Chapter 37: To Eliminate Future Troubles

When the Women's Director came out, she saw Su Ruo already holding An'an and had gotten onto the ox cart, and she didn't say much more.

Su Ruo could, in one breath, take out a hundred yuan and donate it to the orphanage, showing her family's circumstances are not bad.

Moreover, Su Ruo also knows medical skills, which counts as having a skill to rely on; An'an following her will surely not be worse than staying in the orphanage.

Now, the Women's Director only hopes that Su Ruo is sincere, doesn't get tired after two days and send the child back.

After all, she had just seen the conditions at the orphanage; those children are truly pitiful, and the Women's Director had only seen such children during the famine years of the past.

"Director, I would like to ask you and the Battalion Commander to help me handle An'an's adoption procedures."

Since Su Ruo wants to adopt An'an, she must settle the matter properly and will absolutely leave no hidden troubles for herself.

Only after completing the adoption procedures will this matter truly be settled, and no one will be able to take An'an away from her.

Although, judging from the current situation, no one seems likely to compete with her for An'an, Su Ruo must still eliminate all potential risks.

The Women's Director exclaimed in shock, "Su Ruo, have you really thought this through? Once the procedures are done, you can't regret it."

The Women's Director watched as Su Ruo, holding An'an who opened her big, watery eyes and looked at her, thought about sending An'an to the orphanage, and she also felt reluctant.

The Women's Director and the Battalion Commander waved their hands repeatedly, saying this was too wasteful; the three of them couldn't eat that much.

Xu Honghua's family lives in an old alley; the alley is very chaotic, and even before entering one can hear quarreling.

By the time they arrived at the office, it was almost off-duty time; everyone else had left, leaving only a middle-aged man on duty.

But Su Ruo cannot, just to adopt An'an, casually marry someone; the trauma from her past life leaves her with too great a psychological shadow, making it nearly impossible for her to wholeheartedly trust anyone, let alone enter marriage.

But now is a special time; many places in our county have suffered disasters, and there are many orphans needing placement; if they were all sent to the orphanage,

the orphanage couldn't accept them all, and we are also worried about this matter.

"Comrade, I know this goes against the rules, but this child is pitiful; we also went to the orphanage and saw that the conditions there are really terrible."

Su Ruo and they walked to the innermost part of the alley; upon pushing the door open, they saw Xu Honghua in the act of hitting a child.

Su Ruo knew that since the Women's Director said that, there was a chance; she smiled and thanked her: "Director, I first thank you on An'an's behalf."

"I just want to remind you that once the adoption procedures are completed, you cannot regret it; you need to think it through clearly."

The Head Chef of the Guomin Hotel has excellent cooking skills; a meal there leaves both host and guest satisfied.

When passing the supply and marketing cooperative, Su Ruo bought some cigarettes and alcohol, after all, since she had asked someone for help, she needed to bring a gift.

The Women's Director hurried forward to explain the situation; Su Ruo had helped Qingshui Village greatly, and wanting to adopt An'an is also a good deed, so the Battalion Commander naturally would not object.

Xu Honghua then stopped her action; upon lifting her head and seeing the Women's Director and the Battalion Commander actually bringing An'an over, her face changed.

"If this child were sent there, she would basically have no hope left, so please, please be lenient, have pity on us."

After the Battalion Commander and the Women's Director explained the situation to him, the man's brow furrowed; obviously, he had never encountered such a thing, and his gaze at Su Ruo was full of obvious suspicion and distrust.

Su Ruo nodded firmly: "Mm, Director, I've thought it through; from now on I will certainly take good care of An'an and absolutely not let her suffer any injustice."

After hearing this, the clerk said nothing more, got up and left; half an hour later, he returned holding an adoption certificate with a red seal stamped on it.

He immediately said, "Director, Battalion Commander, look at our family's situation—I can't afford to raise this little girl; please don't make things difficult for me."

Then he said, "I'll give it a try! But whether this succeeds or not, you need to be mentally prepared."

