Chapter 600: Where to Find the Fantastic Pet

“According to convention, new primary schools are usually named after their benefactors, like the Shaw Yifu Hope Primary School or the Koo Tin-lok Hope Primary School. I was originally going to submit your name, but I was worried you wouldn’t be willing. So, I used Hah’Er’s name instead. After all, the reason we earned so much money this time was all thanks to Hah’Er,” the New Year’s print shop owner explained with a smile. “I’m really sorry for not discussing it with you beforehand.” He had decided to act first and report later. He knew that if he had consulted Shen Yibin in advance, Shen Yibin would have likely refused. But if they didn’t use Hah’Er’s name, the only other option was his own, and he was too embarrassed to accept such an honor.

“But have you ever thought about what the name ‘Hah’Er’ means?” In the Sichuan dialect, “Hah’Er” means idiot! ‘An “Idiot Hope Primary School”? That would sound awful if word got out!’

“It’s not a big deal. We’re not in Sichuan, and besides, whenever people hear the name now, they know it refers to this little guy here.” The print shop owner pointed at Hah’Er. “Hardly anyone will think of the other meaning. They’ll hear it and immediately understand it’s the Hope Primary School donated by Hah’Er. When word gets out, it might even attract more people to get involved in charity. It’s a good thing for everyone.”

“Can’t it be changed?” ‘What you’re saying makes a lot of sense, but I still find it a bit awkward.’ Shen Yibin still couldn’t quite bear the thought of Hah’Er’s name hanging in front of the school. People in the know would understand it was a school named after Hah’Er, but those who didn’t might think it was some kind of special needs school.

“It’s too late to change. The groundbreaking ceremony is tomorrow. The school sign, banners, and everything are all ready. Even if you managed to convince them, there’s no time to change it now!” ‘No wonder he only came to tell me now. He must have wanted to make it a done deal, leaving me with no way to refuse.’

“Sigh, I guess it can’t be helped then. What time and where is it tomorrow? I’ll bring Hah’Er with me!” ‘Should I prepare anything else?’ Shen Yibin wondered.

“Nine o’clock tomorrow morning. The address is at the end of the document. It’s not too far from here, so leaving half an hour in advance will be plenty of time. I’ll bring some backpacks, notebooks, and stationery for Hah’Er to hand out to the students.” The print shop owner was very thorough, having thought of everything for Shen Yibin in advance.

“Alright.” ‘Since he’s already taken care of everything, what else can I say?’ Shen Yibin nodded in agreement. Having completed his task, the shop owner left cheerfully. Shen Yibin saw him to the door, then returned to his room and stroked Hah’Er’s head. “You little guy, you’ve even got a school named after you now!”

“Hm?” Hah’Er tilted his head and looked at Shen Yibin. ‘What’s a school? Is it edible?’

“Go to sleep. You’re coming with me to the groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow!” After laying bricks at the zoo last time, it looked like Hah’Er would be putting on a hard hat and picking up tools again!

“Hah’Er, time to get up!” The next morning, the sound of the alarm clock woke Shen Yibin. He groggily climbed out of bed, took Hah’Er to the bathroom to wash up, and then went to the closet to find suitable outfits for both of them for the occasion. After changing, they got in the car and headed to the site of the groundbreaking.

When they arrived, they met with the leaders from the relevant departments and the school’s principal before heading to the ceremony site together. The principal was very considerate of the students and kept the ceremony brief. He said a few simple words, expressed his gratitude to Shen Yibin and the others, and then moved on to the next part of the event: Hah’Er distributing the backpacks and stationery to the students.

“Ngh!” Hah’Er picked up a backpack full of stationery, waddled forward, and handed it to the first student in line. A nearby reporter muttered while taking pictures, ‘This is the first time I’ve ever seen a benefactor shorter than the students.’

“Thank you, Hah’Er!” The primary school student took the backpack from Hah’Er’s paws, his face flush with excitement. He kept looking back as he returned to the line. ‘A panda gave me a backpack!’ He wished he could run home right that second to tell all his friends and family this incredibly enviable news. The students behind him also had expressions of surprise, excitement, and joy. At that moment, they were the happiest and most envied primary school students in the entire world.

The school wasn’t large, with only about a hundred students, so Hah’Er finished handing out the backpacks quickly. He had been exercising regularly with Shen Yibin lately, so his body was in great shape. He completed the task with ease.

“Let’s go to the groundbreaking site!” The principal led them to the construction area, which had already been prepared. A row of shovels wrapped in silk ribbons surrounded a newly dug pit. In a moment, Hah’Er, Shen Yibin, the print shop owner, the principal, and the department leaders would go up and toss a shovelful of dirt into the pit, and the groundbreaking ceremony would be complete.

Of course, before the groundbreaking, there had to be firecrackers. Since there were students around, the principal didn’t light up a cigarette. Instead, he picked up a wooden stick from the ground, lit it, and was about to set off the firecrackers.

“Ooh! Ooh!” Seeing this, Hah’Er perked up instantly. He tugged on Shen Yibin’s pant leg and gestured at the firecrackers, squealing. He was reminded of the New Year’s festivities.

“Principal, how about we let Hah’Er do it?” Shen Yibin smiled, walked over to say a few words to the principal, and then handed the stick to Hah’Er.

The little guy happily took the stick and trotted to the front. He turned to the side, stretched out his paw to touch the lit stick to the fuse, and then, with a YELP, he dropped the stick, covered his ears, and ran back. The sight made all the adults and children burst out laughing. The children’s gazes toward Hah’Er grew even fonder.

Amidst the CRACKLE POP of the firecrackers, Shen Yibin and Hah’Er went forward together, picked up shovels, and tossed a few scoops of dirt into the pit. And just like that, the groundbreaking ceremony was over.

“Alright, we won’t keep you from your classes any longer. It’s time for us to head back!” Declining the principal’s invitation to stay, Shen Yibin and Hah’Er waved to the students and left the site.

“Goodbye, Hah’Er!” It’s unclear who shouted it first, but soon all hundred or so students were yelling chaotically, “Goodbye, Hah’Er!”

“Goodbye, panda!”

“Hah’Er, when are you coming back?!”

This reaction made the leader from the relevant department incredibly envious. He had attended several Hope Primary School groundbreaking ceremonies, but he had never received such a farewell.

Waving goodbye to them once more, the group left the school. They parted ways at the intersection, and Shen Yibin prepared to take Hah’Er home.

Sitting in the garden, Shen Yibin watched Hah’Er help Maphario tidy up. He took out his phone. ‘It’s time to order the next pet. I wonder where it will show up this time?’