Chapter 44 - 44 The Orphanage Is In Danger, A New Path to Wealth
44 The Orphanage Is In Danger, A New Path to Wealth
There were only a few things that could worry Ai Tingya and the orphanage was the existence she cared about the most.
“Why are you here?” Ai Tingya flipped her wet hair and looked at Luo Feng at the door in surprise. Then, she realized that he was pulling a cart of stationery behind him.
The flatbed cart was piled high with pen and paper, acrylic paints, and drawing boards. He probably almost emptied the stationery shop.
Xiao Fei stopped helping Ai Tingya wet her hair after seeing so much good stuff. She threw down the water ladle and ran over. She was even happier to see Luo Feng than her biological mother.
Luo Feng handed the things to them and walked to Ai Tingya’s side. He rolled up his sleeves and took a water ladle. He scooped half a drop of warm water and poured it on Ai Tingya’s long hair to wash away the white foam.
The orphanage would not have a high-end water heater of course. If she wanted to wash her hair, she had to boil a basin of water and wet her hair herself.
The intense studies in the Third High School only allowed half a day a week for personal time for the students, so the three of them agreed not to do the tuition on Sundays.
Ai Tingya did not expect Luo Feng to come to the orphanage. She felt Luo Feng’s gentle movements and lowered her head, allowing his hand to pass through her hair.
After washing the foam, Luo Feng took a clean towel and helped Ai Tingya dry the excess water bit by bit. Ai Tingya did not use a hairdryer and let her hair dry in the wind in order to save electricity.
“Why are you suddenly here? You even brought so many things,” Ai Tingya asked again.
“Little Tingya has kept a secret from me. I’m here to find an answer.” Luo Feng smiled.
Ai Tingya’s face darkened. She clearly didn’t want to talk to Luo Feng anymore.
Luo Feng took her hand and said, “I’ll go ask Xiao Fei if you don’t tell me. I think she’ll be happy to tell me seeing how much paint there is.”
This could not be helped. Luo Feng would not have to spend any effort if Ai Tingya was willing to say it obediently.
Ai Tingya finally could not dissuade Luo Feng after hesitating for a moment.
The two of them walked under the apple tree. Ai Tingya slowly said, “Actually, the owner of the cake shop that the orphanage worked with previously is going back to his hometown and has sublet the shop to someone else. In the past, we would buy ingredients from the cake shop to make some cakes and sell them in the shop. Even though the money isn’t much, it’s a very important income to us. However, the new owner asked us to share the profits with him.”
Luo Feng asked curiously, “Is this considered a part-time job? You don’t have enough living expenses?”
“No.” Ai Tingya shook her head and said, “Our living expenses come from government funding and social donations, but it will only last until the age of 18. We will have a student loan when we reach adulthood and if we get into university. Those who don’t get in will go out and find a job. We can save the income from selling cakes for future use. You know that it’s very difficult for minors to find a job.”
Cake making was a part-time job that could be completed in the orphanage. Even the youngest child could save some money as long as they knew how to sprinkle sugar beans. This was how Ai Tingya saved her university tuition fees.
However, this job was about to end.
“So it’s because of this.” Luo Feng touched Ai Tingya’s head with heartache and said helplessly, “When will you learn to rely on me?”
Luo Feng felt that Ai Tingya was good at everything except spending money.
He would be nagged at for a long time even if he bought her an expensive dinner. Luo Feng didn’t make any more large sums of money after repairing the basketball court. The small change was negligible.
It would be funny if word got out that he had a cheat to earn some money.
This time, he finally had a chance to earn money. He had to seize it.
However, this was a huge burden on Ai Tingya. She had known that she had to rely on herself ever since she could understand things. It was too difficult on her to rely on anything.
“Alright, you know what happened now. Go back and rest. We still have class tomorrow.” She was prepared to send Luo Feng off before going to see Dean Du to discuss a solution.
Luo Feng avoided the situation. “Since I know, I definitely won’t stand by and do nothing. Where’s Dean Du? I have a plan to discuss with her.”
After saying that, he walked into the building.
Ai Tingya knew that she could not dissuade him. She pulled Luo Feng to the basketball court at the back of the building.
The basketball court had been built long ago. Two children were playing with a little yellow dog. Dean Du sat not far from them, listening to the laughter and reading.
Luo Feng saw that her sideburns had turned much whiter, and the wrinkles on her face were as deep as knife carvings. She must have worried a lot because of the cake shop.
The two of them walked over and described what had happened.
“Director, what are your plans?” Ai Tingya asked worriedly.
“If it really doesn’t work, I’ll apply to the higher-ups and get the government to help find a place.” Dean Du sighed and said.
Even so, very few shops were willing to take over such an unrewarding task. The cake shop would be implicated if there was a problem with the biscuits and bread made by the orphanage after all.
“Dean Du, since we can’t find a suitable place, we can totally open our own dessert shop.” Luo Feng expressed his thoughts.
“But doing business is not easy, and we don’t have that much money,” Dean Du said.
She had sold vegetables for the orphanage in the past. There were many people in the orphanage, so it did not take much effort to grow and collect vegetables. However, the competition in the market was very intense. Newbies would only be bullied.
Even though it looked like a simple grocery shopping trip, they would still encounter malicious bargaining. Dean Du felt that it was a pity that the children’s hard work was wasted, so she had no choice but to take another path.
She also knew that doing business made money, but the orphanage really could not afford to lose money.
“It’s okay, I have money.” Luo Feng seemed to see money waving at him.
He could not wait to make a loss when doing business.
He would invest money to recoup his losses and invest more money to recoup his losses. There would be income from profits, and there would be a foundation for losses. Any business he did would definitely make a profit!
Dean Du and Ai Tingya felt that this scene was familiar.
“Little Luo, I heard from Xiaoya that your family’s conditions are average. Where did you get so much money?” Dean Du asked.
“I… I made some money from my previous investments, so opening a small shop shouldn’t be a problem” laughed Luo Feng, “It’s going to rot in the bank anyway. I might as well put the money where it could be used well.”
“No, I can’t let you take the risk alone. I’d better apply for some funds,” Dean Du insisted. “Little Luo, you’re a good child, so we can’t let you suffer.”
Luo Feng shook his head: “Dean Du, you’re treating me like an outsider. You’re Tingya’s family, so you’re naturally my family too. I’m just contributing for my family, how can I be considered to have suffered a loss? How about this, you apply for funds. I’ll add on if it’s not enough.”
He had long thought about it. Dean Du would not have to worry so much that her hair would turn white if the funds were really so easy to apply for. He could only go along with them for now.
Both sides took a step back. Dean Du readily accepted the suggestion. “Alright, we’ll do as you say.”
She touched her burning eyes and held Ai Tingya’s hand in relief. “Xiao Ya, Xiao Luo is a good child. The two of you have to stick together. Take care of each other and don’t quarrel.”
“I know.” Ai Tingya’s eyes were also red.
Luo Feng stood at the side awkwardly, feeling that he had let them down.