Arranging a job for Tang Youru wasn’t difficult.

An easy position with good benefits, even medical expenses covered by the employer… Did Tang Hongen have such power? Of course, he did!

But Tang Hongen wouldn’t do it.

He knew this wasn’t what his sister wanted.

Undeniably, Tang Hongen understood his long-lost younger sister well.

Tang Youru needed independence, not wanting to be anyone’s burden. She wouldn’t accept benefits she hadn’t earned. Such a job would require her second brother’s position to arrange – she’d refuse even more strongly. That wasn’t independence; it was just creating trouble for her brother under the guise of self-reliance.

If only she were healthy – even without education, she’d have her labor to offer. She had worked in factories before, with nimble hands and a strong work ethic… Now, though Tang Youru was willing to work hard, conditions wouldn’t allow it. Putting her in a workshop would be impractical – a wheelchair would burden the workplace. Even as a quality inspector on an assembly line, she’d slow down production!

So what could she do?

Tang Youru relied on a wheelchair for mobility, now living in a single-story house adapted for her daily activities. With You Li abroad, they had hired a reliable caretaker.

The house was found by her nephew Ji Jiangyuan, who was wealthy himself, now managing ‘Qihang Capital’ in Hong Kong with Zhang Bailun for Xia Xiaolan. Though for Ji Jiangyuan, this was transitional – he would eventually strike out on his own.

Ji Jiangyuan didn’t lack money and wanted to help care for his aunt. Tang Hongen agreed – why wouldn’t he? His son was spending money and effort considering himself part of the Tang family. Tang Hongen would be foolish to reject his son’s connection.

But living in such a house, cared for by a nurse, without income, grateful for her nephew’s filial piety, thinking of her daughter studying in America and all the medical expenses spent, Tang Youru couldn’t peacefully enjoy it all.

Less than a week after Tang Youru’s return, Liu Fen came to seek her daughter’s advice:

“Your aunt is anxious, wanting to reduce You Li’s burden and not be dependent on us. What can we do?”

Xia Xiaolan had been pondering this too – what could Tang Youru do?

Give her simple handicraft work.

No – she was called ‘Director Xia’ by many. How could Director Xia’s aunt be making matchboxes and plastic flowers at home, earning piecework wages… Even setting aside face, if Tang Youru worked herself sick, she’d earn less than the caretaker’s salary – not worth it.

Xia Xiaolan believed work served two purposes: survival and self-fulfillment.

Tang Youru needed work that met the first need and ideally approached the second. Not yet 40, why shouldn’t she have dreams?

“Mom, let me think about it.”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to help Tang Youru find a suitable path.

Tang Youru had been clever as a child but couldn’t continue schooling after being trafficked. She taught herself to read after entering the factory – not officially recognized education.

But Tang Youru was resilient, taking root in any environment. During her treatment in America, she studied English alongside You Li. Often, You Li would practice vocabulary and speak in Tang Youru’s hospital room, with Tang Youru serving as a practice partner, also learning the tongue-twisting English words.

After more than a year, You Li graduated from language school and gained university admission. Though Tang Youru didn’t learn as well as You Li, she achieved conversational ability with foreigners.

Ji Jiangyuan confirmed this when picking up Tang Youru in America. Besides her mobility issues, he had worried about language barriers during international travel.

Surprisingly, Tang Youru’s English was quite good!

At the hospital, she bid farewell to her doctors, nurses, and caregivers without communication problems. Ji Jiangyuan was amazed, observing that her speaking ability would suffice for life in America – seemingly incredible for someone her age learning a foreign language from scratch, surpassing many young people.

Some students study English for years without scoring well on exams.

Or they pass tests but speak “mute English” – useful for papers but useless for conversation.

Even Zhou Yi needed Xia Xiaolan’s group’s pressure to learn quickly.

But considering Tang Youru’s vastly different life experience and character from Zhou Yi, her quick mastery of language made sense.

Zhou Yi grew up sheltered, lacking motivation before catching Yuan Han’s infidelity, with others covering her poor performance.

Tang Youru had tasted bitter waters before reaching her current life. Enduring repeated surgeries and pain in the hospital, worried about her daughter, being unable to give You Li anything while being her burden, and accompanying her daughter’s studies were the only things Tang Youru could do from her hospital bed.

She not only had to do this but do it well!

If she could learn English, how could You Li not work hard?

Mother and daughter could receive treatment and education in America thanks to Xia Xiaolan’s money.

After borrowing such a large sum, if You Li couldn’t even guarantee good academic results, how could she ever repay it… Tang Youru’s study companionship distracted from her pain while setting an example for You Li!

Xia Xiaolan emphasized this point on the phone with Zhou Cheng:

“Aunt has strong learning ability and determination for improvement. I don’t want her doing exhausting work. I think she deserves better.”

If Tang Youru weren’t disabled, Xia Xiaolan would have her join in the business.

Wasn’t Reform and Opening perfect for someone with such strong ambition?

But Tang Youru’s physical condition now couldn’t handle too much strain…

Zhou Cheng thought and said:

“Dear, aren’t you establishing a scholarship? Could Aunt try managing that work? No one would understand better than her about poor students unable to continue education due to family circumstances!”

Intelligent but losing educational opportunities due to trafficking, Tang Youru must have regrets.

She lacked opportunities then, but now she could help poor students continue their education. Zhou Cheng felt this work suited Tang Youru far better than making matchboxes.

This wasn’t just helping Tang Youru – she would help Xia Xiaolan too. The scholarship involved real money; its evaluation, management, and distribution needed someone Xia Xiaolan trusted.

Better Tang Youru than an outsider!

Xia Xiaolan’s eyes lit up, kissing the phone receiver:

“What a brilliant suggestion!”

Perfect!

How hadn’t she thought of this?

Charitable funds needed dedicated management. Once established, the ‘Young Eagle Scholarship’ would involve substantial work. Xia Xiaolan indeed needed a trusted person to manage it.

Xia Xiaolan proudly presented this solution to Liu Fen, who hesitated:

“It sounds good, but we should ask your aunt’s opinion…”

Xia Xiaolan was confident, “Mom, no problem, I’ll discuss this with Aunt personally!”