Chapter 200: Chapter 200

The son recently got a new girlfriend...

Piece by piece, from Old Chen’s attire when he leaves home, you can tell.

Although Chu River did send big packages to the Yuanyuan Family, they couldn’t just sell off a student’s token of appreciation—besides, for the elderly, using them is indeed comfortable...

In short, it’s not that Old Chen didn’t mention student loans before, but little Chen Die cried so miserably in the office, saying she didn’t dare to owe loan money...

Old Chen couldn’t bear to see a good seedling be held back, so he reluctantly agreed.

But he felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

Because he wasn’t the kind of person to put on a brave face by accepting humiliation. It was him who suggested the loan, indeed, but he never said to borrow four years of tuition...

Over six thousand each year, his monthly salary wasn’t even that much, which meant different levels of pressure.

Originally, he thought it through for the little girl; he lent tuition, and living expenses come from bonuses, so there’s no need to worry too much for the first semester.

She could find part-time work on weekends and holidays, plus winter and summer breaks to make ends meet for the next academic year; the school also provides subsidies and bonuses...

Now Chen Die knew about his difficulties, and he too felt relieved.

However, Chu River understood the other side was merely speaking about it—there was actually nothing regarding applying for student loans.

So he waved his hand—

"Hey, are you from the student union over there? There’s a freshman here who wants to apply for a student loan but doesn’t know how to do it. Could you help explain?"

With many new students and seniors brought in to help, Chu River’s gesture quickly gathered enthusiastic student union members around Chen Die.

Seizing the moment, Chu River took Old Chen away, lecturing him along the way, as if their roles were reversed.

"The girl thinks you’re embarrassing and doesn’t want to be near you. Why insist on taking her to school?"

Old Chen was agitated, "Then why did she ask me to buy her a ticket if I’m so embarrassing?!"

But the bigger fury was brewing behind the scenes.

"Are you silly? Haven’t even seen what kind of student she is, yet you dared to lend money. Now that you’ve lent it, she’ll drag it out for 10 years or 8 years before paying back, and you’d still be grateful..."

Old Chen was used to being subdued and found himself nodding along: "Indeed, I was a bit hasty. Mainly she cried right after class in the office, and I was... By the way, Little He, regarding that scholarship fund you mentioned, how do you plan on handling it?"

Old Chen specifically took a day off to discuss the matter Chu River brought up.

Chu River took him to a restaurant, then organized, "It’s nothing. I’ve got some money in hand with no place to spend it, and I think there are quite a few people like me. So why not set up a scholarship fund at our school?"

"No need to make it complicated or invest too much capital, not even formal, saving a lot of hassle. Just a lump sum, two million, whenever you see a student in need while teaching, just send me the necessary info, and I’ll transfer the money to your account for you to manage."

Old Chen instinctively rejected, "How can this work without professional review? Besides, helping people isn’t that simple..."

"Am I not supposed to hire staff to pay salaries?"

Chu Fa Da was not concerned with his grumbling, confidently stating: "You’ll take on a part-time role, receiving 3,000 yuan per month—doesn’t matter which school. See a good seedling in need of funds, just arrange for it."

"Anyway, it’s just this two million; the rest relies on the government."

She definitely had more than two million at her disposal but also wished to enjoy herself, not giving it all away.

Old Chen sighed and didn’t refuse—

"Don’t bother with the salary, I’ll certainly pick students carefully. If their character isn’t good, they won’t receive the funds."

Chu River was open-minded: "People’s spiritual state and self-discipline differ when they’re poor versus when they’re well-off—just ensure there’s no major moral lapse on the surface." Fresh chapters posted on N()velFire.net

"Besides, this isn’t for free; students need to sign an IOU, and at most, it only covers the tuition and living expenses for the first two academic years of college. Each year incurs interest, the longer the time, the more the interest—which needs to be repaid within ten years after graduation, and the repayment accumulates into this account."

With the details already calculated by a phone assistant, Old Chen just had to follow the standards.

Old Chen looked at the forms and fell into deep contemplation.

Honestly speaking, though the two million is intended for the first two academic years of college, student loans don’t incur interest—this money isn’t necessarily needed; she truly wants to assist students at the junior and senior high school stage.

At this stage, students aren’t readily employable, lacking income channels yet it’s a critical academic phase...indeed, they need this money urgently.

Of course, the government does offer aid to impoverished families.

Yet not every household qualifies as an impoverished family.

Take Chu River, for example; both parents alive and well—why considered impoverished? Her dad Chu Fugui is capable of earning money, just unwilling to exert effort.

This type of community aid wouldn’t apply to such households.

Setting aside other factors, her family indeed diverted all resources to her younger brother, certainly not keen on having her attend Bai Niao for schooling.

There are even more complicated families, with kids in greater hardships...

Old Chen sighed heavily: "Fine, you have the ability and are willing to give back—this is admirable—however, I won’t accept the salary, I’ll be sure to investigate thoroughly with the many teachers I know."

Chu River filled a bowl full of rice:

"Oh, come off it, your son’s wedding expenses still need saving up, right? With your original salary, who knows when you’d save enough..."

"You can’t say it like that..." Old Chen felt mortified: "My wife and I save several thousand a month..."

One to two thousand is still several thousand, and eight to nine thousand is also several thousand; Chu River knew this well in her heart.

At Old Chen’s age, with a son shouldering a mortgage and not earning much salary, the couple’s savings all going into the house, and their colleagues and friends mainly in this age group—not to mention gifts costing a lot each month.

How much could they save?

Based on snippets from the book, Chu River couldn’t deduce exactly when Old Chen’s child would have a car accident... but all she could do was ensure Old Chen’s upcoming years were a bit easier.

Moreover, with this money, when teachers in schools want to sponsor students, they don’t have to use their own money to do so.

Everyone’s just trying to get by—it’s not easy for anyone.

Those stingy teachers in the small city might have their flaws, but in Chu River’s mind, and the original Chu River’s mind, they had long surpassed her biological parents.

As for after Old Chen’s son has a car accident... in the future there’ll be mechanical prosthetics; it will be tough, but as long as he gets through the recovery period, life won’t be affected.

Old Chen was still hesitating.

Chu River had become quite familiar with this routine by now.

She released another trump card—

"Providing a salary means I’m hiring you, and you’re an errand runner, not making major decisions—so if any news leaks out, and someone approaches you, you have a reason, right?"

Seeing Old Chen on the verge of wavering decisively, Chu River contently finished her bowl of rice.

——In this ordinary world’s game, Chu River knew it well in her heart!

Whether or not she wanted to engage, could she accomplish it, was another matter entirely.