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As the elderly gentleman wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, he said, “The two young masters have already repaired the orphanage for us, please

come inside, miss.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded and followed the elderly gentleman into the orphanage.

The layout of the orphanage was simple, resembling a quadrangle dwelling, but with more living quarters and several classrooms. The courtyard was filled with bamboo, and the air was fragrant with the scent of bamboo.

The elderly gentleman took Chu Qingzhi to the classrooms, “These have been renovated, and besides that, the two young masters also bought some desks, chairs, and books for us.”

Then he led Chu Qingzhi to the living quarters for the children, “Here are two or three renovated houses, now all the quarters are habitable.

The elderly gentleman showed Chu Qingzhi all the renovated places, smiling all the way.

Chu Qingzhi was pleased, “Please wait a moment, sir, I need to discuss

something with them.”

“Okay.”

Chu Qingzhi pulled Luo Jisheng and Yan Jingkui aside and handed them a silver note worth one hundred taels.

“Go buy some chicken, duck, fish, pastries, fruits, and deliver them to the kitchen. Buy in excess, so the children can have a full meal. With the rest, buy cloth, practical fabric, to make clothes for the children.”

Luo Jisheng didn’t take Chu Qingzhi’s money, “We will make sure it’s done well,” he said, then left with Yan Jingkui.

During this time, their interactions with the orphanage had changed many of their thoughts, and they genuinely wanted to do something for the orphanage.

Chu Qingzhi watched them leave, smiling slightly.

A five or six-year-old girl approached, timid yet curious, she looked up at Chu Qingzhi. After a while, she mustered her courage and handed Chu Qingzhi a wooden dragonfly, “This is for you, sister.”

Chu Qingzhi looked down at the wooden dragonfly, which was half new and half old, with a very smooth surface, showing it was frequently touched and played with. She took the wooden dragonfly, “Thankyou.”

The little girl was thrilled, “Sister, my name is Luo Xiaoyi, you can call me

Xiaoyi.”

Chu Qingzhi patted Luo Xiaoyi’s head, “Xiaoyi is so cute.

Xiaoyi smiled with her eyes curving, “Sister is pretty and cute.

Chu Qingzhi laughed, “Such sweet talk.”

Seeing Chu Qingzhi so approachable, other children gathered around, calling her sister, and showing affection.

The children were quite thin, their physical development far below that of their ages, with coarse hair and patched clothes, it was a pitiful sight.

Chu Qingzhi looked at the wooden dragonfly in her hand, her heart softened, “Sister will teach you how to make braised dishes. After learning, you can set up a stall to earn money, how about that?”

The children, ranging from thirteen or fourteen to three or four years old, became excited at her words.

” Sister, what are braised dishes?”

“We’ve never heard of braised dishes!”

“Will people buy them?”

The children buzzed like a flock of sparrows.

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Where can I write? I’ll write down the process of making braised dishes, and we’ll try it out later.”

The children were very enthusiastic, “We can write in the teacher’s study, we’ll take you there.”

Following the children, Chu Qingzhi arrived at the elderly gentleman’s study.

The elderly gentleman was looking at the accounts, quite troubled. The orphanage ran a grocery store, but the business was not good, earning only a few taels of silver each month, barely supporting the over two hundred people. Seeing Chu Qingzhi, the elderly gentleman quickly hid his worries and greeted her with a smile, “Miss, why have you come to the study?”

” I plan to teach the children how to make braised dishes. After learning, they can set up a stall on the street to earn money, so you won’t have to worry so

much.”

The elderly gentleman stood up in surprise, “Braised dishes, are they good sellers?”

“Nobody has tried it before, so we’re not sure how well it will be received, but it’s worth a try.”

The elderly gentleman was overjoyed, “Let’s try, let’s try…”

Chu Qingzhi wrote down the recipe for the braised dishes, “Sir, if the braised dishes can make money, you must keep the recipe safe, and only people from the orphanage can use it.”

The elderly gentleman solemnly replied, “Don’t worry, miss, I know what to

do.”

After writing down the recipe, Chu Qingzhi took Luo Xiaoyi outside to buy spices.

The little girl had hardly ever left the orphanage, and she was thrilled by all the new things she saw outside.

“Pancakes, pancakes…”

Luo Xiaoyi looked at a pancake stall, swallowed her saliva, and her eyes were filled with longing, but she didn’t ask for any.

Chu Qingzhi bought a pancake for Luo Xiaoyi, “Eat it.”

Luo Xiaoyi reached out to take it but then withdrew her hand and shook her head, “Sister, I’m not eating, I’m not hungry.”

The little girl was staring intently at the pancake, not looking like she wasn’t hungry. Chu Qingzhi understood, “Are you thinking that if your brothers and sisters, and the little ones didn’t have any, it wouldn’t be good for you to eat alone?”

Luo Xiaoyi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Yeah.”

Chu Qingzhi told the stall owner, “I’ll buy all your pancakes. Tell me how much it costs, and have them all delivered to the orphanage.”

The stall owner thought he was hallucinating, “Miss, did you just say you’re buying all the pancakes and sending them to the orphanage?”

“Yes.”

“You’re such a good person,” the stall owner said with a smile. “I have four hundred and twenty pancakes, ten copper coins each, just give me four taels of silver.”

Chu Qingzhi gave the money to the stall owner, “Please deliver them quickly.” “Right away, right away…” The stall owner packed up his stall as fast as he could and then carried the load to the orphanage.

Luo Xiaoyiblinked her large, clear eyes, looking at Chu Qingzhi, “Sister, you’re a really good person.”

Chu Qingzhi handed the pancake to Luo Xiaoyi, smiling, “Not really a good person, just helping the kids.”

Luo Xiaoyi shook her head, her voice youthful and sincere, “In my heart, sister, you are a good person.”

“Don’t trust strangers too easily when you’re outside.” Chu Qingzhi patted Luo Xiaoyi’s head, “Let’s keep going.”

“Yes.”

After purchasing the ingredients, Chu Qingzhi returned to the orphanage with Luo Xiaoyi.

The orphanage had two kitchens; two old women were busy in one kitchen, while the other was left for Chu Qingzhi and the children. Luo Jisheng and Yan Jingkui, out of curiosity, also watched from the sidelines.

Chu Qingzhi opened the package of ingredients and explained the names and effects of the ingredients to the children, as well as the proportions for making the braised dishes. She focused on teaching the older children, who could start a stall the next day.

“If you don’t understand something, ask me. You must understand, okay?

“Yes.”

Under Chu Qingzhi’s guidance, the first pot of braised dishes was put on the stove, and everyone watched intently.

“Sister, it smells so good.”

“It’s just the beginning; it will smell even better after a while.

“With such delicious braised dishes, our business will surely be good.

The first pot of braised dishes had a soy sauce aroma, containing pig’s head meat and pig’s ears. As it stewed, the entire orphanage was enveloped in a savory fragrance.