Chapter 278 Donation
After a full year of hard work, Li Tang intentionally gave both himself and his employees an early vacation to rest well and spend more time with their families.
Having returned home for just two or three days, he found himself strolling aimlessly around the modest urban area, eventually growing bored. Knowing the school anniversary celebration was lively, he arrived early at his old middle school campus.
The campus didn't appear to have changed much: the uneven cement roads, weathered by sun and rain, and the rough, pothole-ridden dirt soccer field remained familiar. This was the place where he had happily spent his childhood.
Most of his memories had become blurred, and he couldn't clearly recall the names of former teachers and classmates. Yet, seeing these familiar surroundings triggered a few vivid memories to surface in his mind.
As people grow older, they become simpler, more sentimental, and easily nostalgic.
Since the students were on holiday, the campus was quiet and empty, with just a few people scattered around. Li Tang wandered towards the basketball court, where many teachers were busy moving desks and chairs, preparing for the event.
A long table stood atop a platform, and rows of student chairs were neatly arranged on the court below. His mother, Tang Chuqiu, was busy placing name cards for the school leaders who would attend. Seeing Li Tang approaching casually, she walked over and took him to her office. "You came quite early. The official anniversary celebration will start in the afternoon, followed by dinner in the evening."
"I had some lamb noodles for breakfast and was just wandering around with nothing to do. I happened to pass by here, so I thought I'd stop by early and take a look," Li Tang replied.
As he sat down in his mother's office, familiar sensations came flooding back. In his middle school days, he'd frequently been sent to stand here as punishment for being mischievous.
"I still have to set up the venue. The invited guests and student parents will be arriving soon, so we need to greet them," Tang Chuqiu explained, taking out a box of tea leaves from the cupboard, knowing her son enjoyed tea lately. "Wait here, I'll call you when it's lunchtime. Today the cafeteria will serve a feast—you're lucky!"
"Go ahead and do your work. Don't mind me," Li Tang said, pouring himself a cup of hot tea from his mother's thermos, enjoying the tranquility.
After just a few minutes, a young male teacher entered the office, sweaty and thirsty. He picked up his cup, gulped down water noisily, and sighed with relief. Only then did he notice the office door was open and spotted a strange young man seated at Tang Chuqiu's desk. Puzzled, he asked, "Did you open the office door?"
Li Tang paused briefly before nodding in confusion. "Yes, I did. Why?"
"New teacher?" the young man asked.
"Yeah, just arrived," Li Tang responded ambiguously.
"Don't just sit around. Everyone is busy," the young teacher instructed, wiping his brow. Without sitting down to rest, he immediately beckoned Li Tang, "Come on, follow me and help move the display boards. We're short-handed right now."
"Oh, sure," Li Tang put down his teacup and followed obediently, closing the office door behind him, realizing too late that he had lost his quiet refuge.
"What's your name?" the teacher initiated small talk as they walked.
"Li Tang."
"I'm Chen Jianying. We share the same office, so let's exchange teaching experiences sometime."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Chen." Li Tang had always held teachers in high regard—especially knowing his own mother's hard work as a teacher, managing unruly students and grading piles of homework after class.
"Where did you graduate from?" Chen Jianying continued casually.
"Yanjing University of Geosciences," Li Tang replied.
"Geosciences University? Got connections here?" Chen Jianying asked.
"You could say that," Li Tang answered vaguely.
They soon reached a classroom where teachers were busy moving large, colorful display boards prepared by students or professionally printed ones illustrating the school's history.
"Come on, you and I can carry this heavy metal-framed one. Let's leave the wooden ones for the female teachers," Chen Jianying quickly directed, showing no hesitation in assigning tasks to Li Tang.
Though the boards weren't extremely heavy, their size made it easier for two people to carry together.
"You seem pretty young. Just graduated?" Chen Jianying chatted easily while carrying the board. Teachers were usually good conversationalists. "Teaching at a school marks the start of your career. We need to stay diligent so that our efforts are noticed by management."
"Yes, you're right," Li Tang agreed politely.
"You sitting alone in the office just now wasn't a good look while everyone else was busy."
"I was just drinking tea," Li Tang explained awkwardly.
"Still, it wouldn't look good if the director or principal saw you. Of course, you're new and don't know the environment well yet, I understand," Chen Jianying added considerately, not intending criticism, merely friendly advice.
"I'm actually not a teacher," Li Tang finally admitted.
