However, compared with fellow Bank Manager Xu Lei, this Middle-aged Man's attire was noticeably more casual.
After all, a county branch manager and a Shanghai branch manager were in entirely different leagues.
The difference in presence was huge; their status was worlds apart, and the gap in pay and rank was like a chasm.
Jiang Cheng extended his hand for a polite handshake. "Bank Manager Qi, thank you for making the trip."
Qi Hong immediately lowered his head in modesty. "You're too kind. It's my honor to serve you in person. You're every bit as impressive as Manager Xu said—truly remarkable!"
Seeing Qi Hong's deferential attitude toward Jiang Cheng, Xia Meng and Zheng Qiu couldn't help but gasp inwardly.
Zheng Qiu found himself studying Jiang Cheng again.
Though he'd stayed in this small village, he had seen the outside world.
From Jiang Cheng's outfit, he could tell the young man came from a well-off family.
Still, anyone who warranted personal attention from a CMB branch manager had to be extraordinarily wealthy.
Exactly as Zheng Qiu suspected: given Jiang Cheng's deposits, even a branch manager like Qi Hong couldn't afford the slightest lapse. One wrong move and Qi Hong could lose his position.
This wasn't Shanghai, and Qi Hong wasn't Xu Lei.
Put differently, even Xu Lei had to treat Jiang Cheng with extreme deference.
Much less Qi Hong, manager of a tiny county branch.
Before Jiang Cheng he dared not put on airs; he knew he had no standing at all.
Jiang Cheng skipped the small talk. "Bank Manager Qi, this is Principal Zheng Qiu of the school, and this is Xia Meng."
Qi Hong promptly shook hands with Zheng Qiu and Xia Meng, exchanging greetings.
After pleasantries, Qi Hong surveyed the dilapidated Hope Primary School before him.
It was his first visit to this remote village; without Jiang Cheng he would never have come.
The rundown surroundings made him blink in astonishment, just as they had Jiang Cheng earlier.
Seeing Jiang Cheng alone, with no cameras in sight, surprised him even more.
He'd been stunned when the assignment came through:
someone of Jiang Cheng's youth and wealth making a charity trip to such a backwater.
Qi Hong's first thought was that Jiang Cheng must be courting publicity or shooting TikTok content.
Plenty of young influencers "do charity," but most make a big splash while giving little.
Their real goal is footage to attract followers.
Some set-ups are worse: handing cash to elders and children, filming their gratitude, then taking the money right back.
Many simply pocket the cash again once the cameras stop.
Still, Qi Hong figured someone of Jiang Cheng's means wouldn't stoop to that.
And the shopping list Jiang Cheng had given him was substantial, so he'd expected Reporters and Videographers to show up.
After all, donating so much merited some media coverage.
It's standard practice for big firms building goodwill.
"Bank Manager Qi, any word on when those supplies will be ready?"
Snapping back to attention, Qi Hong pulled several receipts from his briefcase and handed them to Jiang Cheng. "They're bought; the trucks will arrive shortly. We needed two large lorries. Per your instructions, here's the list—please check it."
"We bought 200 full winter sets—Down Jackets, Cotton Trousers, Thermal Underwear, socks—four of each item per child—and Cotton Shoes in every size."
"Spring- and summer-weight clothes came in matching sets, plus 400 Schoolbags, 400 Pencil-and-Stationery Kits, 400 Picture Books, 100 cartons of Bread, 200 cartons of Milk, 300 packs of Dried Meat, 250 kg of Fresh Meat…"
With every item Qi Hong listed, Zheng Qiu's breathing grew heavier.
His heart pounded in excitement.
How much must all this cost?
He'd assumed Jiang Cheng would bring a small van with instant noodles and snacks at most, yet every necessity was covered.
Zheng Qiu's gaze toward Jiang Cheng softened.
He murmured, "Student Jiang Cheng… I—I thank you on behalf of the children!"
Reading the emotion in Zheng Qiu's eyes, Jiang Cheng waved it off. "Principal Zheng, what you've given—your entire youth—outweighs my contribution a thousand-fold. All I offered was money."
Zheng Qiu shook his head, clearly disagreeing.
With a bitter smile he said, "After all these years I know what the children need most is financial support; my salary is a drop in the bucket. They may learn some knowledge because of me, yet without solid funding their futures remain uncertain."
He glanced at Jiang Cheng. "I often wish I were rich—then every problem would vanish. Teachers' roles are alike, but creating a better learning environment isn't something everyone can do. A good setting is more important than anything. Alone, I can change so little. Student Jiang Cheng, for donating all this, it's you the children should thank."
Jiang Cheng understood. Some struggles end only in futility; conviction collapses before money.
Like Zheng Qiu, who had stayed year after year teaching dozens of children.
Yet he couldn't give them a proper place to study.
Forget one-on-one tutoring—here even one-to-ten was impossible.
One teacher had to cover Chinese, math, English for multiple grades in a single day… admirable, but hardly ideal for learning.