When Xia Mian returned home with the children, it was already completely dark.
Chenchen went to find his mother dejectedly, and Xiaofeng kept sticking to her with red eyes.
After taking a shower, she saw Xia Mian sitting on the sofa. The child ran over and burrowed into her arms, hugged her neck, and said sadly, "Auntie, will Brother Ye be okay?"
Xia Mian stroked his back and said softly, "Remember what my aunt said, there are many things in this world that are beyond our control?"
"At times like this, as long as we do our best and do what we should do, your brother Ye will have more strength."
"As his power accumulates, perhaps a miracle will occur."
Xiao Feng nodded, hugged her for a while and then returned to his room. Xia Mian vaguely heard him talking on the phone.
The next morning, the child perked up and went to find Chenchen with his piggy bank.
Xia Mian asked, "What to do?"
Xiao Feng said, "Brother Chenchen said he wanted to invest in the painting 'Pure White Angel'. I want to invest too."
Xia Mian laughed out loud, little brat, investing...
The phone rang, and Xiao Feng quickly ran over to answer it. Mao Huizhu's voice was crisp, "Xiao Feng, go to my room and get my piggy bank. I want to invest too!"
Xiao Feng asked, "Are you going to take them all too?"
Mao Huizhu curled her lips and said, "Chenchen took it all, so of course I have to take it all? How can I lose to him?"
"Then you will have no pocket money." Xiao Feng reminded.
Compared to Xiaofeng and Chenchen's self-discipline, Mao Huizhu doesn't save as much money, but she likes to buy all kinds of small things and feels uncomfortable when she has no money to spend.
"No need," Mao Huizhu said, "I'll get paid soon. Dad promised to give it all to me. Just give him the piggy bank!"
So Xiao Feng took the key and ran next door again.
After Mao Huimei got married, the second courtyard of Xia Mian and Xiao Feng's house was renovated, so they moved in again.
There was no one at the Mao family at the moment and the doors were locked.
The two children were busy counting money and keeping accounts all morning. After breakfast, Chenchen went to the gallery to order a painting, and Xiaofeng went to the studio to get a new box of paint and rode his little bicycle to go to the studio.
Xia Mian helped him carry his schoolbag and said, "Be careful on the road. Your aunt will pick you up at noon."
Xiao Feng nodded, "Goodbye, auntie."
After Xiao Feng left, Xia Mian called to help him get all the painting materials, and also prepared an extra sugar jar, filling them up.
Then we rode our bikes to the Star Orphanage.
She met Mother Ye. Due to overwork, this woman, who was said to be only in her forties, looked much older than her actual age:
The white hair cannot be hidden, the deep wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, and even the eyes seem to have experienced thousands of things in the world, like an octogenarian, peaceful and tolerant.
Xia Mian's heart calmed down slightly.
She explained her purpose to Ye's mother, "I want to learn about the children's conditions and see their medical records."
Mother Ye said, "We accept donations here, but we don't accept interviews or reports."
Xia Mian smiled and said, "I know. Qian Fa told me."
"To be honest, I don't have any idea how to help you right now, so I came here to find out."
Mother Ye said, "Wait a minute." and went to the archives to get the medical records.
A row of little heads appeared from the window of the room. When Xia Mian looked over, they quickly hid again.
Only a little kid who didn't know much about the situation lifted the curtain and ran out, looking at her curiously with his big round eyes.
Mother Ye came out with the medical record book and called out when she saw him, "Anxin, go find your sister An Bai. It's time to take your medicine."
The three-year-old boy frowned in distress, hesitated for a while, and then turned around reluctantly and walked back slowly.
Xia Mian looked at his back and couldn't help but smile, "Was his operation successful?"
Mother Ye said, "It's very successful. As long as we take good care of it in the next two years, it will be a healthy child in the future."
She said this with a genuine smile.
When Xia Mian asked about Ye Anran, Ye's mother's eyes showed sadness, "His condition is quite complicated, and treatment will cost a lot of money..."
"Have you seen him?"
Xia Mian nodded without saying anything more.
Mother Ye understood and asked, "Is he feeling awkward?"
She sighed and said, "He was actually a very kind child. He was sensible and cute when he was young. When he was eight years old, a wealthy couple wanted to adopt him."
"I thought if he stayed with them, his illness could at least be treated, so I sent him away."
"Unexpectedly, he was sent back three years later. He learned painting from that rich family."
"But he never complained about the injustice he suffered there. After he came back, he became that awkward person."
"I'm very strict with my children, and sometimes I go too far."
Mother Ye sighed and said, "Actually, children in orphanages have no one to protect them. They need to be thick-skinned and learn to fight so that they can live a better life."
Xia Mian smiled and said, "So they are living so well because of your protection."
Mother Ye smiled, with sadness in her eyes, "I'm afraid I can't protect them for much longer..."
Xia Mian frowned and suddenly asked, "Is your medical record in here?"
Xia Mian took photos of all the children's medical records and took them home to look at them carefully. However, as she looked at them, her eyes became sore uncontrollably.
One sick child can bring down a family, let alone so many...
Even Ye's mother got sick...
Just as Qian Fa said, the occasional kindness of the public is just a drop in the bucket for this orphanage, and temporary donations cannot solve the fundamental problem.
Even if they help this time, what about next time?
And Ye Anran... he only has less than two years to live.
Xia Mian looked at his case and didn't quite understand it, so she took a photo and sent it to Ning Shaobai.
After a while, Ning Shaobai called back, "Who is Ye Anran?"
Xia Mian didn't know why, but she suddenly wanted to cry, "Doctor Ning."
"What's wrong?" Ning Shaobai said softly, "Tell me slowly."