"Not a teacher? Substitute then?" Chen Jianying was still confused. "It's normal to start as a substitute. Just prepare for exams and get your certification soon. It's a process—no rush."
When they placed the board down near the basketball court, an older female teacher immediately recognized Li Tang. "Wait, aren't you Li Tang?" she exclaimed.
"Hello, Ms. Wu," Li Tang greeted respectfully. He remembered her clearly; she once lived in the same neighborhood before his family moved closer to the geological bureau.
Several older teachers soon identified Li Tang, recognizing his resemblance to Tang Chuqiu. As a student, he'd frequently visited the teachers' office, making him familiar to many.
"I heard from your mom you're working in Yanjing now and already back for vacation?"
"Didn't you join Wukuang Group? That's a major state-owned company. You must be making great money compared to here."
"Weren't you starting your own business?"
"Got a girlfriend yet?"
"You were always mischievous but had good grades—top of your class. Then you went to university in Yanjing. Impressive!"
"Well, with Ms. Tang teaching you herself, how could your grades not be good?"
The older teachers chatted excitedly, needing no response from Li Tang, happy enough catching up among themselves.
Chen Jianying, embarrassed by the misunderstanding, apologized quietly to Li Tang. "Sorry, I thought you were a new teacher. I didn't realize Ms. Tang was your mom. My mistake!"
"I tried telling you earlier," Li Tang laughed.
"You're here visiting your mom?" Chen Jianying asked.
"It's the anniversary today. I'm an alumnus here for the celebration," Li Tang smiled. "My mom mentioned they prepared hotpot tonight—I couldn't miss it."
"Indeed, it'll be great," Chen relaxed, adding, "Do you have the office key? Why not sit down until lunchtime? I'll call you."
"No need. Looks like there's still lots to do. I'll help out," Li Tang insisted, eager to stay active rather than idle.
"You're our guest—you don't need to work," Chen protested politely.
"It's fine," Li Tang waved him off, following Chen back to the classroom to continue moving the boards.
Lunch was indeed excellent: four dishes, one soup, and plenty of meat. Just afterward, Li Tang received a call from Liu Chengpeng, who quickly located him.
"Had lunch?" Li Tang asked.
"Yes, at the cafeteria too."
"I didn't notice you."
"I was seated with the school leaders," Liu Chengpeng admitted sheepishly. "My mom brought me over. I was too nervous to eat much."
"Eating's important," Li Tang joked, satisfied from his meal.
"Mr. Li, I handled the matter you called about yesterday. Our company will donate one million yuan to the school."
"What about the company side?"
"The finance department confirmed the transfer will happen shortly. You'll just need to sign when you're back in Yanjing."
"Good. It's our alma mater, after all. Helping out within our capability feels right."
"I asked around. Our donation is among the largest. Other alumni, even wealthy local businessmen, donated ten thousand or eighty thousand at most."
"Don't compare. We do what we can," Li Tang stated firmly, believing a million yuan donation was neither excessive nor insignificant. Education was vital, deserving support.
By afternoon, parents and alumni began arriving. A finance officer sat at a table at the gate, noting donations for a commemorative plaque honoring donors once the new dormitory was built.
Old friends reunited joyfully, sharing nostalgic memories of youth. The formal ceremony began, and Li Tang, casually seeking a seat, was approached by Liu Chengpeng leading several others.
"This is Mr. Li, our company's boss. He authorized the million-yuan donation," Liu explained.
"Hello, I'm Principal Wang," one of them eagerly introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you," Li Tang shook hands graciously.
"We've received your donation," Wang gripped his hand emotionally. "We're extremely grateful!"
"The school helped shape me. Giving back is our responsibility," Li Tang replied humbly.
"You must sit up front!" Wang insisted enthusiastically. Eventually, Li Tang was seated in the first row, and although hesitant, agreed to pose briefly for a photo to inspire students, ensuring their future progress.
Li Tang didn't seek fame. In his industry, too much attention wasn't always good. Yet he understood the principal's good intentions.
The anniversary ceremony began, filled with speeches, student performances, and finally concluded with a special dinner, marking another memorable milestone.
This was the procedure.
Amid the crackling of firecrackers, district and education bureau leaders stepped onto the stage one after another, praising the school's achievements and expressing great hopes for its future.
"Special thanks to parent Liu Zhan for donating eighty thousand yuan. Please welcome Liu Zhan to the stage."
