Shi Jing was unaware of the difficulties Fang Ning was facing. The next day, she got up early and went for a morning run in a small park in Nuoyuan City.
Nuoyuan City is different from Tianyuan City. Tianyuan City has experienced rapid economic development, and although it has many tourist attractions and green spaces, it's rare to see people who are leisurely and relaxed. Nuoyuan City is different. Shi Jing initially just wanted to jog and stretch in the park, but unexpectedly, she saw many elderly people leisurely and carefree. Some were playing chess in a corner of the park, while others were practicing martial arts on the lawn.
As Shi Jing ran, he couldn't resist joining in the fun in the park.
She doesn't understand chess, but she can watch boxing and sword dancing. The key is that she thinks the old man leading the boxing is very skilled, with some of the spirit of Master Wu, like a trained martial artist.
The old man was completely absorbed in practicing his boxing, and several other elderly people were also practicing alongside him. Shi Jing watched and tried to imitate the movements. The old man's style was probably Tai Chi, but it seemed somewhat different from the style that Old Wu had taught them. However, there are many versions of Tai Chi, so she wasn't surprised.
After the old man finished demonstrating his punches, seeing how well Shi Jing had imitated them, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Young lady, you seem to have some skill."
Shi Jing told the truth: "Our martial arts school's instructors taught me, but I only learned the basics."
"So that's how it is."
One of the older men who were learning from the old man shouted, "Old Yin, come here quickly, come here quickly, no matter how I set up this move, it doesn't feel right."
"Here you come," the old man called out, then said kindly to Shi Jing, "Young lady, if you're interested, you can practice with everyone."
Shi Jing didn't refuse and joined in the practice to loosen up his muscles.
Time flew by, and soon it was past nine o'clock. The sun climbed higher, and the weather gradually got hotter. Some of the old men practicing boxing couldn't stand still any longer.
Not to mention them, even the elderly men and women who were playing chess couldn't stay still any longer.
Old Yin and his old buddies packed up, grabbed their tools, and prepared to head back.
She was covered in sweat, even though it was in a park, the temperature had risen and it was getting hot from exercising. She checked the time and decided it was time to go to the orphanage.
"Grandpa, I'm going back now."
"Alright, goodbye little girl."
After spending some time together, everyone got to know each other better and said their goodbyes.
After leaving the small park, Shi Jing went back to the hotel to take a shower, changed into some clean clothes, and then took a taxi directly to the orphanage.
Some distance from the orphanage, she got out of the car and bought some fruit at a roadside fruit shop. There were many children at the orphanage, and Shi Jing picked out quite a lot. Unable to carry it all herself, she asked the shop assistant to help deliver it. When the shop owner heard she was going to the nearby orphanage, she immediately pushed out a small electric tricycle and loaded all the fruit into the cargo bed.
"Little sister, it's hot, I'll give you a ride."
"Thank you, Auntie." Shi Jing thanked her and, without standing on ceremony, sat down in the driver's seat.
It was her first time sitting in this seat, and she was slightly tense, gripping the handrail tightly. The proprietress noticed her nervousness and laughed heartily, "Don't worry, hold on tight, we'll be there in no time."
Once the car started moving, a gentle breeze caressed their faces, making it less hot and reducing Shi Jing's tension.
The car was indeed very fast; it stopped at the entrance of the welfare home in less than five minutes.
The gatekeeper recognized Shi Jing from yesterday, and seeing her again today, he called the gatekeeper. After the call and registration, the gate was opened quickly.
"Thank you, Uncle." Shi Jing took a small basket of chilled lychees from the truck bed and placed it on the guard's windowsill. "Uncle, here, have some of this fruit."
Without waiting for the gatekeeper's refusal, he went directly into the welfare home in the car.
The car drove directly to the courtyard in front of the canteen. At this time, the children were in the activity room. Some of the older children were helping to pick vegetables, while others were reviewing their books.
When Shi Jing arrived, Luo Yuan and Fang Ning were in the cafeteria, helping to prepare vegetables while enjoying the breeze from the large fan. Hearing the commotion, they came out and saw Shi Jing jumping off the tricycle and picking things up with the owner.
"Shi Jing?" Fang Ning was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Shi Jing had just bought a lot of things yesterday and then came to buy more today.
Luo Yuan followed them out, and asked with a hint of surprise, "Is this the young lady Liangliang was talking about yesterday?"
"Yes." Fang Ning nodded in agreement.
He put the vegetables he was holding aside and walked towards the yard. Shi Jing saw them and smiled, "Come and help me carry all these fruits inside."
"You... why did you buy it again?" Fang Ning asked, sounding slightly helpless.
"It's so hot, let's all eat together. I'd like some fruit too."
Seeing what Fang Ning meant, she tossed her a dragon fruit, "Okay, help me move it first, we'll talk about it later."
Hearing Shi Jing's coaxing tone, Fang Ning felt utterly helpless.
Seeing so much fruit, the children who were picking vegetables couldn't sit still anymore. They put down what they were doing and came over to help. With so many people, they carried it all inside in no time.
Dean Fang heard the commotion and came to see what was going on. He was quite helpless when he saw Shi Jing's situation.
"Shi Jing, please don't spend any more money. Our welfare home has government subsidies and charitable donations, so we don't lack food or supplies."
"Dean Fang, this is just a token of my appreciation."
Dean Fang, however, always felt that Shi Jing was still a child who was spending his parents' money and was not suitable to donate money and goods to their welfare home.
To this, Shi Jing could only reply, "These fruits don't cost much, and besides, I need to eat them myself."
Dean Fang was adamant: "You mustn't spend any more money, or I'll tell the doorman not to let you in."
"..."
Well, the way to deliver things is blocked: "Okay."
Shi Jing reluctantly agreed, once again realizing that being a minor was a hassle.
Seeing that they had reached an agreement, the proprietress happily rode away on her electric tricycle.
With that matter settled, Dean Fang didn't stay any longer and let the children play by themselves.
"It's hot, come inside."
Luo Yuan then called out to Shi Jing, "Shi Jing, right? Come inside and cool off."
Shi Jing entered the restaurant. The restaurant was spacious, and only the large fans on the ceiling provided a slight coolness.
Are you picking out vegetables?
She looked at the vegetables and basket on the ground with some curiosity.
"Um."
Shi Jing had never done any housework growing up. Her parents spoiled her when she was young and never made her do any chores. After her parents passed away, she ate takeout and never cooked.
"Let me help," she volunteered.
"No need, there will be bugs."
Hearing Fang Ning's words, Shi Jing became even more curious.
These vegetables had many holes. Shi Jing pointed to the leaves and asked, "Were these bitten by insects?"
Yes.
It wasn't Fang Ning's voice, but a soft, cute voice. Shi Jing turned his head and noticed a little one standing at Fang Ning's feet.
Fang Ning reluctantly bent down and picked up the child: "W-why are you here again?"
The child looked very small, his chubby little hands gripping Fang Ning's, but his complexion wasn't very good. Upon seeing the child, Fang Ning forgot all about looking in the mirror, picked up the little boy, and gently comforted him.
Seeing this, Luo Yuan chimed in, "It's from insect bites. There's a vegetable garden in the backyard that we planted ourselves. We haven't used any pesticides, so there are quite a few insects."
Shi Jing nodded to indicate that she understood; her attention was now focused on the newly appeared child. The child looked very young, but seemed to be in poor health.
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