ATDIWR Chapter 45
by VolareThis time the reason became grand and proper, saying how one child was too lonely, and when they grew old, two children would be companions. He also said that if the sister was bullied in her husband’s family, a younger brother could support her.
Yuan Ming’an herself had brothers, but when she was beaten by her husband’s family during her confinement month, what were her brothers doing? They were gloating, calling her deserving. Who told her not to listen to her family and sell herself to that old man to get him betrothal money, causing him to be unable to afford a bride now?
What was so bad about an old man? Only old men knew how to cherish people!
Yuan Ming’an knew deeply that all this was just an excuse, and she didn’t compromise.
Then the man started to abuse her. The man seemed to be very good at grasping Yuan Ming’an’s bottom line; he only hit Yuan Ming’an, never their daughter. After each beating, the man would cry bitterly, even kowtow and apologize.
Yuan Ming’an hadn’t thought about divorce, but seeing that the man seemed to still have a conscience towards their daughter and knew how to care for the child, she resigned herself to fate, thinking her luck was bad, as long as her daughter was doing well.
Life continued like this, stumbling along. In the blink of an eye, their daughter turned three. The man’s family saw that no matter how much Yuan Ming’an was beaten, she wouldn’t change her mind, so they desperately turned their attention to the daughter.
That was the first time the man hit their daughter, and it was also the first time Yuan Ming’an fought back. She absolutely couldn’t tolerate anyone harming her daughter; she wanted a divorce.
Yuan Ming’an’s resolute attitude panicked the man. He found that this time, no matter how he humbled himself, Yuan Ming’an wouldn’t forgive him, so he changed his strategy.
The man directly snatched the child from Yuan Ming’an’s hands. Since they were in a cooling-off period for divorce and were still considered husband and wife, when Yuan Ming’an sought the police or the court, no one could intervene.
During the marriage, the child’s father also had the right to care for the child.
The man again demanded that Yuan Ming’an bear him a son, and he would return their daughter to her. Yuan Ming’an refused again.
This time, to completely extinguish the man’s hope, she went to the hospital and had a sterilization surgery, one that could never be reversed.
When Yuan Ming’an, dragging her weak body after the surgery, threw the surgical report at the man’s family’s faces, the man’s family went crazy. They wanted to tear Yuan Ming’an apart alive.
Yuan Ming’an didn’t care. She thought that finally, she and her daughter could be reunited, but the man’s family then told her that to get Yuan Ming’an to bear them a son, they had sold their daughter to a human trafficker passing by.
They had planned to tell Yuan Ming’an later, thinking that after she knew her daughter was sold and couldn’t be found, she would meekly give up and bear them a child. However, they never expected that the woman, who had always been weak and easily bullied, would uncharacteristically become strong and go for mutual destruction, getting a sterilization surgery.
The man’s family had no information about the human trafficker, and the child couldn’t be found. Although Yuan Ming’an sued the man’s family, what was the use? Her beloved daughter still couldn’t be found.
After the divorce, Yuan Ming’an started her journey to find her daughter. But this life didn’t last long; a natural disaster descended, and The Apocalypse arrived.
The whole world became a prison. At that time, Yuan Ming’an’s daughter was only three years old, an age where she might not have survived even without The Apocalypse.
But Yuan Ming’an didn’t give up. Even in The Apocalypse, she kept searching for her daughter. She was afraid that her daughter was still alive, suffering, waiting for her mother to rescue her, so Yuan Ming’an didn’t dare to die.
Even as an ordinary person, Yuan Ming’an traveled through city after city, street after street in The Apocalypse.
Speaking of encountering enemies in a narrow path, she actually ran into the man’s family, who should have been in prison.
Although the man’s family didn’t have abilities, they were all alive and well. Yuan Ming’an hated them, so she pretended to be scared and cried, begging the man’s family to take her with them. Then, one night, she drugged the man’s family.