"Special thanks to Xinglong Adhesive Tape Factory for donating two hundred thousand yuan. Please welcome Factory Director Zhan."
"Special thanks to alumnus Guo Jingyu for donating five hundred thousand yuan. Please welcome Guo Jingyu to the stage!"
As Principal Wang approached the end, his voice grew increasingly enthusiastic, matched by the escalating applause from the audience. Considering their monthly wages were barely over a thousand yuan, people were astonished to see donations of tens of thousands. Clearly, there were quite a few wealthy individuals quietly living among them.
"Finally, special thanks to Li Tang Shengshi Holdings for their generous donation of one million yuan. Please welcome Mr. Li to the stage!"
Principal Wang pointed toward the central seat in the first row. "Mr. Li Tang is not only an alumnus but also one of our own children! His mother, Ms. Tang Chuqiu, is a dedicated Chinese language teacher and class advisor at our school. We sincerely thank Li Tang for his tremendous support. Additionally, we express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Tang Chuqiu for her years of tireless effort, nurturing countless outstanding students. Most importantly, she has raised an exceptional entrepreneur!"
As Li Tang briskly walked onto the stage, Principal Wang smiled warmly, saying, "According to our information, Mr. Li is an entrepreneur in the mining industry. He usually keeps a very low profile. Upon hearing about the school's anniversary, he took time from his busy schedule to rush back from Yanjing. We deeply appreciate his generosity!"
A donation plaque bearing the figure of one million yuan had already been prepared. Li Tang took the plaque from the ceremony attendant and personally handed it to Principal Wang, turning to face the audience with a warm smile.
"Mr. Li, you're so young—would you like to share your experiences for success?" Principal Wang handed Li Tang the microphone.
"Thank you to the school for cultivating me, to every teacher and leader, and to my fellow alumni," Li Tang briefly said before quickly leaving the stage.
A donation of one million yuan was certainly not a small amount. Housing prices in Zhucheng were only about a thousand yuan per square meter at this time, and the urban area was still quite limited. Clearly, many teachers who knew Tang Chuqiu or Li Tang had never imagined he'd donate such a significant sum without hesitation.
Many ordinary parents did not even attend the ceremony, and among those who did, most only donated small amounts—ten or twenty yuan just as a token gesture.
"Ms. Tang, is that really your son Li Tang?" a teacher seated beside Tang Chuqiu asked incredulously.
"No wonder Ms. Tang moved houses recently and wears new clothes every day—her son has become successful!"
"Why didn't you ever tell us? We've all been kept in the dark."
"Amazing! He's clearly made a big name for himself in Yanjing!"
Listening to everyone's astonished praise, Tang Chuqiu felt somewhat flustered, uncertain how to respond. She knew her son had ventured into business after leaving Wukuang Group, even conducting exploration projects in Tibet with him. She was aware he'd made some money, but she never anticipated he'd donate such a large amount all at once. She had previously cautioned him against donating too much just for pride, believing that even ten or twenty thousand yuan would be considered generous, given her own monthly salary was only slightly more than a thousand yuan. His silent decision to give one million yuan truly shocked her, and she worried it was primarily motivated by protecting her pride.
Liu Zhenfen, the Academic Affairs Director sitting in front, had previously met Li Tang in Yanjing, yet she never imagined he had so much money. Suddenly understanding the situation, she turned and asked her son Liu Chengpeng quietly, "What's the name of the company you work for?"
"Li Tang Shengshi Holdings," Liu Chengpeng replied. "I mentioned it once over the phone."
"No wonder it sounded familiar—the company name is actually Li Tang's own name!" Liu Zhenfen finally realized. "Your company's boss is Li Tang himself?"
"Yes, it's him," Liu Chengpeng nodded. "He's actually been very kind to me at work."
After overcoming her initial surprise, Liu Zhenfen lowered her voice, reproachfully whispering, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have built a better connection for you here! You should have mentioned it before. If it weren't for today's donation, I'd still be clueless. You really lack common sense sometimes!"
"Didn't you already give him a pair of sneakers?" Liu Chengpeng reminded her.
"That's hardly enough!" Liu Zhenfen shook her head, glanced back, and spotted Tang Chuqiu a few rows behind. She immediately stood up, walked over, and sat beside her.
The teacher next to Tang kindly moved aside, making room for Director Liu.
