Chapter 249: Hua Wensheng

Li Xiue gave Xie Yuanyuan a look of annoyance, "If you don't share a blanket with me in the future, I'll thank the heavens!"

An Yinan came out from the inner room and could feel the resentment from Li Xiu'e, unable to help but burst into laughter.

She completely ignored Xie Yuanyuan's pitiful little expression.

"Why didn't you sleep a bit longer?" Li Xiu'e asked.

They had been on the train for so long and chatted so late yesterday.

After An Yinan finished washing up, she said, "I have something to do and need to go to the County; I probably won't be back to the village until the afternoon."

She needed to check on the old man at the Waste Recycling Station; if there hadn't been an urgent matter, the old man wouldn't have made her return in such a hurry.

If she hadn't seen Li Xiu'e and Uncle Niu yesterday, she would have gone to the Waste Recycling Station to see the old man first.

"Drink a bowl of porridge before you go; always being hungry is bad for your stomach." Li Xiu'e ladled a bowl of porridge and handed it to her.

After An Yinan took it, she used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of salted cucumber; it was crisp, juicy, and had only a faint salty taste, which she used to finish the bowl of porridge.

After the three of them went to work, An Yinan instructed Yun Shu and Yun Mo that she was going to the County and they didn't need to follow her.

She strolled along the familiar road, memories constantly welling up in her mind.

Her first meeting with Chen Xun was along this very dirt road; at that time, that flash of military green made her remember this person.

Thinking of this, she smiled involuntarily, her steps light.

The wooden door was still left ajar; An Yinan opened the door and saw the person lying on the rocking chair.

"You're still quite leisurely, huh?" An Yinan found it funny despite herself.

Six words had made her rush here at full speed, yet this person was rocking away on his chair so leisurely—may I ask, isn't that a bit excessive?

The old man heard the voice and slowly got up.

"I'm leaving," the old man said those four words directly, cutting off what An Yinan was about to say next.

"Leaving? Go where?" An Yinan asked anxiously.

She then walked up quickly, grabbed the old man's wrist, and only felt relieved after checking his pulse.

The old man's health was fine!

The old man was getting on in years; although he hadn't stopped taking the Health Pill in the last year, she was too far away and couldn't come once a week like before to see him often and lend a hand when needed.

"Alright, stop fussing; my health is perfectly fine!" The old man's temper was stubborn as could be, but his eyes were full of gratification.

For a girl he had met only by chance to treat him like family, he could consider his life satisfied.

They were both teacher and friend, or perhaps more like friends who had transcended age; they would bicker together, and they would act together.

But they would cooperate because they had a common goal: to protect more national treasures and ensure that the national treasures of Huaxia would never flow abroad.

"Tell me about it?" Having confirmed the old man was in good health, her tense heart finally relaxed, and she pulled up a small wooden stool to sit opposite him.

The old man looked at the little girl opposite him; her originally lively and spirited face was now set, looking somewhat serious.

"My surname is Hua, the Hua of Huaxia!" As soon as the old man spoke, he sent An Yinan reeling.

This surname was truly too special; there were very few people with this surname in history, but any one of them you pulled out was a titan in their field.

The most famous one was the Director of the Education Bureau!

From primary school to university, his influence was in the compilation of many books, leaving a brilliant and colorful mark on the history of Huaxia.

That person was named!

"Hua Wensheng, that is my name." The old man's expression was indifferent; he hadn't mentioned his own name for too many years.

Being reported by his own student didn't seem like a very glorious thing.

Although his old friends had gone through much trouble, he eventually ended up in this County, guarding this Waste Recycling Station.

After he left Beijing, he never mentioned his name to anyone again; everyone just called him "Old man" or "The old man who collects trash," and he would only respond faintly.

That name, he had ultimately brought shame upon it.

Although he had never done anything against his conscience, the fact that he had taught such a student while educating others was the greatest failure of his life!

Although An Yinan had been mentally prepared, she was still shocked by the name.

Sure enough, it was him!

A titan of literature, yet reduced to such a state.

How did the proud him manage to endure it?

"Heard of me?" Hua Wensheng looked at An Yinan with amusement; the shock in this little girl's eyes was not hidden at all!

An Yinan smiled, "Primary school, fourth grade, lesson three."

"Junior high, first year, first semester, unit four, lesson two; junior high, first year, second semester, unit one, lesson one." (This is fictional for the plot, please don't mind~)

"Do you need me to continue?"

An Yinan scratched her brow; in fact, she knew a lot, and her review over these past few years had allowed her to memorize the textbooks by heart.

She then added, "Or should I recite a few more of your literary works? That's not impossible either!"

An Yinan and Hua Wensheng were very strange; aside from the secrecy of her space, she didn't care about exposing anything else.

Her intelligence, her medical skills, her strength, and even her cooking!

In the past, in An Yinan's eyes, Hua Wensheng was a stubborn old man, but he had a strong patriotic heart; he viewed money as dirt, yet he made her promise that national treasures would never flow out of the country.

He had his own principles, but he also had a flexible mind.

"No need, no need; reciting the text is enough, right? Why did you even memorize the author?" Hua Wensheng knew this little girl was smart, but he never knew her memory was this good.

Having been at the Waste Recycling Station for many years, he couldn't help but flip through those textbooks occasionally; seeing his own handwriting from the past, he couldn't help but touch it gently, yet he never expected that someone would still remember.

An Yinan gave a proud "humph" twice; you scared me! Can't I show off a little?

"So you are leaving; is it because the higher-ups are coming to take you back?" Ever since An Yinan knew he was Hua Wensheng, she had guessed why the old man said he was leaving.

Hua Wensheng nodded, "The sky has cleared; the country still needs me. While these old bones of mine are still sturdy and I can still do my best for the country, I want to step back out."

"Actually, people from above came to pick me up half a month ago, but I was worried about you; I always wanted to see you one last time and say a proper goodbye." Hua Wensheng no longer had his former dead-eyed look; instead, he was full of drive.

The country still needs me, and I want to step out.

He loved Huaguo, loved it so passionately, loved it so sincerely.

As long as the country still needs him, he can step out.

Step out of the deathly silence, step out of the haze, forget the past, and only look to the present.

The sky has brightened!

"I will keep those national treasures safe; when the sky truly brightens, I will let them be revealed to the world, not for trade, not for gifting," An Yinan solemnly promised.

Hua Wensheng stared intently at An Yinan, then burst into loud laughter.

"Apart from my old friends, An Yinan, you are the first person I have trusted."

Especially young people!

Ever since he was reported by a student with forged evidence, he never trusted anyone else again; An Yinan was the first.

Back then he had no choice but to trust, but now it seems he has won this gamble—not a gamble on those priceless national treasures, but a gamble on An Yinan's character.

He won!