Blood Queen - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Orphanage

***

August 1, Thursday, Armed Forces Day.

This is a great day, with activities supporting and loving the military taking place across China, and military-themed films, both new and old, are being broadcast on mainstream media.

At the Black Armor Squad base, Meng Huai is preparing his uniform, while Tao Qiao’er beside him is carefully checking the contents of her briefcase.

“Oh? The sun is rising from the west today, our Captain Meng has activities too?”

A familiar voice came, and a female Major officer walked into Meng Huai’s office with elegant steps. If not for her military uniform, this walking posture would easily be associated with urban career women in films.

“Captain Meng, I’ll go prepare the car first.”

Seeing Han Xiao from the Embroidered Robe Squad coming to visit again, Tao Qiao’er quickly excused herself from the room.

The rumor that this Major female officer from the prestigious Dark Arrow Unit might have feelings for their Captain has long been old news within the Black Armor Squad.

“Han Xiao, what are you doing here again… I heard last week the Embroidered Robe Squad failed to ambush a vampire Baron in L City of Y Province?”

Meng Huai didn’t even look at her, with a sneer at the corner of his mouth.

“Yes, it was a joint operation with the Southern Surveillance Area’s rapid response squad. We seized a large number of boiling blood drugs at the scene, and over 50,000 milliliters of smuggled foreign blood, all rare blood types, reportedly coming from India… I only sent a support team over this time.”

Han Xiao sat down in Meng Huai’s seat without changing her expression, taking off her military cap while smiling at the cold and rigid man in front of her: “At the Baron level, there are many ways to defeat them, but it’s very difficult to kill them. If any squad manages to kill a vampire Baron, it would at least be a collective second-class merit.”

“Did you come today just to show off your achievements? Are you that free?”

After adjusting his tie and finally putting on his military cap, Meng Huai stood straight, displaying a unique military charm of commanding presence without anger.

“If I wanted to show off, I wouldn’t choose a weakling like the Black Armor Squad… Nevermind, I won’t tease you anymore. I came today to give you an early warning. My father got internal rumors from headquarters, I don’t know what they analyzed, but they want to list Xia Yan and Gu Yao as top priority targets separately, upgrading the task level to B, and the Central Surveillance Area will also send an independent team to support the Western Surveillance Area, which is like slapping our faces.”

Looking at the tall young man’s handsome and upright figure before her, Han Xiao actually felt a moment of daze, but it was just for a second before she turned her head away, speaking about the news she got from her elder.

“Hmm, it’s all because of that big flesh mass.” Meng Huai wasn’t surprised by these rumors at all, “Even without headquarters making any decisions, I would still go all out to investigate and catch Xia Yan personally.”

“Hehe, now it’s not just about your Black Armor Squad anymore, it’s about the face of the entire Western Surveillance Area! Still the same words, let’s cooperate, get this face back quickly, this is also Chief of Staff Zhen’s intention.”

Chief of Staff Zhen, the high-level leader who took office in the Western Surveillance Area two months ago, was the Captain of the Black Armor Squad 15 years ago. So in terms of lineage, Meng Huai should belong to his direct line!

“Captain Meng, we’ve already contacted the families of Xia Yan and Gu Yao, and several leaders from the city government and W District government will also attend. Shall we depart now?”

At this moment, the office door opened slightly, and Tao Qiao’er’s voice squeezed in.

“Oh? You’re going to Xia Yan and Gu Yao’s homes? Take me with you, take me!”

Han Xiao quickly grabbed her military cap, as impetuous as ever.

……

……

W District is also one of the earliest old urban districts in C City, with numerous cultural tourism resources.

The social welfare adoption system that once relied on financial support has become increasingly powerless in the rapid social iteration of the new century. Many times, the W District Orphanage needs to raise funds on its own to complete some software and hardware upgrades, and even the children’s food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

The orphans here, regardless of why they became abandoned by their families initially, would all more or less give back to this family that gave them new life and nurturing growth after they become adults and leave, and Xia Yan and Gu Yao were no exception.

Since Xia Yan joined the Dark Arrow Unit, her annual donations to the orphanage have been over 100,000, making Old Director Jiang both proud and sad.

As for Gu Yao, he belongs to those who didn’t do well after entering society, and had to rely on Xia Yan’s help to establish himself in the big city, but in the past 3 years, he has also donated more than 10,000 in total.

When filling out family contact information and addresses, both Xia Yan and Gu Yao unanimously wrote down Old Director Jiang’s name and the orphanage’s address. In their hearts, this was their family and relatives.

According to the regulations of the Dark Arrow Unit, if an accident occurs, the subsequent pension would follow the process according to the information filled out.

