Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Every day, Shen Juanjuan brought back just enough food for one day. The next morning, he would return to the welfare home. Although the rain had stopped, the weather remained gloomy and overcast. Chu Ya still packed his raincoat in a bag and put it in his shoulder bag.

“And the foot raincoat,” Shen Juanjuan reminded him.

“I’ve already packed it for you.”

“I want to wear the foot raincoat.”

“It’s not raining yet. You can wear it when it starts raining.”

“But I want to wear it now…”

Chu Ya put on the shoe covers for him and then escorted him to the gap in the landfill. He watched Shen Juanjuan walk along the barbed wire, frequently turning back to wave at him.

"Watch your step, don’t keep looking at me," Chu Ya said.

"What did you say?"

"I told you not to look around, watch your feet so you don’t fall." Chu Ya raised his voice.

"What did you say?"

Shen Juanjuan was about to turn back again, so Chu Ya turned his wheelchair as if to return, and Shen Juanjuan continued toward the welfare home.

But Chu Ya didn’t go back; instead, he entered the nearby wasteland, keeping parallel to Shen Juanjuan as they both headed toward the welfare home.

He wasn’t sure if the Black Wolf would attack Shen Juanjuan again, and he was also worried about mutant creatures appearing in the area, so he followed from a distance, observing. Fortunately, nothing happened along the way. He sent the child to a place where he could see the welfare home before turning back.

When Shen Juanjuan stepped into the dormitory building, the children had just woken up, all showing eagerness and joy as they hurried through the corridors with basins in hand. Not knowing what good news there was, he quickly returned to his dormitory and ran into a group of children heading out as soon as he entered.

"Shen Juanjuan, we’re having buns today!"

"Hurry to the cafeteria; we’re having big buns this morning!"

The children excitedly chattered, and Shen Juanjuan widened his eyes. "Buns?"

"Yes, buns," Lin Duozhi nodded emphatically.

Shen Juanjuan clenched his fists at his waist and took small steps. "Buns?"

Lin Duozhi mimicked his actions. "Buns!"

Shen Juanjuan punched the air twice. "Buns?"

"Ha ha ha ha." The children started punching too. "Yes! Buns!"

The excited group of children rushed to the cafeteria, with Tang Yuanyuan explaining as they walked. "The manager said the director got flour yesterday, so we’re having big buns this morning!"

"It’s not flour, it’s buns," Chen Hongliang corrected.

Tang Yuanyuan rolled her eyes. "Flour is what we use to make buns."

"Isn’t what makes buns soft dough and—" Chen Hongliang swallowed before continuing: "and filling?"

"That’s right, it’s the dough and filling, not some powder," Shen Juanjuan and the others agreed, nodding.

Tang Yuanyuan paused. "Maybe that soft dough is called flour."

The cafeteria was bustling with excitement because they were about to have buns. Many students crowded by the windows, waiting for the workers to bring breakfast.

"They’re here! The buns are here!" When the workers carrying the breakfast buckets appeared at the edge of the playground, the cafeteria erupted into chaos. Students rushed away from the windows to form a queue, pushing to get to the front.

Shen Juanjuan and the other kindergarten students naturally ended up at the back, while the senior students jostled at the front. As the shouts of "Louse King" and "Stinky Man" grew louder, a fight broke out quickly.

The conflict spread rapidly, involving senior and middle school students. Shen Juanjuan and the other kindergarten students huddled in the corner, watching as the senior girls led by Liu Sijin dominated the fight. Their hair had grown a few inches, making them look similar to boys, which made it hard to tell who was who during the fight.

Lin Duozhi whispered in surprise, "The Louse King is being pinned down!"

"No, that’s a Stinky Man," Shen Juanjuan corrected.

"That’s the Louse King. Look, it’s not a Stinky Man."

"Oh, I must have been mistaken; her hair looks like a Stinky Man’s."

Although the fight was intense, the managers soon arrived, shouting and brandishing rulers, bringing the chaos under control.

"All those involved in the fight move to the back and get breakfast last," the head manager shouted, then turned to the kindergarten students at the back. "Come to the front; we’ll serve you first."

The senior students reluctantly moved to the back, while the kindergarten students happily moved forward. Before Shen Juanjuan could take two steps, he saw Wang Zhusheng’s brother among the senior students approaching.

