Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 198 Philanthropic Practice: Continuing the Original Aspiration

In the late autumn of 1996, the conference room of Zhangcheng Chenqing Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was warm and inviting. Fresh citrus fruits were placed at both ends of the long conference table, and the air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed Tieguanyin tea, yet this did not diminish the solemn atmosphere. Su Qing, dressed in a navy blue suit, held a beautifully bound document in her hands. Her fingertips lightly traced the gold-embossed characters of the "Chenqing Charitable Foundation Charter," her gaze sweeping over the company's senior executives and financial staff present. Her voice was steady and firm: "Ladies and gentlemen, Chenqing has grown from a small workshop of eight people to where it is today, relying on technology, but even more so on the support of society. Now that we have the capability, we should shoulder our responsibilities. This charter, after three months of revision, clarifies two core directions—funding impoverished engineering students and promoting community-based elderly care. Today, I ask you all to give it a final review."

Lin Chen, seated at the head of the conference table, nodded slightly, tapping his fingertips on the surface. "Two points to add. First, the initial capital of the fund is two million, allocated from the company's annual profits, with 5% of net profit injected annually thereafter. No one is allowed to misappropriate this money. Second, an independent oversight team will be established, composed of representatives of long-term employees, external accountants, and community directors. Detailed income and expenditure statements will be published quarterly to ensure that every penny is used effectively." His gaze fell on the financial director, Lao Zhang. "Director Zhang, the fund account must be set up separately, strictly separated from the company account, and subsequent auditing work must be carried out."

Old Zhang nodded hurriedly, flipping open the ledger in front of him: "Chairman Lin, rest assured, we've already connected with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to establish a dedicated account and implemented a triple approval process. Every expenditure requires the signatures of General Manager Su, the representative of the supervisory team, and myself to be valid." As soon as he finished speaking, applause erupted in the conference room. Technical Director Uncle Wang wiped his eyes: "Back when we were starting our business, we even had to scrape together money to buy a used machine tool. Now that we're able to help others, it gives us peace of mind!"

The foundation's establishment ceremony was scheduled for a week later, to be held in the company's newly built employee activity center. On the day of the ceremony, the director of the Zhangcheng County Education Bureau, leaders from the Civil Affairs Bureau, and representatives of the students receiving assistance arrived early. A huge photo exhibition hung on the walls of the activity center, showing the transformation from the dilapidated old factory in 1978 to the modern factory area today, from the wear-resistant wrenches Lin Chen made himself to the precision bearings exported to Europe and America. The photos strung together Chen Qing's growth trajectory. In the most prominent position was a yellowed black-and-white photo—it was the side room of the courtyard house where Lin Chen lived when he was first reborn. Half a bag of old rice was still on the windowsill, and the text below was particularly eye-catching: "From surviving to living a valuable life, the original intention has never changed."

"The Chenqing Charity Foundation is officially established!" As Lin Chen and Su Qing jointly unveiled the red silk on the foundation's plaque, amidst the sound of celebratory cannons, one hundred student representatives who had received assistance stood up in unison and bowed deeply to the stage. A boy in a faded Zhongshan suit in the front row stood out. His name was Chen Mingliang, a freshman in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University. He came from a remote mountain village in Zhangcheng; his father had passed away early, and his mother supported his education by collecting recyclables. When he received the three thousand yuan scholarship and a set of precision instrument models from Su Qing, his hands trembled uncontrollably: "President Su, Chairman Lin, I... I will definitely work for Chenqing in the future to repay this kindness!"

Su Qing gently patted his shoulder and took out a notebook from her handbag: "These are my notes from when I was studying accounting. They contain many practical learning methods. The foundation will not only subsidize your tuition but also provide you with summer internships. Chairman Lin will personally guide you with his technical team colleagues." Lin Chen added with a smile: "We hope that after you graduate, you can go where you are needed, whether it's Chenqing or other companies. As long as you can apply your skills in a practical way, that will be the best way to repay us."

After the ceremony, Lin Chen received a call from his old neighbor, Aunt Li, in the courtyard. Her voice was trembling with tears: "Little Lin, Grandpa Wang in our courtyard has had a stroke. His children are all out of town, and there's no one to take care of him. What are we going to do?" After hanging up, Lin Chen immediately had his driver prepare the car and rushed back to Beijing with Su Qing and two staff members from the foundation. Five years later, stepping into the Hongxing Courtyard again, the courtyard with its blue bricks and gray tiles had been listed as a protected site. The old locust tree in the corner was still lush and verdant, but the lively scene of yesteryear was somewhat diminished.

