Chapter 452: 448. We Can't Afford It (Please subscribe, monthly tickets!)

Zhang Ran did not feel surprised by such matters, especially since they involved the eldest sister; this was also why he believed Fei Lan lived too exhaustingly.

"Actually, Xiao Lan just secretly told me to persuade you to stop donating money; having the heart to do so is enough," Lao Sun said directly.

Zhang Ran nodded again; he had guessed this as well.

"I'll be straight with you: we really are short on money, but we also don't want others to donate money. Do you know why?"

Zhang Ran shook his head.

The corners of Lao Sun's mouth curled in mockery. "You know, in the past, quite a few people did donate money, but these people all had their own agendas. Actually, this is understandable; we don't demand that everyone possess a kind heart.

Whatever they want to do, as long as it is something we can manage, it wouldn't matter even if we risked our old lives to do it.

But they just wanted to use the children to add a halo of 'philanthropist' to themselves, using the children for publicity, putting the children under the spotlight to be pointed and gossiped at—this is what we cannot endure."

"Do you know? Six years ago, because of this very thing, three children in our orphanage committed suicide. Although they didn't succeed, ever since then, we haven't accepted a single cent of charity. We really can't afford to use this money, and the children can afford it even less."

Zhang Ran drank a glass of wine with his head down; he did not know what he should say.

In truth, Lao Sun himself did not know what he should say either. He did not understand any rhetorical techniques, nor did he know how to express his thoughts; he simply told Zhang Ran everything about his situation, so he said everything as he spoke, without any focus.

Yet the more this was the case, the more it made Zhang Ran feel the intensity of this emotion!

Especially when he spoke of how the children could not afford to use these charitable funds, Zhang Ran felt a tightness in his chest.

"Brother, I..." Zhang Ran opened his mouth, only to find his own voice had grown somewhat hoarse.

"Little brother, I didn't say these things to doubt you; it's truly unnecessary. This is fate. The children being this way is fate, and they have already suffered enough; there is no need to add any more burdens to their lives," Lao Sun said, shaking his head.

At this moment, Zhang Ran did not know what kind of mood he was in. He could not say he felt any ill will toward those who donated money for charity and used these disabled children for publicity.

Perhaps it was precisely because he had experienced so much that Zhang Ran understood very well that the current society is a profit-driven one.

There are very few people who will do things without any benefit.

In the past, Zhang Ran also held the view that regardless of whether one did charity out of sincerity or for profit, it was still charity.

As long as the task was accomplished, other things could be set aside.

It was precisely because he understood these things that he held such a view; if there were no profit, perhaps the help the children received would be much less.

The things Lao Sun spoke of certainly happened in other places; this was beyond doubt. Zhang Ran did not want to judge anything.

"Brother, I won't say much more. I won't arrange for anyone to publicize this on my end. I will wire the money to the orphanage's account; if you lack supplies or anything else, just say so," Zhang Ran said, taking a sip of wine.

Actually, at first, Zhang Ran had wanted to use the Yuanran Charity Foundation, as it had a complete process in place.

But if he did that, the orphanage would certainly receive a certain amount of attention; after all, the Yuanran Charity Foundation had a reputation, and quite a few people were keeping an eye on it.

Lao Sun shook his head and said, "How about this: just donate some supplies, and forget about the money."

Zhang Ran could see Lao Sun's resistance, and thinking of what he had said earlier, he did not know what to say.

The shadow that incident had left on them was truly too deep.

Zhang Ran sighed and said, "How about this: in two days, I will arrange for some doctors to come and help the children check their health. If there are any who can be treated now, then I will fund their treatment."

Lao Sun's eyes lit up, but he immediately sighed and said, "Forget it, that would cost too much money."

"Brother, I own a pharmaceutical company and have cooperative projects with many hospitals. When the time comes, I'll have them set up a medical partnership; it won't cost much.

And rest assured, these medical partnerships won't attract too much attention," Zhang Ran said upon hearing this, knowing what he was worried about.

"A pharmaceutical company?" Lao Sun did not know much about these things.

Zhang Ran said, "Yes, Yaotian Pharmaceutical is mine, so brother, you can rest assured."

Lao Sun did know of Yaotian Pharmaceutical, as it had advertised on television quite a bit in the past, and he was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Zhang Ran saw Lao Sun's surprise and said firmly, "Brother, don't doubt it. Yaotian Pharmaceutical is truly mine. Should I video call the current CEO of Yaotian Pharmaceutical right now?"

Lao Sun hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, no, I believe you. I was just a bit surprised. I didn't expect someone as big as you to have come out of the old orphanage; no wonder you kept saying you were very rich."

Zhang Ran laughed and said, "Now you're reassured, right? Should I donate some money then?"

"The money is really not needed. We are completely self-sufficient here, and two years ago, our hometown underwent demolition, which paid out quite a bit of money; it's completely enough for us to use," Lao Sun refused again.

Zhang Ran finally understood completely: the eldest sister, Fei Lan, was too embarrassed to refuse his kindness to his face, which was why she had let Lao Sun come.

It was evident how deep a shadow the events of that year had left on them.

However, Lao Sun was not lying; his family home had indeed received a large payout from the demolition, which was enough to buy the children some clothes and improve their nutrition.

Although it could not cure the children's illnesses, this was the limit of what they could do.

The children who came to them all had chronic illnesses or were born with some defects.

As for those with truly serious illnesses, people who knew of this orphanage would not send them here, because they knew that sending them over would only increase the burden on Fei Lan and her husband.

Everyone who knew this couple basically admired them; although they themselves could not do what the couple did, it did not stop them from respecting them, nor did it stop them from doing what little they could.

Zhang Ran did not try to persuade him further; he simply dialed Feng Hui's number in front of Lao Sun, explained the situation, and stated his plan.

Feng Hui agreed without a word after hearing it. In his view, this was a small matter, and the Big Boss had called personally; besides, the Big Boss's voice did not sound very high-spirited.

If he hesitated even a little at this moment, he would likely be remembered by the Big Boss.

Now, Feng Hui felt more and more that his Big Boss was unfathomable; Fengchao Supermarket had been taken over just like that.

"What are you two chatting about? So happily?" Zhang Ran hung up the phone and said this with a smile to Lao Sun, just as Fei Lan walked in.