Chapter 256 - The Orphanage Must Have Not Taught Them Manners Hence They Are So Willful
Liang Xiulin sniggered and laughed coldly in her heart. She lowered her head and stuffed the money to Mo Jinxi, saying, “Jinxi, take this pocket money from Grandmother and buy whatever you’ve seen previously and would like to have.”
Mo Jinxi’s wrist was held by Liang Xiulin. He clenched his fist and tried hard to pull back while shaking his head vigorously and declined, “I don’t want.”
“What’s the matter?” Liang Xiulin thought that Mo Jinxi was being shy. Coupled with the rejection from the old Principal, he was embarrassed to accept it. She continued, “Don’t worry. When you are back with us, Grandmother will give you more pocket money. You are the Mo Family’s grandchild; you would need to get used to such things. Anyway, we can afford it, so why would you want to treat yourself shabbily?”
Liang Xiulin did not look at the old Principal when she spoke, but it was obvious that her words were directed at the old Principal.
The old Principal’s expression remained stoic and did not respond. In her heart, she was thinking that this Madam Mo was far compared to the members of the Yan Family.
There was no need to compare Lin Chu; from Old Lady Yan to Yu Zi, all of them were pleasant to get along with, none of them were as narrow-minded as Liang Xiulin.
Mo Jinxi shook his head again and said, “I still cannot accept it.”
“Why?” Liang Xiulin’s eyes widened. She felt that Mo Jinxi had been influenced by the old Principal.
Mo Jinxi wriggled his wrist and asked, “Grandmother, can you let go of me first?”
Liang Xiulin blew out a long breath through her nose and released her grip on him.
Mo Jinxi quickly clasped his hands behind his back as if he was scared that Liang Xiulin would come and catch him again.
Liang Xiulin looked at how Mo Jinxi acted and thought that the child had stayed in the orphanage for too long and became petty.
It was only two thousand Yuan and he dared not want it.
Mo Jinxi continued to clasp his hands behind his back and explained, “The amount of money is too much to be considered pocket money. I cannot accept it. If I accepted it, I will use it to buy something to share with all the brothers and sisters. But I will not be setting a good example to them, they will feel that I am different, and...and...”
Mo Jinxi could not describe it, though in his heart he knew that this would not be good, and he felt uncomfortable.
It would be the same if a child in the orphanage suddenly had a lot of money to buy things for all of them. He would also feel uncomfortable.
“But you are different...” Liang Xiulin said. How could the Mo Family’s grandchild be comparable with the orphanage children?
However, before she could not finish her sentence, Police Chief Mo interrupted, “That’s enough!”
Liang Xiulin paused and raised her head to look at Police Chief Mo. He spoke with a serious expression, “Jinxi is right to not accept it. I have all the while educated the children, that even if the family is rich it is also because they had worked very hard to achieve it. Regardless of how much they earned, it was done with their blood, sweat, and tears and it would not be nice to let young children simply spend money. Jinxi was also right that he is no different from the other children. It should not be because he is from the Mo Family that he should look down at others. If he were to buy something freely and simply give it to others and feel great and smug about it, how different would he be with a good-for-nothing fop?”
Mo Jinxi nodded. He knew that it was not right, but he did not know how to express it.
He said, “I really don’t lack anything here. Chu Chu and the uncle and aunty from the Yan Family, and Grandmother Yan will send lots of toys and books here. Whatever we need in school, we have the same as the other children do. If we need to spend money to attend extracurricular activities, the old Principal would let us participate in it too just as the other children would. Grandmother, the old Principal, and the teachers, and Chu Chu, really treat me well.”
He seemed to be afraid that Liang Xiulin would not believe him and emphasized it hurriedly.
Even though he was at a young age, Mo Jinxi could also see that Liang Xiulin’s attitude did not seem appropriate.
Liang Xiulin twitched her lips and said, “Alright.”
She kept the money, feeling slightly awkward.
“It’s getting late, we should go,” Police Chief Mo reminded.
Liang Xiulin reluctantly headed out with Police Chief Mo. Mo Jingsheng stood still and said, “You all go first, I want to speak to Yan Beicheng. It’s cold outside, get in the car and wait for me.”
Mo Jingsheng handed his car keys to Police Chief Mo.
Police Chief Mo looked and nodded at him and led Liang Xiulin out.
Liang Xiulin initially frowned when she heard that Mo Jingsheng wanted to stay back for a bit, but she relaxed and walked out when he said that he wanted to speak to Yan Beicheng.
Mo Jingsheng apologized to the old Principal, “I’m sorry. My mother is not a bad person except for one shortcoming. She tends to look down on other people and think the worst of them and can be judgmental with family status and background, but she has no malicious intentions. Please don’t take to heart with what she said just now. I had a pleasant time with Jinxi yesterday. He is a good boy, very polite, and behaves better than most of the children that I have met. You have taught him well. Even if he did not go missing back then and grew up in our family, he might not be better than he is now.”
