Chapter 34: Choice (2)
Dedicated to Jennie, who\’s celebrated another year of survival! (Happy birthday!)
\”I’ll brief you on the situation. Lin Aimin has a congenital lip defect, which is classified as a disability*. After Professor Zhang and Professor Shen adopt him, there will still be an opening. They learned about you from Lin Aimin and various other sources, and really liked you, so they decided to adopt you.\”
*You all know about China’s one-child policy, right? Mainland families were allowed a second child if their first was classified disabled.
It was all as clear and concise as could be, full of declarative statements, elaborating the situation to her rather than seeking advice.
It was a bolt from the blue to Lin Zhao Xi.
She had just found Old Lin, how could she become someone else\’s daughter without shedding the first impression he still had of her, of an annoying pest, and being recognized as his own, or figuring out what had happened to him?
Lin Zhao Xi\’s mind was thrown into confusion. She dazedly nodded her head to show that she understood, but did not speak.
The air in the office staled.
The soft and gentle professor spoke up, \”If you want to, you can come home with us for a while, and we can take you and Aimin out together.\”
Lin Zhao Xi pursed her lips, trying to calm down and think about what to say.
Professor Shen added, \”We heard that you’re very smart, and we’d like to transfer you to the experimental elementary school with Aimin. You’ll be able to study together next year.\”
\”Thank you, professor.\”
Lin Zhao Xi raised her head, meeting Mrs. Shen’s eyes. She bowed stiffly, then asked Mrs. Lin, \”May I have a few words with you alone?\”
……
The office door closed again, and Lin Zhao Xi looked at the dean sitting behind her desk.
Because she retained her young parallel self\’s memory, she knew that the dean was over forty years old and her surname, Lin, was the surname given to all the earthquake orphans of that era.
Lin Aiping poured her heart and soul into the children of the Red Star Orphanage. She wanted all the children to be happy, as the orphanage’s family head. And as head of the family, although she was kind, her authority was unquestionable.
Even so, Lin Zhao Xi decided to get straight to the point.
\”I don\’t want to go.\” She said.
\”Why?\” Lin Aiping asked.
\”I think it\’s fine here, there\’s no need to leave.\” Lin Zhao Xi said.
\”You think it\’s fine here because you haven\’t been to a better place.\” Lin Aiping said, \”A comfortable living environment and loving parents are very important.\”
\”Yes.\”
\”Then, will you agree?\”
\”No, I won’t agree.\”
Lin Aiping was unperturbed. \”I disagree with your disagreement.\”
Scanning the woman\’s placid face, Lin Zhao Xi knew very well that her dissension was serious.
She said, \”According to the law, if an adoptee is over 10 years old, the consent of the adoptee is required for adoption.\”
Lin Aiping asked, \”Are you sure you want to use the state laws against me?\”
\”I have great respect for you.\” Lin Zhao Xi took a deep breath, \”But I won’t agree with the adoption. I want to stay here, you can’t make me leave.\”
\”The family waiting for you outside of the door is your best chance.\”
\”There is no such thing as a best chance when it comes to family. Family cannot be measured by external conditions.\” Lin Zhao Xi realized she was not talking like a child would at this point, but she didn’t have the leisure to keep up the facade. She had to do her best to convince Lin Aiping.
\”You’re just attached to the orphanage because you grew up here. One day, after you leave, you will understand.\”
\”I\’m not little anymore!\” Lin Zhao Xi shouted. Suddenly, there came a glint from the awards mounted on the walls.
She steadied her breath and asked, \”I… I’d like to ask you, why has no one adopted me after so many years?\”
\”I’ll brief you on the situation. Lin Aimin has a congenital lip defect, which is classified as a disability*. After Professor Zhang and Professor Shen adopt him, there will still be an opening. They learned about you from Lin Aimin and various other sources, and really liked you, so they decided to adopt you.\”
*You all know about China’s one-child policy, right? Mainland families were allowed a second child if their first was classified disabled.
It was all as clear and concise as could be, full of declarative statements, elaborating the situation to her rather than seeking advice.
It was a bolt from the blue to Lin Zhao Xi.
She had just found Old Lin, how could she become someone else\’s daughter without shedding the first impression he still had of her, of an annoying pest, and being recognized as his own, or figuring out what had happened to him?
Lin Zhao Xi\’s mind was thrown into confusion. She dazedly nodded her head to show that she understood, but did not speak.
The air in the office staled.
The soft and gentle professor spoke up, \”If you want to, you can come home with us for a while, and we can take you and Aimin out together.\”
Lin Zhao Xi pursed her lips, trying to calm down and think about what to say.
