Urban Martial Saint

The people at the orphanage all held Wu Yian in high regard, and when they saw Wu Yian suddenly suffer a stroke and being taken away, most of them gathered around, asking what exactly had happened.

Ye Qing was also quite disheartened; he had just been thinking about how to announce this matter to everyone. However, seeing Wu Yian’s condition, Ye Qing really didn’t dare to declare it outright. What if someone else couldn’t take the blow like Wu Yian? What then?

Ye Qing first asked everyone to return to the school, and he himself rushed to the city. Wu Yian had already been taken to the hospital. With Lin Tianyou there watching over him, the situation, though not very good, wouldn’t lead to paralysis, according to Lin Tianyou. However, because the incident was so sudden, there would definitely be lasting effects.

The condition of Wu Yian filled Ye Qing with worry. This old gentleman had toiled for the children all his life. Even after retirement, he continued to care for the children, going so far as to put his pride aside and plead with Ye Qing, just to provide a place for the children to study; he truly had the children at heart. But why, in this society, is doing good deeds so hard?

Ye Qing returned to Tian Sheng, locked himself alone in a room, and sat on the sofa in silence, not knowing exactly what to do. Black Bear and others had basically guessed what had happened and understood Ye Qing’s mood, so they dared not disturb him, just standing outside.

After remaining silent in the room for two hours, when it was almost lunchtime, Ye Qing still showed no sign of leaving. Black Bear and Mad Dog became somewhat worried. They called out a few times from outside, but Ye Qing didn’t come out. There was nothing they could do, so they had to call Zhao Chengshuang and Li Lianshan to come and persuade Ye Qing.

Zhao Chengshuang had also received the news from the province in the morning, and he hadn’t dared to call Ye Qing, knowing that Ye Qing definitely couldn’t handle this shock. After receiving the message from Black Bear, he immediately rushed over.

”Ye Zi, it’s me, open the door!” Zhao Chengshuang knocked on the door as he spoke, ”Since the matter has been settled, don’t overthink it. I will find a way to arrange for all these children to be housed in orphanages in Shenchuan City. Later on, you can send friends and brothers you trust to work at the orphanage. That way, you’re still looking after them, aren’t you? Trust me, I can definitely make this happen!”

There was no reply from inside the room. Zhao Chengshuang continued to persuade Ye Qing at the door, but seeing that there was no intention of Ye Qing opening it, he became anxious and turned to Black Bear, saying, ”Come on, kick the door open for me!”

”Kick it open?” Black Bear hesitated, speaking softly, ”If the captain doesn’t open the door, he must have his reasons, Zhao ...”

”Damn it!” Zhao Chengshuang interrupted Black Bear and turned to Mad Dog, ”Come, you guys, kick the door open for me. This kid has been in the room for two hours; aren’t you afraid he might do something drastic like committing suicide?”

These words startled Black Bear, who hurried over and kicked the door open with one swift move.

Inside the room, Ye Qing sat quietly at the table, staring fixedly at it as if devoid of all thought. However, he was just sitting quietly and had not done anything extreme.

Seeing that Ye Qing was alright, Black Bear breathed a sigh of relief and quickly explained, ”Captain, it wasn’t me who wanted to kick the door, it’s Director Zhao who asked me to ...”

”Alright, he doesn’t blame you!” Zhao Chengshuang muttered a word and walked up to Ye Qing, saying, ”Ye Zi, we are all grown men, don’t act like those emotional women. Whatever has happened, has happened; you have done your best. In this society, not every effort is rewarded. Don’t brood over this, kid. Although the orphanage can’t be opened, the children are still in Shenchuan City. If you’re willing, even if they are not staying in your orphanage, you can still take care of them.”

Zhao Chengshuang’s words seemed to elicit some response from Ye Qing, who looked up and sighed softly, ”I’m just thinking, why is it so hard to do a good thing? Principal Wu is a good person; his greatest wish was to work at the orphanage until the day he couldn’t work anymore. In fact, I know that the monthly salary I gave Principal Wu, he never spent a dime for himself; he sent it all to support those university students, to provide for the children’s education. The orphanage concerns him more than me, not approving the orphanage is like driving Principal Wu to a dead end. How can those leaders in the province be so heartless? Just to avoid taking responsibility themselves, they neglect the life and death of these children, dictating where to send them on a whim?”

Ye Qing’s words made Zhao Chengshuang sigh as well. He patted Ye Qing on the shoulder and said, ”This is what they call the unwritten rule of officials: if you can avoid responsibility, it’s best to do so. After all, there hasn’t been any precedent for private orphanages. If the application is approved, and any problems occur with so many children, these leaders will have to bear the responsibility!”

”So, with all the issues in public orphanages, they don’t have to take responsibility?” Ye Qing said indignantly.

