Chapter 75 Meeting At The Welfare Home (1/2)

Chapter 75: Meeting At The Welfare Home

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

They left for home on Sunday.

Hans ate an ice-cream and said, ”Let’s handle the toys first. We’ll go to the general store. Those will be easy to sell—especially the dolls. Let’s get rid of them quickly.”

”Why are you so scared of dolls?” asked Li Du.

Hans laughed loudly, ”What kind of joke is that? Me, scared of dolls? What is there to be scared of about those Barbie dolls? I’m not scared—I just don’t like them. Actually, I hate those things!”

”You’re scared,” Clyne said while driving. ”Otherwise, you wouldn’t have just spoken that much.”

Hans glowered at him. ”Just pay attention to the road. Shut your trap!”

”It’s alright if you don’t want to talk about it,” said Li Du, ”but we can’t sell the Barbie dolls.”

”What do you want to do with them if not sell them?” cried Hans.

Li Du shot him a strange look. He laughed dryly, ”Alright, I admit that I am scared of them. Don’t you think that they’re creepy? They look like people, but they aren’t. Their expressions are wooden, with fake smiles and dull, lifeless eyes. F*ck!”

Saying that, he kicked the dashboard in fear.

Li Du patted his shoulder. ”You’ve watched too many horror movies. You should watch less of them. And go check out the Uncanny Valley Hypothesis. It’ll help you get over it.”

”I don’t need to know about any hypothesis. You haven’t told me what you’re going to do with those dolls.”

Li Du smiled mysteriously. ”Just leave it to me. You’ll find out when we get there.”

Their destination was obviously Mother Mesa’s Home, which was on their way to Flagstaff. Hans was very familiar with the welfare home. Seeing the direction in which they went, he understood what Li Du had planned.

”You want to give the dolls to the kids?”

”Why not?” asked Li Du. ”Most of the dolls’ packaging hasn’t even been opened. They’re literally brand-new. Why sell them as second-hand stuff? The kids want new Barbie dolls, so why don’t we give them what they want?”

In Chinese culture, giving second-hand stuff as presents wasn’t encouraged. But in America, this wasn’t a problem. It was fine as long as they performed their original functions. Americans were practical people; they didn’t look down on second-hand stuff.

Which was why America was full of stores which sold second-hand stuff, especially general stores.

This culture could also be seen in Hollywood films, for example, the popular TV series on CBS Two Broke Girls. It contained lots of scenes of the sisters hunting for good stuff in second-hand stores.

Hans shrugged. ”Sure. But I wouldn’t give them dolls. I’d buy something else for them.”

There was a Walmart near the welfare home. They went in and bought coupons. This way, if the welfare home needed anything, Mother Mesa could buy it herself.

When they arrived at the home, there was an ambulance in the driveway.

At this, Hans jumped down hastily. He caught a child and asked, ”Warren, what’s going on? Is someone ill?”

The child laughed. ”Nothing’s wrong, Big Brother Fox. It’s just the doctors from St. John, here to give us free check-ups. Hey, did you bring anything for us?”

Hans brought the boxes down. Opening them, he said, ”The presents are from your Uncle Li this time. Go and call the girls. Your uncle Li prepared the presents just for them.”