Afterward, she threw the man’s family into a pile of Zombies. Unfortunately, the man woke up midway and bit Yuan Ming’an while struggling with her. At that time, the man had already been bitten by a Zombie.
Yuan Ming’an began to show signs of becoming a Zombie, but Yuan Ming’an refused to turn into a Zombie. She still had to find her daughter. If she turned into a Zombie, how could she find her daughter? Would her daughter still recognize her?
Supported by this powerful belief, Yuan Ming’an stubbornly survived, pulled through at the last moment of turning into a Zombie, and awakened a water-type ability.
At that time, when Yuan Ming’an looked like she was turning into a Zombie, all she thought about was her daughter. She thought about how water was the source of life, and how good it would be if she awakened a water-type ability. After finding her daughter, as long as they, mother and daughter, had water, they could survive no matter what.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Ming’an really awakened a water-type ability. She didn’t know if it was related to her extremely strong will at that moment.
The Apocalypse didn’t stop Yuan Ming’an’s determination to keep searching for her daughter. Unfortunately, after traveling through one city after another, Yuan Ming’an still didn’t find her daughter.
While everyone else became younger after awakening abilities, only she, despite awakening an ability, couldn’t resist aging.
As Yuan Ming’an said all this, there were no tears in her eyes. Perhaps over so many years, through this journey, her tears had long since dried up. If she shed more, only flesh and blood would remain.
Now, Yuan Ming’an didn’t have the despair she had when they first met. She became peaceful and kind. “Later, Commander Gu introduced me to you, helped you take care of these children, and let me see hope again.”
“It made me understand that even in The Apocalypse, there are still good people and bad people. Good people are still willing to help everyone they can.” Yuan Ming’an’s eyes looked at Ji An, with gratitude and anticipation for finding her daughter in the future.
“I think no matter why, if I am willing to help others a bit more, others will also be willing to help others a bit more. This creates a virtuous cycle. Perhaps one day, because of my unintentional small acts of kindness today, it can help my daughter tomorrow and save her life.”
In The Apocalypse, everyone struggled to survive. To live, they might abandon their lives, give up their conscience, and even personally end the lives of their closest relatives. But there were still some people who held onto the kindness in their bones, willing to sacrifice their lives for a beautiful tomorrow that might or might not appear, without regret or complaint.
Ji An blessed her sincerely, “I believe your daughter is definitely still alive somewhere at this moment. Perhaps life is very difficult, or perhaps very happy, but she is definitely alive. You and your daughter will surely be reunited one day.”
Yuan Ming’an, who hadn’t shown much emotion, suddenly burst into tears when she heard Ji An’s words, choking with sobs.
“Thank… thank you for your blessing,” Yuan Ming’an cried.
The children who had been standing around listening to the story without a sound moved at this moment. Xiao Mei Gui stood up, tiptoeing to wipe Yuan Ming’an’s tears. The little child’s eyes were full of sincerity. “Director Mother, don’t cry. You can definitely find your sister.”
Xiao Shi Tou also ran over and hugged Yuan Ming’an with his small, thin body. “Director Mother, you are so kind and so good to us. Your sister will definitely be treated so gently by others.”
The other children followed suit, coming over to hug Yuan Ming’an, blessing her that she would definitely be reunited with her daughter.
Though they were just young children, not even having sturdy little bodies, these twenty or so children surrounded and hugged Yuan Ming’an, making Yuan Ming’an, an adult stronger than the children, feel an seemingly invincible strength in such a seemingly fragile embrace, as if a small boat that had drifted alone for many years had finally found a harbor to dock.
Tears broke the dam, and Yuan Ming’an choked out, “Yes, I will, definitely. With the most sincere blessings from you children, I will surely move the heavens and be blessed to reunite with my daughter.”
Yuan Ming’an cried for a long time among the children’s small bodies. No one was impatient; they all quietly stayed with her, waiting for her emotions to stabilize.
