Spring comes to the desperate place

Chapter 285 Whereabouts

It was naturally impossible for Song A'mo to come to the Charity Bureau to teach the children every day. He was old and not as energetic as before. If he really asked him to come to class every day, he would be tired. Song Chunlin discussed with the manager Shumo and decided to come three days a month like the scholar, and all the materials needed for the class would be prepared by Song Chunlin.

The steward uncle was a little embarrassed: "That won't do. Since it's for the children to use in class, all the materials should be prepared by us."

Song Chunlin did not refute him immediately, but reported all the materials in detail, including various baking molds, such as basins, egg beaters, cake molds, bread molds, etc., no less than ten kinds. The iron baking tray needed for baking cookies alone was not something the Charity Bureau could afford.

The salt and iron industry in Dajing was strictly managed. Salt permits were required to buy salt, and the raw materials for iron were expensive. An ordinary family was considered wealthy if they could own an iron pot. The most commonly used pottery pots were still clay pots.

The pots, pans, and utensils that Song Chunlin reported would cost several taels of silver in total, and they might need more than one set. With so many children in class together, at least seven or eight sets would be needed, which would add up to a considerable amount of money.

The more the steward uncle calculated, the heavier his mood became. He really didn't expect that learning a craft would be so expensive. This was just the cost of the tools, not to mention the ingredients. He had eaten those pastries before. There was not only flour in them, but also eggs, and even a scent of milk, which was not fishy at all.

The people of Dajing don't drink milk, so naturally they don't know how to remove the fishy smell of milk. Most of them have never even seen milk. When the steward Shumo thought of this, he began to consider backing out.

"Young Master Song, the materials you mentioned have already exceeded our expectations. If we add the materials, it will be a sky-high price. If we just want the children to learn a skill, the price is too high."

Song Chunlin knew that he was worried about the money, but he asked the steward Shumo to take a long-term view.

"I dare say you can't find another shop in Beijing that makes this kind of pastries. Besides, even if those people want to imitate them, it will take a lot of time to get the materials and tools. You can seize this time and firmly control the market. Moreover, these pastries have a customer base from high-ranking officials to ordinary people. We don't need to sell expensive ones at the beginning. You can sell small cupcakes and cookies to ordinary people. Those who have some extra money at home will not be stingy with the money for these food. The return on investment in the catering industry is fast, which is much better than learning other skills."

Song Chunlin spent a lot of effort to finally convince the manager Shumo. This would not only provide the children with another way out, but also reduce the burden on the Charity Bureau by selling the cakes in the future. It was a win-win situation.

After finishing the business, Song Chunlin finally had time to ask the steward uncle about Songsong's situation.

Speaking of Songsong, the steward Shumo couldn't help but sigh: "Alas, it's hard to say. This child has a knot in his heart. The one who tied the bell must untie it. He will never be well until he can find his sister."

Song Chunlin guessed this, so he did not meet the child as soon as he arrived. In fact, this matter was not his business. The court had their own people to track down the whereabouts of the abducted child, but in fact, everyone had given up hope a long time ago, but they just didn't dare to tell Song Song.

Song Chunlin picked up a cake and walked in front of Songsong. Songsong had just taken medicine and was a little sleepy. When he saw someone coming, he just raised his eyelids slightly and did not see clearly who the person was.

Until a cake emitting a sweet aroma was placed in front of him.

"Try it, this cake is quite delicious."

Songsong was not very hungry, but the cake was so sweet that just the smell made him salivate. He swallowed hard and took the cake after a long while.

"Thank you... who are you?"

"It's big brother!" Qiaoqiao also came over with the biscuits she had just received, saying that she wanted to share them with Songsong. However, when she saw Song Chunlin, she excitedly surrounded Song Chunlin and even forgot to pass the biscuits to Songsong.

Songsong learned from Qiaoqiao that the person in front of him was the big brother who saved them from the dire situation that day.