The Women's Director felt a bit embarrassed: "But you're not married yet, so these procedures might be difficult to handle."

The Women's Director and the Battalion Commander looked down on Xu Honghua; in this world, who would have their own parents and older siblings die and not even go back to take a look? Xu Honghua's heart is too cruel.

However, in order to thoroughly eliminate future troubles, they still went to Xu Honghua's house, the aunt of An'an.

Now, Su Ruo only hopes that for the rest of her life, An'an will be by her side.

"You have contributed to the disaster relief efforts, and now you are willing to voluntarily adopt a child, which also counts as easing the burden on the county; this way I will help you apply to the superiors to see if we can get your adoption procedures specially approved."

Su Ruo said with a smile: "Director, Battalion Commander, you've come all this way to accompany me in handling affairs; I can't do anything else, but I will make sure you eat well."

Two other slightly older children, wearing tattered clothes, hid in the corner shivering.

Su Ruo quickly slipped the cigarettes and alcohol over to him secretly, and also quietly slipped two Great Unity notes into the man's hand.

Upon seeing the documents, Su Ruo finally relaxed; she wanted to treat the man to a meal, but he refused, saying it didn't comply with regulations, so she didn't insist further.

The middle-aged man accepted the items, his expression eased a bit, and he said: "If we truly follow the regulations, you indeed do not meet the adoption requirements."

The Director and the Battalion Commander, knowing that Su Ruo had money, did not continue to block her.

The ox cart returned to the Brigade Headquarters; the Battalion Commander of Qingshui Village saw Su Ruo and the Women's Director, and was surprised to see them bringing An'an back again.

A child who looked even younger than An'an, covered in dirt, was being hit by Xu Honghua and wailed loudly.

Only after An'an's household registration was transferred onto her own household register did Su Ruo, looking at the fresh household register page, feel completely at ease.

After the three made their decision, they didn't delay any further, taking An'an's household register book and the certificate issued by the village, and went to the county.

After sitting down, she ordered a dish of braised pork, stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, a vegetable dish, and three large bowls of rice.

After finishing the meal, they went to the police station; the police station saw the certificate issued by the county and did not make things difficult for them.

The Battalion Commander and the Women's Director, seeing that Su Ruo was straightforward, exchanged a glance and didn't say much more.

This is also why Su Ruo sought the Women's Director's help; if she were already married, she could directly adopt An'an without needing to ask anyone.

Xu Honghua kept hitting while shouting, "I told you not to steal food, I told you not to steal food."

After leaving the county office, it was already mealtime; Su Ruo took the Women's Director and the Battalion Commander to the Guomin Hotel.

But he had never done this before, so he lacked confidence; after pondering a moment, he said, "I'll go with you to the county to see if this can work out."

Su Ruo knew the Women's Director was capable, so she pleaded: "Therefore, for this matter, I still need to trouble you and the Battalion Commander to think of a solution; An'an is truly pitiful, and I don't want her sent to the orphanage."

From now on, An'an will use the name Su Jinyue to begin a new life, which is also a new life for Su Ruo.

Su Ruo made a solemn promise: "Rest assured, since I have decided to adopt this child, I will certainly raise her well."

The Women's Director and the Battalion Commander frowned upon seeing this, and finally couldn't help but exclaim, "Xu Honghua!"

When registering the household registration, Su Ruo changed An'an's surname and gave her the name Su Jinyue.

Actually, Xu Honghua isn't unwilling to return; after all, those are her own parents, but she fears that if she goes back, the village will make her pay for the funeral expenses, which she cannot afford, so she simply stays hidden, leaving the village to handle her parents' funeral arrangements.

The Women's Director had no patience for idle talk with Xu Honghua, and bluntly said: "We didn't come to ask you to adopt An'an; it's this Ms. Su who wants to adopt An'an, so we came just to inform you—do you have any objections?"

The Women's Director didn't tell Xu Honghua about Su Ruo's information and that she was unmarried, for in her view Xu Honghua was just a piece of sticking plaster—once it stuck, you couldn't shake it off.