Chapter 298 - 175: Reunion with an Old Acquaintance, the Saber Dao Nears Completion

Chapter 298: Chapter 175: Reunion with an Old Acquaintance, the Saber Dao Nears Completion

Li Wen recognized the little girl. Wang Hu had mentioned her in their past correspondence—she was the apple of his eye.

Wang Hu was an upright man, stubborn to his core. He had looked after Li Wen back when his family was struggling, yet he had never once asked for anything in return.

Now, his strength was still stuck at the High-level Martial Artist realm, and life in this turbulent society was clearly difficult.

Li Wen had given him his contact information, but Wang Hu had never bothered him for personal matters. To swallow his pride and ask for a favor just so his daughter could get into a good school—this was likely the absolute limit for him.

That was why Li Wen didn’t reveal himself.

He knew of Wang Hu’s pride; intervening rashly right now might only cause him to lose face.

He silently made a mental note of the matter and continued to cast the vast consciousness of his Primordial Spirit over other areas of the city.

Meanwhile, Wang Hu silently led his daughter by the hand, walking across most of the city.

The farther east they walked, the shorter and older the buildings became, and the streets grew narrower.

They finally stopped in front of an old residential building in the eastern suburbs.

He opened a thin alloy door, and a gust of damp, cold air hit them in the face.

The apartment was small and simply furnished. In some places, the wall plaster was cracking and peeling.

Even an old apartment like this had cost him most of his savings.

The sizzle of a wok and the smell of cooking oil wafted from the kitchen.

"You’re back?" A woman in an apron poked her head out. When she got a clear look at Wang Hu’s expression, she swallowed whatever she was about to say next.

You could still see the outline of her youthful figure, but the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were clear in the dim light, her skin bearing the marks of a life of toil.

"It didn’t work out?" Her voice dropped.

"Yeah," Wang Hu grunted, changing his shoes and walking inside.

The woman told their daughter to go to her room to do her homework, then pulled Wang Hu to the end of the hallway.

A cold wind drilled through the cracks in the window, making one instinctively duck their head.

"Didn’t you say you were pretty sure it would work out before you left? So why the long face now?" The woman’s voice rose, laced with an anxiety and dissatisfaction she couldn’t suppress. "Sister Liu’s kid—their family’s situation isn’t even as good as ours, so how did they get in?"

"It’s different. Her aunt’s husband has connections..."

"Connections? ’Connections’ just means you didn’t offer enough money!" the woman cut him off. "It’s because you can’t bring yourself to beg, isn’t it? Too stingy to spend the money on a proper gift?"

"It’s not about the money!" Wang Hu snapped his head up, his face flushed. "It’s the person..."

"It’s you, bringing this suffering on yourself for the sake of your own pride!" The woman’s eyes reddened, too.

"For our daughter’s future, what’s so wrong with lowering your head for once? Is your pathetic pride really that important? More important than your own daughter’s future?"

She looked at Wang Hu’s face, flushed red but unable to form a retort, and a surge of anger welled up inside her:

"Fine! If you won’t go beg, if you can’t bring yourself to do it, then I will! I’ll go beg Li Wen, how about that?" She practically roared his name.

"Don’t be absurd! What would you go to him for?" Wang Hu snapped, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.

"What’s wrong with going to him? He was your student! Everyone knows he’s the greatest pillar of support for Changning City now! All of Changning relies on him for protection! And you, his former teacher, can’t even open your mouth to ask for such a tiny favor?"

The woman’s questions came in a rapid-fire barrage as tears streamed down her face.

"You’re always going on about what’s best for your students. Now that it’s your turn, can’t you use a little of that goodwill your student has for you... and think about your own daughter for a change? In a way, she’s Li Wen’s junior!"

Wang Hu looked as if all the strength had been drained from his body. His once-proud head slowly drooped.

The cold concrete wall of the hallway pressed against his back.

The image of his daughter’s sensible, knowledge-hungry eyes floated in his mind.

On one side were the principles he had lived by his entire life; on the other, his daughter’s future.

A long silence froze in the cold wind.

Finally, Wang Hu’s shoulders slumped. A hoarse voice squeezed from his throat. "...Don’t go. I... I’ll go see him tomorrow."

The woman froze. Then she quickly wiped her face. The anger and sorrow from moments before vanished as if by magic, replaced by a flicker of hope.

"That’s the spirit! For our daughter... there’s no shame in it. Come on, get inside. Dinner’s ready. I made your favorite."

She grabbed Wang Hu, pushed the door open, and pulled him inside. From the kitchen came the sound of the stove being lit again.

...

A minimalist office in the core district of the Changning City underground.

A map of the city flickered on the screen in front of Li Wen.

Zheng Ming, Director of the Changning City Defense Coordination Office, had just finished his daily patrol report and was about to leave when Li Wen stopped him.

"Director Zheng, hold on a moment," Li Wen said, his tone even. "I have a personal matter I’d like you to handle for me."

Zheng Ming stopped in his tracks and turned around. He subconsciously stood up straighter, his tone deferential. "Captain Li, your orders."

"A man named Wang Hu is having some trouble getting his daughter enrolled at Changning First Elementary. I’ve looked at the procedures, and she should be eligible. If it’s not too much trouble, please help coordinate and finalize it."

Zheng Ming was momentarily stunned, but his expression quickly morphed into an even more enthusiastic smile.

"Oh, so it’s about that! Captain Li, rest assured, it’s no problem at all! A trivial matter. Leave it to me! What’s the child’s name?"

He asked while quickly pulling out his digital notepad.

Li Wen gave him the name, adding, "Just handle it discreetly. There’s no need to mention I was the one who asked."

Zheng Ming understood perfectly. He thumped his chest in assurance. "Understood! Don’t you worry, Captain Li. I’ll handle it with the utmost care. Not a word will get out!"

He immediately realized this must be an old acquaintance of Li Wen’s, and one who apparently didn’t want to draw attention to their connection.

After leaving Li Wen’s office, the deferential expression on Zheng Ming’s face vanished, but his brisk efficiency remained unchanged.

He returned to his office and dialed a number on his communicator.

When the call connected, his voice took on a tone of considerable authority: