Chapter 833 - 829: Stunning the Audience

"Great!" The crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers. Many people had red rims around their eyes from Gu Jiaojiao’s words.

This was especially true for the men. They were the breadwinners of their families, bearing the brunt of all the grueling labor. Digging holes, carrying water, and harvesting—their sweat smashed into the dirt without them uttering a single complaint. The tedious, exhausting farm work left everyone’s bodies completely numb.

Yet, despite working so incredibly hard, simply getting a full meal was a luxury.

Before today, they hadn’t known the meaning behind their struggles. Now, looking at Gu Jiaojiao, they seemed to finally understand the worth of their efforts.

"Gu Zhiqing, you are absolutely right. The next time I run into one of those city folks who looks down on us rural people, I’ll tell them straight to their faces: if it weren’t for us farmers, they’d have to go to work on an empty stomach!"

"That’s right! Without us, what would they eat? What would they drink? What right do they have to look down on us?!"

Many rural folks had experienced the disdain of city dwellers, and they had always subconsciously felt inferior. But today, Gu Zhiqing’s words completely broadened their perspectives.

To hell with those city folks! Without the farmers, the city folks could just wait to starve!

Gu Jiaojiao chuckled softly.

"That’s exactly right. Next time, tell them just that."

The girl smiled beautifully. Standing at the forefront of the crowd, she practically glowed. Her words were simple but full of power, striking the heart of every farmer present and shattering the deeply ingrained inferiority complex they felt toward city people.

They felt as if Gu Zhiqing were a ray of light that could illuminate everyone.

Leng Yuan gazed at his girl and listened to her powerful, resonant words, his eyes flowing with an intoxicating tenderness.

Nearby, Chen JianShe was completely fired up, clapping so fiercely he practically slapped his palms red.

The few leaders beside him were equally full of admiration. Gu Jiaojiao’s eloquence was truly impressive.

With her words of gratitude finished, Gu Jiaojiao continued.

"To be able to receive this bonus and certificate, I also have to thank the leaders of Qingshan Team. It is you who gave me this opportunity and showed me so much tolerance. Therefore, I’ve decided to donate this entire five hundred yuan."

The crowd, still immersed in their deep emotion, hadn’t even fully recovered before they were knocked dizzy by Gu Jiaojiao’s second heavy hammer.

They seriously doubted their own ears. Were they hallucinating? Otherwise, why would they hear Gu Jiaojiao say she was donating the money?

That was five hundred yuan!

For a family of ten, even with more than half of them acting as full-time laborers, their annual income might only be around a hundred yuan. Five hundred yuan was simply an astronomical figure!

Besides, who would willingly take money out of their own pocket once it was already in there?!

Especially a massive fortune like this.

It wasn’t just the crowd who was dumbfounded; Chen Beiguo and the village head were equally shocked.

Right now, the team’s public account only had twenty-five yuan and thirty-seven cents. Five hundred yuan was no small sum.

Chen Beiguo asked dryly, "Gu Zhiqing, w-what did you just say?"

Gu Jiaojiao smiled as she replied.

"Captain, don’t rejoice too soon. It won’t be easy to spend my money. I have a condition: this money is donated specifically to the school-aged children in Qingshan Team whose families cannot afford their tuition.

"I know many families in the village aren’t well-off and have no way to send their kids to school. Now, any child who wants to study can go to the captain to register. As long as they meet the criteria, their tuition and book fees will be fully covered by this five hundred yuan."

The crowd burst into a massive uproar. No one expected such an incredible thing to happen. For a moment, many people’s minds began whirring with activity.

Some families had practically gritted their teeth down to the nerve just scraping together the funds to send their kids to school. Now, hearing that there was such a massive advantage to be taken, they immediately began wondering if they should go register after the meeting.

But just as these people were secretly making their petty calculations, Gu Jiaojiao brought down another heavy hammer.