If it weren't for An Yuqian's voice, Ren Xiaosu wouldn't have found this place. It was An Yuqian's voice that had attracted him here.
"Was my voice that loud?" An Yuqian was stunned. Then he looked at the sky. "Are you going home?"
"Mhm." Ren Xiaosu looked into the yard and saw the old men and women were quite happy. He asked An Yuqian curiously, "Were they the ones who won money from you?"
"Yeah," An Yuqian said with a smile.
"Did you know about them secretly switching the cards?" Ren Xiaosu asked.
An Yuqian fell silent. He pulled Ren Xiaosu out of the alley. Ren Xiaosu suddenly understood. "You lost money to them on purpose?"
"Yes," An Yuqian said with a sigh.
Ren Xiaosu suddenly realized this matter might have something to do with why An Yuqian was living such a dispirited life.
As a matter of fact, Ren Xiaosu had asked the palace about An Yuqian's proficiency in mathematics and physics. In the end, the palace said he was at the master level.
Ren Xiaosu had thought he would be at the perfect level. However, the palace said there was no perfect level in science, so everyone was only at the master level.
Ren Xiaosu could understand this. After all, humans were still in the process of exploring science, so there was no way they could reach the so-called perfect level.
But for a master of mathematics and physics to be reduced to guarding a library, Ren Xiaosu would definitely not believe there was no story behind this.
Ren Xiaosu asked, "Who are they to you?"
"They're the family of two of my good friends. They're also my students." An Yuqian said, "During an experiment, an accident happened in our laboratory. Due to my negligence, an explosion occurred. As my assistants, both of them died in that experiment."
"What experiment?" Ren Xiaosu guessed, "A nuclear experiment?"
"If an accident of that level really happened, I'm afraid you won't live to see Stronghold 88," An Yuqian snapped.
"Oh." Ren Xiaosu had thought that An Yuqian was working in this field. "What happened after that?"
"After that, I was fired and lost my job. Even my girlfriend broke up with me. Before she left, she even took the tortoise we were raising at home with her," An Yuqian said with a sigh.
"So you're depressed?" Ren Xiaosu didn't quite understand.
"What else? If it were you, what would you do? "An Yuqian asked.
Ren Xiaosu pondered and said, "At least let's split the tortoises. We can bring our own wine."
An Yuqian was confused.
Weren't they feeling sad? Why did they suddenly talk about splitting the tortoise?
He didn't know that for refugees like Ren Xiaosu, even if their loved ones had passed away, they still had to live their lives as usual. Who would have the time to be sentimental?
Ren Xiaosu had seen too many people in town. The day before, his family had passed away, and the next day, he had to go back to work at the factory.
The two of them walked along the long street. Under the dim streetlights, An Yuqian's figure looked especially bleak.
Ren Xiaosu said, "Then you deliberately lost money to them to make their lives easier, right?"
"That's right." An Yuqian nodded. "It doesn't matter to me since I can survive no matter what. But it's different for them. If they lose their children, no one will take care of them."
"Alright then." Ren Xiaosu sighed and said, "You're quite a loyal friend."
"After all, they died because of me," An Yuqian said.
"Mhm, see you tomorrow morning!" Ren Xiaosu waved and parted ways with An Yuqian. He couldn't empathize with An Yuqian's grief, but he should respect it.
An Yuqian suddenly called out to Ren Xiaosu and asked, "Why do you want to learn knowledge?"
Ren Xiaosu turned around on the dark street and said, "I've answered that question before."
"But do you know what the end of science is?" An Yuqian asked.
"I don't know," Ren Xiaosu said with a shake of his head.
"There's no end to it." An Yuqian said, "That's what makes people despair."
"What's there to despair about?" Ren Xiaosu did not understand.
An Yuqian no longer looked like he was talking to Ren Xiaosu. Instead, he was talking to himself. "There were once creatures that lived on this land for 165 million years, while our human race has only existed for slightly more than three million years. So there's no need to worry about natural disasters or sudden changes. You and I might not even get to see the end of the world during our lifetimes …. The only thing that can destroy humanity is humans themselves."
Ren Xiaosu suddenly felt a little confused. He did not know why An Yuqian was telling him this, nor did he know why An Yuqian had suddenly gone crazy. He asked An Yuqian, "Then what do you think humans will use to destroy themselves?"
"Science."
These two words were unusually abrupt in the night. It was like a destiny that would come at the end of a long road.
"You're crazy." Ren Xiaosu waved it off and went home.
…
When he got home, Ren Xiaosu realized everyone was waiting for him in the yard. He looked at everyone's expressions and said, "Why do I get the feeling that something bad is about to happen?"
Yan Liuyuan came over and handed him an invitation. The words on the invitation were gilded, and there were complicated patterns at the corners. There were also exquisite tassels that extended from the hinges of the invitation.
The invitation was sealed with wax. There was an exquisite picture of a green goat on the wax seal, which was the symbol of the Yang Clan.
Yan Liuyuan said, "Someone delivered it to us tonight. They said the Yang Clan has invited us to their manor as guests. There will be many guests that night, so they reminded us to dress up more formally."
Ren Xiaosu opened the invitation. The wording of the invitation was very polite, but everyone knew that the Yang Clan definitely did not invite two refugee kids for a reason as simple as getting to know each other.
"Should we go?" Yan Liuyuan asked in a low voice, "I have a feeling the Yang Clan is up to no good."
"A Feast at Hongmen?" Ren Xiaosu chuckled and said, "Don't tell me they'll smash a cup as a signal and 300 assassins will rush out from the sidelines?"
"That won't be the case." Yan Liuyuan laughed when he saw how relaxed Ren Xiaosu was. "But this definitely won't be as simple as it seems."
"Alright, don't overthink it." Ren Xiaosu rubbed Yan Liuyuan's head and said, "I'll take you to buy some clothes tomorrow morning. Let's go and see what the consortium's banquet is all about."
"Mhm," Yan Liuyuan answered obediently.
Ren Xiaosu suddenly asked, "Is there anything you're unhappy about at school?"
"No, it's pretty good," Yan Liuyuan said with a smile.
"That's how you smile when you're lying." Ren Xiaosu said, "Did your classmates ostracize you and Dalong?"
"No, no. Hurry up and get some rest. You haven't fully recovered from your injuries yet." Yan Liuyuan pushed Ren Xiaosu into the house.
Wang Fugui got ready to come over and say, "I went out to exchange some gold for some money today. In order not to attract attention, I didn't exchange too much …"
"Why are you talking about money in the middle of the night? Xiaosu must be tired. Let him rest for a while." Sister Xiaoyu nagged from behind, "Xiaosu, have you eaten yet? There's still some food at home. I'll heat it up for you. I'll also make some scrambled eggs with tomatoes. There's even chicken soup in the pot …"
Ren Xiaosu smiled. This was the feeling of home.
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