[Chapter 397: Charity Program Upgrade, Products Trade Fair]
Since Linton had discovered that the power of goodwill was directly linked to charity work, he became determined to cultivate more of it and test how strongly it was tied to his philanthropic efforts.
He adjusted his trip schedule to include on-site inspections of all the schools his foundation had funded. To Aunt Kelly, her assistant, and the local officials, this seemed perfectly natural -- they assumed he simply wanted to check on the quality of the construction.
The regional officials quickly put together an itinerary and notified the schools of his visit. Over two additional days, Linton personally toured 20 newly built schools in the department. At each stop, he was welcomed warmly, with teachers and children showing heartfelt gratitude.
As Linton had suspected, the goodwill power was tied not only to the depth of gratitude from those he had helped, but also to his physical presence among them. While he remained within the department, the energy in his body circulated on its own, growing subtly stronger. But whenever he left the area and returned to the city for the night, the energy quieted, the effect weakening with distance.
More striking still, each time he entered a schoolyard and interacted with teachers and students, the goodwill energy inside him surged noticeably -- but only for about thirty minutes, after which it plateaued.
Two further patterns emerged:
First, elementary schools gave him more goodwill power than middle schools. Younger children's innocence and pure gratitude seemed to amplify the effect. Adults and older students carried more complicated emotions that diluted it.
Second, the poorer and more remote the town, the greater the effect. The same donation inspired far more gratitude from those who truly had nothing than from communities already doing relatively well.
This raised uncomfortable questions about his U.S. charity work. Had most of it been misdirected, going to people who didn't really need help -- or worse, caught up in administrative waste so the aid never reached those who did?
By the end of the inspections, his strength had grown, and his spiritual awareness now extended in a 35-mile radius.
Still, he sensed that this was the limit of what past efforts in this region could provide. To gain more goodwill power, he would need to fund new projects.
---
With the insights gained from these two days, Linton began shaping his next philanthropic plan. If charity in the U.S. and Africa failed to stir this goodwill energy, then he would concentrate his resources here in South Columbia.
After talking it over with Aunt Kelly, they arranged for a meeting with the regional leadership.
At the meeting, Linton expressed his satisfaction with the results of last year's investments. Then he announced a bold step forward: this year's charity budget would increase to $15 million, all of it to remain within South Columbia. The officials assured him of their full cooperation.
He set out clear conditions:
Funds could only be used for schools and roads. At least 40% had to go to elementary and middle schools, with a priority on elementary.
The original department, now well-developed, would receive no further funds. The new money had to go to other provinces and municipalities.
Every project site had to be verified in person by Aunt Kelly to ensure genuine need -- no showcase projects or political favors, only aid at the point of real hardship.
Aunt Kelly agreed immediately, promising to carry out the oversight. The regional leaders were overjoyed. Not only had the overall budget grown, but it would remain entirely in their country. It was an unexpected windfall.
With these arrangements complete, Linton checked the calendar. The National Products Trade Fair in Cali had just begun. Tomorrow, he would travel there.
In truth, this had been one of his key reasons for visiting now: the fair ran from July 26 to 28 and was famous for showcasing medicinal herbs, some rare and little-known outside South America. Linton hoped not only to find the ingredients he needed but also to establish reliable supply channels.
Since Aunt Kelly had little interest in herbs and wanted to continue reviewing reports from charity projects, Linton suggested she take some time to enjoy the region's scenery instead. The following morning, they parted ways: Aunt Kelly, her assistant, and local staff headed off to tour the Andean foothills, while Linton, accompanied by his assistant and bodyguard, departed for Cali with several officials.
---
Despite being called a "major city" by locals, Cali in 1995 still lacked the polish of world capitals. Streets were busy but underdeveloped, the skyline modest, and modern hotels were few. Thanks to prior arrangements, the group secured a suite and several rooms in the city.
Linton wasted no time. With his team, he headed straight to the Convention Hall where the Trade Fair was underway.
The scale was impressive: more than 200 storefronts and over 2,000 booths filled the hall, with crowds of buyers, healers, and farmers numbering in the tens of thousands.
It was the perfect place to search for what he needed.
He had prepared two formulas: Beauty Pills and Vitality Elixir.
The Beauty Pills enhanced appearance, smoothing skin and eliminating signs of age -- a favorite among cultivators who prized youthful radiance.
The Vitality Elixir strengthened the body's core, improving health, vigor, and resilience, with the possibility of extending life by several years.
The pills required 11 distinct herbs, and the elixir another 18, with three overlapping. In total, he needed to identify 26 herbs.
The question was simple -- could he find them here?
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/eKByGBSw.