Chapter 784 — Sister Xiaoke
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
It was a very old courtyard. Above the gate hung a wooden board, white background with black characters, but it was so ancient that it had weathered beyond recognition; only a few characters could be made out, and one had to look closely to decipher the eight words: "Shantytown Private Orphanage."
An orphanage after all? Seeing the sign, most of Wei Zhao's doubts about Yu Xiaoke melted away. Now he could be virtually certain — a hundred percent certain — that everything she had said was true.
Only, the orphanage was so run-down that Wei Zhao could not help but be moved.
Wei Zhao hurried after her, came to Yu Xiaoke's side, bent down, and reached out to examine her injuries.
"Who are you? Let Sister Xiaoke go!"
"Bad man! Get away from Sister Xiaoke!"
Suddenly a crowd of children came running out of the only red-brick house in the courtyard and surrounded Wei Zhao, unwilling to let him near Yu Xiaoke.
"Sister Xiaoke, what's wrong? Boo-hoo... Sister Xiaoke, why are you spitting blood?" One little girl caught sight of the fresh blood at the corner of Yu Xiaoke's mouth and burst into frightened tears.
The other boys who had come along, meanwhile, were glaring at Wei Zhao. "Who are you? Why did you hurt Sister Xiaoke?"
Wei Zhao had not expected his well-meant action to be so misunderstood by these children, but he did not hold it against them. They were young and knew no better; seeing Yu Xiaoke lying there on the ground, they had naturally taken him for the villain who had hurt her.
One thing, though, Wei Zhao could see clearly: the bond between these children and Yu Xiaoke ran deep. Which meant that what Yu Xiaoke had said before was all true as well. Her stealing money had most likely been for the sake of these children — for this orphanage!
"What are you all doing? Get back inside, every one of you!" An authoritative voice rang out. Wei Zhao looked up and saw an old woman of past fifty emerging from the red-brick house. She came quickly to stand before Wei Zhao, glanced at Yu Xiaoke on the ground, then looked at Wei Zhao, and a flicker of something complicated crossed her face.
"Director, this man is a terrible villain — he's the one who hurt Sister Xiaoke!"
"Sister Xiaoke is coughing up blood! Let's call the police and have him arrested!"
"Quiet, all of you! Get back inside!" the old woman they called Director barked sternly at the pack of children. "There's nothing for you here. Go back and read your books!"
"But Director, Sister Xiaoke is coughing up blood... wahhh..." The youngest girl was crying and refused to leave.
"What? Have my words stopped counting for anything? All of you, get back inside!" As the old woman scolded the little girl, she pulled her firmly to her side so she could not get near Wei Zhao, then addressed one of the older boys. "Xiao Ken, take your brothers and sisters back inside!"
The boy called Xiao Ken glanced at Yu Xiaoke on the ground, worried, but he did not dare defy the Director. Only then did he gather the children and lead them back into the red-brick house.