Chapter 222 Return to Jincheng
"Comrade Jiang Haitang, you are not from our local area, right? Are you changing trains in Shangdu?" Director Du asked.
Jiang Haitang said: "I'm taking the train tonight, going back to Jincheng..."
When she said this, she realized that the time seemed to have passed and the train should have left.
When the other people heard what Jiang Haitang said, they were also surprised. Obviously, they all realized that this female comrade had missed the train in order to save these children.
"The train to Jincheng has already left Shangdu Railway Station. Comrade, can we change your train to tomorrow's train?" Comrade Wei cleared his throat and said.
Director Du also said: "It just so happens that there are some things here that require your help. There are also some situations that the public security department would like you to explain in detail."
Although Jiang Haitang was anxious, she had no other choice since things had already come to this.
But even if she had the chance to do it again, Jiang Haitang believed that she would still make the same choice.
After all, there are so many children and so many families involved, she cannot turn a blind eye.
Cheng Qianqiu seemed to see the anxiety in Jiang Haitang's heart and asked, "Comrade Jiang, do you have something important to hurry back for?"
Jiang Haitang nodded. "I do have something important to tell you, but the train has already left, and there's nothing else I can do. I'll try to find a way to get back tomorrow morning."
"We are also going to Jincheng early tomorrow morning. Why don't you not take the train and come back with us?" Cheng Qianqiu said.
"Really?" Jiang Haitang asked happily. It would be great if she could get a ride back.
The matter was settled, and Jiang Haitang was no longer anxious. Director Du immediately ordered, "Xiao Zhang, you will be responsible for arranging for a few comrades to stay in our guesthouse. Comrade Wei, those human traffickers...
"Director Du, we've got them all under control! Our people are conducting an on-site investigation. We suspect this group may be connected to the recent spate of child trafficking cases."
Director Du nodded. "I suspected the same thing. These people are truly despicable. They've displaced so many families just to make money! I just hope we can catch all these human traffickers this time."
"It will definitely happen." said Comrade Wei.
"If there were more kind-hearted people like Comrade Jiang Haitang in this world, human traffickers would have nowhere to hide!"
After saying this, Director Du turned to Jiang Haitang and asked gently, "Where does Comrade Haitang work?"
"I'm from Jincheng Textile Factory. I just finished the Canton Fair and passed by Shangdu to change buses. I saw human traffickers snatching children near a state-owned hotel." Jiang Haitang briefly recounted his situation.
"Good! Good!" Director Du nodded repeatedly. "Young people should have this kind of responsibility! I will send a letter of thanks to your factory, commend you, and recommend you for a reward."
That night, Jiang Haitang cooperated with the police to take a statement, telling them how he discovered the human traffickers and fought wits and courage with the children. Then he went back to the guesthouse to rest.
The next morning, Comrade Wei and Cheng Qianqiu took Chengxuan to pick up Jiang Haitang and headed for Jincheng.
As the jeep drove away from Shangdu, Jiang Haitang looked out the window at the gradually receding city skyline.
Chengxuan beside him fell asleep in his mother's arms.
"Comrade Xiao Jiang, have some water." Cheng Qianqiu handed over a military canteen, his eyes full of gratitude. "Last night's inspection showed that the children were all fine."
Jiang Haitang took the kettle and her fingertips unconsciously stroked the red words "Serve the People" on the kettle. She thought of the children last night. It was so good that they were all safe.
"Comrade Cheng, have those children found their parents?"
"Director Du is personally arranging it. The families should be found soon, and until they are, proper arrangements will be made for the children."
Comrade Wei in the front row turned around and patiently explained to Jiang Haitang.
Jiang Haitang nodded, but she didn't know that at this moment, a series of tear-jerking reunions were taking place in Shangdu Hospital.
In the pediatric ward of Shangdu County Hospital, Tiezhu was lying on the windowsill, staring at the gate.
His little face was washed clean, and he was holding a big red apple in his hand. It was given to him by the aunt at the hospital that morning. He was reluctant to eat it and wanted to leave it for Sister Haitang.
However, Sister Haitang hasn't come to the hospital yet.
"Tiezhu!" A heart-wrenching cry came from the corridor.
Tiezhu turned his head suddenly and saw his father Zhang Jianshe and mother Li Guihua stumbling in.
"Dad! Mom!" Tiezhu rushed into his father's arms like a cannonball. When he smelled the familiar smell of engine oil, he finally burst into tears. "I thought I would never see you and Mom again!"
Zhang Jianshe's rough hands trembled as he stroked his son's back. Suddenly, he noticed the gauze wrapped around his right arm. "How did you get this?"
"I got scratched accidentally when we were running away yesterday. It's no big deal. The nurse lovingly applied some medicine on me." Tiezhu said with sobs.
In the next ward, Huang Yulan’s grandfather, Old Man Huang, was combing his granddaughter’s hair with his calloused hands.
The old man took out a red hairband from his arms. It was the one he bought for his granddaughter yesterday. However, after he bought the red hairband, his granddaughter disappeared. Fortunately, the police notified him in the middle of the night that his granddaughter had been found.
