Jiang Hao patted Han Chengda on the shoulder: "Brother, they are minors and can't make many decisions on their own. The orphanage makes decisions for them."
The female classmate said, "Yes, they have no choice at all. Besides, they are orphans and definitely long for a home. They would be willing to go if someone adopted them."
“Look, among those three children, there is one who really wants to be adopted.”
Han Chengda walked over with a stern face and asked, "Do you really want to be adopted?"
A boy nodded vigorously: "I want a dad. The dad I just saw looked very gentle."
The tanned little boy sighed, "I don't care. Whether I grow up in an orphanage or am adopted, as long as I have food to eat, I'm fine."
The quiet, handsome little boy shook his head and said in a very soft, weak voice, "I don't want to be adopted."
He knew he was powerless and had no influence. If that man had wanted to adopt him, he wouldn't have been able to refuse. The headmistress would have persuaded him, telling him about the benefits of having a family and brainwashing him.
He had only recently learned the term "brainwashing" from television.
At first, he didn't understand what it meant.
Later, after seeing some of their companions crying and making a fuss about not wanting to be adopted, they went to the director's office and came back, and then nodded in agreement.
It is said that the dean talked a lot with the child, and the child felt that it seemed to be true, so he agreed.
At that moment, he also understood the meaning of brainwashing.
"If you don't want to be adopted, then loudly refuse!"
The little boy looked up at the tall older brother.
Han Chengda always felt that this look was full of helplessness, as if it was saying: You are so childish!
Han Chengda felt extremely uncomfortable being looked at like that by a six or seven-year-old boy.
“What did I say wrong? If you don’t want to, just refuse, cry and make a scene. The people who are going to adopt you will eventually give up when they see how uncooperative you are. The director won’t force you. It’s a matter of mutual consent.”
The little boy sighed, his tone surprisingly mature: "Brother, I'm just a little kid."
The words, "I'm just a little kid," inexplicably brought tears to Han Chengda's eyes.
It was as if, in countless nights, he had felt defeated and helpless, crying out: Why am I just a little kid!
Han Chengda didn't know what he was insisting on or why he should insist on it. He just didn't want this child, who didn't want to be adopted, to end up being adopted by someone else.
It's as if, through this child, I'm seeing another version of myself.
This feeling was very strong, and it came about very inexplicably.
Han Chengda said irritably, "Anyway, if you don't want to, no one can force you. If he forcibly adopts you, I will... I will..."
Jiang Hao said helplessly, "Han Chengda, what are you talking about? Are you having an episode? What are you insisting on?"
The female classmate muttered, "Has Han Chengda entered his rebellious phase?"
Jiang Hao lowered his eyes: "Han Chengda, all we can do is send supplies to the orphanage."
“If the orphanage has everything it needs, the adoption criteria will be raised, and those who do not meet the requirements will not be able to adopt children casually.”
"Only when children are happy in the orphanage, well-fed and warmly clothed, can they hold on to the idea of being adopted. Otherwise, even if they insist, they are just children and can be easily coaxed into agreeing by the director or the adoptive parents."
"How do you know so much?" Han Chengda asked Jiang Hao with a puzzled look.
Jiang Hao leaned close to his ear: "Because I was also adopted."
Han Chengda was shocked!
He knew that Jiang Hao came from a good family background and that his family treated him very well. He had met Jiang Hao's mother at a parent-teacher meeting, and she was a very gentle mother.
She spoke gently to Jiang Hao, and Han Chengda, whose mother had already passed away at the time, felt a deep envy in his heart.
"Your mother looks a lot like you." Han Chengda was still a little hard to accept and didn't quite believe it.
Jiang Hao touched his face and said calmly, "They went to several orphanages and selected from hundreds of children. Naturally, they had to pick one that caught their eye and looked like them."
"As someone who has been through it, do you think it was better to be in an orphanage or to be adopted? Are you happy with your life now?"
"If I could choose again, I would want to grow up in an orphanage so I could earn money to give back to the orphanage and society, instead of... well, let's not talk about these unpleasant things. We haven't finished distributing our supplies yet, let's speed things up!"
Although Jiang Hao didn't finish his sentence, Han Chengda already had the answer.
It's fine if an adopted child is adopted before they can remember things, but once they can remember things and are adopted again, they always feel a sense of not belonging, and it's better for them to stay in the orphanage.
A home doesn't necessarily have to be one you had as a child.
For orphans, when they grow up, they can also build their own homes.
Instead of forcibly and suddenly becoming involved in a home that didn't originally belong to him.
People change. How many of those who initially adopted children with great enthusiasm can maintain their original intentions?
“Big brother, the big brother who wants to adopt orphans, it’s this one.” Xiao Liu made a gesture of bending a finger.
Han Chengda looked bewildered: "What do you mean?"
Xiao Liu said irritably, "Don't you usually watch TV dramas?"
Han Chengda: "I haven't watched TV for a while."
He was busy with his studies during the high school entrance exam and also had to learn accounting knowledge, so he forgot how long it had been since he watched TV.
