Chapter 179: Adoption

“Xu Ge, you’re too polite. Please, come inside and take a seat.”

Song Xia smiled as she spoke. As for congratulating them, there was no need for her to make a big deal about it.

After all, President Chen had just invested in the Pet Park project, and these two must be very busy.

It wouldn’t be good if the congratulatory visit delayed the Pet Park project.

Once inside the Coffee Shop, they found a seat and sat down.

“Since you’re here, let’s try the coffee at Coffee Shop.”

Pang Tao said with a hearty laugh after sitting down.

“Okay!”

Song Xia nodded and then walked over to the counter to speak with the store manager, Lin Zhu.

It wasn’t long before Lin Zhu came over with two cups of coffee and placed them on the table in front of Pang Tao and Xu Zhengming.

“This is Lin Zhu, the manager of Coffee Shop,” Song Xia introduced, then gestured for Lin Zhu to sit beside her.

Pang Tao and Xu Zhengming greeted her before picking up their cups of coffee to take a sip. Their expressions changed as they tasted it.

They had both had coffee a couple of times before, but it always tasted bitter with no other flavor, so they hadn’t had coffee again since then.

However, this coffee was different. Although it was bitter, it had an unexpected sweetness after the bitterness passed.

No wonder it was President Chen’s Coffee Shop—the taste was much better than other coffees.

“Pang Ge, I want to adopt a cat. Can you help me choose one from the rescue station?”

Song Xia saw that Pang Tao and Xu Zhengming had finished tasting the coffee and decided to ask her question at the right time.

“This matter? No problem. I’ll help you pick one when I get back. But I must tell you upfront—if you ever decide you no longer want to keep the cat, please return it to the rescue station.”

Pang Tao reminded her. There had been instances before where people adopted pets, only to abandon them shortly after, and he didn’t want that happening again.

“Don’t worry, Pang Ge. I’ll take good care of it. I won’t abandon it.”

Song Xia assured him. She had wanted to adopt a cat for a long time, but previously, due to her financial situation from running the milk tea shop, she wasn’t able to afford a pet.

But now things were different.

Her salary was paid into her account the day after she signed the contract.

The base salary was 20,000, along with various benefits and subsidies, and she was paid two months’ salary upfront.

According to President Chen, even though she hadn’t signed the contract when she went for training, her business trip was counted as paid leave.

On top of that, the bonuses for bringing in staff had boosted her salary. After deducting taxes and insurance, the total amount deposited into her account was 50,000.

This amount was more than enough to support adopting a pet.

“Well, I also want to adopt a cat. Is that okay?”

Lin Zhu, who had been sitting nearby, suddenly spoke up.

She also loved pets and thought this would be a good opportunity to adopt one, plus it would be an indirect way of doing something good.

“Sure, I’ll pick two for you when I get back and send them over in a couple of days.”

Pang Tao readily agreed. After all, if the pets from the rescue station could find a home, it was much better than staying in the shelter.

“Thank you.”

Lin Zhu said gratefully.

“I should be thanking you both.”

Pang Tao smiled and responded.

……

Xiguang County.

Inside a hotel.

Chen Mo, wrapped in a trench coat, walked out of the hotel, with Li Shen and Yang Dahai already waiting outside.

After arriving in Xiguang County the previous day, it was already past two in the afternoon. Considering the time, they decided not to head straight for Liuhe Village, which was located south of Xiguang County.

After all, it would still take over an hour to get there, and even if they arrived, there wouldn’t be enough time to conduct a thorough investigation.

“President Chen, the rice, flour, and oil have all been bought and loaded onto the trucks.”

Li Shen quickly walked up to greet President Chen when he saw him coming out.

Chen Mo glanced at the two trucks parked in the distance. The rice and flour were already fully loaded.

He had arranged this yesterday.

Since they were going for a donation, they couldn’t go empty-handed.

However, these supplies could only temporarily solve the food issues for the empty-nest elderly. They wouldn’t go hungry, but it wasn’t a long-term solution. This trip was more about making a simple visit and conducting a survey.

The visit would only include Liuhe Village and a few nearby villages.

The number of empty-nest elderly people in these villages was a drop in the ocean compared to the entire country.

But the Charity Funds available to him were only 1.2 million, and helping all the empty-nest elderly was clearly insufficient.

This wasn’t something that could be resolved overnight—it needed to be done gradually.

Once this survey was completed, there would be no need for him to visit personally. He could form a research team to collect data about empty-nest elderly people and others in need from various places.

Then, he could use that information to identify the people who needed help the most, allowing him to use the Charity Funds more efficiently.

“Let’s go. Head to Liuhe Village first.”

Chen Mo didn’t delay any longer and ordered them to set off.

According to his estimate, the survey of all the villages would take about four days.

Including the time for travel, this trip would take about a week.

By the time they returned, it would be near the end of November.

Once the month was over, the special task would be completed, and the remaining System Funds would fully meet the requirements for the special task.

He wondered what the reward would be this time.

If only it were a personal asset reward of several million or even tens of millions.

Just as long as it wasn’t another project from a parallel world.

The vehicles slowly began to drive, with the two trucks following behind.

About an hour later, they reached the entrance to Liuhe Village.

Chen Mo got out of the car and looked at the village ahead, noticing that it was extremely underdeveloped.

The road was still the original dirt path, and some of the houses were old-fashioned buildings.

“Let’s go. We’ll enter the village first and gather information about where the empty-nest elderly people live.”

Chen Mo said as he took the lead and walked into the village.

As for the rice, flour, and other supplies, they would be distributed once the number of people was counted.

……

Meanwhile,

Another truck loaded with supplies was coming from a different direction.

“Dad, with this little bit of material, even if we deliver it, it won’t last those elderly people long!”

Yang Ju looked at her father, who was driving, and said with concern.

“Help as much as we can. At least it will allow those elderly people with no one to rely on to get through this winter in peace.”

Yang Xingguo sighed.

His abilities were limited, and all he could do was help with what he had.

And he could only prioritize helping those elderly people who had no children or had been abandoned by their children.