319 The only thing that can destroy humanity is humanity itself (1/2)
If it weren't for An Yuqian's loud voice attracting him, Ren Xiaosu would definitely not have found his way over.
”Was I that loud?” An Yuqian was a little taken aback. Then he looked at the sky. ”Are you going home now?”
”Mhm.” Ren Xiaosu looked into the yard and saw the old man and old ladies looking quite happy. He asked An Yuqian curiously, ”So they were the ones who won your money?”
”Yeah,” An Yuqian said with a smile.
”Did you know that they secretly switched their tiles?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
An Yuqian fell silent and quickly dragged Ren Xiaosu out of the alley. Ren Xiaosu suddenly understood and said, ”Then you deliberately lost your money to them?”
”Yes,” An Yuqian said with a sigh.
Ren Xiaosu realized the reason behind this might also be related to why An Yuqian was living such a dejected life. After all, Ren Xiaosu had asked the palace about An Yuqian's proficiency in mathematics and physics. The palace told him he was at the master level. Ren Xiaosu initially thought An Yuqian's proficiency would be at the perfect level, but the palace said there was no perfect rating for science subjects. Therefore, everyone could at most be at the master level.
Ren Xiaosu understood what the palace was trying to say. After all, humans were still exploring the realm of science, so of course they couldn't reach perfection.
But for a person with mastery in math and physics, he ended up becoming a librarian? If there wasn't some sort of a story behind this, Ren Xiaosu would definitely not be convinced.
Ren Xiaosu asked, ”What's their relationship with you?”
”They're the family members of two former good friends of mine who were also my students.” An Yuqian said, ”During an experiment, an explosion happened in our laboratory due to my negligence. As a result, both my assistants perished.”
”What type of experiment?” Ren Xiaosu guessed, ”Was it a nuclear experiment?”
”If it was, you wouldn't be seeing Stronghold 88,” An Yuqian snapped.
”Oh.” Ren Xiaosu had thought An Yuqian worked in nuclear physics. ”Then what happened after that?”
”Afterwards, I got sacked and lost my job. Even my girlfriend broke up with me. Before she left, she also took away the pet tortoise we had at home.” An Yuqian sighed.
”So was that why you got depressed?” Ren Xiaosu did not quite understand.
”What do you think? What would you have done if it were you?” An Yuqian asked.
Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment. ”At least halve the tortoise so you can put it in your own separate wines[1].”
An Yuqian was confused. Weren't they just talking about his sorrowful past? Why the sudden mention of halving the tortoise then?
He did not know that for refugees like Ren Xiaosu, even if their loved ones had died, they would still have to live on as usual. Who had the time to be sentimental?
Ren Xiaosu had come across so many townspeople whose family members had passed away the day before and would still show up at work the very next day.
As the two of them walked down the street, An Yuqian cut a bleak figure under the dim yellow streetlights.
Ren Xiaosu said, ”Then you deliberately lost money to them so that they can have a better life?”
”Yes.” An Yuqian nodded. ”I'm fine with it since I can survive no matter what. But they're different. Without their children, nobody will support them.”
”Alright,” Ren Xiaosu sighed and said, ”You're quite the loyal person.”
”They died because of me, after all,” An Yuqian said.
”Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning!” Ren Xiaosu waved and parted ways with An Yuqian. Although he could not sympathize with An Yuqian, he still respected him.
An Yuqian suddenly called out to Ren Xiaosu, asking, ”Why do you seek knowledge?”
Ren Xiaosu turned around and said on the long street in the dark, ”I've answered this question before.”