Cutting-Edge Technology R&D Center

Chapter 7: Deeply Moving

“Xiao Hao…” Mr. Zhang began, but looking at Wang Hao’s calm expression, he didn’t know how to continue. After hearing the story from Lan Wei and her father, his eyes had even stung with emotion. He never imagined that this eighteen-year-old boy could possess such a generous spirit. Neither he nor his wife had ever given Wang Hao any living expenses; if anything, the only cost might have been the rent for that house—all of Wang Hao’s other expenses were covered by his own savings. The municipal government issued a monthly subsidy to Wang Hao, and he had roughly guessed that the desks, chairs, and benches Wang Hao had purchased for the village’s middle school students were all funded by the money Wang Hao had saved from his daily expenses. The village was very poor and one of the areas hardest hit by flash floods. Children like Lan Wei, whose parents were still alive, were, after all, in the minority. The vast majority had seen their families shattered by the flash floods triggered by that torrential downpour—leaving many orphans behind, or turning families into single-parent households, or even ones cared for by grandparents. In the face of nature’s fury, human efforts are powerless… Over the past three years, Wang Hao has spent only 300 yuan a month. Fortunately, as a student from a disadvantaged background, Ganzhou City No. 1 High School, after careful consideration, waived all tuition and miscellaneous fees for him. This is something Wang Hao is particularly grateful for—he simply couldn’t bring himself to ask anyone for help. “Dad, from now on I’ll live frugally and give the money I save to my brother.” Tears welled up in Zhang Xin’s eyes. She hadn’t realized that her brother had been setting aside most of his monthly income to support this flood-stricken mountain village, using it to buy books for the children there. What can three hundred yuan buy? It probably wouldn’t even cover one person’s food expenses; if spending were a bit higher, it might barely be enough for breakfast. Yet Wang Hao had managed to get by on just three hundred yuan a month for three whole years. “I don’t usually have any major expenses…” Wang Hao smiled gently, his expression calm and carefree, as if the days he’d spent meticulously managing his budget weren’t his own. “Xiao Hao.” Mrs. Zhang’s eyes welled up slightly. Every time she’d come over, she’d seen Wang Hao wearing clothes she’d bought for him. She’d assumed the little boy was just too shy to go shopping on his own, but now she realized he simply hadn’t had any extra money to buy new clothes. “You… didn’t know?” Lan Wei looked at the four members of the Zhang family, their emotions running high, and spoke uncertainly. Yet deep down, she already had her own suspicions. She had always assumed that the teacher’s assistance came from his parents’ support, but now it seemed the situation was completely different from what she had imagined—the teacher’s parents appeared to be completely unaware of the situation. His heart suddenly gave a jolt… and he stared blankly at Wang Hao. “There’s no need to talk about this. Let’s eat… let’s eat… After we finish eating, Lan Wei, take my parents, sister, and brother out for a walk.” Wang Hao gave Lan Wei a look to stop him and quickly changed the subject. He simply couldn’t bear it—his adoptive parents were looking at him with reddened eyes, and it made him feel extremely uncomfortable. “Xiao Hao, tell us honestly… is there something you’re hiding from us…?” Mr. Zhang said with a serious expression. “I don’t think so…” Wang Hao lowered his head, thought for a moment, and shook his head uncertainly. “Really nothing? Then can you explain your grades? You clearly have the ability to come in first… so why don’t you?” Mr. Zhang felt as if he were getting to know Wang Hao for the first time; if he hadn’t come into the mountains with him, he wouldn’t have known how long this would have been kept from him. “Um… there’s no reward for coming in first at school, and I don’t want to draw too much attention to myself there, so I usually score around 100th place…” Wang Hao paused, scratched his head, and said. He needed time to focus on perfecting Longnao, and besides, he wasn’t the type to seek the limelight. Everyone stared at Wang Hao in silence, completely taken aback by such a response—blaming the school for not offering scholarships as his reason for not wanting to come in first. However, Mr. Zhang thought about it and realized this was indeed a possibility. He had come to realize that his adopted son was someone who played to his strengths, had clear goals, and was skilled at keeping a low profile. Moreover, he suspected that if Ganzhou City No. 1 High School actually established a scholarship, Wang Hao would certainly come in first. Just look at his pure-hearted nature—he was actually cutting back on his own living expenses to provide aid. “Is there anything else?” Mr. Zhang asked again. “Does helping one person pay for their education count?” Wang Hao said timidly, looking at Mr. Zhang’s serious expression. Mr. Zhang’s eyes narrowed. “You ask if that counts… Are there any others…?” “That’s really all for now…” Wang Hao shook his head. His capabilities were indeed limited; otherwise, he would likely have helped more people in need. Ever since he was rescued from the flash flood, he had carried a heart full of gratitude. For the first year or two, he had been somewhat withdrawn, but after he returned to the mountains and taught his first class to the villagers of Lanjia Village he felt a sense of purpose. This gratitude helped him let go of the past and look toward the future. Because of this, the development of Longnao had fallen significantly behind schedule, but he didn’t dwell on it too much—research brought him joy, and helping those in need brought him joy as well. In his learning system, aside from his Level 7 proficiency in computers, his skill in teaching had reached Level 6—and was even nearing the maximum for that level—because, for the past three years, he had essentially served as a teacher. This explains why his lessons are so easy to grasp at first listen, and why Zhang Xin felt he was better than any music teacher she’d ever had—even though his music proficiency was only at Level 5. Many skills are actually complementary, and the skill of teaching is no exception. Wang Hao can use his Level 6 teaching skill to ensure that those attending his classes understand and master the material he teaches. “You, about the money on that card—you should withdraw it and use it…” Zhang’s father was about to speak when Wang Hao cut him off immediately. He continued, “Consider it a loan from me. Pay me back once you start working, with interest calculated at the bank’s rate. That should be fine, right?” Zhang’s father looked at Wang Hao speechlessly. This was the most stubborn person he’d ever met—resolutely refusing to ask anyone for help… It filled him with a mix of emotion and admiration, but if this were his own child, such a personality would drive him to the brink of despair. “All right…” Wang Hao hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. If it had been a gift, he definitely wouldn’t have accepted it—even if the other person was his adoptive father. It wasn’t that he was being difficult; he simply had his own principles and bottom lines. Call him stubborn or obstinate—that was just who he was… and he had no intention of changing. Watching Wang Hao agree, Mr. Zhang felt an inexplicable sense of relief, though it was quickly replaced by a wry smile. He’d refused a gift outright, insisting on calling it a loan—and would only accept it if he paid interest. This was the most endearing and admirable person he’d ever met. An eighteen-year-old boy who could show such selfless generosity while still upholding his own principles—in his many years as a teacher, he had found this to be a truly rare and admirable quality. After dinner, Wang Hao asked Lan Wei to take his father and younger siblings on a tour of Lanjia Village. The area boasted many beautiful sights, which truly captivated Zhang’s father and the other three, so they didn’t refuse. Meanwhile, Wang Hao returned to the open-air classroom to continue teaching the dozen or so children of Lanjia Village.