Chapter 007 Meng Ci

Chapter 007 Meng Ci

Over the years, the children in the orphanage had changed one after another. Those of her age had either been adopted or left and never returned.

Although one cannot choose their birth, many are reluctant to mention it, especially after entering school or society, feeling different and ashamed.

Occasionally, those who remember the kindness and have done well would send money back as donations or buy things to send to the children.

Li Pushu did both. If she had time, she would also come back to visit. But when she returned, she went to Granny Li's house—Granny Li was the former director who had taken care of her back then.

Granny Li was old and lacked energy. Taking care of children and managing the orphanage required a lot of time and effort, so she had retired and others had taken over.

Granny Li knew she was coming back today, so she waited early downstairs in the old neighborhood. Being old, she had little entertainment, so every day she came down to bask in the sun, read books with her reading glasses, look at the vibrant green scenery, or watch children play chase.

She lived in an old neighborhood, originally staff housing allocated by the school for faculty. It had been her husband's. After he passed away, she retired from the orphanage and stayed here, holding on to the memories of her youth.

Granny Li had once had a child, a daughter. But when she was very young, her mother-in-law took care of her. The mother-in-law disliked having a girl, so when the child had a fever, she didn’t pay attention. Eventually, the fever proved fatal. She was taken to the hospital but couldn’t be saved.

Granny Li was devastated and filled with guilt, trapped in pain. When the government decided to build an orphanage—mostly for abandoned girls—she quit her teaching job and took on the responsibility of establishing the first public orphanage, remaining there until retirement.

Granny Li waited a while, thinking Pushu should be arriving soon. She put away her books and went back inside to prepare lunch.

Others saw her and joked, "Teacher Li, no English mini-lesson today?"

Granny Li used to teach English, and her husband taught math. Their child's death had also left him deeply guilt-ridden, and he severed ties with his family. They never had another child, just stayed together, living for each other. A few years after retiring, he died saving a student who had fallen into the water.

"Pushu is coming back today. I figured she must be exhausted from the ride. She deserves a hot meal when she gets home," Granny Li said kindly, smiling softly.

Others were surprised but also happy. "Oh, Pushu is back? Haven't seen her in a while. Teacher Li, I forgot to ask—has that girl started dating? When she came back for New Year's, I saw her on the phone with a guy."

Granny Li nodded. "Yes, a college classmate. She said once he's done with work, he'll come visit this old lady in a few days."

"That's wonderful. Soon, Teacher Li's household will be celebrating a wedding. And then you'll have a little one or two to watch over—maybe you can even raise another top student."

"It's still early," Granny Li said modestly, but she couldn't stop smiling, clearly overjoyed.

"I'd better go make lunch."

"Alright, come down in the evening to chat."

.

This was a third-tier city. The orphanage was in the old town. As Li Pushu traveled back, it felt like a barren patch of land suddenly blossoming with a vibrant flower.

She pulled her suitcase and swiped her card. The old gatekeeper's eyesight wasn't great. He squinted for a moment, then remembered her, smiling with two missing teeth. "Little Pushu, come to see Teacher Li?"

Everyone here knew each other. After Granny Li retired from the orphanage, they all started calling her Teacher Li again.

And since the police station was nearby across the street, the security was casually arranged. The old man didn't need the salary; he just wanted something to do to pass the time and avoid boredom.

This was also why Li Pushu, despite her looks, had grown up smoothly without being bullied.

"Yeah, it's been a while. Just got my diploma and came straight back to see Granny Li," Li Pushu said with a smile. Around elders, she spoke sweetly and obediently. "Grandpa Wang, you've been working hard. I bought some peaches—really ripe, perfect for you. Try them, I picked the big ones."

She placed two fresh peaches on the guardhouse desk, reaching through the window to set them down.

"Oh, these peaches look great. Must have cost a lot!" Grandpa Wang could tell from the aroma they were expensive. He occasionally splurged on them.

Anyway, at his age, he deserved to enjoy life. When you're halfway in the grave, every day counts.

Li Pushu didn't leave immediately. She chatted a little longer. "Didn't cost much. Just enjoy them."

"You're such a filial girl. Graduated now—are you coming back to teach locally, or making it in the big city?"

Grandpa Wang had watched her grow up. "You have good grades and a good heart. More opportunities outside. Young people these days just need opportunities."