After calming down, Yuan Ming’an’s face flushed red. She awkwardly wiped her eyes, looking at Ji An. “Am I very embarrassing, crying in the children’s arms?”
“No.” Ji An shook his head, genuinely feeling that Yuan Ming’an was very strong. “You are very strong, a hero, your daughter’s hero.”
Yuan Ming’an suddenly felt her eyes moisten again and wanted to cry. She quickly pressed hard on her eyelids with her fingers, trying to push the tears back. Only after the urge passed did she say, “Just now I was only focused on talking about myself and didn’t report the children’s recent situation to you. Let me tell you.”
Yuan Ming’an beckoned to the children. “Xiao Shi Tou, Xiao Mei Gui… come here. You should still remember this brother, right? He and another brother saved you.”
Xiao Shi Tou, Xiao Mei Gui, and the eight children Ji An first saved all ran over. They clearly recognized Ji An and were very close to him and grateful. They all grinned foolishly at Ji An, trying to show him their gratitude.
“Brother, thank you for saving us. Without you, we might already be dead.” Xiao Shi Tou pulled all the children and suddenly knelt down, about to kowtow to Ji An.
Ji An naturally refused, but he only had two hands and couldn’t support so many children. He could only use his mental power to form eight large palms, each supporting a child’s small head, preventing them from actually bumping their heads down.
These children were ordinary people who hadn’t awakened abilities. They couldn’t see the large hands formed by mental power, but they could feel themselves being lifted by a mysterious force. They found it both novel and interesting, curiously looking under their heads.
However, even so, no one was willing to get up.
Xiao Shi Tou stubbornly said, “Brother Ji An, just let us kowtow to you. Our heads are not valuable. Otherwise, we don’t know how to thank you, and only after kowtowing will we feel at ease.”
Ji An hadn’t left his name when he saved them that day. The reason Xiao Shi Tou knew was because he actively asked Yuan Ming’an and kept it firmly in his heart.
Xiao Mei Gui also said, “Yes, Brother Ji An, I don’t know if others could still be alive now if you hadn’t appeared that day, but I definitely wouldn’t have been.
I knew I was going to die that day. I could feel it. Although I was reluctant to leave this world, although life was very difficult, I still clung to it, but I knew I was dying.
Your appearance saved me. Without you, I might have been eaten by those adult vagrants, not even leaving a complete corpse. You saved me, and I really want to kowtow to you.”
Perhaps kowtowing itself, in the eyes of many, is a cowardly, undignified, and even extremely humiliating act. But for these children, it was the only way they could express gratitude to their savior.
Ji An was very moved, not just by the act of the children wanting to kowtow, but by their most sincere and pure hearts.
However, he didn’t let these children actually kowtow to him. Instead, he said, “If you really want to thank me, then don’t kowtow to me. Just always remember this grateful feeling you have today. Then in the future, hold onto this feeling of gratitude and do your best to help the people around you whom you can help.
That is the greatest gratitude you can show me, and it is what I want most.”
Xiao Mei Gui and the others looked at Xiao Shi Tou, unsure what to do. Xiao Shi Tou immediately raised his hand and swore, “I, Xiao Shi Tou, hereby swear that from now on, I will do my best to help everyone around me who needs help. If I violate this oath, then heaven…”
An invisible large hand covered Xiao Shi Tou’s mouth, preventing him from continuing the oath.
Ji An was not as happy and comforted as Xiao Shi Tou expected upon hearing him swear. Instead, he looked at Xiao Shi Tou very seriously and said, “Don’t make such an oath. My original intention was just to help more people, not for you to disregard your own life, your family, or even your own children to help others.
If you do that, you may be fair to the people you help, but are you fair to your family who silently accompanies you, follows you through difficulties and suffering? Are you fair to the heart that struggled so hard to survive in The Apocalypse, to that life?”
Xiao Shi Tou tilted his head, looking at Ji An with a confused expression. Ji An explained, “I just want you to help more people within your means. If it’s beyond your ability, or if helping the person in need will bring pain to you or those around you, then don’t.”