"Brother Songsong, look, he is the magical big brother, who came from the sky like a god and brought heavenly soldiers and generals to save us. It's a pity that you didn't see it at that time. The big brother was so majestic at that time, and many soldiers listened to him."

Song Song remained skeptical about this, but inexplicably felt that there was a sense of déjà vu about Song Chunlin. He couldn't describe the feeling, as if he had seen him in a dream, wearing similar clothes and with a pleasant floral scent. He gave him a sip of sweet spring water. After drinking the spring water, he felt warm all over, as if he was immersed in warm water, and felt particularly comfortable.

Song Song regarded these as his fantasies when he was unconscious. Even when he was not unconscious, he would fantasize about a great hero coming to rescue him and his sister.

Unfortunately, the great hero did come, but he only saved him and not his sister.

If only the great hero could have arrived sooner.

Songsong seemed to be frightened by his own thoughts. He lowered his eyes and looked at the ground, trying to hide his guilt.

Song Chunlin didn't know what was going on in his heart. He just squatted down and asked him if he still wanted to see his sister.

Song Song was silent for a long time before he said, "Yes, I miss my sister."

Along with the words, tears also burst out. Songsong cried and choked as he expressed his sadness and regret. All his emotions were vented at this moment. He cried until he was out of breath. The housekeeper Shumo and others saw this and breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s good that he can cry. This child has been suppressing all his emotions deep in his heart. Adults know that this is not a good thing, but for children, crying and venting, letting out all the depression in their hearts, their mental illness will be almost half cured.

Song Chunlin sat beside him and handed him a few handkerchiefs when he was crying. Song Song cried for about fifteen minutes. His eyelids were swollen, his nose was red, and he kept hiccuping.

The three handkerchiefs were soaked with tears and snot. When Song Song realized what was happening, he looked at Song Chunlin embarrassedly. While burping, he did not forget to assure Song Chunlin that he would definitely wash the handkerchiefs clean.

Song Chunlin looked at the three handkerchiefs with disdain: "No, you should keep them for yourself."

Songsong felt even more embarrassed when he heard this and lowered his head.

Song Chunlin sat aside and asked him if he would like to attend the baking training class.

"Baking? What is that?"

"It's a skill that specializes in making all kinds of pastries. After you learn it, you will have an extra source of income. Although the Charity Bureau has a grant from the court, it is not easy to feed so many children. Besides, you are twelve years old this year, right?"

Songsong bit his lower lip and nodded slowly.

Children in the Charity Bureau will be released when they turn fourteen to fend for themselves. He is twelve years old this year, and he will have to leave the Charity Bureau in three years at most. Now he has nothing and can only beg for a living if he goes out. If he finds his sister, how will he support her?

Songsong is a smart child. After Song Chunlin gave him a little guidance, he understood the problem, so he looked at Song Chunlin with determination.

"Brother, can I really go to that baking class? Will it be expensive?" Song Song said the last sentence with a weak voice. He was short of money right now, and if he needed to spend money, he definitely wouldn't have it.

Song Chunlin seemed to see his concerns and told him with a smile: "You don't have to spend any money. This is donated by kind-hearted people in the society. Just study with peace of mind."

Song Song's puffy eyes seemed to be emitting light, and he asked Song Chunlin anxiously: "Are you serious? Can we really study without spending money?"

"Of course. Not only do you not have to pay tuition, we also provide you with all the materials you need for study. You can also sell the finished products."

Song Song never thought that there would be such a good thing in the world. If people in ancient times wanted to learn a skill, they had to first pay enough apprenticeship fee, and secondly, they had to be an apprentice to the master for a few years. Apprentices did not receive any wages, that is, they worked for the master's family for free. In essence, they were almost the same as slaves. If the master was in a good mood, he would teach the apprentice a little. Some black-hearted people might not teach at all and keep the apprentice to work for them for free.

Song Song thought that the classes Song Chunlin talked about were the same as taking apprentices. He never expected that not only did Song Chunlin not require him to pay tuition, but he also did not need him to become a disciple. Moreover, everyone in the Charity Bureau could learn, not only children but adults could also study together.