"I haven't decided yet. I'll come back and spend a few days with Granny Li first," Li Pushu replied. She didn't dare mention that she didn't want to work and just wanted to coast—the older generation would lecture her.

To them, having a stable job was crucial. For a girl, teaching back home or getting a civil service position nearby was ideal. That way, family could help, and they'd have a secure "iron rice bowl."

Different times, different ages. Li Pushu didn't think their views were wrong, but people had different aspirations. Young people and elders always had clashing ideas.

Grandpa Wang nodded. "Makes sense. No rush. Haste makes waste, you know. Local jobs might be plain, but they're stable. I heard the school is recruiting new teachers, and the bureau needs clerks. Both suit you."

Staying local meant connections everywhere. They could even introduce her to a reliable partner, and she'd have a happy, harmonious future.

"Thanks for the tip, Grandpa Wang. I'll talk it over with Granny Li," Li Pushu said with a smile. It was exactly the kind of topic she expected. "I'll head up now. You take care."

"Go ahead. We're frying meatballs tonight—bring your grandma over to eat."

"Got it!"

Li Pushu walked inside. She barely exhaled before being surrounded by more elderly retirees: "Is that little Pushu home?" "You've grown so much. Got a boyfriend?" "Coming back to develop locally?" All well-meaning but exhausting.

The old folks meant well, but chatting with them required caution, especially with a group who had watched you grow up and cared for you. Her smile was starting to freeze. After responding to everyone, she lugged her suitcase up the stairs. The building was old, and though there had been talk of installing an elevator since most residents were elderly, the building's structure didn't allow it.

Li Pushu knocked on the door. Granny Li, wearing an apron, opened it. When she saw Li Pushu, her face lit up. "You're back! Come in, you've gotten so thin."

Her hands were greasy, so she couldn't touch Li Pushu, but her eyes were full of love and worry.

There's a kind of thinness that only elders perceive. Li Pushu gave her a hug. "Grandma, I haven't lost weight. I've actually gained several pounds. Look, my face is all chubby."

"Nonsense, your chin's all pointy and you say you have meat. I made all your favorite dishes. Eat plenty later to make up for it." Granny Li turned to the kitchen. "My food's burning!"

A burnt smell was already wafting. Li Pushu had just returned; if she tried to help, she'd be shooed away. So she unpacked and lounged on the sofa for a bit.

Ye Sui called right on time, making sure she'd arrived safely. After a few virtual kisses, he went back to work, arranging his schedule to come meet the family.

Life at home was indeed relaxing. Granny Li was a very kind and open-minded elder.

Li Pushu's goal this time was to take Granny Li with her. "Grandma, come live with me in Jiangdong from now on. I can't rest easy leaving you alone here."

Even though she hadn't been adopted, she was the first child among the orphans to be given Granny Li's surname. The other children all had Hua as their surname.

Li Pushu knew the reason. Granny Li didn't dare adopt—her own daughter's tragic death had left a deep scar.

Granny Li felt she didn't deserve to be a mother or have a granddaughter. She was afraid that if she adopted, little Pushu would meet the same fate as her daughter. She didn't dare to raise her.

She also didn't use her husband's surname, partly because deep down she harbored resentment and didn't want to.

On a deeper level, she didn't want Li Pushu to feel burdened when she grew up, nor to get entangled in inheritance disputes.

The older generation might be gone, but the younger relatives weren't exactly virtuous—they had their eyes on Granny Li's house.

Though there was no formal adoption, their bond was as deep as biological grandparents and grandchildren. Li Pushu would definitely take care of Granny Li, provide for her old age, and ensure she enjoyed her later years.

"I don't like big cities. I have familiar old friends here, and I'm never bored." Granny Li smiled and patted Li Pushu's head. "When I first brought you back, you were just a few days old, wrapped in swaddling. It was a heavy rainstorm—you almost didn't survive."

But she raised her, and now she was grown. Granny Li truly couldn't understand how parents could abandon their child, especially a newborn, on a stormy day, leaving her to freeze to death.

That night, she took one of the orphanage children to the hospital. Since there were few people around and she couldn’t leave the other kids unattended, she waited until the child fell asleep, then grabbed a flashlight and headed back home to check on things before returning to the hospital.