Professor Shen added, \”We heard that you’re very smart, and we’d like to transfer you to the experimental elementary school with Aimin. You’ll be able to study together next year.\”
\”Thank you, professor.\”
Lin Zhao Xi raised her head, meeting Mrs. Shen’s eyes. She bowed stiffly, then asked Mrs. Lin, \”May I have a few words with you alone?\”
……
The office door closed again, and Lin Zhao Xi looked at the dean sitting behind her desk.
Because she retained her young parallel self\’s memory, she knew that the dean was over forty years old and her surname, Lin, was the surname given to all the earthquake orphans of that era.
Lin Aiping poured her heart and soul into the children of the Red Star Orphanage. She wanted all the children to be happy, as the orphanage’s family head. And as head of the family, although she was kind, her authority was unquestionable.
Even so, Lin Zhao Xi decided to get straight to the point.
\”I don\’t want to go.\” She said.
\”Why?\” Lin Aiping asked.
\”I think it\’s fine here, there\’s no need to leave.\” Lin Zhao Xi said.
\”You think it\’s fine here because you haven\’t been to a better place.\” Lin Aiping said, \”A comfortable living environment and loving parents are very important.\”
\”Yes.\”
\”Then, will you agree?\”
\”No, I won’t agree.\”
Lin Aiping was unperturbed. \”I disagree with your disagreement.\”
Scanning the woman\’s placid face, Lin Zhao Xi knew very well that her dissension was serious.
She said, \”According to the law, if an adoptee is over 10 years old, the consent of the adoptee is required for adoption.\”
Lin Aiping asked, \”Are you sure you want to use the state laws against me?\”
\”I have great respect for you.\” Lin Zhao Xi took a deep breath, \”But I won’t agree with the adoption. I want to stay here, you can’t make me leave.\”
\”The family waiting for you outside of the door is your best chance.\”
\”There is no such thing as a best chance when it comes to family. Family cannot be measured by external conditions.\” Lin Zhao Xi realized she was not talking like a child would at this point, but she didn’t have the leisure to keep up the facade. She had to do her best to convince Lin Aiping.
\”You’re just attached to the orphanage because you grew up here. One day, after you leave, you will understand.\”
\”I\’m not little anymore!\” Lin Zhao Xi shouted. Suddenly, there came a glint from the awards mounted on the walls.
She steadied her breath and asked, \”I… I’d like to ask you, why has no one adopted me after so many years?\”
Lin Aiping did not answer.
\”It’s because I have a bad temper.\” Lin Zhao Xi didn’t mean to embarrass the dean, she answered on her own. \”It’s because when I see potential parents, I always have a cold expression on my face, blatantly showing my dislike. But, there is an even greater reason…\” Lin Zhao Xi paused and looked her in the eyes before continuing.
\”Because girls are not welcome.\”
\”So?\” Mrs. Lin’s tone didn\’t change, \”Now that someone wants to adopt you, shouldn’t we all be grateful for the opportunity?\”
\”But there are so many other children in the institution who won’t be adopted.\”
\”I\’ll find a way for the others. You should take care of yourself first.\”
\”Mrs. Lin, every time we come to your office, we are faced with numerous awards and trophies. I always wondered if there was an intention behind showing us these awards. Maybe you wanted to encourage everyone who came in that they too are capable of reaching these heights, of the awarded children you take great pride in. I then wondered, what if I did something great? Wouldn\’t I be able to encourage them too?\”
\”You\’re very talented, Zhaoxi.\” Said the dean. \”What you’d attain by just opening your mouth in that family, you\’d have to work a hundred times harder for if you stay in the institution.\”
\”I\’d rather spend a hundred times the effort.\” Lin Zhao Xi said, \”At least if I put in that effort, I can tell children like me that even if we grew up in an orphanage, we can achieve just as much as any other! We aren’t inferior to them, we never were.\”
Sial: I’m not crying…
The dean was struck speechless. After a while, she finally said, \”That\’s too much of a burden, you don\’t need to take on that challenge.\”
Lin Zhao Xi was choked by that sentence. She was right, righter than she knew, and that fact suffocated her. Countless emotions piled up in her chest as she thought about the orphanage, Old Lin, and all the other things she had missed.
But now, she was alone. There was no other choice than to be brave.
She looked up sharply, gaze serious, and uttered word by word, \”Let\’s make a deal. I\’ll prove to you that I don\’t need to be adopted by a family with better circumstances, that I can be just as accomplished here.\”
\”What are you trying to say?\”
\”I’m talking about the Jin Cup Olympiad. If I get in the provincial championship team, you won\’t send me away and I\’ll be free to choose my future family. Deal?\”
Chapter 34: Choice (2)
Dedicated to Jennie, who\’s celebrated another year of survival! (Happy birthday!)
