1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 341 Orphanage, New Year's Eve Dinner, Departure

After breakfast.

Jiang Ting and her mother stayed at home to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner. They had a lot of tasks to complete today, including frying glutinous rice balls, frying rice cakes, making dumplings, steaming buns, pasting window decorations, and writing couplets...

After Cheng Kaiyan took Liu Xiaoli to write the couplet, she pushed the cart away.

This time when we go to the welfare home, we don’t have to gather at the editorial office of Children’s Literature.

I originally planned to buy some candies, biscuits and the like, but after thinking about it, I decided to just donate a hundred dollars when the time comes.

"Here, I'll return the gloves to you."

When Cheng Kaiyan got on the bike, a fragrant breeze blew behind her and a pair of slender arms came around her.

Following closely was the girl's soft and beautiful body, especially her back. Even through the thick clothes, Cheng Kaiyan could still feel the softness like chewing a rabbit yesterday afternoon.

Liu Xiaoli put on gloves, put on her hat, and buried her whole face behind Cheng Kaiyan.

Full of comfort and pleasure.

"set off!"

……

The two of them swayed along the way, leisurely looking at the scenery around them while riding their bikes.

eight thirty.

The two walked through a relatively quiet street surrounded by dense trees.

Cheng Kaiyan looked over.

A courtyard exuding a tranquil atmosphere appeared before our eyes. The rusty iron gate was painted with mottled black paint, and the words on the sign on the gate wall were dimmed and blurred by the erosion of wind and rain.

Stop at the door and look into the distance.

The exterior walls of several buildings in the distance have gradually fallen off, revealing the red bricks inside. The places that have not fallen off are covered with reddish-brown traces of rainwater.

"I haven't been here for half a year, why does it feel even more shabby?"

Cheng Kaiyan frowned and muttered to himself.

He looked at the somewhat dilapidated and desolate scene in front of him and couldn't help feeling a little worried.

It is actually very common for welfare homes to encounter financial difficulties and cease to operate.

The probability of a public welfare home going bankrupt is almost zero. Although the probability of a small private welfare home going bankrupt is small, it will happen.

Fortunately, even if it goes bankrupt, there will be other welfare homes that will take in the children.

In his previous life, he had been to several welfare homes.

Generally speaking, bankruptcy is not scary, what is scary is the period before bankruptcy.

Poor management, insufficient staff and funding within the welfare home have led to a series of problems such as children suffering from illness, pain, or being left unattended and starving.

"Let's go in and find out."

Liu Xiaoli noticed Cheng Kaiyan's worry and patted him on the back gently.

"Ah."

As they got closer, they saw the red couplets posted at the door and brand new lanterns.

Through the iron gate, I could see a small stage built with wooden boards in the open space in front of the building, and children playing there.

"you are?"

In the guard room next to the iron gate, a middle-aged man wearing a red star hat asked in a deep voice.

There are usually similar small rooms at the entrance of welfare homes.

First, let the guard watch over it.

Secondly, it will provide those who intend to abandon their children with a place to place their children to avoid accidents.

"Comrade Gatekeeper, I'm here at the invitation of Dean Jiang. Aren't there performances and New Year's Eve dinner today?"

Cheng Kaiyan explained.

"I see. Please come in."

Seeing that the two had kind faces and were dressed elegantly, the guard let them in, then took Cheng Kaiyan and Liu Xiaoli to find the teachers and the dean.

In the open space, Cheng Kaiyan saw many familiar faces.

There were editors and chief editors of children's literature, the editor Zhang Li of Chinese literature, and many members of the Chaoyang Service Team.

"Cheng Kaiyan is here."

Xu Dexia, who was leading the children to play games, saw him and immediately waved and called out.

"morning."

Cheng Kaiyan also waved her hand to let him know.

At this time, a woman with short gray hair and a gentle and kind temperament came over: "Comrade Xiao Cheng is here? Welcome, welcome."

"Dean Jiang."

Cheng Kaiyan smiled and shouted.

He always felt that the directors of welfare homes all had a similar temperament.

Seeing Dean Jiang always brings back some distant, vague memories.

"Glad you're here, thank you for your donation last time."

Dean Jiang stretched out her hand and shook his hand. She had been keeping an eye on him since the last time.

He is a talented writer, and I heard he made contributions on the front line...

Cheng Kaiyan left a deep impression on her. It was the first time she had met such a special young man.

"Who is this?"

"Oh, this is my girlfriend Liu Xiaoli."

Cheng Kaiyan stretched out her hand and introduced.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Dean."

Hearing this, Liu Xiaoli smiled and waved her hand, apologetically.

"It's okay. I'm hoping for more people to come."

Dean Jiang shook his head.

The three chatted for a while.

Cheng Kaiyan learned that today's performance would start at nine o'clock, and then the New Year's Eve dinner would start at twelve o'clock.

However, the dean said that due to the number of people, there will not be many performances this time, and please forgive me.

Soon the dean went to arrange the next performance.

Cheng Kaiyan and Liu Xiaoli went to Xu Dexia's place, where there were more children.

"Ah! It's my big brother!"

A little girl with very white skin and red eyes looked up at Cheng Kaiyan with surprise in her eyes.

"Long time no see, Xiaohe."

Cheng Kaiyan leaned over and touched the little girl's head.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

The little girl felt the warm hand on her head and squinted her eyes in comfort.

Seeing that she was petite and cute, Liu Xiaoli squatted down and looked at the little girl curiously.

"This is Xiao He..."

Cheng Kaiyan introduced the two to each other, and soon Liu Xiaoli became familiar with her and hugged her.

After learning about Xiao He's life experience and illness, Liu Xiaoli felt more sympathy for him.