The wind was strong, the rain was heavy, the night was pitch-dark, and thunder was roaring. She struggled to walk, holding her umbrella, and heard a baby crying—very faint, like a kitten gasping for its last breath.

She had taken in many children before. Back in the days of the family planning policy, abandoning children was rampant, so she knew that sound all too well. Following it, she found a tiny baby in swaddling clothes—little Pushu. She was very small, but unlike other newborns who looked wrinkled, she had fair skin and was adorable. She had already cried her throat hoarse, and the rain beat down on her tiny body, leaving her delicate skin bruised and purple.

“What a sin!” Her heart ached. She quickly picked up the baby and hurried back to the hospital. The doctor was very diligent. The hospital was brightly lit, and he worked diligently through the night to save her. The baby was healthy, with no diseases—just a fever, but fortunately, she had been brought in just in time.

Perhaps it was fate. In a daze, she felt as if she had saved the daughter who had died of a fever all those years ago—as if she were atoning for her own daughter.

Technology was pretty basic back then, and the police couldn’t find Pushu’s biological parents. Besides, since they had abandoned her like that, even if they were found, she wouldn’t have had a good life.

Naturally, little Pushu stayed at the orphanage.

She took very careful care of her, treating her like her own granddaughter. By age, if her daughter had grown up and gotten married, she might have had a child of this age.

The name Li Pushu was chosen after flipping through the dictionary. She hoped Pushu would have a heart as pure and untainted as the bodhi tree, unaffected by the outside world. “Shu” signified both beauty and happiness, wishing her a joyful future.

As time passed, the child grew up and became more and more outstanding, with a face that seemed heaven-sent.

This made her both fond and deeply worried. For an ordinary person, being too beautiful is not always a good thing.

But the worries never materialized. Apart from being abandoned at birth and nearly dying, the child had a smooth and happy life. This put her mind at ease.

Li Pushu snuggled up to her and said coaxingly, “Grandma, you saved me. You gave me a second life, so it’s only right that I take care of you. Please come with me to Jiangdong, okay? Please, Grandma.”

“You’re a good child, and I understand your devotion to me.” Granny Li shook her head firmly, a smile steeped in memories. “I’ll stay here, look after the home. That way, if my husband and child ever come back to see me, the house won’t be empty.”

This was Granny Li’s lingering regret. Perhaps only when death erases her memory will she finally let it go.

Li Pushu understood that. Since she had said that, she definitely wouldn’t leave. And really, she could understand.

“Since you won’t come with me, you have to call me if anything happens.” Li Pushu called her almost every other day, taught her how to use a smartphone, and even set up video calls with her.

“Of course.”

Granny Li also worried that the child would be bullied outside and only share the good news. So she called every few days to check in and care for her.

In the evening, after dinner, the sun hid behind the green mountains, night fell, and the lights came on.

They went for a walk around the neighborhood. Many people were already there, sitting on low stools or chatting in groups with snacks. People about the same age hit it off.

Every time Li Pushu came back, she became the talk of the group. But this time, there was an unfamiliar young man.

He looked refined, handsome, wearing a white shirt and trousers, giving off that perfect-student heartthrob vibe.

From a distance, he stood out from the crowd.

Granny Li explained quietly, “That’s Meng Ci, the grandson of the Meng family. He’s only started visiting in recent years. But whenever he came back, you weren’t home—you two always missed each other.”

Li Pushu nodded knowingly. She had heard about the Meng family. The Mengs had a daughter, a typical lovesick fool who ran off with a man while still in school. She soon came back pregnant, gave birth, then left with the child and never returned to the Meng family.

The Mengs had cut ties with that daughter. Now, as gray hair mourns black hair, all resentment had faded. The only grandson had returned, and he even took the Meng surname. Coupled with his good manners and politeness, everyone warmed up to him quickly. The old couple felt very proud.

The mistakes of adults shouldn’t be blamed on the children.

But this man—the way he looked at her was strangely scrutinizing, as if in deep surprise.

Li Pushu didn’t like him. He seemed gentle and polite when he smiled, but there was a calculating look in his eyes.

Since they didn’t know each other, they merely nodded in greeting and didn’t exchange any words. Those who might have thought of matchmaking learned that Li Pushu already had a partner, and that he would be visiting in a few days, so they didn’t interfere and mess things up for the young couple.