Chapter 200 Yaozu in the Mountain Village (Fifteen) Beep! Strive to be a good person...
Song Ce smiled, took out a photo album he had prepared earlier from his schoolbag, and said to Dean Zhang, "Hello Dean, my name is Song Ce, and this little girl is my younger sister, Song Xue. I've come here to take her home."
Director Zhang looked at the well-dressed, kind-hearted, and gentle young man before him, his eyes brightening as he smiled and said, "Hello, Mr. Song, I am the director of the Loving Angels Welfare Home, my surname is Zhang. Is this the child you are talking about?"
As he spoke, Dean Zhang quickly rummaged through the drawer and then took out a slightly old-looking folder, which he pushed in front of Song Ce.
Looking at the photo of the petite Dong Mengru with her tightly pursed lips on the document, Song Ce pointed at the photo with his fingertip and said with a pained expression, "Dean Zhang, that's her."
Dean Zhang peeked over and his smile deepened: "Mr. Song, your sister's name is now Mengru. She's always been quiet and reserved, but she's an exceptionally well-behaved child."
Song Ce nodded and said with emotion, "Dean, I want to take my sister home, but I don't know how to complete the procedures?"
Dean Zhang was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the young man to get so straight to the point. Normally, families coming to the orphanage to claim kinship should at least undergo a paternity test at a hospital before completing the necessary paperwork… but he seemed very certain that Dong Mengru was indeed his sister.
Did his family send someone to the welfare home to investigate?
Thinking of this, Dean Zhang quickly asked, "Mr. Song, why did you come alone today? Didn't your parents come? Aren't you going to get a paternity test done with Mengru? If there's a mistake, our Love Angels won't accept returns."
Upon hearing this, Song Ce gave a bitter smile before saying, "To be honest, Dean, my family was poor back then, and my younger sister was given away by my father shortly after she was born. Not long after, my mother passed away from illness. Later, I accidentally found out that the family that adopted my sister soon had their own child and gave my sister away. After much searching, I finally found this place."
Director Zhang glanced at the young man's reddened eyes, a sneer playing on his lips, but on the surface, he feigned a troubled expression: "Mr. Song, without your father's presence, I'm afraid this matter will be difficult to resolve... I fully understand your anxiety, but our Love Angels is a legitimate welfare institution, and all the necessary paperwork must be in order. You only have an ID card, not a household registration booklet, and I really..."
Song Ce smiled, took out a brand-new household registration booklet from his schoolbag and handed it over, "Dean Zhang, I have an independent household registration, so you can just register Xiaoxue under my household registration."
Dean Zhang looked at the city of Beijing on Song Ce's household registration book, his brows relaxed slightly, and he smiled, "Mr. Song's situation is special. As the dean, I can only make an exception. However, expediting the procedures will incur certain fees, you see..."
Song Ce nodded. "Of course."
Seeing how cooperative the young man was, Dean Zhang's smile deepened. She pretended to add up a few numbers on a calculator and sighed, "I've calculated it, and the related expenses are about a thousand yuan."
In this day and age, adoption procedures are not always perfect, especially in social welfare institutions in remote towns. With enough money, over 90% of related issues can be resolved.
"Well... okay!"
Seeing that Song Ce hesitated for a moment before agreeing, Dean Zhang felt annoyed, realizing she hadn't offered enough money. But then she thought, a thousand wasn't a small amount; it was almost half a year's salary for her!
Thinking of this, Dean Zhang smiled and said, "Mr. Song, I'll take you to meet Mengru. It'll be good for you two siblings to get to know each other."
"Thank you, Dean."
Soon, the two arrived at a three-story dormitory building. The exterior walls of the building were painted yellow, and at the top were four large red characters: Happy Home.
“Mr. Song, this is the dormitory building where the children live. Our orphanage always provides the best…” Before Director Zhang could finish speaking, a child’s cries could be heard from not far away.
She was taken aback at first, then her face darkened. She quickly walked to the back wall and saw a thin, small girl being pushed to the ground, surrounded by four or five teenagers who kept throwing mud at her.
"You brat! Who told you to sneak around here eating corn?! I'll beat you to death!"
"Exactly! A worthless girl! You don't even deserve her!"
"Hit her! Hit her! Let her learn her lesson!"
Dean Zhang's face darkened. It was one thing for them to joke around in private, but why did it have to escalate to the public today? She couldn't pretend she hadn't seen it.
"What are you doing?" Dean Zhang shouted at the group.
When the orphans saw the director leading the group over, they looked up and stared blankly at the two men. Seeing the director's unfriendly expression, they quickly lowered their heads, took a few steps back, and ran away in a flurry.
"All the kids in the yard are like that, very mischievous. Mr. Song, don't take it to heart, the kids are still young, they forget things easily, they'll be fine in a moment."
Listening to Dean Zhang's nonchalant tone, Song Ce remained calm, neither nodding nor shaking his head, but simply staring at the sobbing little girl not far away.
Dean Zhang cursed inwardly, then quickly put on a kind smile and stepped forward. She gently helped the disheveled child up and said lovingly, "Good child, are you alright? Don't be afraid, your Dean is here."
The little girl trembled with fear upon hearing the words "Director Mom." She raised her head shakily and called out timidly, "Director Mom."
"...Mengru, it's you?"
Dean Zhang never expected that today, as soon as the girl's family came to visit, they would witness her being bullied at the welfare home.
Looking at the bewildered and frightened little girl in front of him, Song Ce felt a pang in his heart. He walked straight to Dong Mengru, squatted down, and smiled, "Mengru, do you still remember... your brother?"