The door to Grandpa Wang's house was ajar. Through the crack, one could see the old man lying on the bed, his mouth crooked and his speech slurred. Beside the bed was a half-eaten bowl of porridge, now cold. Su Qing quickly asked her staff to contact the nearby community hospital, while she rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen to cook some millet porridge for the old man. Lin Chen sat by the bed, holding the old man's withered hand. Remembering the kindness Grandpa Wang had shown him when he was first reborn, secretly giving him two steamed buns, his eyes reddened slightly. "Grandpa Wang, don't worry, we're here."

After the community doctor arrived, he gave Grandpa Wang a comprehensive examination and said he needed long-term rehabilitation care. Lin Chen immediately decided to allocate funds from the charity fund to renovate a senior care service station for the courtyard and surrounding community. The news spread, and neighbors gathered around. Qin Huairu walked in carrying freshly made steamed buns: "Xiao Lin, Xiao Su, you've really done a great thing! There are more and more elderly people in the courtyard now, and the children are all busy. Having a service station will give us a lot more peace of mind." Jia Dang chimed in, "I'm in charge of equipment renovation at the textile factory; I'll help with the electrical and heating renovations at the service station!"

The renovation of the elderly care service station quickly commenced, with a suitable location chosen for a vacant bungalow next to a traditional courtyard house. Lin Chen personally designed the renovation plan, adding barrier-free access, a rehabilitation training area, and a day care room; Su Qing was responsible for purchasing equipment such as nursing beds and wheelchairs, and also transferred two experienced nursing staff from Zhangcheng. During construction, the Liu brothers also came to help. Liu Guangfu, along with his hardware store employees, installed doors and windows free of charge, while Liu Guangtian helped debug the rehabilitation equipment. The courtyard was bustling with activity.

That evening, Lin Chen was discussing the details of the anti-slip flooring with the construction team leader when Yan Xiaowei led a thin boy over. This boy was Yan Lei, the great-grandson of Yan Bugui. A few months ago, Yan Lei had excelled at Chenqing Technical Training School and was selected for an internship at the Zhangcheng main factory. He had come back specifically to visit his family. "Chairman Lin, General Manager Su, my grandfather asked me to pass on a message to you. Thank you for remembering him." Yan Lei held a cloth bag in his hand. Inside was a yellowed arithmetic ledger. "This is my great-grandfather's ledger. He told me to give it to you to remind everyone not to follow his old tricks."

Lin Chen took the ledger and flipped through the densely packed numbers inside. From "Yan Jiecheng stole half a cornbread" to "Yan Jiedi bought an eraser for two cents," every single entry was clearly recorded. He suddenly remembered when Yan Lei was at the training school, holding this ledger and asking him "the difference between calculation and planning." At that time, he had told him, "Planning is for a better life, but calculation will lose people's hearts." Now, seeing this ledger, Lin Chen understood more deeply that a charitable foundation is not only about material assistance, but also about conveying the principle of kindness and goodwill.

The courtyard was bustling with activity on the day the elderly care service station opened. A sign reading "Chenqing Elderly Care Service Station" hung at the entrance. Inside, the rooms were bright and clean, the rehabilitation area's equipment was neatly arranged, and the day care room contained several brand-new sofas and a television. Lin Chen and Su Qing had also invited professional caregivers and nutritionists to provide regular health checkups and dietary guidance for the elderly. Grandpa Wang, sitting in his wheelchair, was practicing raising his arms under the guidance of a rehabilitation therapist. Seeing Lin Chen enter, he mumbled, "Okay...okay..."

The service station needed dedicated management, and Su Qing thought of He Yushui. He Yushui's husband, Li Jianguo, was retired, and the two of them were just sitting at home doing nothing. Upon receiving Su Qing's call, He Yushui immediately rushed over. Seeing the scale of the service station, she said with emotion, "Xiao Su, you've really thought of everything. Jianguo and I have discussed it, and we'll take charge of the daily management of the service station. We won't take a salary; it's just something we do for our neighbors."

He Yushui's arrival made the service station's operation more standardized. She created a detailed duty roster, organized activities for the elderly such as chess and calligraphy, and regularly held health lectures. Lin Chen and Su Qing would help out at the service station every time they returned to Beijing. Lin Chen would repair broken equipment for the elderly, while Su Qing would chat with them to understand their needs. Once, when Jia Zhangshi suffered an asthma attack, Su Qing immediately contacted the hospital and even paid the medical expenses in advance. Jia Zhangshi held Su Qing's hand, tears streaming down her face, saying, "I did so many foolish things before, and you still help me like this. I'm so sorry..."

