The village committee is located in the very center of the village, and it's actually a newly built two-story building.

Zhao Qiang said, "Look, this is our village committee, the best place around. You can stay here and be a bit more comfortable."

Shen Yue said, "I really didn't expect your village committee to be quite nice. I thought it would be quite rundown."

Zhao Qiang remarked, "No matter what, the village committee is the most important place in the village, it can't be too shabby. Besides, I was thinking you two teachers are from big cities and usually live in air-conditioned buildings. If your stay here was too rough, and you couldn't make it, then no one would be around to teach our children. That's why I went to the township and begged for some money to build this village committee."

Shen Yue immediately said with guilt, "How embarrassing it is to have you spend so much money for us when we came prepared to endure hardship."

Zhao Qiang quickly replied, "It's necessary, as long as you can teach our children, both the township and the village must ensure you have the best conditions."

They entered the village committee building, although the facilities weren't exceptionally good, they were surprisingly decent with tiled floors and plastic steel windows.

The tables and chairs were all new, making it hard to believe this was a village committee in a poor village.

Zhao Qiang then led Song Xiaodong and the others upstairs and pointed to the two rooms inside, saying, "These are the rooms for you two teachers, see if you're satisfied."

Shen Yue was the first to enter a room. It was quite spacious, with a single bed, a wardrobe, and a desk—everything was new.

Zhao Qiang continued, "Teacher Shen, this is what our village can provide for you. If there's anything else you're dissatisfied with, we'll do our best to accommodate."

Shen Yue quickly replied, "The conditions are really great, and far better than I expected. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude."

Zhao Qiang laughed heartily, "This is necessary. You two teachers are the hope of our children. How could our village not provide you with the best conditions?"

Then they looked at the other room, which was identical. Zhao Qiang said, "The worst thing here is that we don't have flush toilets like in the city; the toilets are outside. I hope you two teachers can manage with that."

Shen Yue hurriedly said, "No problem, no problem. The conditions are already so much better than I imagined."

Zhao Qiang said, "We'll wait downstairs for the three of you, once you're settled, we'll go have dinner."

After Zhao Qiang and Zhao Changqing went downstairs, Wang Yan immediately said, "I'll head back to my room first."

The room was left with only Song Xiaodong and Shen Yue. Shen Yue immediately took out her phone to take pictures, saying, "Big Brother Song, I'll send these conditions to my parents. They won't worry about me enduring hardships anymore."

Song Xiaodong smiled slightly, "That's true."

Shen Yue pulled her suitcase over, saying, "Let me quickly tidy up."

Song Xiaodong helped Shen Yue open her suitcase and then said, "Shen Yue, I'm afraid things aren't that simple here."

"What do you mean not simple?" Shen Yue asked, puzzled, as she hung clothes taken from her suitcase.

Song Xiaodong said, "I suspect this village committee was built using the funds meant for your school."

"No way!" Shen Yue was stunned.

Song Xiaodong handed Shen Yue another piece of clothing, "How could a poor village afford such a village committee? Even with lower costs, building it shouldn't come under two hundred thousand."

"That... that's true." Shen Yue took the clothes and instinctively hung them in the wardrobe, her brows already furrowed.

As Song Xiaodong was handing clothes, he continued, "Also, the school could have been reinforced and repaired. Why wasn't there time to build new? "

"But aren't the students in school?"

"There probably aren't many students in the school. Two or three classrooms would be enough. The rest could be rebuilt for new school buildings. I saw an ample space next to the school, it doesn't need to be rebuilt on the original site."

Shen Yue's face grew uglier, "Are you suggesting they embezzled the money I sent?"

Song Xiaodong nodded, "That's highly likely."

Shen Yue exclaimed angrily, "How could they do this? Aren't people here supposed to be simple and honest since it's impoverished?"

Song Xiaodong shook his head, "You're too idealistic. There's a saying, 'In impoverished areas, cunning people arise.' Though it's not nice, limited education and prospects lead them to act irrationally when tempted."

With a sigh, Song Xiaodong continued, "You transferred too much money directly to them, which shouldn't have been done. A million is too tempting for them. It could be split from top to bottom, leaving very little for the school."

"It's just too despicable!" Shen Yue said with clenched teeth.

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