The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 145

Xiaochengxiang Orphanage is located in Zhiyuan County, Hongning Mountain, near Lingshi. Surrounded by mountains with lush greenery, the scenery there is picturesque.

Decades ago, the area was an isolated, nearly inaccessible border region—a stark contrast to the rapidly developing and bustling city center of Lingshi.

Later, a massive quarry was developed in Hongning Mountain, attracting thousands of workers. These workers, eager to earn a living, often stayed there for years.

Many of them were already married, but Zhiyuan County was so impoverished that it had no nightlife to speak of, not even streetlights at night. The workers, unable to bear the loneliness, started affairs with local women. Over time, some unplanned children were born.

Some fathers refused to take responsibility, rationalizing that they would eventually return to their hometowns. Heartlessly, they abandoned the children and vanished without a trace. 

Others wanted to take responsibility but faced backlash from their wives back home, leading to chaotic situations. 

Still others lacked basic knowledge about health and pregnancy, resulting in children born with defects whom they felt they couldn’t afford to raise.

In this context, Xiaochengxiang Orphanage was established by an elderly woman named Sui Wanjun.

Initially, the orphanage took in abandoned children from the local area. People generally knew which families the children came from, so while the parents abandoned them to the orphanage, the mothers would secretly send supplies, though they publicly denied their connection.

Sui Wanjun dedicated her life to the orphanage with tireless care and unwavering commitment.

As Xiaochengxiang’s reputation grew, Sui Wanjun, known for her soft heart and kindness, began receiving abandoned children from the cities as well.

As the number of orphans increased, life at the orphanage remained challenging. However, the children were sensible—older ones helped care for younger ones—lightening Sui Wanjun’s workload considerably.

Later, the government noticed the orphanage’s plight and planned to integrate Xiaochengxiang’s children into formal institutions for systematic education.

But for Sui Wanjun, it was as if they were taking away her own children. She threatened suicide and adamantly refused. 

The children, too, wanted to stay with her because of her kindness, patience, and care.

The government eventually had no choice but to legalize Xiaochengxiang’s operations, granting it official certification. However, they required professional teachers and administrators to ensure the children received proper care.

Sui Wanjun worried that these outsiders wouldn’t care for the children as she did. Any disagreements about educational philosophies led her to accuse them of neglect and irresponsibility.

This led to more than a year of disputes, with several hired teachers quitting in frustration.

In the end, somehow, it was the government that compromised—not only did they designate Xiaochengxiang as a model welfare institution, but they even awarded Sui Wanjun, who had never passed a junior high school equivalency exam or earned any qualifications, the title of principal.

Xiaochengxiang Orphanage first gained public attention due to its participation in the first-phase Luyinxu trials. However, even before that, it had already received significant support and assistance.

Despite being in a remote and impoverished region, the orphanage’s facilities were more luxurious than those of city-based ones.

“And I’ve heard that children with bacterial progeria there can afford the latest version of Jiaketing,” Jian Fu said, emphasizing the word “latest” while pushing the laptop toward Cen Xiao and Li Rong.

After Xu Tanghui renovated her small house, she placed a large table in the living room—simple yet spacious, reminiscent of the ones in A University’s dormitories. It was large enough for five or six people to study at.

Xu Tanghui added, “Yes, my neighbor told me about it. Let me call her over.”

With that, she hurried off to find the woman next door.

Li Rong pulled the laptop closer, gently scrolling through information about Xiaochengxiang Orphanage.

Most of the online reports were positive, praising Principal Sui Wanjun’s perseverance and greatness, as well as the orphanage’s many accomplishments.

Specific individual accounts were scarce and would require Jian Fu to use special methods to dig deeper, but there wasn’t enough time for that now.

Lin Zhen commented, “I understand how reality shows work. With the program’s current popularity, once this episode airs, Xiaochengxiang will draw significant attention and likely receive more support from all areas of society.”

Ji Xiaochuan, propping her chin on her interlocked fists, said, “This… opportunity is critical. After my younger brother was born… I even thought about going… to an orphanage myself. But when I foolishly ran… over there, I realized… they don’t just take people in… like that. This Sui Wanjun, however, seems to break all the… rules.”

Soon, Aunt Hui returned with her neighbor in tow. “This is Shen Gui. She’s the one who told me that Xiaochengxiang Orphanage can afford Jiaketing.”

Compared to last year, Shen Gui looked visibly older and thinner. Her prominent cheekbones made her appear somewhat unapproachable, but in truth, she was gentle and warm-hearted.

“I heard it from people in a group I’m in,” Shen Gui began. “Our group… is full of unfortunate people who can’t afford medication. We’re all trying to save our kids in any way we can. Someone mentioned they found out that Xiaochengxiang in Lingshi provides the best Jiaketing. Supposedly, if the kids take it until they’re eighteen, their condition can be controlled. By then, they’ll be grown. And I’ve heard the principal is very kind and won’t abandon the children. So I thought… I thought about sending Tongtong there.”

After speaking, Shen Gui rubbed her face with her rough hands, her expression full of pain.

She didn’t know what these students in the room were up to but trusted Xu Tanghui.

If not for Xu Tanghui’s care and financial support, Shen Gui wouldn’t have dared to confide in anyone.

Li Rong looked at the woman who, a year ago, had been striving to live well with her daughter. He felt a deep ache in his heart but maintained a calm expression as he said, “What you’re planning to do is abandonment. That’s illegal. Besides, do you think your daughter could accept being separated from you and living as an orphan?”

Shen Gui forced a bitter smile, her eyes reddening slightly with unshed tears. “She and I have depended on each other for survival. Do you think I’d willingly leave her? But I have no choice—it’s to save her. What else could I do? We’re just unlucky, burdened with this bottomless pit of a disease.”

Li Rong took a sharp breath and turned his head, avoiding her gaze.

He had always known that this disease was a source of unbearable pain for countless families, a nightmare that countless children could never escape. It was this very reason that drove his parents to spare no expense in developing Luyinxu.

But the terror of bacterial progeria and the vital importance of curing it had always been abstract concepts in his mind. It was only when confronted with someone suffering in the flesh that he truly felt the magnitude of his parents’ noble and righteous endeavor.

Some people build legacies out of wealth; others write epitaphs with acts of compassion.

Cen Xiao cast a deep look at Li Rong before calmly addressing Shen Gui. “You don’t have to cry, and you don’t need to send your child to an orphanage. Just hold on for two more years—I promise you, a cure will be available, and you’ll be able to afford it.”

Li Rong’s fingers twitched slightly, his eyelids trembling at the words.

Lin Zhen, Jian Fu, and Ji Xiaochuan all looked at Cen Xiao with varying degrees of surprise.

Shen Gui let out a desolate laugh, her voice tinged with despair. “Don’t try to comfort me. It’s not like medicine just gets developed because someone wills it. This is such a difficult disease!”

Cen Xiao’s eyes sharpened, his tone resolute. “It can be done, and it will be done. If he sets his mind to it, there’s nothing he can’t achieve.”

Li Rong turned to look at Cen Xiao. After a moment of surprise, his expression softened into a rare, gentle smile.

His eyes seemed to hold a universe of dazzling stars.

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