The Young Girl's Chronicles of Demon-Slaying

Chapter 6: Thoughts

Song Wencheng and his wife got up relatively early, rising just after six. After finishing breakfast, Song Wencheng left for work at the hospital a little after seven, while Lin Yuqin, after buying a full set of clothes and shoes for the little girl and leaving her breakfast, went out to buy groceries. In the past, she would usually take the longer route to the farmers’ market to buy groceries, but today, because of the little girl, she didn’t dare go too far—she was afraid that if she left and the girl woke up to find no one there, she might run away again. So she went straight to the nearby supermarket, bought a few simple ingredients for lunch, and hurried back. She had assumed that since the little girl had looked so exhausted last night, she might not wake up until late today; as long as she didn’t take too long, she should be able to return before the little girl woke up. However, when she got home, she saw someone sitting on the living room couch, watching TV. When she had left, the news had just ended; now commercials were playing, and the little girl watching TV hadn’t changed the channel. She was just sitting there—it was hard to tell if she was daydreaming or actually watching the show. Although their interaction had been brief—less than half a day, in fact—Lin Yuqin felt that this young girl was not only polite but also very mature. She clearly looked to be only in her teens, but when they actually spoke, Lin Yuqin distinctly got the impression she was talking to an adult. Judging by her tone and demeanor, this wasn’t a deliberate act—it seemed perfectly natural and unforced. This was a very interesting little girl. Perhaps she’d been through a lot—otherwise, how could she be so emotionally mature? But precisely because she was so mature, she lacked the innocence and liveliness typical of a child, coming across as somewhat quiet and reserved. Lin Yuqin didn’t give it much thought and walked into the living room carrying the groceries she’d bought. Hearing a sound behind him, Fang Heng turned his head, glanced over, and greeted her: “Good morning, Auntie.” Lin Yuqin looked as if she were in her thirties or just shy of forty, but she was actually forty—she simply took good care of herself and looked younger than her age. At her age, even if he had looked like he was in his twenties back then, calling her “Auntie” would have been perfectly normal—and now, it made even more sense. “Good morning!” Lin Yuqin replied with a smile, glancing at the TV and asking, “Why aren’t you watching cartoons? They’re on Channel 16.” “There’s nothing worth watching,” Fang Heng shook his head. He wasn’t in the mood to watch TV. He knew he couldn’t avoid the police—or rather, there was no point in trying to avoid them—so he was thinking about how to come up with a plausible cover story that fit his current situation. Of course, as the saying goes, one lie requires more lies to cover it up, and after patching things together over and over, eventually all the lies will be exposed. So what he needed was a backstory that was half-true, half-false, and very simple. The simpler it is, the fewer loopholes there are. During questioning, she could simply say she was an orphan, but when asked why she left the Orphanage, she could say she had come out to look for her parents, or that she no longer wanted to stay there, and so on. After all, as long as the reason is simple, straightforward, and basically plausible, there’s no need to worry about any problems arising. While Lin Yuqin was gone and Fang Heng sat motionless in the living room, he came up with these ideas on the spot. They might not be very well thought out, but they’d be enough to get him by for now. Lin Yuqin didn’t take Fang Heng’s words to heart—what child doesn’t like watching cartoons? Perhaps this little girl named Fang Heng was just feeling self-conscious and too shy to change the channel? She first carried the groceries she’d bought into the kitchen. When she came back out, she walked straight to the sofa, picked up the remote control from the coffee table, and took the initiative to switch the channel to Channel 16 for Fang Heng so she could watch cartoons. Lin Yuqin’s gesture left Fang Heng a bit speechless, but since it didn’t really matter either way—and explaining it would be a hassle—he simply kept quiet. After changing the channel, Lin Yuqin sat down next to Fang Heng. She glanced at the TV, then at Fang Heng, and seeing that he was indeed watching the cartoon intently, she nodded in satisfaction. Kids really do love cartoons, don’t they! No matter how mature they might seem, you