Xia Mian talked about the orphanage and choked up several times when she mentioned Ye Anran. In the end, she couldn't continue and just burst into tears.
"Although... although I know this world is inherently unfair... but it still hurts..."
"Why, why did he have to encounter such a thing? He's only sixteen years old... and he's still sick... and he has to find a way to support the entire orphanage..."
"Mianmian." Ning Shaobai coaxed her softly, "They may have been born unfortunate, but there are many people like you and me who are willing to share good luck with them."
He said softly, "Let's do our best, there will always be a way."
After crying, Xia Mian gradually calmed down and couldn't help mumbling, "Did you eavesdrop on me talking to Xiao Feng? Why are the words you said to Xiao Feng exactly the same as what I said to comfort her?"
Ning Shaobai chuckled, "I guess Xiaofeng didn't cry as loudly as you."
Before Xia Mian could get angry, he quickly said, "I know Ye Anran's attending physician."
"I just called and asked. Although Ye Anran's condition is complicated, there is still hope if he receives treatment early. It's just that the cost will be higher."
Xia Mian said, "But even if we donate anonymously, he won't cooperate with the treatment, and the money he has is spent on other children."
Ning Shaobai said, "The temporary donations are unstable. He's probably worried that other children will miss out on treatment and not know when the next treatment will be."
"So just set up a charitable fund."
"Don't worry, I'll help you with this matter when I get back."
Hearing that he was going to take over the matter again, Xia Mian felt warm in her heart, and her mood suddenly calmed down a lot. "Doctor Ning, thank you."
"But I'll do this. I happen to be quite free."
Ning Shaobai's laboratory was already very busy, and Mohe's smartphone was also at a critical stage of launch, while he also had to worry about her and Xiaofeng's affairs.
Especially Xiaofeng. After the Mao family became busy, he took care of almost all the big and small matters in Xiaofeng's life and study, and was more competent than her own aunt.
Besides, this was something she wanted to do originally, and she didn't want to add any more burden to him.
Ning Shaobai seemed to know what she was thinking and chuckled, "Mianmian, it's not as easy for me to discover the beauty of this world as you and Xiaofeng."
"So I'm very grateful to you for bringing me to these different life scenes. I'm very happy to be able to do this for you."
Xia Mian felt sweet and warm in her heart, "Since we are here to enjoy the scenery together, there is no reason for you to be so busy all by yourself."
She said coquettishly, "Besides, you are so busy that you don't even have time to accompany me."
"If I do more, you can stay with me longer. Am I smart?"
Ning Shaobai didn't say anything for a long time. Xia Mian looked at the phone in confusion, "Hello, hello? What's going on?"
Ning Shaobai chuckled, "I just suddenly miss you so much. I want to hug you."
Xia Mian pouted, "I miss you too. When will you be back, Doctor Ning?"
Ning Shaobai suddenly sighed deeply, "It will probably take more than ten years..."
Xia Mian was startled, and then he continued, "It feels like a long time since we last met."
Xia Mian laughed.
After talking to Ning Shaobai on the phone, Xia Mian felt much better. She looked at the time, washed her face and went to the Academy of Fine Arts to pick up Xiao Feng.
As I approached the teaching building, I could hear that Xiaofeng and her friends' studio on the first floor was extremely lively.
Xia Mian parked the car and looked in through the window, only to see Xiao Feng sitting on the platform again accepting tribute.
Xia Mian was a little confused. Usually they just played around occasionally and it wouldn't be so frequent.
Until she saw the bag at the child's feet.
The students’ tributes today were extremely sufficient, with bags of candies and chocolates and large packages of biscuits.
By the time the ceremony was over, the plastic bags piled at Xiao Feng's feet were half his height, and the child couldn't lift them at all.
Wei Yuanhang helped him carry it directly to the easel next to Ye Anran and put it down. When he turned around and glanced at Ye Anran's paintings, he suddenly said, "Hey, brother, you don't have to take the midterm exam, why don't you help me with my homework?"
"I've already finished the line drawings, just help me color them. I'll tell you everything you need."
"I won't let you work for nothing. How about a box of paint as your reward?"
Ye Anran looked up at him, and after a while, nodded almost imperceptibly.
Wei Yuanhang loosened his clenched hands, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled, "Wait, I'll go get the homework book."
The girl next to her seemed to be enlightened, "Hey, why didn't I think of it? You can also do it this way!"
"Hey, brother, I have a few paintings that I just can't finish," she said. "The line drawings are already done. I'll provide the paints and brushes. How about giving you drawing paper as a reward?"
Seeing Ye Anran remained silent, she clasped her hands together and rubbed them together, begging, "Please help me, brother! Help me! Please, please!"
Ye Anran pursed her lips and nodded slightly.
"Oh yeah!" The girl waved happily, "Thank you so much!"
Xia Mian couldn't help but smile. There are many unfortunate people in this world, but there are also people who do their best to warm them. It is because of this that the world is so beautiful, isn't it?
Xiao Feng turned around and saw Xia Mian, and said happily, "Auntie."
Wei Yuanhang, who usually helps Xiaofeng put away her easel and drawing board, was so engrossed in his painting this time that he simply said, "Xiaofeng, put it away by yourself today. Brother Wei is too busy!"
So the child was busy with work, and Ye Anran, who was standing next to him, couldn't bear to watch it anymore, so she reached out to help him put away the easel.
Xiao Feng bent down and picked a few of the snacks that had just been offered as tribute and stuffed them into her schoolbag, pushing the rest to Ye Anran. "Brother Ye, I can't carry them. Please help me eat them. Thank you."
After saying that, he ran out.
There are bright smiles on the little faces. If the power of one person is just a drop in the bucket, then the power of many people combined will become a stream, a river, or even the sea, and finally become a miracle.
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