"Lan, you must remember the person who saved you!"
"Grandpa, I remember it. I will definitely not forget Sister Haitang. When I grow up, I will go to the northwest to find Sister Haitang."
In addition, there were many parents like Huang Yulan's and Tiezhu's families, who were talking to their children about what happened last night.
When younger children couldn't explain themselves clearly and their parents didn't understand, they would ask other children about the situation.
After finding out the details, some people who lived nearby immediately went home to search through their drawers and cabinets for good things to give to their benefactors, while some people who lived far away simply went to the nearby department store to buy things.
But when they waited in the hospital with their belongings, they learned that their child's savior had already left Shangdu.
"What can I do? I didn't even get to say thank you."
"I even got this big piece of bacon for my benefactor, but I couldn't even give it to him!"
…
Everyone was talking at once.
"I heard that this brave female comrade is from Jincheng Cotton Mill and her name is Jiang Haitang." A young nurse couldn't bear to see these people disappointed, so she told them about Jiang Haitang's situation.
"Jiang Haitang, I think I've heard of this name before, as well as the Jincheng Cotton Mill."
"During the Chinese New Year, it was in the newspaper. It seemed like I saved a whole trainload of people!"
"Wow, it turns out our benefactor is a kind-hearted person who has always done good deeds. Why don't we give him some thank-you letters and banners?"
The families of the abducted children began to discuss how to thank Jiang Haitang.
When the reporters heard the news, they arrived at the hospital and only met the parents of the abducted child. They were very disappointed that they did not meet Comrade Jiang Haitang, the brave man they wanted to interview. In the end, they could only learn some of the situation through the oral accounts of others.
With the help of the reporter, a thank-you letter was quickly written. This thank-you letter was not only sent to the Jincheng Textile Factory thousands of miles away, but also posted at the door of the Shangdu Public Security Bureau.
Soon, many people knew the story of Jiang Haitang heroically rescuing the abducted child.
By evening, the entire Shangdu was talking about a name: Jiang Haitang.
There were also more than a dozen children who, after waiting for a whole day, finally believed that the big sister who saved them had left.
Jiang Haitang and Cheng Qianqiu sped all the way. They set off at around six in the morning, only rested for more than an hour at noon, had a simple meal, and then set off again.
The driver and Comrade Wei took turns driving, and Jiang Haitang even took a nap in the car.
When she woke up, it was already past six in the afternoon.
"Haitang, let's eat nearby first. We won't be in Jincheng until around 11 o'clock at night." Cheng Qianqiu said with a smile when he saw Jiang Haitang wake up.
The jeep stopped at a state-owned hotel on the side of the road, and the setting sun stretched everyone's shadows very long.
Chengxuan woke up from his sleep, rubbing his eyes, his little hands tightly grasping the corner of Jiang Haitang's clothes.
"Sister, I dreamed about Tiezhu and the others." Chengxuan raised his little face, "Will they miss me?"
Jiang Haitang squatted down and gently wiped the sleep marks on the child's face: "Of course, our Chengxuan is a brave little hero."
The aroma of food in the state-owned restaurant made Chengxuan's stomach growl, and several people hurried in.
Jiang Haitang wanted to pay but was stopped by Cheng Qianqiu.
"You guys paid for lunch. I'm already embarrassed to ride in your car. How can I let you take care of my meal?"
Jiang Haitang said embarrassedly.
Cheng Qianqiu smiled, patted her hand and said, "Sister Haitang, you saved our child. How can I not be able to provide him with a few meals? Just let me do my best."
In the end, Jiang Haitang had no choice but to let Cheng Qianqiu pay for the meal.
At eleven o'clock in the evening, the jeep finally drove into the urban area of Jincheng.
When the car slowly arrived at the gate of the textile factory, Jiang Haitang was surprised to find that the factory gate was brightly lit and several blurry figures were posting something.
Jiang Haitang was shocked. Could something have happened in the factory?
"It's so late..." Jiang Haitang jumped out of the jeep anxiously.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Haitang asked the old man at the door.
"Oh, Mr. Jiang is back!" The doorman cheered as soon as he saw Jiang Haitang.
The old man's words were heard by Cheng Qianqiu who got off the car later. Cheng Qianqiu looked at Comrade Wei in confusion.
"They call Comrade Jiang Engineer?" Cheng Qianqiu suspected that he had heard it wrong. Such a young engineer?
"It's Engineer Jiang, but Comrade Jiang is a little too young."
"When I see my father later, I'll ask about Xiao Jiang's situation." Cheng Qianqiu didn't think of asking any further questions here.
Comrade Wei and Cheng Qianqiu said goodbye to Jiang Haitang.
"Sister Qianqiu, we'll see each other another day. Chengxuan, I'll miss you." Jiang Haitang smiled and pinched Chengxuan's little face.
The little guy was obviously unhappy, but he nodded obediently and got into the car reluctantly.
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