57: Chapter 57 First Encounter

The fervor surrounding the 14nm lithography machine and chips gradually faded, and the chorus of praise across the internet quieted down. Chen Mo's life returned to its former tranquility.

Every day involved accompanying Nalan Ruoshui for strolls around the school, and sometimes going shopping with Wu Xue, Wu Dongju, and Bai Fengjiu.

Occasionally, he would visit the research lab to check on the progress of subsequent technological iterations. The rest of the time, he would wander around with Old Xu, leading a very leisurely life.

One afternoon, after finishing the documents in his office, Chen Mo remembered the private charitable Foundation he had previously established and called Zhang Kai.

"Zhang Kai, come to my office. I have something to ask you."

Not long after, Zhang Kai walked in and stood respectfully to the side.

"Mr. Chen, you asked for me?"

"Have a seat."

Chen Mo gestured with his chin, his tone casual.

"I want to ask about the Foundation. How has it been operating lately? The student aid program for impoverished regions—any issues? Any trouble you couldn't handle?"

Zhang Kai promptly replied:

"Rest assured, Mr. Chen, everything is running smoothly. Our aid program for impoverished students now covers eight provinces. The monthly stipends are distributed on time, and the schools have confirmed the children have received them. As for problems, none really. Just a few remote schools had some logistical difficulties with material transport, but they've all been resolved."

"The stipends haven't been embezzled? The supplies are truly reaching the children's hands?"

Chen Mo pressed further.

"Absolutely not!"

Zhang Kai nodded emphatically.

"We have dedicated liaisons in each region and cooperate with the local education bureaus. Every stipend disbursement and supply delivery requires a signed receipt. I have all the records here; you can review them anytime."

Chen Mo listened and gave a slight nod.

He had established this charitable Foundation not for vanity, but with a genuine desire to help children too poor to afford schooling. If there was any embezzlement of supplies or misappropriation of stipends, he would not let it slide.

"Alright, I understand."

Chen Mo stood up and stretched.

"It gets boring just staying put all day. Get me a volunteer spot under the name Cao Mo. I'll join the Foundation's team to visit remote areas and see the students we're supporting with my own eyes."

Zhang Kai was momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood.

"Right away, Mr. Chen. I'll arrange it immediately. There's a team heading to Qingshan Village Primary School in the west tomorrow to deliver supplies and visit students. It would be perfect for you to join them."

"Mm. No special treatment. I'm just an ordinary volunteer."

Chen Mo instructed.

Early the next morning, Chen Mo put on a simple blue volunteer vest and a baseball cap. He followed the Foundation's team on a bumpy, four-hour drive before finally reaching the vicinity of Qingshan Village.

The further the car went into the village, the worse the road became—a pothole-ridden dirt path that jolted the vehicle violently. The scenery outside the window grew increasingly barren.

Bald hillsides, low adobe houses. Occasionally, a few children in patched clothes could be seen chasing and playing by the roadside.

Leaning against the car window, Chen Mo watched the passing scenery, feeling an inexplicable pang in his heart.

He had never wanted for food or clothing since childhood. Even in his previous life, though not particularly wealthy, he had never experienced a life without a decent house to live in, let alone being unable to afford an education.

The car finally stopped at the entrance of Qingshan Village Primary School. Calling it a 'school' was generous—it was just a few dilapidated adobe houses. A small cement-paved area in the yard served as the playground. There were no basketball hoops, no slides, only a few toys made from old tires.

"Cao Mo, we're here. Let's unload the supplies first, then go see the children in the classrooms," the team leader said, patting Chen Mo on the shoulder with a smile.

"Okay," Chen Mo nodded, joining the others in unloading the supplies—bags of rice, flour, cooking oil, books, stationery, new clothes—box after box.

The commotion in the yard caught the attention of the children in the classrooms. Little heads popped out, looking at them curiously, their eyes full of shyness yet unable to hide their anticipation.

"Children, we're volunteers from the charitable Foundation. We've brought you some things!" the leader called out to them with a wave.

The children walked out timidly, lining up in a row. In soft, muffled voices, they chorused:

"Thank you, uncles and aunties!"

Their sweet, gentle voices warmed the heart.

Chen Mo picked up some stationery and walked over to a thin, small boy. He crouched down and asked with a smile:

"Little friend, what's your name? How old are you? What grade are you in?"