Panicking, he immediately wanted to run but then remembered the managers were present, and Wang Zhusheng’s brother wouldn’t attack him now. Despite this, he was still very nervous, staring at Wang Zhusheng’s brother, and froze when he turned to look at him.

But Wang Zhusheng’s brother only glanced at him briefly before looking away and talking to another senior student.

As they passed each other, nothing happened, and Shen Juanjuan relaxed, letting out a long breath.

Everyone reformed their queues, eagerly but quietly waiting for their meals. Workers carried iron buckets covered with white cloth into the cafeteria, lining them up in front.

The cloth was pushed up high, revealing the shape of the buns underneath, and the entire cafeteria echoed with the sound of swallowing saliva.

Although the head manager had just scolded the senior students, he clearly seemed pleased, with a faint smile on his face.

"The director got flour for everyone, so we’re improving our diet with buns today."

Even though they already knew about the buns, the cafeteria erupted in thunderous cheers: "Wow, buns, buns, buns, buns…"

Manager Chen made a gesture for quiet and continued, "… Thank you, Director Liu, thank you to the Cloud Peak Supply Department. While we enjoy this delicious food, let's remember how hard it is to obtain these meals…"

The children had grown impatient, and someone shouted, "We know, just let us eat the buns already."

"Eat, let's eat the buns." Everyone chimed in, even the younger ones jumping up and down, "Eat the buns, eat the buns."

"Alright, alright, no more talking, let's eat the buns." Manager Chen wasn't angry; he only smiled.

The distribution of buns began, and the line moved slowly forward. When it was Shen Juanjuan's turn, before Manager Chen could speak, he suddenly raised both hands with his short fingers spread wide: "One two three one two three one two three!"

Manager Chen glanced at him, "Do you want to burst?"

"Well, then one two three one two three one!"

Manager Chen picked up a small empty bowl and placed two buns inside, "Everyone gets only two."

"Can I have one two three one two three one?" Shen Juanjuan asked as a compromise.

"No, only two."

"Oh." Shen Juanjuan put his hands down in disappointment, his eyes following the buns, "Can I have three?"

Even though he couldn't get many buns, three should be fine, right? He usually got three bean cakes.

"Only two." As Manager Chen handed him the bowl, he whispered, "After breakfast, come to my office. If there are any left, I'll give you another one."

"Hehe…" Shen Juanjuan grinned.

"Quiet, don't tell anyone else."

Shen Juanjuan covered his mouth again, but his smiling eyes sparkled.

He sat down at a small table behind the cafeteria, making sure no one was watching, and took out the clean bag Chu Ya had prepared for him, placing both buns inside.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Liu Sijin sat next to him with her bowl of buns.

Shen Juanjuan swallowed, "I'm not eating now."

Liu Sijin took a bite of her bun, "Mmm, are you saving it for your brother?"

"Yes." Shen Juanjuan stared at her bun and emphasized, "For my brother whose neck is broken… What kind of filling is this?"

"I don't know, but it's delicious."

"Let me see." Shen Juanjuan leaned over to look at the chopped filling, unable to identify it, and said, "Let me smell it."

"Mm-hm."

Shen Juanjuan took a deep whiff and swallowed, "It must be really good."

"Then why don't you eat one?"

Shen Juanjuan touched the bag, feeling the shape and warmth of the buns through the thin fabric, and licked his lips, "I won't eat them. I'll eat them with my brother whose neck is broken."

The other children from Dormitory 16 also sat down with their buns, devouring them while saying to Shen Juanjuan, "Today, I can't trade with you; I only have two buns."

"Even if I had three, I wouldn't trade. These buns are too delicious."

Shen Juanjuan understood and didn't get upset. Manager Chen was still distributing buns, so he couldn't leave yet. He had to wait until the end to go to the cafeteria, so he sat at the table, watching the children and asking about the flavor of today's buns.

As he watched, he grew hungrier and hungrier, swallowing more saliva than the noise of the children eating their buns.

"Are you not leaving now?" Lin Duozhi asked.

"Not yet."

"Why don't you take the buns to your brother first? This is breakfast, and you can come back for lunch. Maybe there will be buns at lunch too," Lin Duozhi whispered.

Manager Chen had told him not to tell anyone else, so Shen Juanjuan hesitated and finally said, "I'll wait a bit longer."

