The old man took a deep breath, his rough fingers gently stroking the medal on his chest.

"This was taken in the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region in 1943."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resonant.

"I was in my early twenties that year, fighting as a guerrilla in the Taihang Mountains with the army."

The crowd gradually quieted down, and even passersby stopped in their tracks.

The old man's gaze was distant, as if he had traveled back to that era of war and turmoil.

"What I remember most clearly was that winter, when the temperature was below minus twenty degrees Celsius. Our entire company lay in ambush in the snow for three days and three nights, just to take down a Japanese stronghold."

As the old man spoke, he unconsciously touched his right leg.

"We finally took the stronghold, but I was also shot in the leg."

Wang, a young reporter for the Youth Daily, quickly took notes, his pen scratching across the paper.

He looked up and asked.

How did you receive treatment afterward?

"There's no treatment at all!"

The old man gave a wry smile.

"The medic used a bayonet to dig out the bullet, then used gunpowder to sterilize it. Back then, medicine was more precious than gold; even the seriously wounded couldn't get it, let alone those of us with minor injuries."

A murmur of dismay rippled through the crowd.

A middle-aged woman wearing glasses took out a handkerchief and quietly wiped the corner of her eye.

"After my injury healed, I was left with a limp."

The old man patted his right leg.

"The organization was looking out for me and wanted me to work in the rear. But I thought to myself, I can't be a burden to the troops! So many able-bodied comrades need positions more, so I applied for demobilization and returned to my hometown to farm."

Li Weiguo's hands trembled slightly as he wrote heavily in his notebook.

"Selfless dedication, willing to return to his hometown to farm despite injuries and illness."

Several large characters.

"Old man, have you ever regretted it?"

A young man who looked like a college student couldn't help but ask.

"regret?"

The old man shook his head, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Looking at the good life we ​​have now, it was all worth it! We fought wars back then so that our descendants could live a good life."

These words moved many people present.

The elderly people nodded repeatedly, clearly recalling their experiences from their youth.

However, the old man's expression suddenly turned serious.

"But I never imagined that decades later, my grandson would be beaten like this!"

His voice trembled as he pointed to the textile factory gate.

"It's because the factory manager's son slept with one of the factory's women, got her pregnant, and wanted my grandson to marry her. My grandson found out the truth and they beat him up, sending him to the hospital!"

"brute!"

Angry shouts erupted from the crowd.

A man in overalls is waving his fist.

"Does that mean the children of leaders can be so lawless?"

The old man pulled a photo out of his pocket; it was a picture of Su Mingde before he was beaten—a bespectacled, well-mannered young man.

"This is my grandson, Su Mingde. He works at the neighborhood committee and is only twenty-three years old this year."

His fingers gently traced the photograph.

"I'm currently in the hospital with three broken ribs, a fractured nose, and a concussion. The doctor said I might have trouble walking in the future."

Old Zhang, a reporter for the Workers' Daily, angrily slammed his notebook shut and said to his colleague beside him.

"This absolutely needs to be reported! The workers' children are being bullied like this! It's utterly lawless."

"What's even more infuriating is..."

The old man raised his voice, his eyes blazing with anger.

"This morning, my son, Su Jianguo, brought his coworkers to demand an explanation, but they were beaten by the security guards! Now all four of them are in the hospital!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

An elderly professor with white hair stomped his feet in anger.

This is the new China, not the old society!

Li Weiguo quickly wrote the title in his notebook.

Heartbreaking: Who made heroes bleed and weep?

He looked up and asked.

"Sir, could you please tell me in detail who hit him?"

"It's Wang Zhenguo, the son of Deputy Director Wang of the textile factory!"

The old man spoke slowly and deliberately.

"And then there's their factory accountant, Liu Meijuan; her father is Director Liu of the Industry and Commerce Bureau!"

"Officials protect each other!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

Xiao Liu, a reporter from New Era Weekly, had a bright idea and quickly wrote it down in her notebook.

Shocking! Enemy agents are everywhere – An investigation into the abuse of power by the children of retired cadres.

At this moment, Wang Guixiang squeezed to the front, holding a stack of papers in her hand, which she had just picked up from the hospital by bicycle.

"Dear reporter, this is the hospital's diagnosis certificate! And this is the blood-stained shirt my nephew wore when he was beaten!"

She unfolded a blood-stained shirt, and a gasp immediately erupted from the crowd.

The flashbulbs started flashing again and again.

"Don't worry, sir!"

Li Weiguo said solemnly.

"We will definitely report the truth and let everyone know about this!"

Yes! We will report on it!

Other reporters echoed this sentiment.

Old Zhou, a photographer from the Sijiucheng Evening News, adjusted his lens and specially captured the scene of the old man's military medals and blood-stained clothes in the same frame.

He knew what a sensation this photo would cause.

As darkness fell, the crowd of onlookers grew larger. Many workers passing by on their way home from work heard what had happened and spontaneously stayed to offer their support.

Some people began chanting slogans like "Severely punish the murderer and give us justice."

at the same time.

Inside the textile factory manager's office.

Factory Director Liu loosened his collar; sweat had already soaked through the back of his white shirt.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!