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Chapter 237: Chapter 0237: Mei Hanqing’s Past
Amid the children’s shouting, a hunched figure slowly came into Ye Xunhuan’s line of sight.
With a full head of silver hair and a face covered with age spots, he was dressed in a Sun Yat-sen suit, only that the suit was patched in many places, looking quite shabby.
Although the old man had aged, Ye Xunhuan could tell that he was in good health by the way he walked.
"You bunch of brats, what the hell are you shouting for!" the voice of the orphanage director rang out, full of vigor, cursing and grumbling.
However, it seemed the children were not afraid of him and continued as they were.
It was at this moment that Mei Hanqing walked over: "Director..."
Upon seeing Mei Hanqing, the director immediately showed a fatherly smile: "So it’s Han Qing coming back. I was wondering why these little rascals were as excited as if it were New Year’s, so happy!"
Then the director turned his gaze toward Ye Xunhuan, sizing him up from head to toe, much like a mother-in-law scrutinizing a potential son-in-law. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝔲𝔟.𝔠𝖔𝖒
Noticing the director’s gaze, Mei Hanqing quickly introduced him: "Director, this is..."
"Director, hello, I am Ye Xunhuan, Han Qing’s friend," Ye Xunhuan said, polite and courteous.
"Mr. Ye, hello!" the director replied politely, and he made a move as if to reach out for a handshake, but then, as if remembering something, he hastily withdrew his hand.
Seeing this, Ye Xunhuan couldn’t help but sigh to himself. Probably the director had noticed his neat attire while his own hands were somewhat dirty, he must have feared dirtying Ye Xunhuan.
Then, Ye Xunhuan extended his hand willingly, not minding the dirt on the director’s hand, and grasped it firmly, cheerfully saying, "Director, I didn’t know Han Qing was bringing me here, and I didn’t bring any gifts. I hope you won’t be upset..."
"What gifts are needed? Your visit alone is already very nice!"
With that, the director led Ye Xunhuan and Mei Hanqing toward his room at the back.
At the back of the orphanage, there was a separate mud-brick house, which was the residence of the long-time director.
The mud-brick house had seen many years, and its walls were cracked here and there, some large, some small, plainly a dilapidated building, yet the director had been living there for decades.
The room’s furnishings were simple, with only a bed, a table, and a few stools. There was nothing else, not even a television, except for one from the eighties that was black and white.
Seeing this scene, Ye Xunhuan felt a soft touch in the most tender part of his heart.
Perhaps aware of the modesty of his place, the director gave Ye Xunhuan an embarrassed smile: "I’m sorry, I don’t have much to entertain you with, please have a seat, I’ll go get you a glass of water!"
Saying so, the director bent down and wiped a stool with his sleeve.
After witnessing this scene, Ye Xunhuan felt a pang in his heart and quickly stopped him, "Director, it’s okay, it’s okay!"
Then Ye Xunhuan simply took a seat on the side; he didn’t sit on the wiped chair because he felt he didn’t deserve to sit there.
After seeing Ye Xunhuan seated at the side, the director chuckled and, without saying much more, stood up to pour a glass of boiled water for him.
"I hope you don’t mind..."
"Not at all!" Ye Xunhuan said with a smile: "I think it’s very good here."
Just then, Mei Han suddenly spoke: "Director, I’ve bought air conditioners for the brothers and sisters, and they’ll be delivered soon. Let’s have them installed in the dormitories later!"
After hearing Mei Hanqing’s words, the old orphanage director’s expression immediately became somewhat odd, and his tone also became unnatural at this moment, "Han Qing, you..."
"Summer is coming, and the weather will be very hot, the young brothers and sisters won’t be able to rest well," Mei Hanqing seemed to know what the old director was about to say, and directly interrupted him, "And it will also be useful in winter!"
"Han Qing, why put yourself through this!" The old director sighed with a face full of sorrow, "Haven’t I already told you, you don’t need to worry about the matters here..."
"If this keeps up, you will be dragged down by us." The old director sighed again, his face filled with helplessness and sourness, "It’s all because I’m incompetent, otherwise..."
"Old director, it’s alright, I’m doing very well now," Mei Hanqing slowly forced a smile, "You don’t need to worry about me!"
Mei Hanqing had barely finished speaking when a group of children came running over!
"Sister Qing, Sister Qing, can you teach us to draw, please..."
Faced with the children’s requests, Mei Hanqing glanced at Ye Xunhuan.
"Go ahead!" Ye Xunhuan, after understanding the meaning in Mei Hanqing’s eyes, immediately said, "I’ll stay here with the old director!"
Mei Hanqing didn’t say anything and simply left with the children.
Watching Mei Hanqing leave, Ye Xunhuan took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to the old director, and lit it for him, then also lit one for himself, "Old director, did Han Qing grow up here?"
"You don’t know?"
Ye Xunhuan shook his head, "She never mentioned it. If she hadn’t brought me here today, I would not have known!"
The old director didn’t speak immediately; instead, after a long silence, he slowly said, "Han Qing did grow up here, and she was the most sensible child!"
"After the others left, they never came back, only Han Qing often returns, often buying things for the children."
The old director’s voice was filled with helplessness and sorrow. He had been the director of this orphanage for decades, and though not eighty, at least a hundred children left, but they were all ungrateful, never returning after leaving!
The old director said with a face full of guilt, "I told her not to come back and to live a good life for herself!"
"But this child Han Qing is filial and grateful. Seeing that I’m getting on in years, she often comes to help me!"
At that moment, Ye Xunhuan finally understood why Mei Hanqing didn’t have a car—her money was probably all invested in this orphanage, right?
The number of children here, Ye Xunhuan didn’t know, but there must have been dozens at least!
Although Mei Hanqing’s salary was enough to make many envious, with so many children to care for, how could she possibly have surplus money to buy a car?
"I don’t know what your relationship with Han Qing is, but you are the first person she has brought here," the old director said softly, "Treat her well, she’s a good child!"
As he said this, the old director seemed to realize something and quickly added, "Don’t worry, we won’t become a burden to you, we won’t..."
"Old director, you are overthinking it!" Ye Xunhuan said with a laugh, "I don’t have any other intentions, could you tell me more about Han Qing?"
The old director took a deep breath, his gaze becoming more profound, as if traversing centuries, "Han Qing has always been bright. Maybe because she knew her parents had abandoned her here, she would cry with her little mouth open, crying hard, she cried the whole night that first evening."
"Han Qing knows her hardships."
