87: Chapter 87 A Prodigal Son's Return to His Parents

These dishes silently spoke of the poverty that this remote mountain village had yet to shake off.

Tie Qichang, however, suddenly darkened his expression: "Min'er, do you know that back in the day, Grandfather couldn't even afford to eat these?"

Party Secretary Tie Dahe rubbed his hands together awkwardly, fine beads of sweat seeping onto his forehead: "Old Mr. Tie, I am truly sorry."

"The village's resources are limited; we could only prepare such simple, coarse fare..."

All of this was precisely orchestrated by Li Dakang.

He knew deeply that to make this successful wanderer truly empathize with the hometown feelings, he had to make him face the poverty that still plagued this land. What could be more moving than a "famine meal" from his memories?

"Tie Min might be exhausted from the journey and in low spirits."

Secretary Li stepped in to smooth things over at the right moment, his tone gentle yet weighty.

"Although Guantian Township is not wealthy, the warmth of the villagers is like this bowl of sweet potato porridge—it looks plain, but it warms the heart when you drink it."

As he spoke, Li Dakang naturally scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth and picked up a few beans to chew carefully.

His movements were fluid and natural, without a hint of reluctance, as if this were his daily fare.

Who could have imagined that this young Township Party Committee secretary had also crawled his way out of such poverty in his past life?

Those hungry years had taught him that even a handful of salted roasted beans was a rare delicacy.

Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but show admiration in their eyes.

Tie Min was also secretly surprised; she hadn't expected this official, who appeared to be living in luxury, to be able to swallow such coarse food without changing his expression.

Tie Qichang watched Li Dakang silently, the ice in his heart quietly melting a little.

He picked up the bowl and took a sip of the sweet potato porridge; that familiar taste instantly pierced through time.

It was the image of his mother bent over the stove cooking, the longing of his siblings waiting eagerly to share the food, and the most luxurious memory of warmth and fullness from those famine years.

This seemingly humble lunch ended quietly amidst everyone's complex emotions.

Tie Qichang remained silent throughout, only his slightly trembling fingers revealing his turbulent inner emotions.

After the meal, Tie Qichang suggested visiting the village primary school.

When the group arrived in front of the schoolhouse, the scene before them left everyone silent.

The mottled mud walls were crumbling, the plastic sheets nailed to the windows snapped loudly in the wind, the broken desks and chairs in the classrooms were propped up by bricks, and the chalk marks on the blackboard were already blurred.

Tie Min stood at the classroom entrance, too shocked to speak.

She had grown up in comfort, attending the best international schools in Taiwan, and had never imagined that children of her age had to study in such an environment.

She turned to Secretary Li, her voice filled with confusion and anger: "Secretary Li, can you really not even afford the money to repair the school? How can children study in a place like this?"

Li Dakang gave a bitter smile, his gaze sweeping over the dilapidated schoolhouse: "Miss Tie, to be honest, of the eleven village primary schools in Guantian Township, not one is better than this."

His tone was heavy and helpless, every word seeming to be steeped in the bitterness of poverty.

Tie Qichang remained silent throughout, his wrinkled face betraying no emotion.

After the visit ended, Tie Qichang calmly indicated that it was time to return.

A trace of disappointment flashed in Li Dakang's eyes, but he still warmly saw them off.

When saying goodbye at the village entrance, Tie Qichang held the villagers' rough hands and promised to come back to visit again.

Party Secretary Tie Dahe agreed verbally, but inwardly he grumbled: This big boss with a net worth over a hundred million, seeing his hometown in such poverty, wouldn't even donate a single penny; he really is a "stingy miser" who won't part with a single cent.

The bus back bumped along the rugged mountain road; Tie Qichang watched the scenery flying by outside the window, his eyes growing more determined.

Suddenly, he turned to Secretary Li, his voice steady and forceful: "Secretary Li, I have decided to donate six million, specifically to improve the school facilities in the township."

Li Dakang didn't react at first, but after understanding the meaning of his words, his hands trembled slightly with excitement: "Old Mr. Tie, this, this is truly... On behalf of all the fellow villagers in the township, I thank you for your great kindness!"

However, an even greater surprise was yet to come. Tie Qichang continued: "In addition, I plan to invest fifty million to build a modern electronics factory in Guantian Township to provide employment opportunities for the villagers."

At this point, tears welled up in the old man's eyes: "After drifting for half a lifetime, I can finally do something practical for my hometown."

At this moment, Tie Qichang was no longer the wealthy man returning home in fine clothes, but a wanderer interpreting homesickness through action.

His hunched back, illuminated by the setting sun, appeared exceptionally tall.

Li Dakang tightly grasped Tie Qichang's wrinkled hand, his voice trembling slightly: "Old Mr. Tie, this pure heart of yours will never be forgotten by the fellow villagers of Guantian Township for generations to come!"

"This is not just an investment of funds, but the sowing of seeds of hope for this barren land!"

Tie Qichang's gaze crossed the window to look at the rolling mountains in the distance, a faint glimmer appearing in the corners of his eyes: "Secretary Li, fallen leaves return to their roots; when drinking water, one must think of its source."

"I have drifted outside for most of my life, and now seeing the children of my hometown still studying in leaking classrooms, and the villagers still worrying about basic sustenance..."

His throat bobbed: "If I, Tie Qichang, were to stand by and watch, I would never be able to sleep peacefully for the rest of my life."