think so too! Professor Cheng is such a kind person!"

"He's good, but when I see him, I feel like I'm seeing the children who have left our orphanage."

……

The teachers were discussing it animatedly.

After calming down, Jiang Yun continued reading the newspaper.

The newspaper reported: "At the same time, at the gala, Comrade Cheng Kaiyan called on the whole society, hoping that the general public, educated youth, and compassionate overseas Chinese and people of Chinese descent would donate funds to the foundation."

Even a penny can be a token of love.

Let us contribute our share of love, little by little, until it flows into a spring.

Let us join hands and build a bridge of love.

Let's work together to support these lovely children and give them a wonderful childhood!

After reading the newspaper, Jiang Yun seemed to see that young man waving his arms and calling on everyone to donate money on the stage.

At this moment, it's not just the Hope Project that can help Chaoyang Welfare Home that excites us.

I was also moved and inspired by this young man's righteous call to action.

A flame seemed to burn fiercely within my heart.

It's not just Jiang Yun.

Meanwhile, young people across the country were reading Cheng Kaiyan's appeal in the newspaper.

My heart was once stirred by the "Down to the Countryside Movement," filled with passion and fervor.

At this moment, let it be reignited, let it boil again.

"I want to donate! Ten yuan!"

"I want to donate too!"

"Comrades! Let's do our part for the children!"

"We want to go to schools, we want to go to welfare homes, we want to go to grassroots communities, we want to go to places where we are needed!"

Countless educated youths shouted slogans and donated what they had saved from their meager savings.

Some young people even have the idea of ​​teaching in rural primary schools, volunteering in welfare homes, and contributing to the grassroots.

Although it is just a tiny seed, it will grow into a towering tree sooner or later.

In just one day, more than 100,000 letters containing donations were sent from all over the country to the Children and Teenagers Foundation in Beijing.

According to staff who worked through the night to compile statistics, the foundation raised more than 500,000 yuan in donations in just one day after Comrade Cheng Kaiyan issued the call!

Each person donated an average of five yuan! (End of Chapter)