can’t change their nature. After watching the cartoon with Fang Heng for a while, Lin Yuqin finally said to him, “A police officer will be coming to see you shortly. If you’re having any trouble, you can tell the officer about it, okay?” “Mm-hmm!” Fang Heng remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly. Although he wore a blank expression, as long as someone was good-looking, they always seemed cute no matter what. Lin Yuqin reached out and gently patted his head—it was a very unique feeling. The two police officers sat down on the sofa to Fang Heng’s left. The male officer took out a notebook and a pen, while the female officer glanced at the expressionless Fang Heng and began questioning him. The entire questioning process followed a straightforward question-and-answer format: the female officer asked, and Fang Heng answered, appearing very cooperative. Most of his answers were half-true, half-false stories he had prepared in advance. In the end, the information the police obtained was pretty much what he had prepared: that he was an orphan, abandoned by his parents at a young age, and that he had come out this time to look for his parents, and so on. Everything he said was a mix of truth and fiction, but whenever the questions delved deeper—such as the address of the Orphanage—he remained silent. As for whether he was a native of Yashan City or had come from elsewhere, he was more than happy to elaborate, telling the police where he had lived before—and the more detailed his account, the better, as it served to prove he had actually lived there. Because he cooperated so well, the questioning wrapped up quickly. The female officer glanced at her notebook, confirmed there were no omissions or errors, then said a quick goodbye and, along with her colleague, got up and left the living room. Lin Yuqin saw the two officers out. Once they reached the courtyard, Lin Yuqin finally asked, “Officers, what are your plans from here?” The two officers—a man and a woman—exchanged a glance. The female officer paused to think for a moment, then said, “If what the little girl said is true, then barring any unforeseen circumstances, she’ll likely be sent to an Orphanage.” “Will she be adopted?” Lin Yuqin asked again. “At this age, the chances are very slim,” the female officer said, shaking her head. “The girl is almost fourteen. Even if she’s sent to an Orphanage, she won’t stay there for long. Ultimately, she’ll have to fend for herself.” Lin Yuqin fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. After seeing the two officers to the door, the female officer finally spoke up: “Could you please look after this little girl for the time being? Someone will be coming to pick her up shortly.” After saying her goodbyes and just as she was about to leave, she was suddenly called back by Lin Yuqin. “Officer, wait a moment!” “What is it?” the female officer turned around and asked. “Officer, do you think I could adopt her?” Lin Yuqin voiced her thoughts. The two officers exchanged a glance, and the male officer asked, “Do you have any children of your own?” “I have one, but she’s twenty-one and currently attending college out of town.” Although Lin Yuqin hadn’t specifically studied adoption regulations, she’d heard enough to know that people who already have children aren’t allowed to adopt another child—which was why she was so hesitant, fearing she might not meet the requirements. “From what I understand, if it’s confirmed that the girl’s parents are both deceased, you’d meet the adoption requirements.” The male officer continued, “However, if you really want to adopt her, we’ll need to confirm whether she actually has any relatives, then obtain her consent, and finally get a certificate from the Orphanage… Simply put, the first step will take some time, and the girl’s opinion is the most important factor. If she doesn’t like the idea or doesn’t want to be adopted by you, then there’s nothing we can do.” “Well… I’ll figure something out,” Lin Yuqin said after a moment’s thought, then asked, “How long will it take for the police to verify this?” “A week at the earliest, or half a month at the latest,” the policewoman said. “In the meantime, can she stay at my place?” Lin Yuqin asked. “If you really want to adopt her, that shouldn’t be a problem,” the male officer replied after a moment’s thought. “Thank you so much for your help!” Lin Yuqin smiled and hurriedly expressed her gratitude. “We’ll be happy to help the girl find a home,” the female officer said with a smile. After that, the three said their goodbyes once more. Lin Yuqin stood at the doorway, watching the police car drive away. (End of Chapter)