Chapter 186: Chapter 163: Qian Gen Sheng First Hope Primary School (2)
"I need to report this issue to my superiors; I don’t have the authority to handle it."
"I’ll give everyone 10 minutes to communicate. Once County Magistrate Xue arrives, we’ll head to the construction site of New Hope Primary School for inspection."
Upon hearing Gu Bai’s words, the representatives from the real estate companies hurriedly dispersed to make phone calls.
"Old Gu, are you serious this time? 1.5 billion, just for charity?"
After Gu Bai finished speaking, Li Zhun spoke to him.
Gu Bai turned to him and nodded slightly, "Before I came, I was just thinking of doing something superficial to expand the company’s influence. But since arriving here, my mindset has changed completely.
Money, I don’t lack. If I can do something meaningful while still indulging myself, why not?"
"You’ve really reached a higher state now. Luxurious cars and beautiful women no longer attract you. You’re already pursuing moral elevation. I can’t compare."
Li Zhun bantered with a laugh.
"Don’t put me on a pedestal. I’m just a common person. I do charity because I have money, and donating this money doesn’t affect my enjoyment of life. If these donations ever impacted my quality of life, I would stop donating without hesitation."
"Why does this sound so paradoxical to me?"
Speaking in this way, the two shared a knowing smile.
Ten minutes later, representatives from the construction companies gave their responses to Gu Bai.
Agreed!
A 1.5 billion project, so what if the conditions are harsh?
At this moment, County Magistrate Xue Lin of Xuyong County also approached, led by the staff.
"County Magistrate Xue, these are representatives from major construction companies I invited from Shanghai, and they will be responsible for the hope primary school’s project. Construction is expected to begin in the next few days."
Xue Lin hurriedly went up to shake hands and express gratitude.
Though just a magistrate of an impoverished county, he still held an official leadership position. None of these construction company representatives dared to be negligent, all responding warmly.
........
Upon hearing the news of the magistrate’s visit to the countryside, local town leaders and village cadres gathered villagers early to wait by the roadside.
A custom-made Scania bus worth 4 million yuan parked next to Heba Village Primary School. Villagers, never having seen such a large, luxurious vehicle, gathered to watch but did not approach, merely observing from afar.
When Xue Lin and Gu Bai stepped off the bus together, the town leaders and village cadres hurried up to greet them.
The sky was still drizzling, and dozens of students from Heba Village Primary School stood in the rain, waiting for their arrival.
The chill of December was beginning to rise. The sight of these children shivering in the rain made Gu Bai, having just gotten off the bus, furrow his brow with concern.
No need to think; this must have been an idea from the local town leaders. In Hua Country, formalism is above all else, and no one cares about the feelings of these children.
Xue Lin saw Gu Bai’s expression and the scene.
Like Gu Bai, his gaze darkened, and his face turned grim as he scolded his subordinates without exchanging pleasantries, "What are you doing!? It’s raining outside, the weather is so cold, even adults can’t stand it, and you’re letting these kids stay in the rain. Are they not your own children, so you don’t feel any pity?!"
The town leaders and village cadres were startled by Xue Lin’s sudden outburst, at a loss for how to respond.
Gu Bai quickened his pace to the children.
Seeing these poorly dressed children shivering in the cold wind, Gu Bai’s face betrayed his sympathy. He hurriedly told Jin Shulin standing by, "Principal Jin, quickly let the children back into the classroom; it’s too cold outside."
Jin Shulin glanced at the distant leaders with some hesitation at Gu Bai’s words.
"It’s alright, I’ll handle things here. Let the children return."
Hearing Gu Bai’s reassurance, Jin Shulin made the decision. He organized the children to return to the classroom. Although unsure of Gu Bai’s exact identity, seeing him arrive with the magistrate suggested his status wasn’t low. With Gu Bai’s guarantee, Jin Shulin felt emboldened, as each child here was as precious to him as his own grandchildren.
Looking at this scene with a cool eye, there was now a touch more warmth in Yan Shen’s gaze toward Gu Bai.
Only after seeing the children return to the classroom, Gu Bai couldn’t help but ask Yan Shen, "Didn’t I send a batch of new clothes over? Why is no child wearing them?"
Yan Shen shook her head slowly.
"Such new clothes, how could they bear to wear them? They’re all treated as treasures and hidden at home."
"Alright, go wipe their faces. Don’t let them catch a cold after getting rained on."
After saying so, without looking at Yan Shen’s beautiful face, he returned to stand beside Xue Lin.
Upon returning, Gu Bai didn’t scold anyone. Formalism is a bad habit passed down through millennia, impossible to change. What’s more important to him now is doing practical things.
"County Magistrate Xue, is the original site of Heba Village Primary School the construction site for our New Hope Primary School?"
"That’s right. Heba Village is the center of nearly ten surrounding villages. Building New Hope Primary School here makes it more convenient for students from the nearby villages. This is the optimal plan we came to after several days of day and night discussions."
Gu Bai nodded, then turned to the representatives of the construction companies, "Now I’ll address the final question. I decided to let each of your companies construct one Hope Primary School for the five Hope Primary Schools in Xuyong County. We will later assess based on the duration of construction, quality, and other aspects.
This assessment will affect each company’s share in Qian Gen Sheng’s Torch Plan for constructing schools.
If any of your companies does well, I might give you the contract for 1,000 schools."
Upon finishing his words, not only the surrounding town leaders were amazed, but even Xue Lin was taken aback, asking, "Chairman Gu, are you planning to build 1,000 Hope Primary Schools?"
Gu Bai nodded slightly.
"This is part of the first phase of Qian Gen Sheng’s Torch Plan. We’ll allocate 1.5 billion for building Hope Primary Schools and 500 million as funds for the Torch Support Plan, with an estimated expenditure of 2 billion for the first phase."
Gu Bai’s words left those present deeply moved.
A whole 2 billion, weighing 23 tons if converted, just taken out for charity?
The first reaction was shock at the assets owned by this 20-year-old young man; the second was admiration.
In Hua Country, no entrepreneur could personally donate 2 billion for charity, not even those famous billionaires on the rich list.
But this young man before them accomplished it, without even displaying any arrogance.
This level of character, how could it not be moving?
After a long silence, Xue Lin collected himself from his shock and spoke solemnly while looking at Gu Bai’s young, handsome face, "Chairman Gu, some words from me may not suffice as meaningful, but I can’t help but say them.
In my heart, you are a role model for all entrepreneurs in Hua Country!
I express my gratitude on behalf of Xuyong County and the children you’ll be helping."
Gu Bai waved it off with a light smile, "County Magistrate Xue, you’re putting me on too high a pedestal. Like I said before, I’m just a businessman and only do things that are profitable. Doing all this is just for a name. Businessmen pursue fame and fortune, not worthy of your praises."
Xue Lin stubbornly shook his head.
"Then I’ll say it again, Chairman Gu, even as a businessman, you are a benevolent businessman, a role model for all businessmen!"
Gu Bai smiled without further response.
"Oh, Chairman Gu, after the Hope Primary School is built, will it be named after you or the foundation?"
Hearing Xue Lin’s question, Gu Bai shook his head, directly rejecting both suggestions, and said, "All Hope Primary Schools will be named after Qian Gen Sheng.
From Qian Gen Sheng’s First Hope Primary School to the Thousandth Hope Primary School."
"I’ve heard the name Qian Gen Sheng from President Gu more than once. Who is Qian Gen Sheng to President Gu?"
Gu Bai turned and gave a faint smile.
"He is someone a million times greater than me."