"Then go stand by the window; otherwise, it'll be unbearable," Liu Sijin kindly suggested.

No one in the cafeteria was making noise anymore; only the sounds of chewing and slurping soup filled the air. Shen Juanjuan smelled the buns and saw that Manager Chen still had a queue in front of him. Feeling the wait was unbearable, he followed Liu Sijin's advice and walked to the window to look outside.

He saw the director standing nearby, talking to two officers.

Shen Juanjuan recognized the two officers; every time they came to the orphanage, they would select one or two children to take to Cloud Peak. But usually, when they arrived, everyone was already lined up on the playground, unlike today when they were still having breakfast in the cafeteria.

Is this for selecting children to go to Cloud Peak?

They're here to select children for Cloud Peak again!!

None of the children in the cafeteria noticed the officers outside, so they didn't realize what was happening. Shen Juanjuan watched as they approached with the principal, and their conversation drifted through the window.

"Perhaps we should reschedule; they rarely get to eat noodles," Director Liu suggested.

The officer replied, "We notified your institution yesterday. Why weren't you prepared?"

"It was our oversight… Reschedule?"

"It doesn't matter; we can go to the cafeteria… We won't disturb their meal."

Director Liu blocked their path, "Let's reschedule."

"Director Liu… delaying and interfering with official duties."

Shen Juanjuan was too excited to notice the tension in their conversation. At that moment, another child spotted the officers and rushed to the window, shouting, "Cloud Peak is here to select children, Cloud Peak is here to select children."

The cafeteria erupted into a commotion, and all the children rushed to the windows. Shen Juanjuan was quickly pushed aside. Lin Duozhi stood beside him, clutching his sleeve tightly, his fingers trembling, "Juanjuan, they're here to select children again. We can go to Cloud Peak."

"The selection team from Cloud Peak has arrived again." A senior student stuffed the remaining buns into his mouth and ran toward the cafeteria entrance with his cheeks puffed out, only to be stopped by Chen, the supervisor, who shouted sternly, "Nobody move! Finish your meals; nobody is allowed to leave!"

Two officers had already entered the cafeteria, and the children burst into excited cheers. The officers smiled at them, while Dean Liu stood at the door with an unhappy expression, but followed the officers as they strode into the cafeteria.

Chen glanced at Dean Liu, subtly seeking information.

Liu slightly shook his head, and Chen let out an imperceptible sigh.

Chen did not ask the children to re-form their lines, but they stuffed the remaining buns into their mouths and began lining up according to their usual positions.

One of the officers glanced at Dean Liu and said with a smile, "Dean Liu, you've done a great job training these kids."

Dean Liu's facial muscles twitched. "Not bad."

Shen Juanjuan and the other boys from his dormitory had been squeezed near the window and now hurriedly joined the line. Lin Duozhi quickly dragged Shen Juanjuan to join the queue.

After two attempts to pull him without success, Lin Duozhi urged, "Come on, hurry up and get in line."

But there was no excitement on Shen Juanjuan's face. He hesitated, freeing his hand and whispering, "I'm not going to the front."

"Huh?"

"I'm not going to the front."

"Not going?!"

"No."

"…Alright then, stay here. I'll go ahead."

Lin Duozhi joined the line, while Shen Juanjuan stood outside the crowd, fiddling with the window frame, occasionally turning his head with a hint of envy in his eyes.

He really wanted to go to Cloud Peak, to stand at the front, to stand tall so that the officers could see him easily. But he couldn't go now; he feared that if he were chosen, what would happen to Shen Miaomiao?

Who would take care of Shen Miaomiao? Who would find food for Shen Miaomiao?

Shen Miaomiao would surely cry missing him, pushing the wheelchair around looking for food, eventually starving to death in the wheelchair, becoming a small mound on it.

Thinking of this, Shen Juanjuan felt scared and shrank further into the corner, not wanting to be noticed by the officers.

"Ouch."

"Aah!"

Suddenly, cries of pain echoed in the cafeteria. Shen Juanjuan turned his head, and his mind buzzed as the familiar pain struck again, like an electric drill whirring into his head.

Although the pain lasted less than half a second, Shen Juanjuan stumbled and sat down on the ground. Many children also fell, quickly getting back up despite the pain, looking at the officers with hopeful eyes.

