Commissioner Ye understood Feng Qingxue’s concerns very well, as he had witnessed such situations before.
However, that happened before the liberation. The wife of an old comrade-in-arms, who had been living apart from her husband for a long time and had no children, took in two orphans of martyrs. Just like opening a floodgate, one or two orphans appeared at her doorstep from time to time.
If she took them in, she couldn’t afford to care for them; if she didn’t, people would accuse her of being falsely compassionate.
For those children, she deprived herself of food and clothing, which eventually led her to work herself to death. Some of the orphans she took in resented her for not bringing them a better life, blamed her for dying early, and had to find another home for themselves.
"Good child, the outcome of your and Lu Jiang’s kindness is really our fault for not doing our work properly. I’m sorry!" Commissioner Ye thought about this past event in his old comrade’s home and said, "Don’t worry. After Song Dazhu’s sacrifice, Gangzi is now a national responsibility. We won’t let it trouble you! I know exactly how many children you have. I’ll have someone contact your local government. They should have orphan welfare institutions for children of martyrs. If they don’t take him in, I’ll contact our military district personnel."
Feng Qingxue asked in confusion, "What does it have to do with the soldiers?"
The voice of Commissioner Ye lowered, "After a long time in the battlefield, many of our military district personnel have lost their fertility due to injuries, so they are willing to adopt their comrades’ children. Some of them have already done so. After much thought, this is the best solution. It’s more reliable than the welfare institutions and it’s beneficial for the children’s development. Perhaps we can seek their opinion. If no one adopts Gangzi, we can then contact your local welfare institution."
His wife had followed the troops in the east for years and had lost her child, leaving her unable to conceive thereafter. So now, the five children under their knees are war orphans and children of martyrs who they have adopted.
"You’ve worried too much!" Feng Qingxue felt very ashamed, "If I were not so useless, you wouldn’t have to worry so much."
In fact, it’s not that she can’t afford to raise Gangzi, she’s just afraid to face the trouble that followed.
Commissioner Ye gave a hearty laugh, "Don’t say such polite words. You came to find the army, I should be thanking you! I wouldn’t want the children growing up saying ’My father sacrificed for the country, my mother died, and I was kicked around like a soccer ball’. I have to have someone pay attention to this. There must be many children like Gangzi! I cannot let my soldiers fight in the front line when their family at home are not properly taken care of. If they knew their children would be homeless one day like Gangzi, they wouldn’t rest in peace even when dead!"
The attitude of the troops towards what happened to Gangzi must be shown.
Commissioner Ye didn’t make Feng Qingxue wait long. A few days later, a soldier from the troops came to inform Feng Qingxue to receive a phone call the next day.
Regarding Gangzi, Commissioner Ye gave the best response.
A couple from their troops were willing to adopt Gangzi, Cao Hui, a soldier, and Wang Xinru, a battlefield doctor. Wang Xinru had pulled Cao Hui out of a pile of corpses and had taken a bullet for him, resulting in her losing her fertility. When they got married, Cao Hui said that given a chance, they would adopt two children.
When Commissioner Ye mentioned Gangzi’s situation, Cao Hui and Wang Xinru were the first to express their willingness to adopt him. For one, it fulfilled their dream of parenthood, and secondly, it alleviated Lu Jiang and Feng Qingxue’s worries.
Cao Hui had fought alongside Lu Jiang and Wang Xinru was friends with Guo Xiuying.
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