Chapter 033: The Zhabei Orphanage

Li Haibo, having nothing better to do, found himself idle again. In his boredom, he dug out the camera he had "liberated" from Wu Yi, bought some fresh film, and began snapping pictures everywhere.

He started by photographing his family and friends one by one, then, taking advantage of his patrol duties, he wandered around capturing images of old buildings, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The next afternoon, while patrolling and taking pictures on the street, Li Haibo finally spotted his long-awaited old classmate, Zhou Zhengguo.

As soon as Zhou Zhengguo appeared, Li Haibo lunged forward and dragged him straight into a narrow alley behind the street.

Once in the alley, Li Haibo’s emotions burst forth like a dam breaking: "Where the hell have you been? Can you imagine how I’ve been suffering these past few days?"

Zhou Zhengguo looked flustered by the sudden interrogation. "I haven't gone anywhere! I’ve been in Shanghai the whole time, haven't even traveled far!"

"Then why didn't you come find me?"

"I've been busy! Ever since I borrowed that large sum of money from you, the organization has put me in charge of procuring supplies. I’ve been spinning like a top lately, not a moment of rest!" As he spoke, Zhou Zhengguo wiped the exhaustion from his face.

"This can’t go on; we need a plan." Li Haibo’s expression turned serious. "We must agree on a 'dead drop' location so it’s easier to communicate. Otherwise, trying to find you every time is like looking for a needle in a haystack—it’s going to drive me crazy!"

"That sounds great!" Zhou Zhengguo’s spirits lifted. Damn, he’s taking the initiative—this is exactly what I wanted!

After some careful deliberation, the two decided on a hollow space inside an artificial rock formation in the small park as their "dead drop." It was a well-hidden spot, unlikely to be noticed, making it an excellent place to pass on important information.

Once settled, Zhou Zhengguo finally asked about the real business: "Old classmate, why were you in such a hurry to find me?"

"Oh, right." Li Haibo steadied his emotions and pulled out a file folder. "There are thirty blank 'good citizen' certificates here, along with the corresponding blank files. Take them back, attach the photos, fill in the details, and bring them back!"

"Good citizen certificates? That’s fantastic!" Zhou Zhengguo quickly tucked them away.

"You need to contact the Jiading guerrillas immediately. I have a batch of supplies to deliver to them tomorrow at noon. The handover point will be the same old small Earth God temple."

"More supplies? That’s wonderful!" A hint of joy appeared on Zhou Zhengguo’s face. Without hesitation, he said, "I’ll go deliver the message right away!" With that, he turned and disappeared into the end of the alley.

...

After dinner, Li Haibo was pulled in by his mother to chant sutras for a while. In front of the shrine, his mother knelt before the Bodhisattva with a group of the younger ones; the scene was truly heartwarming.

Night descended upon the earth, and darkness stained the entire city like ink. Li Haibo lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Finally, he gritted his teeth, as if having made a firm decision, got up, threw on his coat, and walked out of the house with determination.

The Zhabei Church Orphanage was located at the junction of Zhabei and the International Settlement. A turn out the door, past the checkpoint and the Suzhou Creek, and one would be in the Western District of the International Settlement.

At that moment, the lights in the director's office were dim and flickering.

Director Sister Lucy sat with Sister Ann and Sister Chen. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive; everyone’s face was etched with sorrow, and the sound of occasional sighs echoed in the silent room.

The director broke the silence, her voice tinged with anxiety: "How much longer can our current food supplies last?"

Sister Ann shook her head gently, her eyes dim. "We’ve already halved everyone’s rations. But even so, we won't make it through the week. What are we to do?"

Sister Lucy frowned, lost in thought for a moment before asking, "Do we have any other valuables left?"

Sister Ann slowly raised her hand and pulled the silver hairpin from her hair. It glinted coldly in the dim light. Her eyes were filled with lingering attachment: "This is the only memento my mother left me. I hope it can be exchanged for some food to save the children." With a soft sigh, she placed the hairpin on the table.

Sister Chen silently slipped off her ring. It was a simple design but carried her past with it. She set the ring on the table and whispered, "I don't have anything valuable left either, just this ring. Take it and trade it for some food."

Sister Lucy pondered for a long time. Her hand moved unconsciously to the jade pendant at her throat. It was simple and rustic, a family heirloom passed down for a century—her spiritual anchor. Her fingers trembled slightly, her eyes filled with struggle and reluctance, but in the end, she slowly removed it, stroked it gently as if saying goodbye to the beliefs of the past, and placed it with the other items.

Just then, a woman with a beautiful face and a graceful figure walked in.

Sister Lucy looked up and asked softly, "Miss Jiang, are the children all asleep?"

Miss Jiang nodded slightly. "They are."

Sister Lucy beckoned her over. "Miss Jiang, come here."

"These are all the valuables we can scrape together. Take them to your father and trade them for some food. The children cannot go hungry any longer."

Miss Jiang looked at the items on the table, a look of hesitation on her face. "This..."

Miss Jiang, whose name was Jiang Yaru, was the daughter of the minor grain merchant Jiang the Buck-Toothed. After graduating from normal school, she had come to the Zhabei Church Orphanage with a heart full of enthusiasm, working as a volunteer, teaching the children to read and write, and opening the doors of knowledge for them.

Recently, due to the ravages of war and social unrest, the orphanage, which relied mainly on public donations, had seen its funding chain snap, plunging it into dire straits. Jiang Yaru had seen it all and felt the urgency, donating all her personal savings without hesitation. However, that money was but a drop in the bucket for the many children at the orphanage and ultimately failed to stop the looming famine.

At this moment, Jiang Yaru looked at the silver ornaments on the table, her heart a complex mix of emotions. Having spent so much time with Sister Lucy, Sister Ann, and Sister Chen, she knew deeply that these ornaments were far more than mere property; they were spiritual anchors laden with precious memories and deep significance.

But when she thought of the children, sallow-faced and hungry, her eyes gradually hardened, and she slowly reached out her hand.

"Knock, knock, knock." A series of knocks rang out abruptly, shattering the heavy atmosphere in the room.

Sister Lucy asked instinctively, "Sister Chen, did you lock the main gate?"

Sister Chen quickly replied, "It was locked long ago!"

Sister Ann guessed, "Could it be one of the children woke up hungry and came looking for food?"

Jiang Yaru was slightly startled, then said, "I'll go open the door!"

"Knock, knock, knock." The knocking sounded again, each strike hitting the heartstrings of those inside.

"Coming!" Jiang Yaru responded as she walked quickly toward the door.