After listening for a while, Tang Mo finally understood where all the problems stemmed from.
The problem was Professor Tian himself.
Tang Mo wanted to protect him and ensure he survived the Great Famine because, in her previous life, Professor Tian had used his own rations to keep her alive.
Now, thanks to Tang Mo, Professor Tian had more food than before. Yet he didn’t choose to improve his own life; instead, he chose to help more people.
In Professor Tian’s mind, all his beloved students—including Tang Mo—were still like children. Their lives had only just begun, and the meaning of their future far outweighed that of an old man like him.
So, at the beginning of the famine, he distributed nearly all his food to his students and continued to supplement them, leaving himself constantly short.
Tian Zhen and Tian Shishi felt deeply for their father, but their own shares were limited.
Helplessly, Tian Shishi thought of resorting to Tang Lianjie to obtain extra food for their father.
If Professor Tian knew that his goodness had almost led his daughter into such a situation, he might never forgive himself.
Tang Mo lowered her head silently, listening to Tian Zhen and Tian Shishi express their love and complaints about their father.
She couldn’t say a word. Could she blame Professor Tian for being too saintly and thus burdening his family?
She had no right. In her previous life, without the kindness of someone like Professor Tian, she wouldn’t have survived school.
Tang Mo understood Professor Tian’s mindset. Beyond the fact that those helped were his students, his actions stemmed from guilt.
He believed that if he hadn’t wanted the children to stay at school for experiments, they wouldn’t now be trapped at school, separated from their families.
So he felt responsible for them—a responsibility he owed to each student’s parents.
“Then, Professor Tian, you two go back first. I’ll come to your office tomorrow,” Tang Mo said, taking off her backpack and quietly retrieving two bottles of water and two packs of instant noodles from her space.
“Take these for the professor. He’s old, and long-term hunger could harm his health.”
Tang Mo shoved the items into Tian Zhen’s hands in one go.
“This is…” Tian Zhen looked down.
“No, these are too precious… I really can’t take them!”
Seeing what they were, Tian Zhen hurried to push them back, and Tian Shishi nodded in agreement. They didn’t want to accept Tang Mo’s supplies.
The items from Tang Lianjie were her own exchange, but Tang Mo’s supplies at school were her lifeline.
It had to be said—the Tian siblings were very well-raised.
“It must be taken. If you don’t want them, just throw them away; I won’t care. See you tomorrow, Professor Tian.”
With that, Tang Mo turned and ran, leaving the stunned siblings behind, unable to react.
The next day, Tang Mo went to the Student Affairs Office to find Tian Zhen, who was still diligently on duty.
By now, it was the famine years. Survival beyond tomorrow was uncertain, and most faculty had abandoned their posts.
Only professors devoted to science remained in the labs, continuing unfinished experiments as if nothing had happened.
There were also counselors like Tian Zhen, staying at school daily to provide psychological support to nearly collapsing students.
The large office held only Tian Zhen. Tang Mo knocked and entered, sitting down and going straight to the point.
“These are the supplies I’ve stored. If I gave them to the professor, he would just share them with the lab students. Put them with you, and bring some each day for him to eat.”
Tang Mo placed a black plastic bag on Tian Zhen’s desk.
Inside were six bottles of water, a pack of five-instant-noodle packs, some compressed biscuits, and even a pack of soy milk powder for the elderly. Though there was no water to drink it with, it could still provide nutrition for the professor.
Tang Mo calculated that, if rationed carefully, combined with the professor’s own leftover supplies, it would be sufficient for two weeks.
In this situation, water wasn’t counted by the bottle but by the sip. These supplies were substantial.
“I’ll bring you more every half month. Don’t worry about rationing these,” Tang Mo instructed.
With just over three months left before leaving school, she had enough supplies.
She wasn’t stingy; it was twofold: too many items would be suspicious, and she didn’t want the Tian family to become dependent.
As for the professor’s lab students, Tang Mo honestly didn’t feel it was her responsibility to help them.
“Where did you get all these supplies?”
Compared to last night’s surprise, Tian Zhen was truly shocked today. He understood that Tang Mo would continue bringing supplies in the future.
“Professor Tian predicted major events in the changing ecological environment. I began storing supplies back then.”
“If it weren’t for the professor, I wouldn’t have so many resources now. Consider it my gratitude; please, do accept them.”
Tang Mo deliberately explained to ease the Tian family’s sense of guilt.
“I… I’ll accept them. If you ever face difficulties in the future, I’ll help however I can!”
Tian Zhen hesitated, seeing how well-supplied Tang Mo was. He ultimately decided to accept the items.
He understood the value of food now, and seeing his father’s current condition, he couldn’t refuse.
He couldn’t change his father’s stubbornness, but he couldn’t watch him grow weaker day by day either.
This was a life-saving favor. Tian Zhen vowed to repay Tang Mo no matter what happened.
“Student Tang, don’t leave yet. My father will be here soon. He said last night he must see you.”
Seeing Tang Mo rise, Tian Zhen hurried to stop her.
“Okay,” she replied.
She hadn’t seen the professor in a long time and missed the elderly man who had once helped her so much.
While talking to Tian Zhen about the students’ psychological state, Tang Mo soon met Professor Tian.
“Tang Mo, come with me to the lab!”
After expressing gratitude and a brief chat, Professor Tian spoke plainly. He was direct and avoided excessive pleasantries.
“You are the most gifted student I’ve ever seen. Your talent must be used in the lab!”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Tang Mo’s academic talent was exceptional—she had entered the university at the top of her class and maintained the highest GPA each semester, surpassing even the most diligent students like Song Qing.
The experiments Professor Tian was conducting were extremely significant for humanity during the famine. He genuinely hoped Tang Mo would join his work.