Mo Jingsheng was very sincere with his words, and he was not pacifying the old Principal. The old Principal decided to let go of the unhappiness matter in her heart.
She was not happy with Liang Xiulin’s behavior and words, but she would not blame it on Police Chief Mo and Mo Jingsheng.
Mo Jingsheng admitted that his mother was a person as such, and the old Principal agreed in her heart, but it would not be nice for her to verbalize it. She replied, “Jinxi has always been a good boy since young, he’s obedient and thoughtful and never let us worry about him. Our heart aches for him for always being too sensible. We are very happy for him to be able to find his family.”
...
Liang Xiulin followed Police Chief Mo out of the orphanage and got in the car to wait. Mo Jingsheng drove them here today and hence the chauffeur did not follow.
Both of them sat in the back seat. Liang Xiulin took out her phone and browsed her WeChat friends circle. She finished browsing, shut it off before clicking her tongue.
Police Chief Mo was also looking at his phone looking at something on its bright screen. He did not respond to Liang Xiulin.
Liang Xiulin waited for a while. Seeing that Police Chief Mo did not look at her, she nudged his arm and said, “Why didn’t you let me bring Jinxi back straight? It was not easy for us to find our grandchild, and now an orphanage wanted to snatch a child with us? They seemed to not want to let the child reunite with his family, what do they mean by attempting to stop at every aspect? I don’t know how they brought Jinxi up, teaching him to be so simple-minded.”
She puckered her lips and continued, “But then again, how ambitious can an orphanage be? Aren’t they simple-minded? They think they can hold on to a child’s heart by just giving him some benefits. Jinxi is still so young and inexperienced.”
Police Chief Mo was a bit impatient. He glanced at her through his glasses as he pursed his lips irritably. He did not say anything and continued to look at his phone.
However, Liang Xiulin saw Police Chief Mo looked at her and thought that he had heard her and responded to her. She did not stop and continued to complain, “That old principal was also flaunting her seniority and was so rude. I said I want to bring Jinxi back and she just had to stop me and asked for Jinxi’s opinion. What does the child know? Wouldn’t he still have to refer to an adult to do things? Even though we are Jinxi’s family, but he would understandably be nervous as he is not familiar with us. He’s now closer to the orphanage people. It’s obvious she did not want Jinxi to follow us back, and purposely asked him to imply to him to reject us. How could she do that, how could she stop us to reunite as a family! She knew that we have been searching for Jinxi for so many years and we finally found him, yet she did not help the child to familiarize himself with us and refuse to let us bring him back.”
“We are not those ignorant people, we are respected in the society with fame and prestige, is she afraid that we will harm the child?” Liang Xiulin threw her phone on the car seat, and continued, “It was the same when I gave pocket money to Jinxi. He’s an obedient child, and if an adult says no, he would surely not do it. I saw him looking at the old Principal before replying.”
“You think too much, there was no such thing,” Police Chief Mo said impatiently. He could not stand her always being prejudiced and thinking the worst of people.
Liang Xiulin was generally a virtuous person without any other weaknesses. She also knew how to behave in public and was gentle and poise in front of the cameras. It was only her being judgmental with family status and background and would always perceive that the commoners were not good here and there being petty and calculative, citing that it was because they did not have the means and hence behaved as such.
Police Chief Mo had patiently pointed out her weakness to her and wished for her to correct it. However, she had been the same since the first day and it was already ingrained into her character and could not be improved. Police Chief Mo also gave up and could not be bothered with her.
Every time Liang Xiulin started to comment like this, Police Chief Mo would pretend that he heard nothing and read the news. Who knew that Liang Xiulin could not stop commenting this time?
“I did not think too much, this is the fact!” Liang Xiulin insisted stubbornly. She continued, “The two children who came out later, grabbed Jinxin tightly and refused to let him leave citing that they will miss him. How can the two children interrupt when the adults are talking about serious business? The orphanage must have not taught them manners hence they are so willful. I think we should expedite the process and not let Jinxi stay in the orphanage any longer otherwise he would be influenced badly.”
“Fine!” Police Chief Mo was irritated and interrupted her, “Jingsheng is walking over, continue talking if you want him to hear your comments!”
Liang Xiulin had a choked expression and immediately shut up.
Police Chief Mo sneered, so she knew that she was not behaving appropriately too?
Police Chief Mo might be a stern and serious person, but he and Liang Xiulin had been husband and wife for a few decades now. Liang Xiulin did not fear him, but ironically, she feared her son, Mo Jingsheng.
She felt pressured when Mo Jingsheng had on a serious expression. (TN: The author might have made a typo of the character’s name as it was written as 莫金成, and not 莫景晟.) Whenever she commented on something and if Mo Jingsheng did not find it appropriate, his expression would darken, and Liang Xiulin dared not say anything more.
She knew that the father and son did not like her speaking like this, but she believed that she did not say anything wrong. It was just that she did not dare to continue talking in front of her son.
...
After the Mo Family departed, the old Principal urged Lin Chu to go home and rest.
