Chapter 670: Chapter 670 Old Money

Time flew by, and the final exams were drawing nearer.

The study atmosphere at Lingguang No.1 Middle School was particularly intense, with the library packed every weekend.

There were even conflicts over seat-hogging incidents.

The school had no choice but to post notices, hoping everyone would maintain order.

Yue Qingqing’s study group of four would basically get up at six or seven in the morning as soon as the holidays started, eat breakfast, and head straight for the library.

Zhuang Lan was always worried about not finding a spot and insisted on leaving earlier.

Fortunately, Lu Zhu was also a manager and was very familiar with the teachers inside, often managing to reserve some secluded spots for them.

This ensured everyone could get some sleep.

In the library, Yue Qingqing just finished a test paper when her stomach growled.

The sound was particularly jarring in the quiet library, attracting many curious glances.

Yue Qingqing’s face turned red as she quietly passed a note to everyone.

“Shall we go eat?”

The note made a round and came back.

Qu Ruorui: I had a big lunch and still am not hungry.

Lu Zhu: I brought cookies and will go eat them at the entrance in a bit.

Zhuang Lan: Two more test papers, will go after finishing them.

Seeing the situation, Yue Qingqing gathered her things and took her student card, deciding to go to the cafeteria alone.

On the way from the cafeteria to the library, the principal was accompanying an old man with white hair and beard along the path.

The principal’s face maintained a attentive yet strained smile, lacking his usual authority.

“Mr. Qian, what do you think?”

Qian Zhengxin’s gaze swept over the library they had just visited and then glanced at a few students who passed by not far away, subtly nodding his head.

“Not bad at all, the kids all seem to love studying.”

The principal’s smile brightened even more.

Qian Zhengxin was a renowned entrepreneur in China, as well as a recognized educationist.

However, his reputation as an educationist did not come from teaching but from founding and donating to a large number of schools.

From China’s top universities to secluded village schools, all could receive donations from Qian Zhengxin.

He was wealthy but lived frugally, from the outside just an ordinary old man.

He wore simple cotton clothes, none from luxury brands, not matching his status.

Yet, the frugal Qian Zhengxin spared no expense when it came to educational causes.

When the media asked why, Qian Zhengxin replied that without education, he could never have escaped ignorance, poverty, and backwardness.

Businessmen of Qian Zhengxin’s older generation had a sense of responsibility towards the country that is hard for modern people to imagine, and he firmly believed that only education could change the country.

Due to his reputation, swindlers sometimes sent him photos of poor village children in need of education, hoping to receive his donations.

When Qian Zhengxin, who felt duped, discovered the fraud, he was extremely angry and went to great lengths to take the perpetrators to court.

Even though the accused was willing to compensate with all his wealth, Qian Zhengxin was unforgiving, insisting on the harshest prison sentence.

Since then, the old man insisted on personally investigating any school he considered for his donations, willing to donate only if they met his criteria.

The principal of Lingguang No.1 Middle School never imagined his school would have the honor of being visited by Mr. Qian.

Although his school was not poor, education is a pit without a bottom–no one would complain about having too much money.

He even thought that if they could secure the donation, they could set up a dedicated computer classroom.

He heard that overseas, they had already started using computers, and the principal too wanted his students to be on par with international standards.

However, in the midst of the principal’s hopeful gaze, Qian Zhengxin unexpectedly changed the subject.

“Learning is certainly important, but it’s equally important to cultivate student character.”

The principal’s face stiffened, unsure what Mr. Qian meant by that.

“I read in the newspaper a while back about a student from your school who helped an old person and was then extorted. Yet a classmate who had witnessed the whole incident, for some reason, slandered her instead–is that right?”

At that moment, the principal wished he could disappear into the ground.

“That, that’s just an isolated incident.”

“A single leaf can be a sign of the coming autumn. I’ve looked at your school’s university entrance exam pass rate, it’s one of the best in the province. But I hope you’re not just teaching test-takers, but individuals who can be truly useful to society.”

The principal’s face was riddled with embarrassment, not knowing how to explain, cursing Zhou Xitong and her friends silently.

Truly, one rat dropping spoils the whole pot of soup.

He thought the donation was definitely off the table, but then Mr. Qian unexpectedly changed the topic again.

“Tell me, if an old person fell inside the school now, would anyone dare to help?”

The principal was caught off guard, “Huh? What old person?”