"Director Liu," Tang Chuqiu greeted her politely, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Looking at Tang Chuqiu's gentle smile and calm demeanor, Liu Zhenfen couldn't help but reflect that Tang's son had truly made something of himself. After returning from Yanjing, Liu had not made much effort to draw closer to Tang. Usually, when they met, it was Tang who took the initiative in greeting. After all, as a director, she had felt the need to maintain authority and typically paid little attention to ordinary teachers' opinions. Yet now, oddly enough, she felt slightly inferior. The tables had clearly turned, with her son working under Tang's son.
"Ms. Tang, your son is doing so well in Yanjing—why didn't you tell me earlier?" Liu Zhenfen asked with a friendly laugh.
"I don't really know much about his business," Tang Chuqiu replied honestly. "His father usually discusses work with him. I just care about his health."
"My son, Chengpeng, is now working for Li Tang. Please put in a good word for him, so Li Tang takes good care of him."
"Of course," Tang Chuqiu couldn't refuse such a request.
"Thank you so much!" Liu Zhenfen grasped Tang's hand warmly. "We should spend more time together from now on. I know an excellent hair salon. After things settle down, I'll take you there."
"Really?" Tang touched her hair self-consciously, realizing she hadn't cared for it in a while.
After the leaders finished their speeches, the donation ceremony quickly concluded. The event then featured performances prepared by students and teachers for the alumni. Although amateurish, their sincerity drew enthusiastic applause and laughter. Entertainment was rare, and few owned mobile phones at this time, so everyone thoroughly enjoyed the simple yet heartfelt performances.
District and education bureau leaders who had given speeches earlier took reserved seats in the front row. On their way down, they all shook Li Tang's hand respectfully.
"What exactly does Li Tang do? I've never heard of him before," someone wondered aloud. Zhucheng was small, and most influential people within the government system knew each other. It was surprising no one seemed familiar with him.
Deng Jiaquan from the education bureau stepped forward and explained, "He's Li Zaiqiang's son. Li Zaiqiang is the chief engineer at the 101 Geological Team, now a renowned geological expert who has given several lectures in the province."
"Li Zaiqiang, huh! And Li Tang's in mining?"
"Yes, he's in mining. Very low-profile. His actual influence isn't well-known."
"If he's in mining, he's definitely not lacking money."
"Principal Wang, you invited Li Tang. You must know more about him."
Principal Wang shook his head slightly, admitting, "I invited Li Tang after meeting Director Han from the geological bureau, who mentioned Li Tang was an entrepreneur and one of our alumni. Honestly, I don't know much more than that."
"Youth surpasses the older generation," someone sighed with admiration.
Everyone noticed Li Tang's youth, probably around their own children's age, and the ease with which he donated a million yuan was remarkable. Li Tang's donation was partly a gesture of gratitude toward the school and partly out of consideration for his mother's reputation, given that she worked here.
Following the performances, Principal Wang invited Li Tang to dine with the leaders to strengthen their relationships, but Li Tang politely declined—not out of arrogance but to avoid heavy drinking during his rare vacation. At most, he'd offer a toast during dinner.
Unable to spot his mother in the crowd, Li Tang followed the others toward the cafeteria, preferring to mingle casually with everyone else. As he looked for a seat, someone tapped his shoulder. It was Liu Chengpeng, who had thoughtfully reserved a spot for him.
As he sat down, Li Tang saw Chen Jianying sitting opposite him.
"Hello again, Mr. Chen!" Li Tang greeted warmly. Chen smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
Liu Chengpeng asked curiously, "You two know each other?"
"We met this morning while setting up," Li Tang replied. "Looks like you two know each other too?"
"Chen visited my home a few times," Liu explained briefly.
Li Tang quickly understood Chen Jianying was ambitious and socially active. The young teachers at the table drank merrily, while Li Tang only sipped politely. Soon after, his mother called, concerned he'd had too much to drink.
They walked home together leisurely.
"Did you drink?" she sniffed suspiciously.
"Only a little. Your nose is sharp!" Li Tang laughed.
"Be careful, especially in winter," she warned. "I recently heard about someone who fell asleep drunk outdoors and suffered severe frostbite."
"I know my limits," Li Tang reassured.
"Forget that bad luck," she waved her hand dismissively. "By the way, did you donate all your money today?"
"Relax, Mom, it's company money, not mine personally," Li Tang explained gently. "I'm saving my own funds to spoil you."
The next day, he quietly purchased a villa in Zhucheng as a backup plan for his parents, marking a comforting start to their New Year celebrations.
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