\”I’ll brief you on the situation. Lin Aimin has a congenital lip defect, which is classified as a disability*. After Professor Zhang and Professor Shen adopt him, there will still be an opening. They learned about you from Lin Aimin and various other sources, and really liked you, so they decided to adopt you.\”
*You all know about China’s one-child policy, right? Mainland families were allowed a second child if their first was classified disabled.
It was all as clear and concise as could be, full of declarative statements, elaborating the situation to her rather than seeking advice.
It was a bolt from the blue to Lin Zhao Xi.
She had just found Old Lin, how could she become someone else\’s daughter without shedding the first impression he still had of her, of an annoying pest, and being recognized as his own, or figuring out what had happened to him?
Lin Zhao Xi\’s mind was thrown into confusion. She dazedly nodded her head to show that she understood, but did not speak.
The air in the office staled.
The soft and gentle professor spoke up, \”If you want to, you can come home with us for a while, and we can take you and Aimin out together.\”
Lin Zhao Xi pursed her lips, trying to calm down and think about what to say.
Professor Shen added, \”We heard that you’re very smart, and we’d like to transfer you to the experimental elementary school with Aimin. You’ll be able to study together next year.\”
\”Thank you, professor.\”
Lin Zhao Xi raised her head, meeting Mrs. Shen’s eyes. She bowed stiffly, then asked Mrs. Lin, \”May I have a few words with you alone?\”
……
The office door closed again, and Lin Zhao Xi looked at the dean sitting behind her desk.
Because she retained her young parallel self\’s memory, she knew that the dean was over forty years old and her surname, Lin, was the surname given to all the earthquake orphans of that era.
Lin Aiping poured her heart and soul into the children of the Red Star Orphanage. She wanted all the children to be happy, as the orphanage’s family head. And as head of the family, although she was kind, her authority was unquestionable.
Even so, Lin Zhao Xi decided to get straight to the point.
\”I don\’t want to go.\” She said.
\”Why?\” Lin Aiping asked.
\”I think it\’s fine here, there\’s no need to leave.\” Lin Zhao Xi said.
\”You think it\’s fine here because you haven\’t been to a better place.\” Lin Aiping said, \”A comfortable living environment and loving parents are very important.\”
\”Yes.\”
\”Then, will you agree?\”
\”No, I won’t agree.\”
Lin Aiping was unperturbed. \”I disagree with your disagreement.\”
Scanning the woman\’s placid face, Lin Zhao Xi knew very well that her dissension was serious.
She said, \”According to the law, if an adoptee is over 10 years old, the consent of the adoptee is required for adoption.\”
Lin Aiping asked, \”Are you sure you want to use the state laws against me?\”
\”I have great respect for you.\” Lin Zhao Xi took a deep breath, \”But I won’t agree with the adoption. I want to stay here, you can’t make me leave.\”
\”The family waiting for you outside of the door is your best chance.\”
\”There is no such thing as a best chance when it comes to family. Family cannot be measured by external conditions.\” Lin Zhao Xi realized she was not talking like a child would at this point, but she didn’t have the leisure to keep up the facade. She had to do her best to convince Lin Aiping.
\”You’re just attached to the orphanage because you grew up here. One day, after you leave, you will understand.\”
\”I\’m not little anymore!\” Lin Zhao Xi shouted. Suddenly, there came a glint from the awards mounted on the walls.
She steadied her breath and asked, \”I… I’d like to ask you, why has no one adopted me after so many years?\”
\”I’ll brief you on the situation. Lin Aimin has a congenital lip defect, which is classified as a disability*. After Professor Zhang and Professor Shen adopt him, there will still be an opening. They learned about you from Lin Aimin and various other sources, and really liked you, so they decided to adopt you.\”
*You all know about China’s one-child policy, right? Mainland families were allowed a second child if their first was classified disabled.
It was all as clear and concise as could be, full of declarative statements, elaborating the situation to her rather than seeking advice.
It was a bolt from the blue to Lin Zhao Xi.
She had just found Old Lin, how could she become someone else\’s daughter without shedding the first impression he still had of her, of an annoying pest, and being recognized as his own, or figuring out what had happened to him?
Lin Zhao Xi\’s mind was thrown into confusion. She dazedly nodded her head to show that she understood, but did not speak.
The air in the office staled.
The soft and gentle professor spoke up, \”If you want to, you can come home with us for a while, and we can take you and Aimin out together.\”
Lin Zhao Xi pursed her lips, trying to calm down and think about what to say.
