Chapter 373 Who Is Your Teacher?

Chapter 373: Who Is Your Teacher?

He Tingyue returned in a hurry, bringing news.

"Plant Manager Zheng has agreed and arranged for a car, but we’ll have to operate on our own, apart from the main group."

He held a document in his hand—a permit from the factory that would ensure smooth passage along the way.

There was also another document containing Chen Yu’s reassignment papers. His assigned location was also in Yu Province, but it was different from the disaster area—closer to Beicheng, near the border.

"If we leave now, can we arrive by tonight?" Jiang Yu asked.

He Tingyue grunted in agreement. "The next few days might be rough on you."

The ride would be bumpy and far from comfortable.

Jiang Yu gave a wry smile. "We’re going for disaster relief, not for fun. Of course, it’ll be hard."

Soon, the two hit the road toward Yu Province.

"Try to sleep first."

Neither of them had rested much since midnight the night before.

He Tingyue was used to pulling all-nighters—he often went days without sleep.

But Jiang Yu was different. She was exhausted, running on willpower alone.

As the car jolted along, she unconsciously dozed off.

When they reached their destination, He Tingyue woke her, and she was still dazed, half-asleep.

"Are we here?"

"We’re here."

But everything around them was pitch-dark, and Jiang Yu couldn’t see a thing.

"Wait here in the car, I’ll go ask who the local brigade leader is."

"Alright."

He Tingyue left her a flashlight, so it wasn’t totally dark inside.

Still, Jiang Yu was on edge and hoped he would return quickly.

She glanced casually at the car window—and what she saw made her jump.

Under the flashlight’s glow, a faint outline of a face appeared, radiating an eerie presence.

Jiang Yu shrieked, nearly dropping the flashlight.

The person outside quickly spoke up. "Don’t be scared! I just saw someone inside and came to check!"

Hearing the voice, Jiang Yu’s heart was still racing, her nerves unsettled.

"Who are you?"

"I’m from Tong’an Village… Wait, shouldn’t I be the one asking? Who are you? Is this your car?"

At the mention of 'Tong'an Village,' Jiang Yu quickly opened the car door and stepped out.

The flashlight swept over, revealing a girl with pigtails.

"You're from Tong'an Village? Do you know someone named Chen Yu? He was assigned to your village a few years ago."

The girl froze. "Assigned?"

Only folks living in the shacks could be described like that.

"There is someone with the surname Chen, but no one in the village wants anything to do with him."

Afraid of trouble, most people avoided him.

Just then, He Tingyue returned.

"Wife!"

Jiang Yu hurried over. "Did you find out?"

He Tingyue gave a nod, then noticed the person standing nearby.

"Who is she?"

The girl spoke up. "Name's Chuncao. If you're looking for Old Man Chen, I can show you the way, but I won't take you there myself."

Jiang Yu interjected, "We need to talk to your village captain first."

With Chen Yu's... situation, they couldn't just take him away without checking in with the captain.

Upon hearing this, Chuncao said she'd take them home, and Jiang Yu then learned that her father was the captain.

On the way to Chuncao's house, Jiang Yu asked, "What are you doing out here alone so late?"

Chuncao replied, "I was frog hunting in the fields."

She hadn't caught any frogs but heard the sound of a car.

The engine roar spooked her, and when she came to investigate, she spotted a car where there'd been none before.

The rest, Jiang Yu could guess.

"Dad!"

Chuncao's family was long asleep by now, and the house was quiet.

As soon as Chuncao called out, a kerosene lamp flared inside.

Moments later, the captain stepped out.

"Do you know what time it is? Just getting back now!"

Chuncao pointed at He Tingyue and Jiang Yu. "They're looking for Old Man Chen. They drove here."

The captain squinted, looking He Tingyue and Jiang Yu up and down.

They were dressed sharp but didn't look local—outsiders for sure.

"Get inside."

He carried the kerosene lamp into the house and asked Chunchao to boil water for tea.

He Tingyue quickly said, "No need for formalities. We're in a hurry to head to the flood-stricken region in southern Henan for relief efforts. We'll leave right after we finish talking."

The brigade leader froze, astonished. "You're going to the disaster zone? Everyone else is avoiding that place. What are you going there for?"

He Tingyue took out his work credentials and pushed them forward, explaining their purpose.

The brigade leader pulled out a magnifying glass and scrutinized the official seal.

The credentials were genuine, and they had arrived in a car, so it was unlikely to be a scam.

"Comrades, I can let you take Old Man Chen away, but you must write a statement and leave contact information. Otherwise, if he goes missing, I won't be able to answer for it to the higher-ups."

He Tingyue agreed immediately. The brigade leader had Chunchao fetch paper and a pen, and he wrote out a statement, leaving their address.

Then, the brigade leader led them to Chen Yu's place.

At this hour, Chen Yu's dilapidated hut showed not a glimmer of light.

They knocked for a long time before hearing any movement.

Jiang Yu had never met Chen Yu before, so she didn’t know what he used to look like. All she saw now was a man with an unkempt beard, shoulder-length hair, and a dispirited air.

"Engineer Chen."

Chen Yu's brows twitched slightly. The flashlight was too bright, making him squint uncomfortably.

He turned his back, his voice rough. "I’m not Engineer Chen anymore."

Jiang Yu said, "We are workers at the Second State Cotton Mill in Beicheng. Originally, we should already be on our way to the disaster area, but someone recommended you to us. We specially got permission from the mill to take a detour here, to ask for your help saving the people in the disaster area."

Chen Yu scoffed coldly. "I'm not a god. I can't bring the dead back to life. You give me too much credit."

He Tingyue said, "You're not a god, but you know how many people are still trapped on high ground because of this flood. Food and water can't reach them. They're mostly the elderly, the weak, women, and children. They won’t last more than a few days before starving or freezing to death."

"How is that my problem? Did I cause this? Why should I care?"

Chen Yu growled the question.

Jiang Yu said softly, "Of course it’s not on you. But my teacher told me that you participated in the construction of dozens of reservoirs in southern Henan. No one knows those waters like you do. Only you know how to drain the floodwaters and save those people!"

Chen Yu sneered. "It’s because I understood that I wound up like this!"

His family fell apart.

His parents were ashamed of him, and his relatives avoided him.

Time and again, he’d cursed himself—why did he have to know these things!

What’s the point of learning? What’s the point of learning!

"Engineer Chen, I didn’t know you before. It was my teacher who told me you were a forward-thinking expert and convinced me to come find you. She trusts you."

"Years ago, you foresaw that focusing on storage over drainage would lead to flooding. You must know how to drain this flood now!"

Engineer Chen narrowed his eyes at her. "Who is your teacher?"

Jiang Yu took out a pen from her pocket and said solemnly, "Ms. Ma Fuhua. Her husband is Mr. Qin Kangyi. You must know of them."

Chen Yu's pupils constricted as he snatched the pen from her hand, tears welling up in his eyes while he traced the engraved characters.

"*Shijie*... how is she?"

That year, both he and Qin Kangyi had been targeted one after another and reassigned to rural postings.

With only widows and orphans left at home, life couldn’t have been easy.

Jiang Yu said softly, "The teacher endured as much as you did."

Chen Yu let out a long sigh and wiped away his tears.

"Wait here for me. After I wash up, I'll leave with you for Yu'nan." *Note: Yu'nan refers to a region in Henan Province.*