Mother's Worries

"What to do, what to do?" Wang Xiyue stamped her feet, pacing back and forth in the living room. Wang Xigui had tried calling Tong Haojing, but the calls wouldn't go through.

"Let's go. Things have reached this point, we have to go and see what exactly happened!" Wang Xigui said.

To get to the police station as quickly as possible, Wang Xiyue hailed a taxi. On the way, she wondered if her elder brother's attempt to intercede with officials had somehow implicated her son. Ah, my poor son!

Wang Xiyue and Wang Xigui arrived at the police station at eight in the morning.

Uncle Mumu was waiting outside the police station. Seeing Wang Xiyue arrive with her hair disheveled, he worried she wouldn't be able to handle the sudden shock and rushed over to support her. Wang Xiyue put on a brave face: "I'm fine. Where is Tongtong?"

Uncle Mumu replied, "I haven't seen him either."

Wang Xiyue, wanting to know why her son was arrested and unable to see him, lost a bit of control. She shouted outside the police station, "Tongtong! Tongtong! What on earth did you do!"

Two auxiliary police officers came out and loudly reprimanded them, "No shouting!"

Wang Xiyue believed her son's situation must be related to her elder brother's attempt to plead with the leadership, so she didn't mention to Uncle Mumu why her son was arrested. However, she suddenly wondered why Uncle Mumu was with her son. Wasn't her son supposed to be at the Civil Affairs Bureau? Wang Xiyue felt the situation was even more peculiar.

"Uncle Mumu, why are you here?" Wang Xiyue asked.

"It's all my fault for asking Tongtong to go fishing. Who would have thought we'd encounter robbers by the river? Tongtong tried to catch them, and the criminals jumped into the river. We don't know if they're alive or dead."

"Right, I was also called in for questioning. I said that Tongtong caught the robbers, and the criminals jumped into the river themselves, and it had nothing to do with us," Uncle Mumu said with a wronged expression.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiyue's expression changed from worry to joy. She was happy that her son hadn't done anything wrong, nor was it a consequence of her elder brother's failed plea to the leadership. Now that her son was arrested, it must be a mistake. Wang Xiyue felt a sudden ray of light, seeing hope for her son.

The auxiliary police were trying their best to persuade Wang Xiyue to leave the building.

A police car, lights flashing, emerged from the police station. Two officers were escorting a man with a middle-parted haircut. Uncle Mumu, putting on his reading glasses, recognized Officer Lan and Lu Tong in the car at a glance. He excitedly told Wang Xiyue, "These are the two officers who took Tongtong away. They've apprehended the man with the middle-parted hair and interrogated him at the station all day without any results. They're preparing to transfer him to the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Public Security Bureau."

Wang Xiyue stopped the police car.

The car screeched to a halt. Officer Lan got out, a smile on his face, and asked, "Are you Tong Haojing's relatives?"

"I'm his mother! Why did you arrest my son?" Wang Xiyue asked, her face full of anger.

"I apologize, your son is a hero!" Officer Lan said with certainty.

"What did you say?" Wang Xiyue couldn't believe her ears.

"Your son is a true hero!" Wang Xiyue heard clearly. Wang Xigui heard clearly. Uncle Mumu, standing nearby, also heard clearly. They looked at each other and smiled, tears of joy streaming down their faces.

"I knew it! How could a soldier's son do anything wrong? How could a good heart grow rotten sprouts? Wang Xiyue, you have a good son!" Uncle Mumu seemed happier than anyone, as if Tongtong were his own son. He had felt that way once before when someone had called Tongtong his son, but that was during a time of extreme grief.

Officer Lan and Lu Tong exited the police station and quickly escorted the man with the middle-parted hair to the Criminal Investigation Brigade.

At that moment, Director Tang came downstairs, a smile on his face. From a distance, he extended his hand to shake Wang Xiyue's, Tong Haojing's mother's, and said, "Congratulations, mother of a hero! Director Gao will be here to see you shortly! Your son has already been arranged to stay at a hotel."