Lin Chu was heading out the door with Yan Beicheng, and Mo Jinxi followed them.
“Chu Chu!” Mo Jinxi shouted for her from behind.
Lin Chu stopped in her footsteps, she turned around and saw Mo Jinxi running over to her.
It was very windy at night, and he was running against the wind. He stopped in front of Lin Chu, trying to catch his breath. His throat felt a bit sore from the wind.
“Why did you come out?” Lin Chu saw that he did not wear a jacket and came out in the cold in his thin, wool sweater. She quickly wanted to take off her jacket to let Mo Jinxi wear.
Yan Beicheng was faster than her. He had already taken off his jacket and wrapped Mo Jinxi with it.
Yan Beicheng’s jacket still felt warm from him wearing it. Mo Jinxi’s face blushed and asked Lin Chu, “Chu Chu, that...Grandmother’s attitude earlier, I felt that it was not appropriate. I don’t understand what she said but I felt uncomfortable hearing it. The old Principal did not seem happy too, was she angry with what Grandmother said?”
Lin Chu did not know how to explain to Mo Jinxi. She had a feeling that when Mo Jinxi returned to the Mo Family, with Liang Xiulin’s behavior, she would not let Mo Jinxi mingle with the orphanage’s children. She might not even let him come visit at all.
It was complicated trying to explain all these, and this was not the right time to do so.
Lin Chu fondled Mo Jinxi’s little face and said, “You found your family and we are all happy for you. We can also see that Madam Mo is very fond of you. Don’t think so much. As long as you are well, the old Principal will be very happy. Don’t worry too when you go back to the Mo Family. We all know that they will treat you well and you will be happy and healthy with your family. If you are happy, we will be happy.”
Mo Jinxi pondered for a while before he nodded hesitantly.
“Because you have a family and will need to attend school, you may not have the time to come back often. But don’t worry, I know that you will miss us. The old Principal knows, the brothers and sisters know too. As long as you are well, it will be enough for us,” Lin Chu continued in a gentle voice.
Mo Jinxi, however, got anxious and said, “I will come back often! I will ask...ask Uncle to bring me back!”
“Yes, we believe you will,” Lin Chu assured gently.
She wanted to prepare Mo Jinxi emotionally first. This boy could be quite stubborn; if he were to find out that Liang Xiulin did not want him to come back or allow him to mingle with people at the orphanage, nobody would know what he would do.
He might quarrel with Liang Xiulin at the Mo Family, or come back directly to the orphanage. Regardless, it would still not be beneficial to him; he would also feel hurt if he found out about the truth.
Lin Chu wanted to let him slowly understand and accept it. If it really happened in the future, at least it would not hurt him so much.
However, it was obvious that Mo Jinxi could not accept that he would not be able to come back and visit the orphanage. In his eyes, he must come back often, and nobody should stop him from doing so.
If he did not come back, that meant he was an ungrateful person.
Hearing that Lin Chu believed in him, Mo Jinxi heaved a sigh of relief and smiled bashfully.
“I’ll...I’ll going back then,” Mo Jinxi said. He took off Yan Beicheng’s jacket and returned it to him. He muttered a “thank you” hurriedly and ran back with a red face.
He had always felt awkward since the first day he met Yan Beicheng.
Yan Beicheng smiled briefly, and quickly wore his jacket with an indifferent expression and left with Lin Chu.
Lin Chu was worried about Mo Jinxi and how he would cope in the Mo Family. She could not hold it in and shared her thoughts, “Madam Mo did not seem like...somebody with a big heart.”
Lin Chu had been thinking about it and did not how to put forth her thoughts tactfully.
Yan Beicheng had observed Liang Xiulin’s behavior and how she spoke, and he would understand it better than her.
Also, Yan Beicheng was good friends with Mo Jingsheng and would be familiar with the Mo Family. He would have a better understanding of Liang Xiulin as well.
Yan Beicheng was tickled with how Lin Chu worded her thoughts. As he drove, he reached out a hand to rub her head.
“You don’t need to be so tactful. Madam Mo is very particular with family background and status. She had always felt that there would be bad people amongst the rich folks, but those who are poor would be petty and uncultured. If one were to be with a commoner for a long period, he would be influenced and pick up bad habits such as being calculative and stingy. She’s a bit narrow-minded and always think the worst of people. She also felt that the commoners are always trying to take advantage. No matter what people would say, she would always believe that that person is conspiring something despite it being an innocent sentence.”
Yan Beicheng’s fingers gently tapped a few times on the steering wheel. He pondered for a while before continuing, “She’s the typical type of person who believes that a particular class of people should only socialize and mingle with their clique. Even if a commoner were to come in and try to join them, it would not be successful. Their mindset and level of knowledge are different, their financial and economic situation differs, and their material and spiritual needs are also not on the same level. The commoners lack the high-mindedness and cultured mindset, it would be better that they do not mingle with one another.”
Lin Chu could not help frowning upon hearing his words.