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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Li stood on the small platform at the front of the cafeteria, tapping the microphone in his hand. The speakers overhead crackled to life as he looked down at the crowd of villagers below. He raised the cup of liquor that his son had handed him high into the air. "Let us raise our first glass to celebrate a year of favorable weather!"
The villagers lifted their cups in response, and after three cheers of "Ura," they downed their shots of vodka or juice. Xu Li filled his own cup with vodka again and raised it once more. "This toast is for everyone's health and happiness!"
Once the second round was finished, they quickly poured more drinks. Xu Li took a third cup and said, "This time, I have brought back nineteen sons and daughters from Irkutsk. Their previous lives may have been difficult, but now they will have many loving grandparents, uncles, aunts, and brothers and sisters to care for them!" He pointed to the ground beneath him. "Where are we? Hongqi Village! Yes, this is Hongqi Village!"
Xu Li raised his cup again. "This third toast is for my sons and daughters; for your grandchildren; for your nieces and nephews; for your younger brothers and sisters, or older siblings; we are welcoming new members to our Hongqi Village family!"
He looked down at the children wiping their tears and shouted, "Ura!"
This time, the newly arrived children joined in the cheers with enthusiasm before finishing their juice. Under the comforting presence of their elders, they wiped their tears away and revealed long-lost smiles.
They had worried that the man would be like those at the orphanage who only pretended to care. But he had called over some older siblings to take them shopping at the mall, buying new clothes and toys, as well as new backpacks and school supplies just for them. Each child received a smart bracelet and a phone, watched movies together, and enjoyed plenty of delicious food before boarding the bus back to the village.
The rooms they returned to were slightly cramped but tidy, with small plush toys on their bedside tables that made them feel the warmth of home.
"Dad," a boy who looked about five years old approached Xu Li and reached up to pat his head. "You’re the oldest among us five boys. Take good care of your younger brothers. If anyone bullies you, just call on the boys from our village."
"They will stand up for you. Don't be afraid of anyone outside. There isn't a single coward among the children from Hongqi Village, you know that, right?"
Leonid nodded and hugged his father's sturdy waist. "I understand, Dad."
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