Wang Xiyue was bewildered, her mind a fog, unable to distinguish the truth of the matter. However, she clearly heard the words "my son is a hero" and "Director Gao is coming," which were indeed spoken by people from the police station. In fact, under Director Gao's order, Tong Haojing was released that same night and then arranged by Director Tang to stay at the Xinglong Hotel for one night.

Tong Haojing emerged from the hotel early in the morning. Without an appetite for breakfast, he headed towards the police station. From a distance, he saw his mother and Uncle Mumu at the entrance, arguing heatedly with the police officers about something. He rushed over, both happy and surprised. Why is my uncle here too? he wondered. "Mom, Uncle, Uncle Mumu, you're all here!"

"Son, you scared us to death! Why didn't you even call!" Wang Xiyue hugged Tong Haojing, and they wept together.

"Mom, I'm not a child, it's fine!" Tong Haojing said casually, as if nothing had happened.

"Right, Mom, let me ask you, didn't you say you were going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to ask about your assignment? How did you end up with Uncle Mumu?"

"I went fishing with Uncle Mumu and forgot about it." Tong Haojing's face suddenly turned red. In reality, Tong Haojing knew he had wanted to see Mei Tingyu. His mother was beginning to realize this too; her son was growing up after all.

"Come, let's go to the conference room upstairs to talk. The director will be here soon," Director Tang urged.

Perhaps it was because Wang Xiyue's family had never experienced such a grand occasion, but the conference room was surprisingly quiet. Tong Haojing, Wang Xiyue, Wang Xigui, and Uncle Mumu waited in the conference room with the director's accompaniment for the director's arrival.

At nine in the morning, the sound of police sirens echoed from the entrance of the police station. Director Gao Weimin arrived, and Director Zheng arrived.

All the police officers lined up to greet them.

Director Tang intended to open the car door for Director Gao Weimin, but due to his age, his movements were slightly clumsy. The director's driver, with his agile movements, beat him to it. Director Tang's embarrassed expression was noticed by Officer Jiang, one of the policemen, who found it amusing. However, Director Tang, experienced and quick-witted, resolved the situation by politely shaking Director Gao Weimin's hand and saying, "Hello, Director."

Director Gao introduced Director Zheng from the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Director Gao's expression was stern, and he cast a cold glance at Director Tang: "Old Tang, why such a grand reception!" Director Gao always traveled light; it was his consistent style.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Director!" Director Tang said this every time. He knew the mentality of some leaders well – they would say one thing on the surface but be secretly pleased, but facing this new Director Gao Weimin, he was mistaken. Director Tang clearly felt that this recently appointed director was very different from his predecessors and no longer felt the usual resistance.

"Where is the person?" Director Gao Weimin asked directly.

"Upstairs," Director Tang replied.

"We'll go straight upstairs," Director Gao said.

The conference room was on the third floor, next to the director's office. Director Gao Weimin led Director Zheng ahead.

He immediately spotted Tong Haojing sitting in the center of the conference room and said, "Director Zheng, look, it's him. Such a tall young man, I've decided I want him!" Director Gao Weimin was very excited.

Director Zheng just chuckled, thinking, The Director of Public Security wants him, how could I refuse! Director Zheng clearly felt that although he was on par with the Director of Public Security, in reality, the Director of Public Security's influence overshadowed many bureaus, and this was an undeniable fact.

Tong Haojing also saw Director Gao Weimin. He exchanged glances with his mother, Wang Xigui, and Uncle Mumu: "Quick, stand up! The directors are here." Of the two directors, only Tong Haojing had met Director Gao Weimin before. He seemed a little reserved, with a slight smile on his face, his eyes fixed on the two directors.

At the same time, Wang Xigui saw Director Zheng. He lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze, thinking, Why is Director Zheng from the Civil Affairs Bureau here? My comrade, is he here to hold me accountable, to announce a decision? Now that Tong Haojing knows the truth, what will happen? Wang Xigui looked bewildered, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Wang Xiyue found it strange and whispered, "Why is my elder brother trembling?"