Dong Mengru was startled by his sudden action and instinctively shrank back, her eyes filled with fear and unease.
Seeing this, Dean Zhang quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Mr. Song, Mengru is just too quiet and doesn't like to talk much, which makes her an easy target for those bad kids. Don't worry, I'll definitely teach those kids a lesson later."
As soon as she finished speaking, Dong Mengru was so frightened that she burst into tears.
"Waaaaah... Headmistress... please don't scold Ruru... Ruru, be good..."
Upon hearing this, Dean Zhang's smile froze for a moment. He quickly patted Dong Mengru's head and explained dryly, "This child must be confused; she's just talking nonsense..."
"Dean Zhang, you don't need to explain, I understand." Song Ce's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.
"Hehe..." Dean Zhang chuckled awkwardly, then turned to Dong Mengru and said with a smile, "Mengru! This is your brother. He's here to take you home! Quick! Call him brother!"
Dong Mengru blinked her tearful eyes and stared blankly at Song Ce, seemingly not understanding what the dean meant.
“Mr. Song, look at this…” Dean Zhang looked embarrassed and rubbed his hands together.
Song Ce ignored her and continued to speak gently to Dong Mengru: "Mengru, will you come home with your brother? From now on, no one will bully you anymore."
Dong Mengru remained silent, though the fear in her eyes subsided slightly. She had stayed at the orphanage for a very long time and had seen people come to adopt children, but no one had ever said they were there to take her home.
Seeing this, Song Ce took out a beautifully packaged small cake from his schoolbag, which he had specially bought on the way here. "Here, have this. It's very sweet."
When Dong Mengru saw the small cake, her eyes lit up almost imperceptibly. She had never seen such a beautiful cake before, it looked like a flower... But she didn't reach out to take it; instead, she subconsciously looked up timidly at Dean Zhang.
Dean Zhang cursed the girl inwardly for being ungrateful, but forced a kind smile and said, "Mengru, quickly thank your brother! This is something your brother bought especially for you!"
With Dean Zhang's permission, Dong Mengru cautiously reached out her little hand and curiously accepted the small cake.
"Ruru...can I eat this?"
"Of course!" Dean Zhang said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Dong Mengru smiled happily, carefully opened the packaging box, and then handed it to Dean Zhang with a flattering expression, saying, "Dean Zhang, please eat first."
Seeing her trembling appearance, Song Ce felt a surge of anger. He stood up and calmly said to Dean Zhang, "Dean, please get the paperwork done as soon as possible today. I want to take my sister home as soon as possible."
"Okay, Mr. Song, please stay with Mengru for a while. I'll take care of it right away." Dean Zhang quickly replied, then turned to Dong Mengru and kindly instructed, "Mengru, this big brother wants to take you home. You must be good and not make him angry, understand?"
"Yes, I understand, Headmistress."
"What a good girl." Dean Zhang patted her head, nodded to Song Ceze, and walked quickly toward his office, plotting how to get more benefits out of this seemingly well-off young man.
Song Ce remained where he was and did not speak again, but simply looked at the thin and frail Dong Mengru in front of him.
The little girl stole a glance at the strange older brother, and as if she had made up her mind, she held out the hard-earned little cake to him and whispered, "Brother, do you want some?"
“Brother doesn’t want to eat this. This was bought especially for Ruru. Ruru, you should eat it,” Song Ce said affectionately.
"Um!"
Dong Mengru smiled softly, finally relieved. She ate the cake in small bites, a satisfied smile on her face.
At this moment, the children hiding behind the window looked at Dong Mengru not far away with envy and resentment, and whispered, "Why is this brat so lucky? She's so ugly and unlikable, I really don't understand what this big brother saw in her!"
"Exactly! Mingshan, you're stronger and more likable than her!"
"Maybe her family is very poor, and they'll send her back after she has a child! Then she'll be at our mercy, won't she?"
"Brother Shan is right! That must be it!"
As a detective with keen hearing, Song Ce naturally overheard the children's gossip. He merely glanced in their direction, which startled the children, who immediately crouched down and hid.
After a while, Dean Zhang returned with a stack of documents. "Mr. Song, these are the documents that need your signature. Please check them and sign them if there are no problems."
Song Ce nodded, took the document, and began to read it carefully.
These documents were some informal adoption agreements and commitment letters, nothing too serious. He picked up a pen and carefully signed his name where it was required.
After Song Ce finished signing, Dean Zhang took out another sheet of white paper and said earnestly, "Mr. Song, here is the detailed list of related expenses. I forgot to calculate one item earlier, so we need to add another two hundred yuan. Please take a look..."
Song Ce nodded, and without arguing with her any further, took out 1,200 yuan in cash from his bag and handed it to Dean Zhang.
"Dean Zhang, may I take Mengru with me now?"
"Alright! Alright!" Dean Zhang smiled like an old chrysanthemum, looking at Dong Mengru and instructing her, "Mengru, go with your brother now! Be good from now on, understand?"
After hearing this, Dong Mengru timidly looked at Song Ce. She held the cake box in one hand and tentatively grabbed the hem of the older brother's clothes with the other.
Song Ce felt a slight pull from the hem of his clothes, sighed inwardly, and gently patted Dong Mengru's head. "Ruru, let's go."
"……Um."
And so, little Dong Mengru, holding Song Ce's big hand, slowly walked towards the gate of the orphanage.
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Author's Note: [Peeking while covering face]
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