Moreover, the TV at home is basically dominated by the three little ones: Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Qi, so he, as the eldest brother, doesn't want to fight for the remote control.
Xiao Liu lowered his voice: "He doesn't like women."
Han Chengda asked in confusion, "If you don't like women, does that mean you like men?"
Under Han Chengda's shocked gaze, Xiao Liu nodded.
"Really? He looks perfectly normal, and his clothes and appearance are normal too."
"He told me himself, he has no reason to lie, right?"
Han Chengda looked at the children waiting to be adopted not far away and wanted to ask, "If your father were a mother, would you still be willing to be adopted?"
But would the headmaster tell the children something like this?
It is likely that only after being adopted and entering a new home will an orphan know who adopted them.
This is so unfair! Every adoptive parent can choose one child they like from among hundreds, while the child has no choice and no right to find out what kind of people their parents are beforehand!
Han Chengda felt deeply that this was wrong, completely wrong!
When you see the world in ruins, like a makeshift troupe, full of holes, the most tragic thing is that you are powerless and have no voice, so you are powerless to change anything. This sense of powerlessness made Han Chengda feel irritable, broke down, and almost went crazy.
He had an unnamed anger that he wanted to vent, but he didn't know how to solve these problems.
He desperately wanted to change all of this, but didn't know how.
money!
If I had lots and lots of money, could that change things?
It's unfair to change all of this!
If orphanages have plenty of money and supplies, can they properly screen adoptive parents and turn the tables so that children can choose their adoptive parents instead of adoptive parents choosing children?
If one side is not at a disadvantage, can it stand on the high ground and become the party that makes the choice?
Money, I want lots and lots of money. How can I get lots and lots of money?
Han Chengda frantically scratched his head, feeling as if a monster was inside him, wanting to rush out and devour people. He was about to lose control!
...
In the dean's office, the dean looked at Han Fei with eyes full of flattery, serving him tea and water, her posture very humble.
She was very grateful to the old man, because it meant the children could have a full meal.
Han Fei frowned, disliking this deliberate attempt to please.
He cut to the chase: "Director, is Ping An Orphanage in dire need of supplies?"
It was just a truckload of supplies. If there wasn't an extreme shortage of supplies, a hospital director wouldn't need to be so obsequious.
The dean put down his teacup, his face full of worry: "Our department isn't very good at publicity."
“Other orphanages in the same city would occasionally take photos of the children and interact with them online, which led many people to donate supplies and money to other orphanages, and our orphanage gradually became ignored.”
“Me and a few other teachers are getting old and we’re not very good at using mobile phones and computers, so we can’t promote it well. We’d like to learn and take some photos of the children to upload, but it’s too difficult.”
"You can hire a young man to help you."
“We’d like to, but hiring someone costs money. It would cost several thousand dollars to hire someone to do all this. It would be better to spend that money on the children’s meals, so I can’t bear to do it.”
“Didn’t some high school students come to visit the child today? You can ask them for help.”
"I've thought about it, but I feel a little embarrassed because they are all students, and I'm afraid it will interfere with their studies."
"Knock knock." There was a knock on the door.
"Hold on!"
The dean went to open the door and saw a strange gentleman. He asked in confusion, "Are you looking for me?"
"Are you the director of Ping An Orphanage?"
"It's me."
"Hello Dean, my name is Andy, and I would like to adopt three children."
Three? The director shook his head repeatedly: "That won't work. According to the regulations, you can only adopt one child if you meet the adoption eligibility requirements."
Han Fei was sitting with his back to the door, so Andy didn't see him.
They had met once, and if they saw each other's faces, they would definitely recognize Han Fei.
Upon hearing the other person's self-introduction, Han Fei recalled the plot in the book where Xiao Liu was adopted by Andy. It seemed that this Andy was Xiao Liu's original adoptive father.
Now that Xiao Liu is no longer an orphan, Andy's adoption of a child has not been canceled and is still proceeding according to the original storyline.
Han Fei kept his presence to himself and listened intently to their conversation.
Andy: "I am willing to donate ten million to sponsor the Ping An Orphanage."
The dean exclaimed in surprise, "Ten million!"
She was extremely excited, but quickly calmed down. This money wasn't for nothing!
She shook her head: "That's not in accordance with the rules."
Andy said calmly, "Twenty million."
"This...this won't do." The dean was clearly wavering.
Andy smiled faintly: "Thirty million."
“Mr. Andy, money can’t buy everything. I still can’t agree to your request.”
Han Fei raised an eyebrow, surprised that this dean was quite principled.
Andy narrowed his eyes dangerously: "Director, this place is going to be demolished soon. Have you found a new location for the orphanage?"
"Demolition?" The dean shook his head: "I haven't received any notification from the relevant departments."
Andy smiled mysteriously: "You'll receive it soon."
"This is my business card. If you need any help, feel free to contact me."
The dean seemed to realize something, blankly took the business card, and watched Andy's departing figure as she began to tremble.
"Is this a threat? If I don't agree to let him adopt three children, he'll make the orphanage disappear?"
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