Chapter 492: The Real Purpose!

“Think about it—when you’re organizing activities for thousands of children, isn’t safety the absolute top priority?”

“So, we need to stockpile medical supplies. If a child scrapes a knee or gets hurt, we can treat them immediately. Plus, mountain weather is unpredictable, and lodging conditions are limited. Don’t we need to have tents, emergency food, drinking water, flashlights—all of that prepared?

“After all, this sports meet is massive in scale with so many participants—the material requirements naturally won’t be small.”

Zhu Silin listened, dumbfounded.

Wait, isn’t this charity work way too hardcore?

And this “sports meet” doesn’t sound like any traditional one I’ve heard of?

Zhu Silin could now basically confirm that she—and everyone else—had guessed wrong.

Liu Yutong wasn’t training Wanlong Society’s people at all—she was having Wanlong Society members take those students on something like a wilderness summer camp.

Honestly, in all her years, this was the first time she’d seen charity done this way.

Most importantly, would those students even be willing?

Even if the students were willing, would parents and teachers agree?

Would the local education department, the local officials approve?

Zhu Silin’s guess was spot on—some local officials, upon hearing that Wanlong Society wanted to take entire schools of teachers and students into the wilderness for training, were completely stupefied.

Take the officials of Bei C County, for example. When they met the leader of Wanlong Society’s advance team and heard it was for charity, they were naturally delighted and gave a warm welcome.

But when they learned this “charity” meant taking the entire county’s teachers and students on a wilderness training exercise—a hundred-kilometer cross-country trek—they all furrowed their brows.

“This is just messing around…”

Before he could finish speaking.

Yu Xin held up one finger: “For every school that participates, we’ll donate an additional one million. Ten schools means ten million. No upper limit…”

The official’s expression instantly changed: “No problem! Absolutely no problem! Tomorrow—no, I’ll have people notify everyone to start preparations right now. Let’s begin the training immediately!”

They couldn’t help it—they were truly terrified of poverty!

The county’s finances were already tight, and being in a mountainous region, economic development was mediocre at best.

This money was simply too important for them.

The entire county had over fifty primary and secondary schools combined—that was more than fifty million!

It’s just a few days of outdoor training. Children from the mountains can run well anyway—physical exercise is good for them.

After all, they weren’t paying for the training costs or supplies—they just needed to coordinate.

Not only that, Yu Xin then proposed holding a city-wide marathon.

Students have their activities, but adults shouldn’t be idle either.

Pick a date, find an open stretch of road, and hold a marathon for everyone.

“For this marathon, we’ll donate an extra three hundred for every single participant.”

When the Bei C official heard this, he started calculating rapidly in his head: “Our county’s registered population is about one hundred sixty thousand. If we can mobilize them all, that’s a substantial amount.”

“Do it! We must do it! Marathons are great—they improve public health. I’ll arrange for people to organize it right away. I guarantee we’ll even mobilize the elderly from the nursing homes who can still walk, hahaha…”

Though the official found their demands unprecedentedly bizarre, the thought of all that cash meant that—even if they’d asked for a county-wide bed-making competition instead of the hundred-kilometer training or city marathon—he would have immediately sent notices to every neighborhood committee.

Poverty truly cures all pickiness and hesitation.

These two things done well would bring in nearly a hundred million in donations—this was free political achievements. Only an idiot would refuse.

Moreover, this money could truly solve urgent needs in education and other areas.

Almost simultaneously.

This wasn’t just happening in Bei C—similar situations were unfolding in Wen C and several other places.

At nearly the same time.

In addition to Bei C, the same thing was happening in Wen C and a few other locations.

A group of bizarre out-of-towners had arrived, wanting to hold some kind of sports event.

The reactions of officials in various places were similar to those in Bei C.

For a hundred million in donations, what’s wrong with getting everyone to exercise?

This was 2008—a hundred million was a very considerable figure for local government finances, and it wouldn’t be insignificant even a decade later.