Professor Shen added, \”We heard that you’re very smart, and we’d like to transfer you to the experimental elementary school with Aimin. You’ll be able to study together next year.\”
\”Thank you, professor.\”
Lin Zhao Xi raised her head, meeting Mrs. Shen’s eyes. She bowed stiffly, then asked Mrs. Lin, \”May I have a few words with you alone?\”
……
The office door closed again, and Lin Zhao Xi looked at the dean sitting behind her desk.
Because she retained her young parallel self\’s memory, she knew that the dean was over forty years old and her surname, Lin, was the surname given to all the earthquake orphans of that era.
Lin Aiping poured her heart and soul into the children of the Red Star Orphanage. She wanted all the children to be happy, as the orphanage’s family head. And as head of the family, although she was kind, her authority was unquestionable.
Even so, Lin Zhao Xi decided to get straight to the point.
\”I don\’t want to go.\” She said.
\”Why?\” Lin Aiping asked.
\”I think it\’s fine here, there\’s no need to leave.\” Lin Zhao Xi said.
\”You think it\’s fine here because you haven\’t been to a better place.\” Lin Aiping said, \”A comfortable living environment and loving parents are very important.\”
\”Yes.\”
\”Then, will you agree?\”
\”No, I won’t agree.\”
Lin Aiping was unperturbed. \”I disagree with your disagreement.\”
Scanning the woman\’s placid face, Lin Zhao Xi knew very well that her dissension was serious.
She said, \”According to the law, if an adoptee is over 10 years old, the consent of the adoptee is required for adoption.\”
Lin Aiping asked, \”Are you sure you want to use the state laws against me?\”
\”I have great respect for you.\” Lin Zhao Xi took a deep breath, \”But I won’t agree with the adoption. I want to stay here, you can’t make me leave.\”
\”The family waiting for you outside of the door is your best chance.\”
\”There is no such thing as a best chance when it comes to family. Family cannot be measured by external conditions.\” Lin Zhao Xi realized she was not talking like a child would at this point, but she didn’t have the leisure to keep up the facade. She had to do her best to convince Lin Aiping.
\”You’re just attached to the orphanage because you grew up here. One day, after you leave, you will understand.\”
\”I\’m not little anymore!\” Lin Zhao Xi shouted. Suddenly, there came a glint from the awards mounted on the walls.
She steadied her breath and asked, \”I… I’d like to ask you, why has no one adopted me after so many years?\”
Lin Aiping did not answer.
\”It’s because I have a bad temper.\” Lin Zhao Xi didn’t mean to embarrass the dean, she answered on her own. \”It’s because when I see potential parents, I always have a cold expression on my face, blatantly showing my dislike. But, there is an even greater reason…\” Lin Zhao Xi paused and looked her in the eyes before continuing.
\”Because girls are not welcome.\”
\”So?\” Mrs. Lin’s tone didn\’t change, \”Now that someone wants to adopt you, shouldn’t we all be grateful for the opportunity?\”
\”But there are so many other children in the institution who won’t be adopted.\”
\”I\’ll find a way for the others. You should take care of yourself first.\”
\”Mrs. Lin, every time we come to your office, we are faced with numerous awards and trophies. I always wondered if there was an intention behind showing us these awards. Maybe you wanted to encourage everyone who came in that they too are capable of reaching these heights, of the awarded children you take great pride in. I then wondered, what if I did something great? Wouldn\’t I be able to encourage them too?\”
\”You\’re very talented, Zhaoxi.\” Said the dean. \”What you’d attain by just opening your mouth in that family, you\’d have to work a hundred times harder for if you stay in the institution.\”
\”I\’d rather spend a hundred times the effort.\” Lin Zhao Xi said, \”At least if I put in that effort, I can tell children like me that even if we grew up in an orphanage, we can achieve just as much as any other! We aren’t inferior to them, we never were.\”
Sial: I’m not crying…
The dean was struck speechless. After a while, she finally said, \”That\’s too much of a burden, you don\’t need to take on that challenge.\”
Lin Zhao Xi was choked by that sentence. She was right, righter than she knew, and that fact suffocated her. Countless emotions piled up in her chest as she thought about the orphanage, Old Lin, and all the other things she had missed.
But now, she was alone. There was no other choice than to be brave.
She looked up sharply, gaze serious, and uttered word by word, \”Let\’s make a deal. I\’ll prove to you that I don\’t need to be adopted by a family with better circumstances, that I can be just as accomplished here.\”
\”What are you trying to say?\”
\”I’m talking about the Jin Cup Olympiad. If I get in the provincial championship team, you won\’t send me away and I\’ll be free to choose my future family. Deal?\”