Adults are obviously more excited than children about learning a skill. This is a skill that they have acquired for free, so who wouldn’t be excited?

Song Chunlin looked at Songsong's hands and feet, and tapped his injured hands and feet: "If you want to go to class, you have to heal your injuries first. It's not easy to work with missing limbs, understand?"

When Songsong heard that Song Chunlin despised him, he hurriedly said that he would take good care of his injuries.

"Don't worry, big brother. I'm strong and healthy. I'll be well soon. Please let me go to class. I want to set up a stall after I learn how to do it. I have to support my sister."

Song Chunlin smiled triumphantly, "Then you have to work hard. Classes will start in half a month. If everyone can do it by then, but you can't..."

"I will definitely get better!"

Ever since Songsong vowed that he would get better, he really started to get better visibly, not only physically but also mentally. Perhaps it was the responsibility of supporting his sister that acted as a carrot in front. Over the past half month, he has been obedient in taking medicine, exercising appropriately, and striving to go to class as soon as possible.

The steward uncle was very relieved to see him like this: "Young Master Song is the one who has a solution. Look, isn't this much better?"

As Song Song's health improved day by day, several ovens of the Charity Bureau were completed. The production process of this oven was not complicated, but the size was a little larger. Song Chunlin asked them to make three. He had people build a shed in the middle of the way from the baking classroom to the oven, so that even on rainy days, there was no need to worry about the food getting wet.

In addition to these hardware facilities, various tools and molds have also been made. Due to technical limitations, these iron plates look more bulky and may be a bit heavy when lifted, but this is not a problem. As long as the oven and tools are solved, the next materials will be simple.

When Song Chunlin came to the Charity Bureau again, Song Song was already able to walk a few steps with the help of a cane. When he saw Song Chunlin coming, he greeted him with a smile.

"Big brother, you're here!"

Songsong began to stagger after taking a few steps, and Qiaoqiao, who was beside him, immediately dragged a chair over for him to sit on.

Song Chunlin saw that he had recovered well and was not as depressed as before. It seemed that the combination of mental suggestion and spiritual spring water was really effective.

Songsong didn't know that he was being used as a guinea pig by Song Chunlin. The fact that he was living a hard and positive life every day was not entirely due to mental suggestion, but more because he was a very strong person. Otherwise, he would not have been able to survive so tenaciously under such circumstances.

The more Song Chunlin saw Songsong trying hard to improve himself, the more he didn't know how to start. According to the news from the spies sent out to investigate the case, Songsong's sister had most likely met with misfortune. Now Songsong's spiritual support was his sister, and he couldn't bring himself to say such a cruel thing.

Every time Song Chunlin would hypnotize himself, he wanted to see her alive or dead, and the best outcome was no trace of her whereabouts. Instead of letting him know the cruel truth that his sister might not be around, it would be better to keep him hanging so that he would have a thought that would support him to live.

Song Chunlin only told the housekeeper Shumo the news about his sister Songsong in private, and Shumo sighed when he heard it.

"I had guessed it a long time ago. Those bandits were extremely vicious. Song Song's attempt to tip off the police by escaping had already angered them. These people love to stab people in the heart. How could the child be safe if he fell into their hands?"

Song Chunlin told him: "It's good for you to know this by yourself. Now Song Song can only live on the thought of his sister. Let's not tell him. If he wants to know one day in the future, you can tell him."

The steward uncle was still a little hopeful: "Didn't they say that his whereabouts are unknown? Since it is just missing, it doesn't necessarily mean he is gone. Anyway, if he asks me, I will tell him the truth. As for what he thinks, it is not our place to influence him."

Song Chunlin nodded: "Just hold on for a year or two. Over time, he will figure it out."

The steward Shumo also said, "That's the only way. Young Master Song, thank you for your help in finding out about this matter."

"It's just a little effort, nothing worth mentioning."