”That’s different!” Zhao Chengshuang shook his head, ”Public orphanages are legally mandated facilities, part of the state apparatus. Even if problems arise, only the relevant leaders will be held accountable. But with private orphanages, if there’s a need for accountability, all the leaders who approved the matter will surely be held accountable. Who would take such a risk?”

”So, just to avoid risks and evade responsibility, they can neglect the life and death of these children!” Ye Qing clenched his teeth and suddenly punched the table, angrily exclaimed, ”What kind of damned leaders are these? How are they any different from beasts?”

Zhao Chengshuang shrugged, speaking in a low voice, ”Ye Zi, don’t be too extreme. If this thing can’t be done, let’s find a compromise. The children can stay in the orphanages here in Shenchuan City, and you can still look after them.”

Ye Qing said, ”There are so many people at the orphanage, all doing everything they can for these children. Is it that just because of a single sentence from the province, all our efforts for so long have been in vain?”

Zhao Chengshuang said, ”Regarding the orphanage, I will try to help you apply to the provincial government to change the land use. Later, you can open a hotel or a club there, and those buildings won’t go to waste.”

Ye Qing looked up at Zhao Chengshuang and said, ”It’s not the money or the land that I’m heartbroken about, it’s the unwillingness. All the effort from so many of us, over such a long time, has it all been in vain just because of what some people said?”

Zhao Chengshuang let out a sigh, he of course understood Ye Qing’s feelings. It’s not just Ye Qing who was feeling unwilling; he himself felt the same way. But, what can be done about unwillingness? Now that things have come to this, what can be done?

At this moment, Li Lianshan also rushed in, and as soon as he entered he immediately blurted out, ”What happened? How is Ye Zi doing?”

Seeing Ye Qing sitting there unharmed, Li Lianshan breathed a sigh of relief and said, ”Damn, you scared me. When I heard about that incident, I was afraid you might do something foolish. Come on, it’s getting late, let’s go eat. Damn it, people are iron and food is steel, the decision has already been made, do we have to starve to death?”

Zhao Chengshuang and Ye Qing glanced at him, neither of them showing any intention of moving. Li Lianshan was a bit surprised and said, ”Let’s go? What are you waiting for?”

”Enough, who’s in the mood to eat at this time?” Zhao Chengshuang waved his hand and said, ”Just come and sit.”

Li Lianshan looked at Zhao Chengshuang, then at Ye Qing, scratched his head, and still came over to sit down.

”Cheng Shuang, what exactly happened?” Li Lianshan asked, ”Wasn’t it said Commander Zhou had reached out to many old friends and that the inspection team’s report was very favorable? Why couldn’t this issue get through? Inside the provincial standing committee, who exactly is casting the opposing votes?”

Zhao Chengshuang shrugged his shoulders and said, ”How should I know? After the standing committee concluded, I only knew the outcome, I have no idea about the process.”

Li Lianshan gritted his teeth and said, ”Motherfucker, if I knew who cast the opposing votes, I would...”

”Enough!” Zhao Chengshuang quickly held Li Lianshan back and said, ”Old Li, be careful with your words. The provincial government’s decision has already come down, we should act according to the provincial government’s intentions, don’t think about anything else. Especially you, if anything happens to those leaders, even if you flee the country, I reckon this issue won’t be straightened out!”

Li Lianshan pursed his lips but eventually closed his mouth; of course, he knew all about these matters.

Zhao Chengshuang glanced at Ye Qing, his concern was actually more for Ye Qing. Li Lianshan was all talk, but Ye Qing’s actions could be far too dangerous. Just like before, when Ye Qing first arrived in Shenchuan City, with nothing to his name, he even dared to burst into the Lin family and the Ding Family, showing his tremendous courage. If Ye Qing were to lose his temper, it’s possible he might run to the provincial government and vent his rage by killing a few leaders. If that were to happen, this issue would be completely ruined!

”Ye Zi, listen to me...” Zhao Chengshuang was about to speak when suddenly the phone on the table rang.

All three turned their heads towards the phone, which rang several times. Seeing that Ye Qing had no intention of picking it up, Li Lianshan went ahead and answered: ”Hello, who are you looking for?”

”Let Ye Qing take the call!” said a voice from the other end of the line.

”He’s busy right now and has no time to talk, what’s the matter?” Li Lianshan replied tersely.

”It’s no use talking to you, let Ye Qing answer the call!”

”Damn it, are you going to talk or not? If not, I’m hanging up!” Li Lianshan said angrily.

”Suit yourself!” The person sneered, ”But you better think it through. What I have to discuss with Ye Qing is about his orphanage. Hang up if you want, huh...”

Li Lianshan paused for a moment, then quickly turned to look at Ye Qing and said urgently, ”Ye Zi, there’s a call for you, someone says they have something to discuss about your orphanage, you...”