58: Chapter 58 Chen Mo Establishes Authority to Protect Schools

While Chen Mo was lost in thought, Lin Shi suddenly called out cheerfully, "Teacher Su!"

The crisp voice broke the momentary quiet. Su Yingxue looked over gently and smiled at Lin Shi.

She then turned towards Chen Mo, walking forward with unhurried steps, her tone gentle but not subservient:

"Hello, I'm the volunteer teacher here, Su Yingxue. Seeing your volunteer vest, you must be from the Foundation?"

Chen Mo snapped back to reality, suppressing the strange feeling in his heart as a smile appeared on his face:

"Hello, Teacher Su. My name is Cao Mo. I'm just an ordinary volunteer here to see the children and understand their learning and living conditions."

"Thank you for your hard work, Volunteer Cao Mo."

Su Yingxue nodded, her gaze sweeping over the men.

"The children are all very sensible and love to study. It's just that the school conditions are a bit poor. Stationery and teaching aids are often in short supply, the classroom is drafty, and we have to use basins to catch water on rainy days."

Su Yingxue spoke calmly, her tone devoid of any complaint, yet a barely perceptible resilience was hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Listening, Chen Mo replied without changing his expression:

"Don't worry, Teacher Su. The Foundation has always been thinking of the children. We've brought a lot of supplies this time, and conditions here will gradually improve."

As the two were speaking, a flurry of footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard, accompanied by the chatter of villagers.

Everyone turned to look and saw the village chief of Qingshan Village swaggering in with two villagers, beaming as he headed straight for the Foundation's team leader.

"Team Leader Wang, finally found you!"

The village chief rubbed his hands together, smiling broadly as he got straight to the point:

"Let's discuss something. Regarding the Foundation's student aid funds for the children, don't distribute them directly to the kids or the school! Transfer the money to the village instead. Let our village committee handle the unified arrangement and distribution. That would be much more reasonable! Rest assured, our village will present your Foundation with a commendatory banner with great fanfare!"

The team leader frowned and said,

"Village Chief, that won't do. The Foundation has clear regulations. Student aid funds must be delivered in full to each assisted child, and supplies must be checked and counted by our designated personnel. They cannot pass through anyone in the village."

"Are you suggesting we'd embezzle or misappropriate it?!"

The village chief's face instantly darkened, his tone turning sinister and unreasonable.

"Would our village harm the children? We understand each child's situation better than you do. Unified arrangement ensures the money is used where it's most needed!"

He paused briefly before continuing:

"Besides, transporting your supplies into the village still relies on our villagers' help. The children live in the village, which is under our management. If you don't give us the money, and something happens later, don't blame us for not warning you!"

At these words, the surrounding volunteers glared angrily at the village chief. The nearby children also shrank back timidly, not daring to make a sound.

Seeing this, Su Yingxue stepped forward quickly, her tone gentle yet firm:

"Village Chief, the student aid funds are specifically for the children's education—for buying stationery and paying miscellaneous school fees. They cannot be diverted for other uses. Please consider the children's situation."

"You're just an outsider volunteer teacher. Stay out of our village affairs!"

The village chief impatiently cut her off, his tone displeased.

"You have no say here. Step aside!"

Anger flashed across Su Yingxue's face, but she did not retreat. She wanted to persuade further, but the village chief was already glaring, looking ready to explode.

The team leader was also furious but felt helpless. He knew the village chief was unreasonable, yet he couldn't afford to escalate the conflict, fearing it would affect the subsequent transportation of supplies.

At that moment, Chen Mo stepped forward, his tone carrying an intangible pressure as he refuted:

"Village Chief, Teacher Su is right. The student aid funds are for the children. They cannot be handed over to the village for unified arrangement. It's against regulations and unfair to the children."

The village chief frowned and turned to look at Chen Mo. Seeing him wearing an ordinary volunteer vest, he assumed he was just an insignificant staff member and snapped at him:

"Who do you think you are? What right do you have to speak here? Mind your own business and get lost! Why don't you ask around? In this Qingshan Village, my family has been village chief for generations. Without my nod, I guarantee you won't get an inch further!"

As he spoke, he reached out to push Chen Mo, his face full of unreasonable arrogance.

The people around gasped in surprise. Su Yingxue instinctively took a step forward, wanting to intervene.

Chen Mo sidestepped lightly, his eyes turning cold instantly as he stared directly at the village chief, piercing his intentions word by word:

"Cut the act. This 'unified arrangement' you want isn't for the children at all, is it? You want to divert the children's aid funds for other uses, to pocket them for yourself, right?"

The village chief's face darkened immediately, but he stubbornly denied it: "What nonsense are you spouting! How could I possibly misappropriate the children's money? A mere volunteer like you dares to slander me!"

With that, he plopped down on the ground, shouting,

"Volunteers bullying villagers!"

Chen Mo couldn't be bothered to waste words on him. He directly took out his phone and dialed Zhang Kai's number: "Contact the local education bureau and police station responsible for Qingshan Village, as well as the Foundation's special inspection team. Have them come to Qingshan Village Primary School immediately. Someone is attempting to withhold the children's student aid funds, obstructing charity work and delaying the children's education."

Hearing Chen Mo's words, the village chief pointed at him and sneered:

"Stop putting on airs! A measly little volunteer, trying to call the Foundation's inspection team? I think you're just looking for trouble. Let's see if your Foundation's inspection team can even get here!"

Chen Mo gave him a faint glance:

"You can try. When the Foundation's inspection team arrives, I'll not only ensure your village loses all charitable funding—including the previously promised road repairs and school construction subsidies—but I'll also hold you accountable, sue you for misappropriating charitable funds. And your own affairs probably aren't clean either, are they? You'll be waiting for a jail cell then!"

At these words, the village chief panicked completely. He knew very well what he was like.

No matter what, the strength of the charitable Foundation was not something a small village chief like him could interfere with. If he really lost all the funding and was held accountable, his life would be over.

The village chief quickly dropped his unruly act, his tone turning gloomy as he said:

"Hmph, I won't stoop to your level!"

Then he slunk away with the two villagers.

Once the village chief left, the courtyard instantly returned to calm. The volunteers and children all breathed a sigh of relief.

Their eyes when looking at Chen Mo were filled with awe and admiration.

The team leader hurried over, thanking Chen Mo repeatedly:

"Cao Mo, thank you so much! This is the first time I've encountered such a situation. I was really worried it would affect the children!"

"It was nothing. It's what I should have done."

Chen Mo waved his hand dismissively and said with a smile.

Su Yingxue also walked over. Her gaze at Chen Mo held a few more traces of puzzlement.

This volunteer named Cao Mo—his demeanor and presence didn't seem like that of an ordinary volunteer. But she didn't ask further, only offering a gentle, sincere smile as she said:

"Cao Mo, thank you. Thank you for standing up just now and protecting the children."

"You're welcome, Teacher Su."

Looking into her clear eyes, Chen Mo's tone softened even more,

"You're the one who has persevered here, giving so much for the children. That's harder work. By the way, tell me more. What other specific difficulties does the school face? Tell me everything. I'll coordinate and resolve them."

Chen Mo promised with firm conviction: "I assure you, I will report these issues to the Foundation for prompt arrangements. The children won't have to study in dilapidated classrooms anymore. They won't lack stationery or teaching aids. And your perseverance won't be in vain."

A glimmer of light appeared in Su Yingxue's eyes. They grew slightly warm as a pure, gentle smile spread across her face:

"Thank you, Cao Mo. With your words, that's enough."