Because the girl has poor eyesight, it is very inconvenient for her to read.

Liu Xiaoli sat down, held her in her arms, and took out a storybook to read to her.

Soon some children of various appearances and simple clothes gathered around.

All kinds of novel and interesting stories are the only outside world they can get in touch with. Cheng Kaiyan stood under the tree and looked at them with a smile.

About half an hour later, more and more people gathered in front of the stage.

There were about fifty or sixty teachers and other participants, and some children also came out from the corners one after another.

"Dear comrades, teachers, and children, I declare today's performance officially open. Children who are going to perform on stage, please get ready."

"The first show is: duck dance!"

"Clap clap-"

As the words fell, everyone applauded.

Five children of different sizes walked onto the stage awkwardly. They naturally had no dance costumes. Since it was a duck dance, they only wore yellow clothes, which were very simple.

Then cheerful music sounded from the tape recorder, and the children began to wave their hands awkwardly, squatting and standing up.

Although it's not neat enough, it's very interesting to look at.

Everyone in the audience was laughing and clapping. Hearing the laughter and applause, the children on the stage also started laughing and making quacking sounds like little ducks.

After the dance, the song "Little Tadpole Looking for Mother" was performed.

……

"Why doesn't Xiaohe go up to perform today?"

Cheng Kaiyan asked.

"Xiao He is sick and can't go on stage."

The timid-looking elder sister weakly raised her hand and spoke.

Cheng Kaiyan took a glance.

Oh, it’s that poor little carp.

"Yeah, the doctor said I have to go to the hospital for treatment after the New Year."

The little girl was lying in Liu Xiaoli's arms, watching the performance with a smile on her face. When she heard the voices of her sister and older brother, she turned around and answered.

Go to the hospital?
Cheng Kaiyan frowned and looked at Xiaoliyu, a girl who was already in high school, with a questioning look on his face.

The latter bit his lip and his eyes became moist for a moment.

She timidly came over and took Cheng Kaiyan's hand, walked to the back, and explained in a low voice: "Xiao He's condition has worsened..."

"Worsened? What happened?"

Cheng Kaiyan was stunned and felt depressed when she heard this.

"The doctor said Xiao He's eyesight has been getting worse and worse, and he may be at risk of going blind... Currently, there are no conditions for treatment in China, and the only way to alleviate the problem is with medication and assistive devices..."

The little carp wiped his tears and said in a trembling voice.

"I see……"

Cheng Kaiyan sighed and said softly, "If you have any difficulties, you can tell me and I will find a solution then."

I'm afraid the welfare home cannot afford the cost of medication and equipment treatment.

But the sister just shook her head.

……

When they came back, they found Liu Xiaoli holding the little girl's hand and teaching her how to dance.

One big and one small, holding hands and spinning in the open space, attracted a lot of people's attention.

"When the little girl heard that I was a dancer, she pestered me to teach her."

Liu Xiaoli explained.

Cheng Kaiyan smiled and said, "Let's go to the shade of the tree. She can't be exposed to the sun."

"Uh-huh."

……

There were relatively few performances, and after the show it was only 11 o'clock.

"Comrade Xiaoli, would you like to go up and dance? Let the children see it too."

Dean Jiang came over and asked.

Liu Xiaoli agreed without thinking and took off her coat and asked Cheng Kaiyan to hold it.

She went up wearing a red sweater and did a simple ballet dance.

Jump and spin, jump and spin...

It looks as beautiful as a swan dancing in the sun.

"What a beautiful dance..."

Everyone and the children were watching with rapt attention.

Even Xiao He, who had blurred vision, could see a glimpse of Liu Xiaoli's figure by the bright red color.

“I want to learn dance when I grow up!”

The little girl shouted with longing on her face.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was served in the canteen of the welfare home. There were many large round tables, all filled with food.

The food was also very good, with meat, vegetables, eggs, chicken soup, and even drinks.

The meal lasted until 12:40.

Everyone set off to go back.

Cheng Kaiyan and Liu Xiaoli found Dean Jiang and they donated one hundred yuan together.

On the way back, the two were still deeply impressed by the experience and warmth of the welfare home.

"Perhaps... it's not that there is no way. It just depends on when Professor Ansel signs the publishing contract."

Cheng Kaiyan looked into the distance calmly and thought.

At half past one, the two returned home.

My aunt and mother were making dumplings in the main room, and Liu Xiaoli and Cheng Kaiyan went up to help.

"Crack!"

At five o'clock in the afternoon, a burst of firecrackers rang out in the yard.

The New Year’s Eve dinner at Cheng Kaiyan’s house has begun.

The family of four put aside all their unhappiness and worries and raised their glasses to celebrate.

Shouted: "Happy New Year!"

After dinner, pack your luggage.

Cheng Kaiyan and Liu Xiaoli took their luggage and boarded the bus to the train station accompanied by Xu Yuxiu and Jiang Ting.

In front of the platform, Xu Yuxiu and Jiang Ting waved goodbye.

"Be careful on the road."

"Goodbye."

As the train doors closed, the sound of rails clanging could be heard.

The train drove out of the platform and gradually faded away with a loud and distant train whistle.

The station is coming soon, the great eldest son of the Republic——

Harbin!
……

At the same time, in a Soviet-style building somewhere in Daowai, Harbin.

"Tomorrow, your daughter will bring her boyfriend home."

The woman with a gentle and beautiful face held the letter in her hand and looked at the middle-aged man across the table with an unexpected look.

Obviously, her daughter never thought of discussing this matter with her.

Otherwise, how could this letter be delivered at such a precise time?

(End of this chapter)