Chapter 151 - 150: Left-Behind Children
There were too many people in one group to film effectively, so they were split into three teams, each focusing on a different charity activity. This not only made it seem like they were doing more but also created more highlights and buzz, which would help the show go viral.
Since they were going to all this trouble, they naturally wanted everyone to see it. The buzz would translate into box office numbers, so it would never be a loss.
The male and female leads were on separate teams. Among the remaining actors, Joanna Kennedy had the most buzz, so she was teamed up with the second male lead and another actress, the fourth female lead.
The three teams would each go out and do what they could to help. After five days, they would each choose a cause they felt needed support, report it to the production team, and the production team would donate money for improvements.
That night, Joanna Kennedy lay on the wooden bed. Outside the window, she could hear the chirping of unknown insects. Listening to the sounds, she drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Joanna Kennedy got a list of the town’s left-behind children from the mayor. She chose to focus on them with almost no hesitation.
Nathan Vance took the initiative to help plan the best route and also borrowed an electric tricycle.
The electric tricycle was "open-air." Joanna Kennedy was wearing pants, so she sat right down without any concern for her celebrity image. The other actress, Valentine, was wearing a skirt and squatted awkwardly, a bit embarrassed.
"Valentine, if you stay in that position, you’ll fall over from the momentum once we start moving," Joanna Kennedy reminded her kindly.
Valentine glanced at the camera, hesitating on whether to sit. The seat didn’t look very clean.
Joanna Kennedy immediately took off her jacket, told Valentine to stand up, then spread the jacket on the seat and looked up. "There, sit down."
Valentine hadn’t expected her to do that. When Joanna Kennedy looked at her with those clear, captivating eyes, her face instantly turned red. She stammered, flustered, "N-no, you don’t have to. This is really not right...."
"It’s fine. I’m wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath, so I won’t be cold," Joanna Kennedy said, unconcerned.
’Anyway, this jacket isn’t expensive. If it gets dirty, I can just wash it.’
The other two teams had already set off. Not wanting to waste any more time, Valentine had no choice but to sit down. She mumbled, "Thank you...."
"No problem." Joanna Kennedy waved her hand.
Nathan Vance was a decent driver. Though slow, he was very steady. The camera crew followed them in another tricycle, filming from behind.
First, they went to the town’s only chain supermarket to buy some food and supplies. Then, using the list and addresses from the mayor, they headed to the nearest family.
They turned a corner onto a winding dirt road that seemed to stretch on endlessly. The tricycle bumped along violently on it, nearly jostling out the things they had bought.
They hit another pothole. The jolt sent Valentine tumbling right on top of Joanna Kennedy. Her nose was filled with a delicate, feminine scent.
Hearing Joanna Kennedy’s suppressed cry of pain, Valentine snapped out of it. She shot up, frantic. "Joanna, are you okay?"
Valentine falling on her had slammed Joanna Kennedy’s head against the tricycle’s guardrail. She grimaced, her brow tight with pain. "Honestly," she said, "I think I might not be okay...."
Nathan Vance also quickly stopped the trike. "Jennings, are you okay?"
"Maybe we should just walk from here," Joanna Kennedy said, rubbing the back of her sore head.
’It’s not that far anyway. If we keep getting bounced around like this, someone’s going to get hurt.’
So, the three of them got out and walked, carrying the milk, oil, noodles, and daily necessities.
Meanwhile, Owen Jennings’s team had just arrived at the school.
They called it a town, but it was really about the size of an ordinary village. Surrounded by mountains, the livable area was small, and the population was sparse. The entire town had only one school, and most of the teachers were volunteers.
A few single-story buildings served as classrooms, with a courtyard in the middle. That was the entire school.
There weren’t many children at the school. When they saw the strangers arrive, they all looked up, their eyes full of innocence and curiosity.
"Class, say hello to the new teachers," one of the volunteer teachers guided them with a smile.
Hearing that they were new teachers, the students swarmed over, though they didn’t dare get too close.
The group handed out the candy and school supplies they had just bought, and the students erupted into a happy commotion.
Owen Jennings smiled and slipped out of the circle of children. A crew member from the production team was organizing some equipment nearby. He walked over and said, feigning casualness, "I wonder where the other two teams went. We didn’t even run into them on the way...."
"Oh, Vivi’s team is probably visiting the elderly who live alone. Joanna asked the mayor for the info on left-behind children this morning, so they’ve probably gone to check on the kids." The crew member was still busy handing things out and answered directly without much thought.
Owen Jennings nodded. "I see...."
*
Following the address, they soon arrived at the first left-behind child’s home. Seeing the house before them, the three of them fell silent.
Many of the families in town lived in concrete houses, but the one in front of them was still made of brick. It looked old, with signs of repeated repairs.
Nathan Vance walked up to the large, rust-stained iron gate and knocked a few times. The gate was opened by a little girl, about eight or nine years old, with a dark complexion.
Seeing the strangers, the little girl took two steps back. "Are you the volunteers Grandpa Mayor told me about?"
She was clearly scared, but she forced herself to act calm.
Joanna Kennedy smiled and crouched down. "Yes, we are, sweetie. Sorry to bother you."
The little girl’s face flushed red, though it was hard to tell with her dark complexion. She took a breath and said, "It’s... it’s no bother."
’She knew that these good-looking big brothers and sisters were here to help her.’
’Volunteers like them had come before. Every time, they would leave lots of food and supplies, enough for her and her little brother for several months.’
’The money her mom and dad sent back was very little. Besides the New Year, it was only when volunteers came that she and her brother could eat their fill.’
"These are the jujubes Tiger’s Grandma gave me. I washed them. Please have some."
The moment they stepped inside, the little girl trotted off to another room and came back with a bowl of jujubes, holding it out to them.
The pattern on the outside of the ceramic bowl was faded, but the bowl itself was scrubbed clean. She was a tidy little girl.
Joanna Kennedy accepted it with a smile, said "Thank you," kept a few for herself, and passed the rest to the others. Then she asked, "Why aren’t you in school?"
’She remembered there was a school in town.’
The little girl lowered her head and opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a young boy’s timid voice called from the inner room, "Sis, sister, where are you?"
Only then did the group realize there was another child in the house, a boy who looked to be only three or four years old.
The reason the little girl wasn’t in school became crystal clear. Money was part of it, but more importantly, she had a younger brother to look after.
Valentine was completely shocked by the situation. She blurted out, "You’re so little yourself, and you have to take care of him?!"
"I’m 11," the little girl said, holding her brother’s hand. "That’s not little."
Faced with so many strangers, the little boy hid fearfully behind his sister, whispering that he was hungry.
The group watched as the little girl expertly set up a pot in the courtyard. Nathan Vance wanted to help but had no idea where to start. They were all city kids; they had never seen anything like this.