Xiao Shi Tou understood this time. He nodded very, very seriously. “Brother Ji An, I’ve noted it.”
Ji An then smiled again. “Okay, then you can get up. Don’t kowtow to me anymore. Because you’ve promised to help others within your ability, you’ve already given me the greatest return.”
Xiao Shi Tou looked at the children who were also looking at him, and only then did he stop insisting.
After getting up, Xiao Shi Tou expressed his determination again. “Brother Ji An, I will definitely help others within my ability from now on and won’t bring harm to myself or those around me.”
“Good, I believe you.” Ji An’s expression was gentle, and he gently rubbed Xiao Shi Tou’s head.
Xiao Shi Tou’s head was bare now. It was probably due to years of wandering that he had lice, so all the children here, regardless of gender, had their heads shaved.
Xiao Shi Tou’s head was rubbed, and he smiled shyly. Not only did he not pull away, but he also rubbed against Ji An’s palm like a kitten twice, being particularly well-behaved and endearing.
The children who were not rescued by Ji An but were sent here only recently didn’t have much feeling. But the children Ji An rescued were different; they were particularly envious of Xiao Shi Tou. Ji An was the deity who had granted them life again, and they also wanted to be rubbed on the head by Ji An. One by one, they followed behind Xiao Shi Tou, vying to make their vows, and then looked at Ji An with expectant eyes, wanting him to rub their heads too.
Ji An patiently rubbed each one’s head, and he would gently call their names and say a blessing for their future.
Don’t underestimate a simple blessing. When the children received it, they would jump with joy and even secretly compare whose blessing was better. It seemed that Ji An at this moment was the incarnation of a deity, and his blessing was a prophecy for the children’s future.
Yuan Ming’an beckoned to the remaining children. “You come over too. Haven’t you always wanted to personally thank the person who initially proposed starting the Children’s Home? This is him.
He’s also one of the scientists you admire the most! The space storage items you all like and want to own were researched by Brother Ji An!”
Space storage items weren’t kept secret back then. Ji An also opened a store in West City, and now space storage items were selling very well. Everyone in the streets and alleys knew about space storage items. Yuan Ming’an, being a semi-insider, naturally knew the inventor.
It could be said that space storage items were now a symbol of status because they were so sought after. It wasn’t something you could buy just with money; you also needed influence.
“Wow!” The children exclaimed.
Especially the children rescued by Ji An, they jumped up and down with excitement. Xiao Shi Tou was so happy, as if the space storage item was invented by him, clapping his hands red.
“I knew Brother Ji An is not only kind and beautiful but also a very capable person! It’s true!” Xiao Shi Tou happily twirled around. “From now on, I also want to be like Brother Ji An and help more people.”
Xiao Mei Gui grinned, watching Xiao Shi Tou jumping and dancing. “I also want to be as capable as Brother Ji An and become someone who can help others.”
Suddenly, Ji An remembered that when he first rescued these two children, Xiao Mei Gui seemed to have promised to be Xiao Shi Tou’s wife when they grew up. Seeing them now, the two little ones really had the feeling of a husband singing and a wife laughing, where he was being lively and she was smiling.
However, considering the two little ones were only eleven or twelve years old, no matter how precocious they were, they were still just little kids, so Ji An didn’t tease them.
Yuan Ming’an continued, “Besides the Base’s funding, Brother Ji An also personally donated a large sum of money to our Children’s Home. A big part of the credit for your current life of having enough food and clothing goes to Brother Ji An.”
At this, the remaining children also sincerely wanted Brother Ji An’s head rub and blessing. Ji An treated everyone equally and satisfied the children, giving each a corresponding blessing based on his brief interactions and the feelings they evoked.
After the blessings, Ji An asked Yuan Ming’an, “Is everything okay here? Do the children have problems with food or clothing?”