On the eve of the Spring Festival, Lin Chen returned to the courtyard house with his wife Su Qing and son Lin Xiaoyu to celebrate the New Year. The service station was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. The elderly people sat together making dumplings, and the children set off firecrackers in the courtyard. The long-lost liveliness returned to this ancient courtyard. He Yushui came over with a plate of freshly cooked dumplings: "Xiao Lin, come and try some. This is a special dumpling filling with chives and eggs that Grandpa Wang made especially for you. He knows you like it."

Lin Xiaoyu, holding Yan Lei's hand, ran around the yard, carrying a small pinwheel Yan Lei had made for him. Su Qing, sitting beside Qin Huairu, looked at the scene before her and said softly, "I remember when we first started our business, our biggest wish was to be able to peacefully eat dumplings. Now, I never imagined we'd be celebrating the New Year with so many people." Lin Chen walked over, took Su Qing's hand, and his gaze swept over the joyful laughter filling the yard: "This is the meaning behind our foundation. Technology can make our lives better, and kindness can make our lives warmer."

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Chen took his son to pay New Year's visits to the elderly. Reaching Yi Zhonghai's tombstone, Lin Xiaoyu asked curiously, "Dad, who is this person?" Lin Chen knelt down, stroking the cold tombstone, and said softly, "He was my neighbor back then. He spent his whole life worrying about elder care, but forgot that the most precious thing is people's hearts." He took a brand-new thermos from his pocket and placed it in front of the tombstone. The thermos was imprinted with the words "Chen Qing Charity Foundation." "I hope he can understand that true elder care isn't something calculated, but something earned through kindness."

Back in Zhangcheng, Lin Chen and Su Qing received a call from Chen Mingliang, who excitedly said, "Chairman Lin, President Su, the new type of bearing I helped develop has obtained a national patent! After I graduate, I want to return to Zhangcheng and join your R&D team to use the technology for the charity foundation's poverty alleviation projects!" Lin Chen and Su Qing smiled at each other, knowing that the seeds of goodwill had taken root and sprouted, and the story of passing on the torch would continue.

That summer, the Chenqing Charity Foundation released its first annual report. The report showed that the foundation had sponsored 100 impoverished college students, 30 of whom received university-level scholarships; renovated three community elderly care service stations, serving over 500 elderly people; and also assisted in the construction of two poverty alleviation workshops in impoverished areas, creating 300 jobs. The report concluded with a photograph—Lin Xiaoyu and the children she had helped performing for the elderly at the service station; the children's smiles and the elderly people's eyes were filled with sunshine.

At the annual foundation board meeting, Su Qing proposed a new plan: "Next year, we plan to launch a 'Technical Education Support' project, organizing the company's technical backbone to teach at vocational schools in impoverished areas, while also building practical training bases locally so that more children can learn practical skills." Lin Chen added, "I have already contacted several universities to establish the 'Chen Qing Scholarship' to encourage more students to pursue careers in precision manufacturing. We not only want to alleviate poverty, but also empower people through education; this is the most fundamental form of assistance."

After the meeting, Lin Chen and Su Qing strolled through the company's R&D center. Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating rows of sophisticated instruments and reflecting a soft glow. The production workshops in the distance remained brightly lit, the hum of machine tools like gentle music. Su Qing leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder and whispered, "I remember back in the Zhangcheng farm implement factory, when you repaired the spinning machine with your homemade gears, I knew you were no ordinary person."

Lin Chen held Su Qing's hand, recalling every moment since his rebirth, from the struggles to survive in the courtyard house to the trials and tribulations of the business world, from technological innovation to philanthropic endeavors—every step of his life had been inseparable from the support of those around him. He looked up at the starry sky outside the window, his heart filled with emotion: "When I was reborn, all I wanted was to live a good life. It was you who made me realize that the meaning of life lies not only in living well myself, but also in how many people I can help live well."

A few days later, Lin Chen received an email from Germany, sent by the supplier from whom he had imported the used grinding machine years ago. The email stated that Chen Qing's precision manufacturing technology had reached international advanced levels and expressed a desire to collaborate with Chen Qing on the development of new equipment. Lin Chen handed the email to Su Qing, smiling, and said, "You see, our technology can not only help people in China, but also go global." Su Qing took the email, her eyes sparkling, "This is just the beginning. Our charitable foundation can also follow the technology to help people in more countries."

As the sun set, the flag of Chenqing Company fluttered in the wind. Lin Chen and Su Qing stood on the top floor of the office building, watching the employees come and go in the factory area and the myriad lights of the city in the distance, their hearts filled with hope for the future. They knew that the road of charity had no end, and technological innovation was endless, but as long as they stayed true to their original aspirations and worked hand in hand, they could surely let more people feel the warmth of kindness and let the light of technology illuminate the paths of more people's lives. And this was the most precious meaning of the Chenqing Charity Foundation, a promise they would uphold for their entire lives.