But the officers did not smile and pick one or two children from the crowd as they usually did, leading them away under envious gazes. Instead, they shook their heads in disappointment and left the cafeteria without a word. Dean Liu and Chen's expressions became relaxed, and they walked out with smiles.

The cafeteria was filled with sobbing sounds. A senior boy wailed loudly, "Why didn't they choose me? Why didn't they choose me…"

Shen Juanjuan used to cry along with everyone else, but this time he just stood by the window, watching one thing after another.

He remembered Chen telling him to come for more buns, so he watched Chen's back as he stood at the gate watching the military vehicle depart, then turned and walked slowly toward the staff building with Dean Liu.

Shen Juanjuan felt a surge of joy and was about to leave the cafeteria to follow them when a sharp cry interrupted him.

"I want to go to Cloud Peak, Brother, I want to go to Cloud Peak…"

He turned and saw Wang Zhusheng rolling on the ground, his brother frantically yelling, "What can I do? They're the ones choosing, not me."

Shen Juanjuan laughed in schadenfreude, but unexpectedly, Wang Zhusheng's brother suddenly looked over. Before Shen Juanjuan could hide his expression, he was startled, but Wang Zhusheng's brother only glanced at him irritably before looking away.

Shen Juanjuan hurriedly left the cafeteria and headed for the staff building. Knowing the supervisors were all on the second floor, he searched room by room. Just as he reached the last room, he heard Dean Liu's voice through the half-open door.

"…Too suspicious, I need to figure out what's happening…"

Shen Juanjuan peeked inside, and the conversation immediately stopped. Dean Liu, sitting facing the door, called out, "Shen Juanjuan."

"Here," Shen Juanjuan responded as he entered the room, noticing Chen sitting in a chair to the side.

Dean Liu asked, "Why are you here?"

Remembering Chen's instruction not to tell anyone, Shen Juanjuan glanced at Dean Liu, then at Chen, and remained silent.

Chen explained, "This child eats a lot; he usually needs three bean cakes. Today, each person gets two buns, and I was worried he wouldn't have enough, so I told him to come find me after distributing the meals. If there were any leftover buns, I'd give him one more."

Dean Liu, however, said, "No need to go to the cafeteria. I have a basket in my office. Since we haven't had breakfast, go fetch it, and we'll eat together."

"Okay."

The dean's office was on the same floor, and Chen quickly fetched the basket of buns and placed it on the coffee table.

There were about ten buns in the basket. Dean Liu and Chen each took one and gestured to Shen Juanjuan, "Come, take one."

Shen Juanjuan approached, picked up a bun, opened his bag, and placed the bun inside with the two others already there.

"Hey, kid, weren't you saying you weren't full?" Chen asked.

Shen Juanjuan nodded. "Yes, I'm not full."

"Then why are you putting it in your bag?"

As usual when faced with a question he couldn't answer, Shen Juanjuan closed his mouth and stared at Chen with his big eyes.

"I suspect you don't finish all the food you ask for. Today, you will eat here, and I want to see how much you can actually eat," Chen said sternly.

Shen Juanjuan opened his mouth: "Are we eating here?"

"Yes, let's eat now."

"Okay."

Shen Juanjuan reached out, grabbed another bun from the plate, and took a big bite.

Director Chen let out a sharp sigh: "You're still taking from the plate? Tell me, when were you planning to eat these that are in the bag?"

But Shen Juanjuan wasn't listening. He exclaimed with delight to the two of them: "This is pickled vegetable filling!"

"Oh you—"

"And there's meat! I tasted meat! Is this meat? It seems like meat…" Shen Juanjuan completely ignored what Director Chen was saying, chewing rapidly with large bites.

Director Chen was about to say more, but Dean Liu raised his hand to stop him: "Let him eat." Then he addressed Shen Juanjuan: "Sit down and eat slowly. Here, have some soup."

Shen Juanjuan continued to wolf down his food, smiling at Dean Liu as he ate.

Dean Liu smiled back at him: "Slow down, slow down…" Then he asked, "The bag you used for the buns looks nice. Where did you get it?"

Director Chen was taken aback and only then noticed the part of the bag sticking out of Shen Juanjuan's shoulder bag, clearly printed with the words 'sterile,' and a row of small numbers below, which seemed to be a medical device code.

This sterile bag showed no signs of use, indicating it wasn't picked up somewhere, and it was an item only found in hospitals.