When Rudolph brought back the medicine, the director of the poorhouse was very happy.
She thought that Rudolph and Yvonne came to inspect the poorhouse with Miss Ivy's letter of introduction, but Yvonne helped take care of the children all day, and when Rudolph came back, he brought valuable medicines. The director had a headache every time she went to the Thor Mining Company to apply for funding. Although Miss Ivy, the third daughter of the Thor family, supported the poorhouse, the funding was always delayed when Miss Ivy was not in Gasai Town.
Only when the leaders of Thor Mining came to inspect the poorhouse and take pictures, could she apply for funding more easily.
The medicines that Mr. Rudolph brought back were enough for the poorhouse to survive the winter.
In the evening, Rudolph waited for Yvonne, who was still reluctant to leave, at the door.
"Yvonne, do you like the orphanage?"
"Yes, I like it very much." Yvonne said as she rolled up her sleeves:
"Since I stopped being a patrolman, I didn't know what to do, but in the orphanage, I feel fulfilled. I taught them to read, taught them how to do female work, and I even told them briefly about things on the farm. Maybe they can be farmers when they grow up.
I like to see their hopeful eyes, as if they can live a very good life after growing up in the orphanage."
Yvonne became happier and happier as she spoke, and began to talk to Rudolph about the details of every day.
After listening for a while, Rudolph asked a more realistic question:
"Has the director of the orphanage ever thought about whether the orphanage can have some means of generating income, instead of relying entirely on funding from Thor Mining?"
"Yes, the director has been doing two things.
The first thing is to seek funding from other groups or individuals. It is somewhat dangerous to pin hopes only on Thor Mining. We need to increase publicity for the orphanage and reduce its ties to Thor Mining.
The second thing is to set a payback period.
Every child raised by the orphanage needs to work for the orphanage for three years and give part of their salary for the first three years to the orphanage.
The oldest child in the orphanage is now 15 years old, and the director is going to let him go to work, and the job is also arranged by Thor Mining. Soon, he will go to work in the iron mine of Thor Mining."
A few days later, Yvonne came to the orphanage and saw 15-year-old Hadley waiting for the director at the door.
Today, Hadley wore his best clothes and stood straight with joy.
"Hadley, are you going to work?"
"Yes, Miss Yvonne." Hadley had a good impression of the kind lady who had just come to the orphanage. He said, "I'm waiting for the director. The director said that Mr. Vanya will take me to the mining company."
Rudolph wanted to move around the town, so he found a new name for himself, Vanya.
"Work hard, and other children will follow your example!"
"I will definitely work hard, Miss Yvonne!"
Rudolph took Hadley to the iron mine. He had a letter of recommendation from the director of the orphanage in his hand, and the mine would directly accept Hadley.
That night, Hadley lived in the iron mine.
He thought he would be assigned a bed first, at least a place to sleep, but he didn't expect that he would be assigned a backpack first.
Hadley, who had eaten something casually in the canteen of the iron mine, went down to the mine to work a night shift without any transition.
This was very fresh. He was still in the orphanage in the morning and went down to the mine at night. He swung his pickaxe very hard, and he didn't feel tired when running. His legs were full of strength.
Half a month later, it was time to pay wages at the mine.
Hadley was standing in line. Although his face and body were dirty, his eyes were bright.
After the wages were paid, the mine would give a day off as usual. Hadley was very excited when he thought about going back to the orphanage, or going back to the orphanage with money.
"Hadley, work for 17 days, basic salary plus the mine subsidy, a total of 1 silver shield and 60 bronze shields." Hadley wiped the sweat from his palms on his clothes and took his salary.
After Hadley went back to wash up, he hurried to the orphanage.
When he entered the orphanage wearing his other clean miner's clothes, carrying the meat and biscuits he bought, all the children gathered around him.
When he saw the other younger children sharing the biscuits, Hadley felt an incomparable sense of accomplishment.
Then he chatted with the director and Miss Yvonne like the adults.
I don't know if it was because of excitement, but he was a little breathless and coughing when he spoke.
A week later, the younger children in the orphanage began to cough one after another.
Rudolph had not monitored any valuable new intelligence in the Baron's castle these days, so he did not go to the castle today, but took the three children with the most severe coughs to see a doctor.
The first person he thought of was Dr. Doolittle, who could perform spinal surgery. Dr. Doolittle's medical skills must be very advanced.
The three children were examined by Dr. Doolittle one by one. Dr. Doolittle put down his stethoscope:
"Tuberculosis, a highly contagious tuberculosis. These children are not in good health and have low resistance, so the symptoms are somewhat obvious."
"Tuberculosis?" Rudolph suddenly remembered the miner Otto: "Are there many miners with tuberculosis in the Thor Mining Company?"
Dr. Doolittle nodded: "Yes, many miners have tuberculosis."
Rudolph took away several children with tuberculosis and medicine, but he knew that tuberculosis was not so easy to treat.
After settling several children, Rudolph also went to the mining area.
He needed to bring Hadley back and let Hadley receive treatment as soon as possible. It was Hadley who infected the other children.
Just like the director said, the children in the orphanage are children with families. Hadley should not be in a dusty environment and let his tuberculosis become more and more serious.
In the reception room of the iron mine, Rudolph saw the dirty Hadley: "Hadley, come on, come with me to get treatment."
"I won't go." Hadley's eyes were firm, he didn't want to leave the mine.
Rudolph asked: "Why?"
"My wages will be deducted."
Hearing this answer, Rudolph couldn't help shaking his head: "Health is more important. If you get well, you can work for a long time. If you can't get well, maybe in a few years, you will be completely laid up."
"For some people, health is more important, but for me, money is more important than health." Hadley was determined: "I need money. I made a mistake. I know I infected other children with tuberculosis. I want to make money to pay for their medical expenses."
Rudolph shook his head: "Don't worry about the medical expenses. I will find a way."
"It's my fault. I must find a way."
Seeing the stubborn Hadley, Rudolph had no good solution.
Hadley was anxious to go to work, just took Rudolph's cough medicine and left the reception room.
Rudolph had no way to deal with the stubborn Hadley. When he was about to leave, he saw Dr. Doolittle from the window of the reception room.
Rudolph once again remembered the muttering:
"The seriously injured cavalrymen and the miners' diseases, the injuries of others, my dessert..."