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Chapter 242: Chapter 242 Can you help us?
It wasn’t just Mei Hanqing who was extremely curious about Ye Xunhuan’s background, but the old orphanage director as well.
However, having seen through the vicissitudes of life, the old director did not ask much.
After all, he was not close to Ye Xunhuan, and the fact that Ye Xunhuan came to visit him was enough to make him feel content; if he put on a face and inquired about Ye Xunhuan’s past, it might seem somewhat ulterior.
At noon, Ye Xunhuan didn’t leave, but instead stayed at the welfare home for a meal.
The children, who hadn’t had a meat dish in who knows how long, hungrily devoured the chicken, duck, fish, and meat that Ye Xunhuan brought, their joy as if it were Chinese New Year.
Even with a heart as steadfast as Mount Tai, Ye Xunhuan’s heart began to stir upon witnessing this scene, filling with a profound sense of sorrow!
What had these innocent children done to deserve this?
Why should they suffer so? Why were their parents so heartless to bring them into this world if they didn’t want them, leaving them to endure hardship?
Will they ever regret it a hundred years later?
Ye Xunhuan couldn’t understand; was it all for a moment of pleasure that these children had to bear the pain they shouldn’t have at their age?
Looking at these kids, Ye Xunhuan’s eyes unknowingly began to redden; although his hands were stained with blood and his heart was dirty, he was human!
Being human meant having emotions and being able to feel!
These children were pitiable, suffering such ordeals at such a young age.
After an unknown period, a pleasant aroma wafted in, bringing Ye Xunhuan back to his senses. He turned to see Mei Hanqing approaching.
"Is the old director alright?"
Perhaps because Ye Xunhuan had treated the kids to meat, and they were so delighted, the old director had a couple of drinks with Ye Xunhuan. Perhaps due to old age, he didn’t handle the liquor well and went to rest.
"He’s fine!" said Mei Hanqing with a shake of her head, "The old director is happy today!"
Ye Xunhuan nodded, "Is this the place where you grew up?"
"Mhm!"
"Was it hard?"
Mei Hanqing gently shook her head, her face breaking into a slight smile, "Not at all, I had many brothers and sisters here, and the old director. We’ve lived a happy life!"
Hearing Mei Hanqing’s words, a bitter curve appeared on Ye Xunhuan’s lips.
Not hard?
How could she possibly not have suffered?
At an age when she should not have had to, she’d borne burdens. Now grown, employed, she could’ve been living for herself, but instead, she continuously thought of this place.
The bitterness was hers to know!
Ye Xunhuan exhaled deeply and asked, "Could you tell me the old director’s story?"
"The old director?" A happy smile slowly spread across Mei Hanqing’s face, "He’s like a father to us, very kind..."
Mei Hanqing began to recount the old director’s story, and Ye Xunhuan could see that her affection for the old director was very deep, almost like that between a father and daughter.
Speaking of the old director, waves of compassion surged in Mei Hanqing’s heart. For twenty years, she had treated this old man as her father.
Father is old now, burdened by the care of over a hundred children, the once radiant director of the orphanage now looks aged and weathered, bearing the likeness of a man in his eighties rather than his sixties.
He was like a candle that struggled to stay lit, illuminating the lives of countless orphans.
This candle is nearly burnt out, and when it extinguishes, where will the light for these children of the welfare institute be?
Mei Hanqing didn’t know, so she was desperate to make money, to keep climbing up because only if she did well, could the old director live well, and only then would there be hope for the children in the welfare institute.
"The old director has been here for a very long time, hasn’t he?"
"Since I could remember, the old director has always been in charge of the welfare institute." Mei Hanqing nodded: "It is said that he has been the director here even before that!"
"Why has no one come to take over for the old director?"
"Who would come here!" Mei Hanqing sighed helplessly: "You see the conditions here; no one wants to come!"
Ye Xunhuan took a deep breath, in this materially driven society, where everyone’s eyes were all on money, who would care about these things?
"So, for all these years, you’ve put all your earnings into the welfare institute, giving it to these children, right?"
"Yes!" Mei Hanqing nodded: "The old director is old now, he can’t work anymore. And for so many years, for us children to eat, wear clothes, get medical treatment, and go to school, he begged from door to door with his broken body, pleaded with the wealthy, abandoning his dignity, forfeiting his happiness. The little money he begged for was quickly spent, and after it was gone, he had to shamelessly beg once more. Now that I’m grown up and he’s old, I don’t want to see him throw away all his dignity for the kids anymore. I want him to retain this last shred of dignity..."
Mei Hanqing’s eyes slowly started to well up with tears.
The old director was already very tired after all these years, really tired. Mei Hanqing truly didn’t want to see the old director grovel and beg like a cringing dog any longer.
That’s why she needed money, a lot of money!
Because she didn’t want to keep seeing the old father who raised her have to bow and scrape for handouts from others!
Upon hearing Mei Hanqing’s words, Ye Xunhuan grew solemnly respectful, and the image of the old director grew more imposing in his heart.
Although he didn’t know exactly how long the old director had been there, he could infer from Mei Hanqing’s words that it had probably been as long as thirty years!
What kind of belief dwelled in that frail body, what kind of perseverance made him hold out until now?
He worked quietly, devoting himself and lighting up the lives of countless children.
In Ye Xunhuan’s opinion, the old director was more a philanthropist than those so-called philanthropists.
Philanthropists only donate some money, but what about the old director?
He gave his entire life, dedicating all his time to this welfare institute on the brink of closing!
And those so-called philanthropists?
Would they be willing to devote their entire lives, all of themselves?
At the same time, in Ye Xunhuan’s eyes, the old director was not just an outstanding philanthropist, but also a contemporary hero, Uncle Lei Feng!
He deserved everyone’s respect, deserved everyone’s admiration, he should be known by the world, instead of silently giving!
This was unfair to him!
In that moment, Ye Xunhuan decided he wanted everyone to know about this lovable and elderly man, to know of his greatness.
"Don’t worry, the old director will receive the respect he deserves, and the children of the welfare institute will also have better lives!"
Under the scorching sun, Ye Xunhuan made a promise.
After hearing Ye Xunhuan’s words, Mei Hanqing’s delicate body trembled violently: "You... you can help us?"
