Free Skinner's Box (Fang Mu (Eastern Crimes)) by Lei Mi Page B

"No. You are the only person who has given be financial assistance without asking for anything in return." He looked into Fang Mu's eyes and said very earnestly, "I once lost my faith in humanity. But you have helped me find it again."
    Fang Mu's face flushed a deeper red. In fact, he had already gotten something in return, years ago: one person's life. His financial assistance paled in comparison to that.
    He glanced over the little two-story building. It was completely enveloped by the night already, and the faint light glowing outward from its tiny windows shone like pair after pair of warm eyes gazing mischievously at Fang Mu and Teacher Zhou.
    His heart leapt. "Teacher Zhou, I have an idea."
    "Oh? What's that?"
    "You should consider giving this orphanage a name."
    "A name? Why? I'm not planning on drumming up hype for this place or anything."
    "Not to drum up hype," Fang Mu said sincerely. "For the children. If it's called an orphanage, then I'm afraid these kids will never be able to forget that they grew up in an orphanage."
    "Very true, very true!" Teacher Zhou was very excited. "Go on."
    "These kids are disabled or have been abandoned or both their parents are dead. I'm sure they all have very low self-esteem when it comes to thinking about their origins." Fang Mu paused. "If we want them to have happy memories of their life here after they've grown up, we have to name this place something that will give them a feeling of comfort and a sense of belonging."
    Teacher Zhou stood. "Ah, Little Fang, I never would have pegged you for someone so full of ideas." He cupped his hands around his mouth and began to shout. "Everyone come on out! We're having a meeting!"
    After a moment of silence, the little building began to roar into life.
    A few minutes later, groups of children were pouring out of the building. Sister Zhao and Liao Yafan followed behind them, wiping their hands on their skirts as they walked.
    Teacher Zhou stood on the edge of a flowerbed and signaled for everyone to gather around.
    "Just now Uncle Fang and I were having a chat." He pointed at Fang Mu. "We're going to give our home a name. What do you all think of that?"
    The children, suddenly excited, all shouted their approval at once. Sister Zhao's lips were pursed into a smile, too; apparently no matter what Teacher Zhou did, she would support him.
    "Okay, everyone, so, what should we name it?"
    The crowd quieted down as each child scrunched his or her eyebrows in concentration. Even the mentally handicapped children, copying the other kids, seemed to be racking their brains to think of something. After a few moments of silence, the group began to sing out a variety of names:
    "Compassion Primary School!"
    "Hope Orphanage!"
    "Tomorrow Will Be Better Welfare Institute!"
    "Grandpa Zhou's Charity Institute!"
    The children discussed and argued amongst themselves, each insisting that his or her idea was the best. Teacher Zhou laughed as he watched everyone, sometimes encouraging the more timid of the children to speak out, sometimes looking up into the night sky, deep in thought.
    "I think we should stop debating it. Old Zhou, you established this orphanage all by yourself; it should be named after you!" Sister Zhao made a sweeping gesture with her hands over the courtyard. "Let's call it the Zhou Guoqing Welfare Agency."
    The children clapped excitedly.
    "No." Teacher Zhou slowly withdrew his gaze from the night sky. His expression was solemn and gentle, but his mouth was still smiling. He said quietly, "Angel Hall."
    Within seconds everyone had quieted down, seeming suddenly bewitched by these two words. Sister Zhao's hands were still in front of her chest as if frozen in the middle of a clap.
    "Angel Hall..." she murmured, her face unexpectedly shading a bit pink. "Angel Hall…"
    One by one, from all around, the young voices began to echo her.
    "Angel Hall..."
    "Angel Hall..."
    It seemed that everyone was reflecting on these two words in earnest, thinking