Han Shaohua was exceptionally observant. After following Chen Qin around True Benevolence Hall a few times, he had a thorough grasp of its personnel.
He mentally calculated for a moment and gave an accurate figure.
Cheng You had brought money today. She counted it out and handed it over.
"After work today, let everyone come to you to collect their pay. Distribute it to them one by one, no one should be missed."
Han Shaohua took the money, his heart pounding. This was no small sum.
Cheng You had actually given it to him just like that!
Was this a sign of her trust in him?
This kind of trust felt like a burden on his shoulders, heavy and solid.
"What, you don't know how to distribute it?" Cheng You raised an eyebrow.
Han Shaohua's gaze became firm. "Of course I do. I will definitely do a good job! But Sister Cheng You, I've only been here a few days, I don't need a bonus."
He wasn't an old employee.
Cheng You put down the ledger and smiled at him.
"That's why everyone else gets fifty, and you get thirty. We are all part of True Benevolence Hall, we can't discriminate."
Han Shaohua was momentarily dazed. Her smile was like a rose blooming in his eyes, slowly unfurling before him.
It made him feel the warmth of the bright spring sunshine.
As he watched, his eyes suddenly felt a bit sore.
"Thank you, Sister Cheng You."
Cheng You stood up. "Alright then. Put aside those trivial matters for now, and finish this ledger. From now on, we'll use your method for bookkeeping."
"Okay!"
After Cheng You left, Wu Sheng dared to come out from inside and spat at Han Shaohua.
"You're quite good at flattering people!"
First, he flattered Doctor Liang to get a job at True Benevolence Hall.
Now he was starting to flatter Cheng You.
Han Shaohua ignored him and buried his head in organizing the ledger.
Wu Sheng was incensed and stomped over to him.
"You've only just started flattering her, and you're already so arrogant, you can't even be bothered to talk to me? Hmph, she's married, you have no chance!"
Han Shaohua calmly put down his pen. "If Sister Cheng You heard what you said, would you still be able to stay here?"
Wu Sheng's face changed drastically. Veins bulged on his forehead in anger, and he excitedly grabbed Han Shaohua's collar.
"You're threatening me!"
Han Shaohua, shedding his previous demeanor of a pushover, gritted his teeth and pried his hand away.
"It's not a threat, it's a warning! You can insult me, and I won't bother with you, but you can't insult her! Wu Sheng, you're taking her money, but you're speaking ill of her behind her back. What's the difference between that and putting down your bowl and cursing your mother!"
Wu Sheng was about to retort when Doctor Liang, who had heard enough from inside, shouted, "If you can do it, do it. If you can't, get lost!"
This was clearly not directed at Han Shaohua.
Wu Sheng's expression shifted several times before he flicked his sleeve heavily and strode out, as if intending to stomp through the floor.
Meanwhile, after leaving True Benevolence Hall, Cheng You turned and went to Chen Qin's place.
After playing with Chen Qin's chubby son for a while, she brought up Han Shaohua's matter with him.
Chen Qin had no objections. He got a headache just looking at ledgers.
"This child lives next door to Doctor Liang, and he lives with his grandmother. His character is quite good."
Chen Qin's neighborhood was full of alleyway dwellers, but his place was much better than the dilapidated courtyard where Han Shaohua lived.
Cheng You asked, "Where are his parents?"
Chen Qin glanced outside and lowered his voice. "His grandfather was sent down to the countryside ten years ago. To protect the bloodline, his grandparents divorced. His grandmother changed his surname and stayed in Yancheng."
"As for his parents, they were also reported and sent down. It's unclear if they are still alive."
Among so many people in the family, only the old woman could distance herself.
There was originally another grandson, but he couldn't be kept.
Cheng You didn't probe further; it was an unspoken understanding.
Many people had been rehabilitated in the past two years. She wondered if Han Shaohua's grandfather and parents would be among them.
Chen Qin sighed. "By the way, the Yancheng Daily wants to interview True Benevolence Hall."
"The Daily? Then let them interview. You can talk to them. I won't be appearing on camera." Cheng You wasn't particularly interested in such matters.
Chen Qin nodded. "Okay."
Not long after Cheng You returned home, she saw Old Master Feng's family arriving.
He was about the same age as Old Master Jiang, but as upright as a poplar.
Even in his old age, he maintained his habit of exercising.
The iron-blooded aura forged in his youth had mellowed considerably with age.
"Grandpa Feng, are you here to see me specifically?"
The old master asked with a chuckle, "May I come in?"
"Of course." Cheng You quickly opened the door.
The courtyard had many green plants. Before winter arrived, Cheng You had found a way to build a shed for protection from the cold.
The shed wasn't pretty, but it was practical.
"Cheng Yan has been gone for about a month now."
Cheng You deftly brewed some tea, which billowed out steaming hot.
"About that."
The old master took a sip of tea and smacked his lips twice.
"This tea is good."
Cheng You smiled mischievously. "Only you like it. Cheng Yan drinks this like plain water, like a cow chewing peonies."
Even while sitting, the old master's back was straight, radiating a strong aura.
"I heard you advocated for sending a batch of medicine to the border. It must have cost a lot of money?"
Cheng You wasn't sure what he wanted to say and vaguely replied, "It was alright. It was all earned money. Taken from the people and used for the people. It's quite reasonable."
She had her own motives, mainly for Qi Chengyan.
"Not every child has your awareness. You are selfless, and the military shouldn't treat you unfairly. The Yancheng Evening News has an opportunity to promote True Benevolence Hall. What do you think?"
At this point, Cheng You finally understood why he had come.
She smiled helplessly. "Grandpa Feng, Xu Nanxi sent you, didn't he?"
Old Master Feng chuckled, and a hint of depth appeared in his eyes, weathered by time.
"To be honest, I rarely step in to plead for someone. Even my two useless sons worked their way up from the grassroots. Where they can go depends solely on their abilities."
Coming here this time was truly difficult for him.
But for some reason, he felt an instant kinship with this young comrade Cheng You.
Even if it meant losing face, it didn't feel like a big deal.
Cheng You refilled his tea and asked with a smile, "Then why are you so good to Xu Nanxi?"
The old master took a sip of tea and continued, "When his grandfather had his accident, I couldn't escape responsibility. It was done by my rivals."
They couldn't get a handle on him, but they implicated those around him.
He had lived a life of integrity and selflessness, yet he felt guilty about two things.
One was the Xu family, and the other was losing his infant daughter during the war.
Both of these events had left irreparable regrets.
Seeing tears welling up in the old man's eyes, Cheng You immediately softened.
"Alright, I agree to accept Xu Nanxi's interview."
However, she still wouldn't appear on camera and told Xu Nanxi to find Chen Qin.
Xu Nanxi probably thought that by using Old Master Feng, she could pressure him and wouldn't mind if she calculated her comeback.