The boy clutched the hem of his shirt, head bowed low, and answered softly:

"My name is Lin Shi. I'm seven years old. I'm in first grade."

"Do you like studying?" Chen Mo asked again, placing the stationery in his hands.

Lin Shi looked up, his eyes sparkling. He nodded vigorously.

"I do! Thank you, uncle. I didn't have new stationery before; I used the leftover pencil stubs from my older brother."

"Well, you do now. Study hard, get into a good school later, and go see the world outside, okay?"

"Okay!" Lin Shi responded firmly, hugging the stationery to his chest, a shy smile spreading across his face.

A little girl nearby, looking at Chen Mo, gathered her courage and walked over. She asked quietly:

"Uncle, was it you who paid our tuition? The teacher said kind-hearted people are sponsoring us so we can keep studying."

Chen Mo smiled and nodded. "The Foundation paid it. I'm just a volunteer. There are many kind-hearted people like me who want you to study hard and have a bright future. What's your name? Are your grades good?"

"My name is Lin Erya. I'm in second grade. My grades are very good; I get first place every time!" Lin Erya declared proudly, lifting her chin, her small face beaming with pride.

"That's amazing!" Chen Mo praised, handing her a fairy tale book.

"This is for you. You can read it in your free time."

"Thank you, uncle!" Lin Erya took the book and skipped back to the line, sharing her new book with the other children.

The yard gradually grew livelier.

As Chen Mo chatted with the children, he looked around, taking in the dilapidated classrooms, the peeling walls, and the children's eyes, filled with a thirst for knowledge. His resolve to support these children grew even stronger.

*I'll go squeeze Wall Street dry when I get back. After that, I'll increase the funding.*

"Uncle, come with me. I'll show you our classroom, okay?" Lin Shi tugged at Chen Mo's sleeve and whispered.

"Sure," Chen Mo said, standing up and following Lin Shi into the classroom.

The desks and chairs inside were all old. Some desktops were cracked; some chairs were missing a leg, propped up with stones to stand steady. The blackboard was painted with ink, its edges already peeling. Yet, the walls were covered with the children's awards, neatly arranged and strikingly prominent.

"Uncle, look, this is my award. This is Lin Erya's, and this is Xiao Gang's," Lin Shi pointed at the awards on the wall, introducing them one by one, his voice brimming with pride.

"You're all amazing, such good children," Chen Mo said, patting his head with a smile.

Just then, the sound of soft footsteps approached.

Chen Mo instinctively turned to look!

A woman stood by the stone steps at the classroom entrance. She wore a simple white dress, the hem still carrying the scent of morning dew and mountain grass. Her figure was slender but not frail, like a solitary lotus quietly blooming in this barren mountain village—ethereal and transcendent, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding adobe houses and old furniture, yet somehow blending in harmoniously.

Her features possessed an unearthly, refined beauty. Her brows were like distant mountains tinged with dusk; her eyes resembled autumn waters flowing gently. Within their depths lay a timeless, boundless tenderness capable of embracing the children's innocence and mischief, yet also harbored a steadfast resolve and resilience born of persevering in this remote, impoverished place.

Long exposure to the mountain sun and wind had given her a healthy light wheat complexion, which only accentuated the clarity and brightness of her eyes. A simple silver hairpin was her only adornment, holding back a waterfall of black hair that cascaded to her waist. A breeze blew through the window, making her clothes flutter and her hair sway slightly. There was no trace of deliberate allure, only a purity and cleanliness stripped of all pretense.

When she looked at the children, the tenderness in her eyes seemed ready to overflow, as if her heart was the softest, most easily moved when it came to them.

Yet, Chen Mo could sense that beneath this gentleness lay an unshakable bottom line:

If anyone dared to harm these children or obstruct this dedication to teaching, those clear eyes would undoubtedly ignite with a pure and formidable light. With every gesture, she would raise the banner of protection, shielding them from all storms. That quiet strength hidden within softness seemed an intrinsic part of her very soul.

Chen Mo was momentarily stunned, his gaze lingering on her, finding himself briefly lost.

He had seen too many women caked in makeup, meticulously dressed, chasing fame and fortune. He had never seen a woman like this.

Without a trace of cosmetics, plain and unadorned, she upheld a life of poverty and responsibility in this barren mountain village. Yet, with her gentle demeanor and pristine aura, she captivated the eye, as if she were the purest, cleanest, most resilient existence in this chaotic world.