The next morning, Zhao's father arrived on his bicycle with the prepared food, soup, eight lunchboxes, and two insulated containers.
While the elderly couple was having dinner with Zhao Aiguo, newspaper and radio reporters came to interview them. Just as they were getting ready, Zhao Aiguo's superiors and representatives from his workplace also came to visit, arriving just in time.
The reporter asked Comrade Zhao Aiguo what kind of person he was at work.
"Don't let Xiao Zhao's young age fool you; he's a hardworking and dedicated comrade who's always ready to help others. He's also a very talented young man and a key cadre that our unit is grooming for future leadership positions..."
The reporter asked Comrade Zhao Aiguo, "Despite his young age of only 21, he has done many good deeds, including rescuing women from violence when he was a child and performing numerous other acts of kindness. He even participated in a case involving the capture of spies. Were you afraid when you did these things? What kind of faith allows you to face difficulties head-on?"
Zhao Aiguo looked at his father and smiled, saying, "It must be because of the influence of my grandparents. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, they outwitted the enemy, saved several leaders of our army, and helped several liaison officers..."
An older reporter immediately chimed in, "Are you Zhao Defa? I thought you looked familiar; this is a family of heroes!" He excitedly grasped Zhao's father's hand, saying, "I was saying I recognized you when I came in, and now I know!" Addressing everyone with great enthusiasm, he declared, "This old comrade is a man who gives quietly and selflessly, possessing the noble spirit of the plum blossom. No wonder he was able to raise such outstanding talents..."
It was originally just an ordinary act of bravery, but this report made the Zhao family famous again, and Zhao's father and mother also gained some fame.
When Secretary Li found out, he sighed, "A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, but my own silly daughter insists on hanging herself on a rope."
Knowing that Zhao Aiguo couldn't become his son-in-law, he wanted to adopt him as his godson. He genuinely liked that honest and cunning young man who, despite having his own little schemes, was very upright and kind.
When Lü Xiaozhou learned of this, he was filled with regret. Why hadn't he seized that opportunity? Why did Zhao Aiguo always seem to have all the good things in life?
When Qi Zhijun learned that it was Zhao Aiguo who had saved the person, he was filled with mixed feelings. He wanted to rush over to thank him, but he knew that the Zhao family and Wei Shuqing did not want to see him. So he bought some things and went to find Zhao Dahu at the entrance of the machinery factory.
After seeing Zhao Dahu, who looked almost unchanged, emerge from a distance, the two men looked at each other. Zhao Dahu frowned and said, "Why are you here?"
Qi Zhijun handed over the two boxes of milk powder, two boxes of malted milk powder, and two jars of fruit he had bought, and then took out fifty yuan, saying, "Don't worry, I didn't mean to rob Aiguo. He saved my nephew, and I should have gone to visit him, but I was afraid your family would be unhappy if they saw me, so..."
When Zhao Dahu heard that the person he had saved was Qi Zhifang's son, he couldn't bring himself to get angry. After all, the debt was settled after the person died, and it would be wrong for him to get angry since someone had already died. After thinking for a moment, he looked at Qi Zhijun's earnest expression, took the things, and said, "Okay, I will pass them on to him and tell him that they were sent by the victim's family."
Qi Zhijun nodded, his voice choked with emotion, and said, "Thank you!"
Zhao Dahu waved his hand. Even Wei Shuqing had already let him go, and Zhao Aiguo had no idea about this person's relationship with him, so there was no reason for him to hold on to him. He just thought to himself that he would have to teach his son to stay away from dangerous places in the future. It's not that we can't do things like men, but we have to take care of our own families first.
The martyr is great and glorious, but behind that identity lies the shattering of several families and decades of lingering pain! Her husband, son, relatives, their voices and smiles can only appear in her dreams from now on! Just thinking about this makes his heart ache. No, he can't lose Zhao Aiguo. He can't lose him even if it means his own death.
Grandpa Li and Grandma Li bought some things and made a banner, asking the neighborhood director to deliver it to them. As soon as they entered the house, they wiped away their tears and held Zhao's parents' hands, saying, "Thank you! Thank you! Qiu Xiang should have come in person, but the child was hurt and is still sick and can't get out of bed! We'll let her come in person when she's better."
The three men were about to kneel down to the Zhao family when the three Zhao family members quickly helped them up. After exchanging some polite words, the Li family learned that Zhao Aiguo was not supposed to be injured, but he was injured because he was protecting the unsuspecting Li Qiuxiang.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while and seeing the person off, Zhao Aiguo said boredly, "Sir, let's go for a walk! I've had enough of staying here!"
Mr. Zhao nodded happily and said, "Okay! Let's go! Honey, let's go for a walk together."
The three of them quickly made their way to the braised pork offal shop. Each of them ordered a bowl and an extra baked bun. After eating and drinking their fill, they strolled around for a bit. Zhao Aiguo then said, "Look at me, I'm perfectly fine. Why don't you guys go back? It breaks my heart to see you all eating and sleeping poorly here!"
Zhao's father glared at him and said, "Nonsense! Your grandma and I are going to be in the hospital. Do you think you can just take one look at us every day and go home because you can't eat or sleep well?"
Zhao's mother disagreed, saying, "That's right, we have to see you discharged from the hospital!"
"Oh dear! I was planning to stay for a month! What are you two doing wasting your time here with me? If I keep making myself feel embarrassed, I'll be discharged today and then I'll have to go back to that useless, lousy job!" Zhao Aiguo said, suppressing his annoyance.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao's parents said, "How about this, your grandfather and I will go back tonight and come over to keep you company during the day!"
Zhao Aiguo chuckled, "Make me two braised pig's trotters tomorrow, you'll get what you eat!"
Mr. and Mrs. Zhao said earnestly, "Good grandson, eat the braised pork knuckle first. Grandpa will braise one for you. You can have the chicken feet in a couple of days!" "Look at you, you haven't been eating well these past few days, you've gotten so thin, you need to eat more!"
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