Chapter 101: Anonymous Donation

The day Liu Yunfei became Wukong’s junior disciple came with no pop-up interruptions. Though he had gained powers beyond anything imagined, he was still only an eighteen-year-old high-school student. His ideas were not yet mature; sometimes he could be selfish and narrow-minded, ignorant of things, and he still made every kind of mistake. Yet he was fundamentally kind. He was willing to correct what was wrong. The one thing he lacked was life experience, and with time he would slowly grow more complete.

Liu Yunfei stood before Dong Qianqian’s door, about to knock, then hesitated. If he barged in like that to donate, would they take offense? If he came with money, how would he face them afterward? Would Dong Qianqian think he had intentions toward her? Would Chen Zhiqiang harbor a private resentment and let it hurt their relationship?

What if he asked his parents to donate in the Foundation’s name? That wouldn’t work either—the Foundation had not been set up yet, and Dong Qianqian would soon know it was his money anyway. He had no choice and paced before the Dong family gate, stunned that giving money to another person could be so difficult. He couldn’t just dump it at their doorstep.

Then a thought came: the community promised secrecy on all matters; perhaps that was the way out. He turned, took the stairs, and headed straight to the community office nearby.

Only then, as he had just gone downstairs, Dong Qianqian’s mother’s face with all its questions appeared in the crack of the door. She had come out to drop a used syringe into the gate-area rubbish bag, and when the peephole lit up, she looked up and saw Liu Yunfei pacing outside, as if he had not left or had returned again. From the sound of his voice and his behavior she guessed he probably had plans in mind about her daughter and lingered on purpose.

She watched him walk away and then hurried out onto the balcony. There he was, already disappearing down toward the community office. “Young people these days,” she muttered, shaking her head, then went back inside.

Liu Yunfei saw the two neighborhood aunties who had come for donations before, seated in a corner shelling sunflower seeds. He greeted them politely.

“Good afternoon, Auntie.”

The aunties, warm as ever, replied, “What brings that polite young man?”

“I’m Liu Yunfei from building 18, unit 502. Last time I had a foreign friend make a donation—you remember, don’t you?”

“Of course we remember,” one laughed. “That young man wasn’t bragging about anything at all. He donated real cash, dollares and all.”

Liu Yunfei thought the older woman had a trace of that sharp Song Dandan air. “With so many people here, could you step outside and talk privately?”

The two aunties exchanged a suspicious glance. As if something so private and improper was being asked, they said quickly, “A young man should be decent. That money the foreign boy gave, we already delivered to the old Dong family and sent him to the hospital. You’re late now. Why don’t you just go home?”

Liu Yunfei felt a surge of frustration. “It’s not asking for money. Please come out and hear me out.”

Under the shade of a tree, he explained why he had come. The aunties were startled to find another generous young man and agreed at once. “No problem. We’ll handle it.”

“But I don’t want anyone in the neighborhood to know I’m donating, and I don’t want the old Dong family to know, either,” he repeated, warning them not to spread it. Even so, he did not fully trust their tongues. Still, he had only half a month before moving from home.

“Don’t worry, son,” one auntie asked, already leaning into old gossip, “you have a girlfriend, right?”

Liu Yunfei thought, these aunties were indeed very warm-hearted, almost ready to stitch up a red string for him.

The other immediately added, “I’ve seen her already. Dong Qianqian’s old family has a boyfriend.”

The first auntie laughed. “If the Dong family has such a good young man, I’m not introducing anyone. I have a niece’s cousin’s daughter, twenty-eight and still single, just graduated from university. Dozens of men chased after her… Hey, Liu, don’t run.”

“I’ll go home first and bring some money,” he said quickly.

Back home, Liu Hongbing had already gone to work. His mother sat at the table writing something; drafting a foundation charter was hard work for a mother who had only finished middle school. “Mom, wait until the Foundation is established and we hire people to handle things. Your draft won’t do. Give me all the cash at home.”

She replied, “Those American dollars you left there were mostly used already. Everything else is saved away. We have around one hundred thousand in the cabinet. Why do you need it?”

“I need it.”

He didn’t dare tell her that if Hu Li found out, she would insist on immediately going to the Dong home. Fortunately, the cabinet was unlocked. He took out one hundred thousand, wrapped it in newspaper, and handed it to the two aunties, telling them to deliver it to the old Dong family and say it was only a first portion. He said he would send more when needed.

The two aunties hurried over. “Open the door, dear girls.”
Dong Qianqian’s mother opened at once and let them in.

When they set a large pile of money on the table, the Dong family stood speechless; they had never seen so much money all at once.

One auntie announced, “A kind donor just came and specifically asked us to donate this one hundred thousand to Old Dong for treatment. Please take it.”

Dong Qianqian’s mother almost wanted to kneel and thank the two ladies, as if she might bow her forehead in gratitude. The thought of who it might be flickered through her mind: Liu Yunfei had just gone to the community office—could it be him? He was just a student; how could he have so much? If not him, then what kind of rich stranger had appeared out of nowhere? Maybe it meant he had truly taken notice of my daughter, Dong Qianqian. The boy seemed good enough—handsome and seemingly wealthy. But Qianqian’s boyfriend now was also decent, even if poor. It shouldn’t be only money. Should they accept?

Dong Qianqian herself, moved and choked up, said, “Who is this kind-hearted person? We should at least thank him.”

The auntie said, “Don’t ask. The donor asked not to appear. A good deed is done without a name. Take it and use it. You’re in urgent need.”

Dong Qianqian and her mother still hesitated. They had always been uncomfortable accepting such a large favor, even as a donation. Yet Chen Zhiqiang spoke at last: “She’s right. Uncle’s illness can’t wait. Save him first.”

The aunties added, “Yes, a life comes first. The donor has money; he said use it now and come back to us when it’s spent, and we’ll pass the message on. The community office also wants to make sure the donation is used properly, so we’ll go with you to the hospital and help with the things you need.”

Looking at Old Dong, lying on the bed with eyes scarcely open, Dong Qianqian’s mother nodded through tears. They accepted the money. Later that, everyone split off calls for an ambulance, gathered what was needed, and prepared to take Old Dong to the hospital.

And Liu Yunfei, at that moment, stood on his balcony at home, leaning back and smoking lazily while watching that window. He had done a good deed, and he did it well—but watching such a good-hearted girl belong to someone else, his heart still ached a little.