Today’s Director Jiang is already over 70, well past the legal retirement age, but still works daily as a volunteer, and the staff at all levels of the orphanage still treat her as the director.

Now, Old Mrs. Jiang, with a face full of sorrow, accompanied by several orphanage officials, stands blankly at the gate, watching the bustling street and quietly shedding tears.

A few days ago, when city and district government staff appeared before her and confirmed Xia Yan and Gu Yao’s identity information, she had a premonition of something and collapsed on the spot.

The two children who had entered the orphanage almost from birth were the most memorable people in her impression.

One was reborn after experiencing leukemia, while the other had congenital defects and underwent several corrective surgeries. After entering society, these two children were the ones who had the deepest feelings for the orphanage and herself.

Several cars and the TV station’s bus arrived at the orphanage gate, with soldiers, reporters, and civil servants standing together in front of Old Mrs. Jiang.

“Old Director Jiang, comrades Xia Yan and Gu Yao heroically sacrificed themselves several months ago in a border police joint operation to protect people’s lives and property and maintain social stability… On behalf of the city leadership at all levels, I express condolences to you. You have cultivated such excellent young people for the country, worthy of all our learning.”

The city government representative spoke formulaic words of comfort, followed by the district government representative, and finally it was Meng Huai and Tao Qiao’er’s turn to step forward.

“Elder, I’m sorry…”

Meng Huai stood straight, but his eyes were tightly closed.

Tao Qiao’er knew her Captain’s personality wasn’t suitable for such occasions, so she quickly stepped forward to support the old lady’s arm: “Grandma Jiang, although Xia Yan and Gu Yao have sacrificed, we will never forget them, and you must also take care of your health, there are still many children who need your care!”

Just looking blankly at the various dignitaries passing before her, Grandma Jiang didn’t hear a single word of what they said, just silently shedding tears.

The total martyrs’ pension of over 6 million shocked the TV station staff who were filming, and several official leaders of the orphanage standing behind Old Director Jiang showed excited expressions.

Such a large sum of money, according to Xia Yan and Gu Yao’s personal registration before their sacrifice, would all become Old Director Jiang’s personal property!

But who is Old Director Jiang?

Old Mrs. Jiang never married, has no children, and has spent her whole life devoted to the construction of the orphanage and the children, saving almost nothing for herself. This large sum of money will most likely still be used by Old Director Jiang for the orphanage!

Han Xiao didn’t care at all about how various people performed, but instead was interested in observing inside and outside the orphanage gate, lost in thought. She even specially chatted with the orphanage officials, inquiring in detail about some old stories about Old Mrs. Jiang, Xia Yan, and Gu Yao.

Dozens of meters away from the orphanage, across the street, a black-haired girl wearing a dress was blankly watching the crowd gathered at the orphanage gate in the distance.

Hehe, Xiao Yao and I have sacrificed, been expelled from the normal people’s world… That’s fine, at least we weren’t treated as deserters.

Captain Meng is cold, but he’s not stingy towards comrades’ families. As martyrs, we can receive huge national pensions, and Grandma Jiang getting this money also fulfills a wish.

Wiping her face, Jiang Yan quietly left.

……

On the way back to the base, Han Xiao was constantly writing and drawing in her notebook, wearing a mysterious smile.

Meng Huai had returned to his usual coldness, looking out the car window without saying a word.

“You know all this is fake, just a show, at least it’s fair to their families, don’t really think they’re dead.”

Han Xiao touched Meng Huai’s arm, waving the notebook in her hand, “I have a bold search plan, want to hear it?”

“No!”

Meng Huai didn’t even move his head, directly closing his eyes.

“You! The Black Armor Squad having you as a Captain is really eight generations of bad luck for everyone!”

“Hehe, you should get off at the intersection ahead. Major Han, goodbye and good riddance.”

……

……

Leaning against the headboard, Jiang Yao’s not yet recovered body was slightly trembling, her face also very pale.

“Sister… We’ve been removed from the records, right?”

“Yes, Captain Meng was very generous, directly evaluating us as martyrs, so the pension will be more, Grandma Jiang’s days will be better.”

Jiang Yan lowered her head, peeling an orange, not daring to look at Jiang Yao’s expression at this moment, or rather, not wanting to let the other see her own expression.

“Being a martyr is good, they say it brings glory to the ancestors… Unfortunately, I don’t even know who my ancestors are…”

Jiang Yao quietly began to cry, tears dripping onto the blanket.

Looking up at Jiang Yao crying with snot and tears, Jiang Yan’s heart was also filled with bitterness… She reached out and hugged Jiang Yao’s upper body, just like how Old Director Jiang used to hug her younger self, the kind that could warm the heart.

This was the first time in her life doing this gesture, rather than the male-style shoulder-patting comfort.