The convoy arrived in front of a small building.
Wang Jiaxiang got out of the car and felt a surge of emotions upon seeing the two-story building.
This was the starting point of his successful career. Here, he had his glory, a happy family, beloved children, and a cherished wife, yet also here.
All his dreams were shattered, all his love and relations severed.
This place holds betrayal for him; seeing it stirs memories of the past.
Entangled in love and hate, grievances and feuds!
Two rows of people stood neatly in front of the building, and the moment they saw Wang Jiaxiang, they all respectfully bowed.
"Teacher, welcome home."
In these two rows were elderly people with the same white hair as him, middle-aged men, and even a few young people in their mid-twenties.
The eagerness in their eyes, the joy on their faces.
That inner reverence and respect for the old man.
Seeing these students of his past made his thoughts stir.
The children truly cared for him; even during a time when his family, his son, cut ties with him, these students tried every way to protect him.
Over the years, he became disillusioned with the world, fell into despair over everything, even severed contact with all his students.
But seeing them, he knew these students had worked hard to help him during his years of demotion; they almost took turns visiting him, bringing him things, encouraging him to live well.
They even used all their connections among relatives and friends to try to protect him.
Merely because he had fallen into despair, and because of despair, he gave up many things.
Even gave up the chance to see them again.
Seeing these students once more, he could still feel their respect and admiration for him.
These children remain unchanged from before.
"Teacher, we took turns looking after your house, cleaned it every day, keeping it as it was. Nothing has been moved, even the books on your desk, we’ve found them all.
Not a single one missing. We’ve been waiting for your return, waiting for you to lead us to a breakthrough in military research, to take Xia Country’s military research to its peak."
Niu Weiguo came up to support the teacher, though he was not much younger than the teacher.
However, this teacher once led him out of confusion, guided him, enabling him to advance further in his research. His achievements today owe much to the teacher’s help, seeing the teacher filled him with excitement.
This is what it means to be a devoted fan in later generations.
"Thank you all, thank you for helping me over the years."
Wang Jiaxiang was surrounded by students, and this feeling seemed to take him back to earlier times.
The eager anticipation in the students’ eyes made him feel he had never left.
Suddenly realizing he was wrong all these years, he shouldn’t have given up on himself because of the harm from certain people.
If it weren’t for Jiang Xiaoxiao, if it weren’t for the things that happened, he might still be unable to move on from the past.
Sometimes people can see others clearly, yet fail to see themselves.
Now he suddenly felt that life wasn’t that formidable, amid all the betrayal and hurt.
Is there anyone who hasn’t experienced it?
But he should set his sights further, open his heart, view the larger world with a forgiving eye, to see the world outside.
There are still more people waiting for him, many who cherish him.
And there are still many things he can do.
If he works hard again, he might manage another ten or twenty years.
He must nurture more talents in the country’s medical and military research, passing on everything he has learned to these young people.
This is what he should do, rather than limiting himself to personal grievances and giving up everything, giving up on himself.
"Teacher, it’s great you’re back."
All the students were now in tears, many weeping quietly.
To them, the anticipation for the teacher over the years finally had a result.
The teacher is still alive; in their hearts, the teacher’s knowledge and abilities are beyond their reach.
Now that the teacher is back, they can start anew, someone to guide them, someone to illuminate the way.
The address made everyone pause.
The scene suddenly became quiet, everyone turned their heads silently.
But no one spoke; at this moment, who is more qualified to speak than Wang Jiaxiang?
"Dad! You’re back, Dad, it’s me, Xiao Yu!"
"Dad, it’s me, Xiao Xiao."
A male and female voice made Wang Jiaxiang silently turn back.
Though the voices had become unfamiliar, the Xiao Yu and Xiao Xiao speaking, he knew were his once beloved son and daughter.
Turning back, he saw a man and a woman at a distance, with two large families behind them.
They walked directly to Wang Jiaxiang, and the man and woman leading the group knelt down before him with a thud.
"Dad, forgive us, forgive our ignorance back then. At the time, we simply felt we were responding to the nation’s call, we truly didn’t know it would have such severe consequences. Dad, we were wrong."
"Dad! We were wrong, we’ve really realized our mistake. We’ve been searching for you all these years, never able to find you. Now that you’re finally back, please forgive us. We will surely be filial to you and make amends for the mistakes we made then."
The man wore a Chinese tunic, and the woman a western suit, both clinging eagerly to Wang Jiaxiang’s legs, crying uncontrollably.
Behind them was a throng, though none of them knelt, Wang Jiaxiang could tell.
They should be the children, husbands, and wives of the two families.
Everyone looked at him in bewilderment, eyes full of eager hope.
And joy and happiness, yet Wang Jiaxiang felt no wave in his heart, unable to feel warmth or be moved.
He hadn’t been in contact for so long, completely cold-hearted.
It’s hard for them, indeed.
"Alright, you can get up. I forgive you."
Originally thought they would have to cry repeatedly, even make more effort to win the old man’s heart back.
Unexpectedly, just upon meeting, the old man had forgiven them.
All those speeches prepared to be profoundly moving, those dilemmas of being forced and helpless, had no time to be enacted.
The old man relented so easily.
Delight flickered in their eyes, they stood up, each holding one of his arms.
"Dad, you really forgive us. Don’t worry, we will treat you well from now on, certainly make up for our past mistakes. Dad, let us help you inside. You’ve come such a long way, it’s time to rest thoroughly."
"Pei Hua, hurry and buy ingredients, cook a meal, make something delicious for the old man, he loves yam and stewed spare ribs."
"Dad, inside I’ll give you a massage, I know your back has long been plagued with aches and pains, surely worse now. Don’t worry, from tomorrow I’ll accompany you to the hospital for a thorough check-up, any ailments will be promptly treated."
Wang Jiaxiang silently withdrew his hands from his children’s grasp.
"You all should go, don’t come again."
His tone was calm, without resentment or anger.
He walked towards the house with the students.
"Dad, what do you mean? Didn’t you forgive us?"
Wang Xinyu and Wang Xinxiao were shocked.
The meaning in their father’s words seemed like he didn’t want any involvement with them, completely different from what they anticipated.
The old man, alone in life now, isn’t the time to seek familial happiness?
"I made it very clear, I forgive you, but forgiveness doesn’t mean everything is forgotten. You all now have your own families, live your own lives well, but don’t disturb me.
I’ve gotten used to living alone, accustomed to having no children, no family. Therefore, I will continue to live alone, still without children, without family. You all have nothing to do with me, our relationship is long gone, severed.
You’ve heard water once spilled can’t be gathered? Even if gathered, it can’t be pure again. Dirty is dirty. Can’t go back!"
Wang Jiaxiang answered firmly, leaving his children stunned.
He went inside with students and old friend, Old Kang.