Subsequently, someone at the provincial level also conveyed instructions to the relevant leaders of these nearly ten counties and cities, requiring them to actively cooperate with this public welfare enterprise, Wanlong Society, in its national fitness campaign.

After all, nearly a billion in public welfare donations was enough to attract attention from higher-ups.

Not to mention someone had secretly notified the provincial leadership.

…

Liu Yutong hadn’t been settled in Bei C for long when she received news from Zhu Silin: her father was coming.

It was to inspect the sports event situation.

After all, this sports meet was unique in scale across the entire nation. It was normal for high-level leadership to come down and inspect how it was being organized.

Especially with that promised billion-plus in charitable funds.

“Your father wants to meet me, and you’re only telling me now?” Liu Yutong gave Zhu Silin a look.

Zhu Silin giggled. “Sister Yutong, you’re here doing good deeds. My dad, as the local leader, wanting to meet you is perfectly normal.”

“Don’t worry, my dad doesn’t bite.”

Liu Yutong was speechless. “Fine, then thank you.”

Zhu Silin: “No need for thanks.”

On the afternoon of May 10th.

Liu Yutong met Zhu Silin’s father, the governor of BS Province.

Since this meeting was relatively private, the leader brought only one secretary and, when meeting Liu Yutong, showed no bureaucratic airs or pretense—more like a gentle elder.

Instead, it was Liu Yutong who appeared slightly reserved.

Of course, she was doing it deliberately.

“Chairman Liu, no need to be reserved. Today is just an informal chat.”

“Your undertaking this time has created quite a stir throughout our province. Honestly, I’m curious—why did you choose BS Province? Why hold such a… well, unique sports meet?”

Actually, when he first heard about this sports meet, he also found it exceptionally bizarre.

Who does charity like this?

Hearing the leader’s question, Liu Yutong knew she couldn’t dodge with “charity” anymore.

However, she’d prepared her response long ago and stated frankly: “Uncle Zhu, since you ask, I’ll be honest. Our charitable intentions are genuine, but Wanlong Society is, after all, a business that needs to grow.”

“Wanlong Society operates chain supermarkets and other businesses that have been seeking to expand outward. BS Province is a crucial link in our strategic layout—rich in resources, with honest people and enormous market potential. That’s why we chose to start here.”

The leader pondered her words. This reasoning clearly made more business sense than pure charity.

Though he’d already guessed as much, he still asked: “So, this grand gesture is all to open the door to BS Province’s market?”

“You could see it that way.”

Liu Yutong continued: “But we don’t want to simply set up shop here—we want to put down roots. This large-scale public welfare activity is meant to let BS Province’s people and government see Wanlong Society’s sincerity and sense of social responsibility. We hope to build strong government-business relations and a solid public foundation.

“In other words, when Wanlong Supermarkets eventually spread across BS Province, we want people to think not of some outsider business coming to steal profits, but of a warm, responsible ‘one of our own’!”

When she said the words “one of our own,” she deliberately emphasized them.

It was almost explicitly stating that she’d come here because of her relationship with Zhu Silin, that she valued this connection.

Seeing Liu Yutong speak so candidly, the leader felt not displeased but even more impressed.

This girl was remarkable!

Just her vision alone was something ordinary businessmen couldn’t match, and both her words and actions suited his tastes perfectly.

He wasn’t afraid of people using connections to invest and make money here—the key was how you did it.

If you were open and aboveboard, like Liu Yutong—so sincere and straightforward—he would absolutely welcome and strongly support you.

What truly repulsed him were those who used underhanded tactics and crooked methods.

“Well said!”

The leader nodded in approval. “Chairman Liu, despite your youth, you have not only compassion but also vision and daring. On behalf of the government, I warmly welcome capable, sincere enterprises like Wanlong Society Group to invest and develop here. For businesses that operate with integrity, are willing to put down roots, and benefit the local community, we will certainly provide the fullest support!”