“Director Wang!”
Just as they were talking, Yi Zhonghai walked into the room wearing a padded jacket.
Yi Da Ma happily held the baby and showed it to Yi Zhonghai: “Lao Yi, look, Director Wang sent us a son, a baby, he’s so young he doesn’t even remember things. If we don’t say anything, he’s no different from our own child.
Look at him, he’s so handsome!”
Yi Zhonghai’s face froze: “What son? Where would I get a son?”
Director Wang: “Lao Yi, it’s like this, this child was left at the police station door. I thought you two didn’t have children.
So, you can take him home and raise him, he’s no different from your own child.”
Yi Zhonghai’s face was extremely ugly. He didn’t want to raise someone else’s child, what if the child’s parents came looking for them in the future? Wouldn’t all this be for nothing?
But, he couldn’t offend Director Wang, so he couldn’t directly refuse.
Yi Zhonghai pondered: “Director Wang, in our courtyard, Luo Huizhen is a widow with two daughters. She doesn’t have anyone to support her family.
As the first elder in the courtyard, it’s not good for me to make a decision first. Why don’t we get everyone in the courtyard together and see who wants to adopt the child?”
Yi Da Ma looked anxious: “Lao Yi!”
Yi Zhonghai: “Don’t say anything!”
Director Wang looked at Yi Zhonghai’s expression and understood. This old man probably had other plans for his retirement.
Director Wang didn’t force the matter. She directly held the child and stood up: “Then ask your courtyard, who wants to adopt him!”
Yi Da Ma watched with longing as Director Wang carried the child away, her face full of urgency: “Lao Yi, this child is so good.”
Yi Zhonghai, however, warned Yi Da Ma with a look and whispered: “We have savings for our retirement, why would we raise a child?
Not only would we have to take care of his food, drink, and waste, what if he turns out to be an ungrateful wretch when he grows up?
Don’t say anything about this child later!”
Yi Da Ma’s eyes were red with grievance, but she had no job and relied on Yi Zhonghai’s salary to support her.
So, when Yi Zhonghai disagreed, she could only forcefully endure it.
Soon, everyone in the entire courtyard, except for the deaf old lady, was present.
Twenty-odd families, over a hundred people.
Through the gaps in the blanket, Shen Wei could vaguely see the shadowy figures in the courtyard. He could vaguely recognize the big, sturdy Sha Zhu who looked like a middle-aged man in his forties.
There was also Xu Damao with his shoe-shaped face and shaking legs. Besides them, there was a pair of beautiful twins, who never appeared in the TV series.
The twins looked like they were malnourished, skinny and dry, but their large, watery eyes were exceptionally beautiful.
Next to the twins was a pretty widow. From her features, one could faintly tell that she had been a great beauty in her youth!
Director Wang: “I’ve explained the situation about this baby. See if anyone is willing to adopt him? The welfare center and orphanages are full, and this winter is especially cold.
If we leave him at the orphanage, they might not be able to take care of him properly, and he might die. I hope everyone can embody the spirit of unity and mutual assistance.”
Liu Haizhong: “Lao Yi, do you want a son? You should just take him home directly!”
Yan Bugui: “Yeah, Lao Yi, this child might be a treasure sent to you by heaven!”
Yi Zhonghai’s face stiffened: “I’m the first elder in the courtyard, it’s not appropriate for me to do it. Here, Liu Huizhen, you have two daughters. You’re a widow, and it’s hard to support your family on your own.
Why don’t you show your spirit and adopt this child? In the future, your family will have a pillar of support.”
Liu Huizhen, who was called out, was a widow. Her husband died in the steel mill’s machinery on the eve of the founding of the country, leaving her with a meager pension.
At that time, Liu Huizhen was already pregnant with twins.
Liu Huizhen endured the pain and gave birth to two children, naming her eldest daughter Shen Youchu and her youngest daughter Shen Youtian.
Fortunately, Liu Huizhen’s hukou was in the countryside, and her two children also had rural hukou, with their own private plots of land.
Liu Huizhen’s family would send some grain every year, providing sustenance for the mother and daughters. Liu Huizhen would also take on odd jobs and do some handicrafts.
The three of them barely managed to survive.
However, starting this year, the third and fifth returns, Liu Huizhen found it difficult to get any work. The three of them lived by selling furniture, pots and pans, and bedding.
When they had nothing left to sell, Liu Huizhen would take her two daughters and eat only one porridge or bean curd meal a day.
With this kind of family situation, it would be a miracle if they didn’t starve to death, let alone adopting another child. It was simply not realistic!
Xu Fugui’s wife whispered to Xu Fugui: “Yi Zhonghai doesn’t want to adopt the child himself, he just went back to Director Wang about it. Why does he have to make things difficult for Liu Huizhen in the west wing?
This widow Liu is already miserable enough. I heard the day before yesterday that she was planning to sell her blood!”
Xu Fugui: “You don’t understand anything. Lao Yi is a famous good guy in our neighborhood. He doesn’t want to adopt this child, but he still wants to help Director Wang solve this problem and be a good guy in front of her.
When all is said and done, the only one in our courtyard that Lao Yi can mold and twist at will is Liu Huizhen’s family!”
Xu Fugui’s wife sighed: “Poor thing!”
“Even if you feel sorry for her, don’t say anything. Yi Zhonghai is not a simple person!”
Xu Fugui had suffered quite a few hidden losses at the hands of Yi Zhonghai.
Director Wang looked at the widow Liu, her brow furrowed slightly. If Liu’s family adopts this child, wouldn’t they all starve to death in the end?
Liu Huizhen was the kindest of them all. Looking at the child in Director Wang’s arms, she thought, if she were gone, would someone adopt her two daughters?
Would they have a home?
If her daughters got married in the future, would it be better if they had a younger brother in their maternal family?
Even though the country had been founded, people’s thoughts were still stuck in the old times.
Especially women who grew up in the old society, like Liu Huizhen.
Thinking about it, Liu Huizhen stood up: “Director Wang, I… can I take a look at this child?”
Director Wang: “Okay, take a look.”
Liu Huizhen stood up, and the three-year-old Shen Youchu and Shen Youtian followed closely behind her.
Liu Huizhen held the child in her arms and carefully lifted the blanket. As soon as she lifted it, she met Shen Wei’s clear eyes. Her heart softened, and she squatted down: “Chuchu, Tiantian, come and see your little brother!”
Little Shen Youchu and Shen Youtian carefully approached, looking at Shen Wei inside. Their eyes lit up: “Little brother is so cute!”
Liu Huizhen: “Director Wang, I… I’ll adopt this child.”
Director Wang: “Liu Huizhen, are you sure you’re willing to adopt this child?”
Liu Huizhen: “Director Wang, I’m willing. As long as I have food, I won’t let him starve.”
Director Wang: “Good, good, good! Everyone, give Huizhen a round of applause for her warm heart. Huizhen, don’t worry, this child has been examined by the medical staff. He’s very healthy.
He doesn’t have any genetic diseases or anything like that.”
Yi Zhonghai: “Liu Huizhen is a good example for everyone by showing her generous spirit and being willing to adopt the child. In the future, everyone in the courtyard should help Liu Huizhen!”
The courtyard erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Yi Zhonghai stood there, looking like he had done a great deed.
Lying in the blanket, Shen Wei sighed. A baozi for a foster mother, two bean sprouts for sisters, a courtyard full of beasts, and insufficient food.
A terrible start!