“No,” Yuan Ming’an’s eyes lit up when she mentioned this. “Mr. Ji, do you know about nutritional supplements?”
“I do,” Ji An said.
Yuan Ming’an smiled, “Now our Children’s Home has started supplying nutritional supplements. Just a small tube with various flavors, the children all love to eat them. One tube lasts for a full day and can provide the basic nutritional needs for the children’s growth.
These children have been eating them for almost a month now. Although they haven’t had checkups at the hospital again, many children’s complexions are ruddy, and they have grown taller. The one who grew the fastest has gained nearly one centimeter in height.
I think eating nutritional supplements has better results than grain. Now the children are full of energy every day, able to run and jump, and their physical condition is very good.”
“Although I don’t know which researcher came up with it, I am truly grateful to him.”
Yuan Ming’an’s eyes sparkled, full of hope. “I really hope that nutritional supplements can be promoted nationwide as soon as possible. The price of nutritional supplements for ordinary people is also so low. By then, people across the country can have enough to eat, and more people will be willing to do good deeds.
Perhaps someone will be willing to buy a few tubes for those poor children on the street. Maybe my daughter is among them and can also eat some, and from then on, she won’t have to worry about being hungry or not finding food and can grow up healthily.”
“Yes, they will, definitely,” Ji An said. “The auction is over, and there are no other major events at the Base. The next step is to fully promote nutritional supplements. By the end of this month, at least our Base will be able to cover most areas.”
“That’s wonderful!” Yuan Ming’an gained another ray of hope for reuniting with her daughter.
Ji An said, “By the way, I brought some early education books for the children. You can teach them to read and write when you have time. Normally, they can draw on the sand table, and children who perform well can be rewarded with paper, pens, and toys.”
Perhaps children who have suffered are particularly precocious. Before The Apocalypse, if children heard that the reward for good grades was paper and pens, they would probably immediately lose interest in studying hard.
But these children in the Children’s Home wouldn’t; instead, they would eagerly look forward to it. Toys, paper, and pens were equally attractive to them; they wanted them all.
Xiao Shi Tou raised his hand at this moment. “Brother Ji An, I learn the fastest and best. I can already write characters.”
“Is that so?” Ji An smiled. “What can you write? Write it for me to see. If you write well, I’ll decide now to give you a reward.”
Xiao Shi Tou immediately picked up his sand table and began writing on it very seriously. Although his writing was wobbly and immature, he wrote very carefully, without missing any strokes. Each stroke clearly showed the two characters for Ji An.
As these two characters were completed under Xiao Shi Tou’s pen, Ji An’s heart stirred. That feeling, as if the name given casually by the aunts in the orphanage back then, was endowed with a different kind of power, equivalent to the value of a name chosen by a pair of parents who had searched through all the books, hoping to bestow upon their child all the beautiful blessings in the world, even more so, containing the most sincere blessings of all the children in the Children’s Home for him, more beautiful than the stars in the night sky.
Xiao Shi Tou didn’t stop after writing Ji An’s name but carefully wrote three more characters next to it—Gu Jinsheng.
Gu Jinsheng’s name had relatively more strokes, and it was a bit difficult for Xiao Shi Tou to write, but he still wrote it correctly.
Ji An smiled from the bottom of his heart, truly touched.
He knew that Xiao Shi Tou was truly grateful to them. If it weren’t for that, and only Ji An was present, Xiao Shi Tou wouldn’t need to write Gu Jinsheng’s name, but he still wrote it. This showed that in his heart, he also considered Gu Jinsheng a savior. This child was someone who knew gratitude and had the purest, innocent heart.
Ji An squatted down next to Xiao Shi Tou and said softly, “Xiao Shi Tou, you’re amazing. You’re one of the smartest children I’ve ever seen. So, can Xiao Shi Tou write his own name?”
Xiao Shi Tou’s face turned red, and he said bashfully, “I’m sorry, Brother Ji An, I can’t yet.”