I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 495
Chapter 495: Childhood, Childish Fun
The orphanage entrance is a ramp that goes up.
In my memory, whenever my friends and I would come back from school and play near this big courtyard, this slope would always become our favorite playground.
We would collect unwanted pieces of wood from nearby small woodworking shops, and using the little saws and hammers from the orphanage’s workshop, we would hammer the wood into round shapes, making four wheels. Then, we’d find a wooden board, attach the four wheels, and create a simple skateboard.
We could play from morning until night, only stopping when the skateboard broke.
Of course, being kids, playing like this often led to bumps and bruises, so we were always covered in cuts, scrapes, and scratches.
Luckily for us, the Medicinal Plant Garden was full of plants. Whenever we got hurt, we would search for a small, green, fuzzy plant with a distinctive smell, crush it, and apply it to our wounds to stop the bleeding.
Besides making skateboards, we would also go to the nearby residential area to look for bottle caps that the uncles would discard after drinking.
The caps from beer bottles could be flattened bit by bit with a stone, turning them into sharp, round metal discs. Then, we’d use a nail to punch two holes in the middle, thread a string through, and spin the sharp beer cap rapidly. We could “duel” with friends using these or use them to “mow down grass” with ease.
As soon as I saw this slope, all sorts of childhood memories flashed before my eyes like a montage.
“Oh wow, there’s dumplings! Share some with me.”
“Go, go, go! The cafeteria has plenty, get your own.”
As Xiao Mo and I stood at the entrance of the orphanage, looking at the large building before us, I noticed many staff members inside greeting each other cheerfully.
In my memory, the staff here usually had stern faces.
Not only did they have to take care of us mischievous kids, but they were also responsible for the daily care of children with disabilities or congenital illnesses. Every few days, they even had to bury a child who had passed away due to such illnesses, so it was rare to see them smile.
But now… everyone seemed so happy.
After the development of Shenzhen City, people’s living standards improved. There were no more wars, no more famines, and the cases of human traffickers kidnapping children also decreased. The new generation became more educated, and concepts like preferring boys over girls became rare.
So… the number of orphans in Shenzhen City decreased year by year.
This should be a good thing.
I turned around and looked at the residential buildings next to the orphanage.
Those were the dormitories for some of the staff working nearby. Besides the orphanage itself, there were also small business owners who saw an opportunity and came to do business, along with the relatives and friends of the orphanage staff.
When the orphanage first opened, Shenzhen City provided subsidies, but since this location was far from the city center, some savvy individuals or those with relatives working at the orphanage volunteered to set up grocery stores next to the center. They specialized in selling cigarettes, liquor, instant noodles, sunflower seeds, and spicy snacks, and business was quite good.
Then, some uncles, aunts, and grandmothers in the area noticed that there was money to be made, so they rented rooms inside the building. One sold daily necessities, another sold clothing, and those who had no supply channels set up large tents downstairs, growing their own vegetables to sell.
The soil inside the Medicinal Plant Garden was fertile, and most crops and vegetables planted there thrived.
Additionally, some elderly people who had been living in the area for decades would spend their free time raising chickens and growing vegetables in their backyards. When they discovered the orphanage, they began selling their chickens and vegetables there.
As a result, this place gradually developed a sense of life and community. Some people who didn’t particularly enjoy the bustling city life started moving here one after another.
Most of them were elderly or people with chronic illnesses, seeking peace and quiet. They would open small shops, go into the city once a week to restock, spend their days lounging in chairs, and in the evenings, drink and chat with the neighbors.
Now that I heard the orphanage was moving, my first thought was that these people might leave as well.
There’s no avoiding it—nothing lasts forever.
Just as I grew up and left this orphanage, the people here will also leave someday to find their next destination.
“Nuo’er…”
Perhaps noticing that I’d been lingering at the orphanage entrance for a while without going inside, Xiao Mo seemed a bit worried. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I snapped out of it and started walking towards the entrance at the top of the slope. “Let’s go.”
“Are you two here for a visit or…?”
I noticed that the security booth at the entrance of the orphanage was different from what I remembered. It now had cameras installed and a small chair for the security guard to rest on.
When he saw me, the guard inside looked up, seemingly mistaking Xiao Mo and me for cosplay enthusiasts. He pointed to a nearby path and said, “The convention isn’t here. It’s another ten kilometers that way. You’ve come to the wrong place.”
Even the security guard wasn’t the old grandfather I remembered but a young man instead.
I hope the old man is in good health…
“Thank you, but we’re not here for the convention,” I replied.
Pointing towards the inside of the orphanage, I asked, “Can we go inside for a look?”
“Huh? There’s really nothing to see here,” the guard said, a bit puzzled.
“We’ve been moving things out these past few days. This place is going to be demolished. It’s all dust and dirt inside. If you want to see some scenery, I’d recommend going over there…”
As he spoke, the guard stood up and pointed to a nearby lake. “See that lake over there? It’s called ‘Lovesickness Lake,’ and there’s a bridge over it called ‘Naihe Bridge.’ If you’re out here taking pictures, you might want to check it out.”
“We’re not here to take pictures,” I responded.
I thought for a moment and decided to be straightforward. “Actually, I grew up here. The director said not to come back once we left, but I heard they’re going to demolish this place, so I wanted to come back and take a look.”
“Huh?”
The young man seemed surprised. “You… came from here?”
It’s no surprise he was taken aback. After all, both me and Xiao Mo are the kind of people who are so cute that anyone would like us instantly. Generally, girls like us wouldn’t stay in the orphanage for more than three days before being adopted.
“Yes.”
I nodded seriously. “Is Director Yin still here?”
“He…”
Hearing my question, the young man looked both surprised and helpless. “He was unwell last year and resigned. Now it’s Director Gao.”
“Oh…”
I nodded. “Is the ‘Elephant Nose Mountain’ behind the cafeteria still there?”
“It seems you really did come from here,” the young man said, nodding.
“Alright, you can go in, but be careful. There are several excavators and tractors inside, so watch out and don’t get hurt.”
“……”
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