Chapter 112: The Old Director’s Gift
Cheng Yuan gently knocked on the door of the director’s office. A slightly weary voice called from within, "Please, come in."
Cheng Yuan pushed the door open and went inside. The old director seemed much more spirited, but she still looked somewhat frail.
The old director’s eyes lit up when she saw it was Cheng Yuan and Shen Youchu. She smiled and rose to her feet. "Xiaoyuan, you’re finally here. Youchu has been chattering my ear off about you these past few days."
"Grandma..."
Shen Youchu grew a little shy, tugging at the old director’s arm with a whine.
"Grandma Director, I brought you some old ginseng to help you regain your strength. You’re just recovering from a serious illness, so you must be very careful with the dosage. Otherwise, your body will be too weak to handle it. A single rootlet, about a centimeter long, is all you should have at one time."
The old director had a keen eye. A single glance was all it took for her to see that this old ginseng was incredibly valuable.
"Xiaoyuan, this is wild, hundred-year-old ginseng. I can’t accept this. It’s far too precious!"
Cheng Yuan smiled. "Please, Grandma Director, take it. I have plenty more where this came from."
They went back and forth for several rounds, but the old director simply couldn’t out-stubborn Cheng Yuan. In the end, she had no choice but to reluctantly accept the old ginseng.
"Xiaoyuan, wait here a moment."
With that, the old director went into her bedroom. She retrieved a wooden box from a hidey-hole in the wall and returned to her office, carrying it with trembling hands.
"Xiaoyuan, this is a small token of my affection. You must accept it. If you refuse, I’m not keeping this old ginseng."
"Alright, I’ll accept it."
With the old director watching, Cheng Yuan felt it would be rude to open the wooden box and look inside. Instead, he chose to activate his Double Pupil and peer into it.
Then, something surprising happened. Ever since awakening his Double Pupil, it had been all-powerful; he could even use its X-ray Vision to see through stone with ease.
But trying to see through this little box was proving difficult.
Cheng Yuan pushed more power into his Double Pupil, and only then did he manage to penetrate the small wooden box. Inside, he saw a glittering stone.
The stone was emitting an absolutely astonishing amount of Spiritual Power!
Even all the Tiger and Wolf Medicine from the Hu and Zhu Families combined didn’t have as much Spiritual Power as this little stone!
This shocked Cheng Yuan to his core!
"Xiaoyuan, I approve of you adopting Youchu. I can sign the paperwork on my end, but you’ll still have to go to the civil affairs bureau to complete the necessary procedures."
"Okay, I’ll go to the civil affairs bureau to ask about it in a little while."
After a moment’s pause, Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "Grandma Director, what’s inside this? What does it do?"
"Xiaoyuan, from now on, when you practice your Cultivation, try to do so in a sealed room. When you cultivate, open this little box. You’ll discover its wondrous uses for yourself."
"Can I open it now?"
"Of course."
CREAK. Cheng Yuan opened the small wooden box. A staggering torrent of Spiritual Power erupted from it, instantly flooding the entire office!
The Spiritual Power was like a flood that had finally found an outlet, surging madly into the bodies of the three people in the room.
Expressions of pure bliss washed over Cheng Yuan and Shen Youchu’s faces, but the old director couldn’t help but frown. It was obvious that her body, still weak from her recent illness, was unable to handle such a potent influx of energy.
Cheng Yuan quickly shut the box. "Grandma Director, this is too precious! I can’t take it!"
The old director smiled. "Xiaoyuan, I’m old. My vitality is in steep decline, and I’m suffering from a severe internal injury. Even if a treasure like this stayed with me, it couldn’t help me become an Innate Grandmaster. On the contrary, it would only attract deadly trouble! The old ginseng, however, is different. It can add a few more years to my life. A treasure is only good if it suits its owner. You take this. Cultivate diligently. When you break through and become an Innate Grandmaster, come find your Grandma. I’ll have a story for you then."
A thought suddenly struck Cheng Yuan. "Grandma, may I ask... is it a story about my dad?"
The old director gave a slight nod.
A glint flashed in Cheng Yuan’s eyes. ’He’d long suspected something was off about his dad. Especially after gaining his Double Pupil, he often sensed faint wisps of energy radiating from him.’
’But his dad had never cultivated before. It just wasn’t normal!’
"Alright. I’ll cultivate as hard as I can. The day I become an Innate Grandmaster, I promise I’ll come find you, Grandma Director."
"Go on now, go."
The old director waved her hand.
"Grandma... I don’t want to leave you."
Before Cheng Yuan came, Shen Youchu had spent every day dreaming of being adopted. But now that the moment had finally come, she found she couldn’t bear to leave the old director.
The director gently stroked Shen Youchu’s hair. "Youchu, you’re a good girl. You shouldn’t be cooped up in an orphanage. A much wider world is waiting for you. Once you’re out there, you must listen to your big brother."
Shen Youchu nodded repeatedly.
"Go on now, child. If you really miss your Grandma, you can always come back and visit."
"Okay, Grandma."
Shen Youchu followed Cheng Yuan out of the orphanage, looking back reluctantly with every step.
Cheng Yuan hailed a taxi and headed straight for the municipal services building.
After asking a staff member for directions, he went straight to the civil affairs bureau.
He took a number, filled out some forms, and after a wait of about twenty minutes, it was finally their turn.
Cheng Yuan led Shen Youchu by the hand to the service window.
The staff member was a stern-looking, middle-aged man. His name tag read Gao Guangbo.
"How can I help you?"
"I’d like to adopt this child. The orphanage has already provided the paperwork."
With that, Cheng Yuan handed over the papers the old director had prepared.
Gao Guangbo glanced at Cheng Yuan and asked flatly, "Are you married?"
"Yes, I’m newly married. We don’t have any children yet."
"Let me see your ID."
Cheng Yuan handed his ID to Gao Guangbo.
Gao Guangbo looked up Cheng Yuan’s information, and his expression instantly soured. "I’m very sorry, but I see here that you have served time in prison. You do not meet the requirements for adopting a child."
At these words, several other people in line turned to stare at Cheng Yuan with disdain.
’This young man looks respectable enough, but he’s an ex-con?’
’The little girl is a bit plain-looking, but a girl’s appearance can change drastically as she grows up.’
’Is he adopting her just so he can have her for himself when she’s grown?’
’Or maybe even before she’s grown...’
Cheng Yuan frowned. "I did serve time, but I was framed. My case is going to be overturned soon. Besides, it was Youchu who asked to be adopted by me. Doesn’t that count for anything?"
Shen Youchu quickly spoke up in Cheng Yuan’s defense. "Sir, I’m the one who asked my big brother to adopt me! He’s a hero! He saved a lot of kidnapped children."
Hearing this, the onlookers’ attitude toward Cheng Yuan softened slightly.
Gao Guangbo, however, remained firm. "I’m sorry, but our regulations are clear. Anyone with a criminal record is ineligible to adopt. Please leave."
Cheng Yuan wasn’t ready to give up. "Is there any way to make an exception? What if my parents adopt her instead?"
"I’m very sorry. Your criminal history is on file. To avoid any potential negative influence on the child’s upbringing, your parents are also ineligible to adopt."
Hearing this, Shen Youchu burst into tears. "Big Brother, does this mean you can’t adopt me? *Sob...*"
Cheng Yuan comforted her, "There, there, Youchu, don’t cry. I’ll figure something out. I promise I’ll find a way to adopt you."
Gao Guangbo sneered. "Sir, forgive me for being blunt, but no matter what you try, you will not be able to adopt her."