Chapter 306: Chapter 306

As the sun set, Wan Chu’er rallied her spirits again. She watched the sun gradually disappear, then clenched her fist and waved it in the air, as if she were declaring war on the world.

The previous sorrow and loneliness were swept away.

She stood up, patted the dust off her clothes, and turned to see Yan Hui looking at her with concern.

She had almost forgotten about Yan Hui. It seemed he had been with her all along.

"Mr. Yan, thank you." Wan Chu’er sincerely expressed her gratitude.

Seeing Wan Chu’er back to her energetic self, Yan Hui let out a sigh of relief and felt even more sympathy for the girl. To suddenly receive such terrible news, she could only rely on herself to get through it.

Yan Hui said with a smile, "No need to be polite with me."

Wan Chu’er smiled and said, "Let’s go back. The old man and the others might be waiting for us."

"Okay." Yan Hui hesitated for a long time before adding, "If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll help you."

Wan Chu’er paused, then laughed, "Mr. Yan, I’m not the kind of frail woman who can do nothing but wait for a man’s help."

Yan Hui shook his head helplessly, saying nothing more.

After descending the mountain, they quickly returned to the County Hotel.

Old Sir Zhong was walking in the courtyard. Seeing them return, he smiled and waved at Wan Chu’er, "Did you visit a friend?"

Wan Chu’er walked over with a smile and supported his arm, "Yes, I saw an old neighbor. Did you rest well? Is it cold outside? It’s even colder here than in Beijing."

Old Sir Zhong said, "What’s this cold? I’ve been to colder places. Once, I lay in the snow for a day and a night without dying before your grandmother picked me up."

Hearing the word "die," Wan Chu’er paused for a moment before responding casually, "You’re just lucky."

Old Sir Zhong laughed.

After another round in the garden, Xiao Bai arrived in the car.

Seeing everyone outside, he grinned and said, "Yo, were you all waiting for me? Heh heh..."

Wan Chu’er bared her teeth at him, "Waiting to beat you up."

Xiao Bai scoffed, parked the car, and jumped out, thinking to himself that after getting beaten by his old man at home, he certainly didn’t come here to get beaten again—that was definitely not the life for him.

"Old Sir Zhong, where did you have lunch? Did you get used to the local food here?" Xiao Bai asked.

Old Sir Zhong waved his hand with a smile, "It’s very good."

"We’ll eat here tonight too. The chef here is quite good. We’ll order more dishes tonight, let you really taste the flavor of Dawutong. Tomorrow night, I’ll give you a welcome feast at Jinghua Hotel," Xiao Bai said enthusiastically.

Old Sir Zhong nodded, "As you wish."

It was clear that Old Sir Zhong was in a good mood.

After dinner, everyone dispersed. Wan Chu’er walked with Old Sir Zhong in the hotel’s small garden.

The night air was even chillier, and the cold air made one feel more alert.

Wan Chu’er spoke slowly, "Grandpa, you must have come across a lot of strange and unusual things in your work before, right?"

"Uh-huh, the world is so vast, there’s nothing that doesn’t exist. Once you join the Special Action Department, you will encounter them too," Old Sir Zhong said.

Wan Chu’er smiled and asked, "So, does the Special Action Department collect all the unusual incidents?"

Old Sir Zhong snorted, "The archive of the Special Action Department is the largest in the world."

Hearing this, Wan Chu’er said with a hopeful tone, "It would be great if I could freely browse through the archives."

Old Sir Zhong chuckled, "You’ll be disappointed then. Up to now, no one has had the authority to freely access all the archives."

Oh, so there’s such a thing as authority, thought Wan Chu’er, her eyes glittering. She was pondering silently when Old Sir Zhong suddenly stopped and looked at her with a sharp gaze.

"Out with it, do you have something on your mind? You don’t need to probe me, just ask directly."

Ha, the old are indeed wiser. She had barely said a couple of sentences, and the old man already perceived her intentions.

Wan Chu’er didn’t beat around the bush any longer, "Could you help me investigate my father’s case? I want to know how he sacrificed himself, the real story of his sacrifice."

As she spoke, Wan Chu’er closely watched Old Sir Zhong’s expression, afraid of missing anything.

Old Sir Zhong raised his eyebrows and asked concisely, "Why?"

Wan Chu’er was silent for a moment and then said solemnly, "Today, I met a childhood friend. Her father and my father were comrades-in-arms. She told me... my father was sent out to be a living sacrifice."

Speaking the last part was not easy, and her eyes warmed, her heart heavier.

Old Sir Zhong’s eyes suddenly became very sharp, his expression extremely serious. After inspecting Wan Chu’er for a while and realizing she wasn’t joking but rather held a trace of sadness, he took two steps forward. Wan Chu’er took a deep breath and followed, "Can you help me investigate? I want to know the full story."

"I cannot," Old Sir Zhong uttered two words, like a bucket of ice water pouring over Wan Chu’er, chilling her to the core. She stopped, staring blankly at Old Sir Zhong’s retreating back.

"Why?" she asked with difficulty, "Aren’t you my grandfather? Can’t you help me? He was my father, your daughter’s husband, your son-in-law!"

Old Sir Zhong, with his back to her, said, "I don’t believe in living sacrifices, nor do I believe anyone would offer our country’s soldiers as sacrifices. Our country may have many shortcomings, but such absurd things would not occur to soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed for our country."

Wan Chu’er immediately said, "Then what really happened to my father? Don’t tell me it’s classified. A person just disappears, and his wife and daughter can’t even know how?"

Old Sir Zhong turned around, looking at her sternly, "You just need to remember that your father died for the country. The country has not forgotten him, and will not forget him. As a soldier, sacrificing one’s blood is inevitable, even in today’s era of peace, there are still many soldiers who gloriously sacrifice for the country every year."

Wan Chu’er looked at him fixedly and then, with a sorrowful smile, said, "Okay, I understand."

The grandfather and granddaughter parted on less than amiable terms.

After escorting Old Sir Zhong to his room door, Wan Chu’er turned and went back to her own room, locking herself inside alone.

Old Sir Zhong looked solemnly at the closed door and said to Li Shan, "Call Yan Hui back."

The next morning, the two of them acted as if nothing had happened. After breakfast, they took a car to the countryside, where Wan Chu’er buried her mother next to her grandmother.