Wang Xigui stammered, "N-nothing!"

Tong Haojing said, "Don't be afraid, we should be happy!"

As they spoke, the two directors had already taken their seats in the center of the conference room. Director Tang sat next to Director Gao Weimin and introduced them to Tong Haojing and the other three.

Wang Xiyue finally understood why her elder brother had been trembling earlier; it turned out one of the people who had arrived was his comrade, Zheng Benli. Her heart also began to race as she worried about her son's situation.

Director Gao Weimin spoke first: "First, we must affirm and congratulate our demobilized soldier, the young man Tong Haojing, for his bravery in the face of danger, for earning the title of hero, though this is still in the process. Second, we must thank Director Zheng for assigning us such an excellent demobilized officer, Tong Haojing. Third, we must thank his mother for raising a hero for us..."

Director Gao Weimin's voice was loud and clear, his points concise and to the point.

When Zheng Benli saw Wang Xigui inside, he was initially filled with anger, but out of respect for Director Gao, he still offered a few polite words.

"Comrade Tong Haojing possesses excellent military skills and strong political theory in the army. He is a rare and outstanding cadre returning from the military. It is Tong Haojing's honor to be recognized by our Director Gao, and it is also an honor for our civil affairs resettlement office..."

The words of the two directors eased the sense of injustice Tong Haojing had felt. After a period of waiting, there was finally a result. He repeatedly murmured two words: "Thank you! Thank you!"

Everything happened so suddenly. His mother, Wang Xiyue, felt as if she were dreaming. She held her elder brother's and son's hands, clapping her hands twice in joy, her eyes brimming with excited tears.

Just then, Gao Weimin pointed at Wang Xiyue, who was sitting opposite him, and suddenly said: "The mole on your forehead is very beautiful. Could it be that you are the woman who was deceived that day!" Gao Weimin immediately recalled catching the swindler, who was also a drug addict, Dong Guapi, that day. He turned to look at Director Tang Changan, who was beside him.

"What is her name?"

"She... she is the hero's mother, Wang Xiyue!"

Director Tang's face was blank, unsure of what was happening. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly realized, could the woman who was deceived be Wang Xiyue? It was truly a case of finding something without looking. He was worried that if he couldn't find the victim, he would have to release Dong Guapi without charge, putting him in an awkward position with Director Gao Weimin. Now, with the victim right before him, Tang Changan had a flash of inspiration and quickly called Ke Qian over.

"Quickly return the two thousand yuan to the victim, Wang Xiyue!"

Ke Qian understood the situation. She hurried downstairs and then hurried back upstairs, holding a neat stack of one-hundred-yuan bills. She handed them to Wang Xiyue and then exclaimed in surprise to herself.

"It's his mom?!"

A commotion erupted among those present. Everyone looked at Director Gao Weimin and then at Wang Xiyue with expressions of disbelief and astonishment. What was going on!

Tong Haojing looked at his mother and asked softly, "Mom, is this true?" Tong Haojing was afraid his mother might make a rash decision. If it was a false claim, it would lead to serious trouble.

"Yes, it's true!" Wang Xiyue's eyes were filled with grateful tears. After a long while, she nodded, then stood up and bowed deeply three times to Director Gao Weimin, saying, "Thank you! Thank you!"

The慰问 (comfort and condolences) event took a turn, with a small interlude. Director Tang hadn't expected this at all. He had originally planned to privately tell Director Gao Weimin that he would prepare a table of fine food and wine at the Xijie Tuohuo Guan (Western Street Local Goods Hall). But suddenly, the matter of Wang Xiyue being deceived arose, and coupled with the fact that Gao Weimin had no such intention, the matter was dropped. The entire event could be considered a success. The two directors stood up and walked out of the conference room, with Wang Xiyue expressing her heartfelt gratitude.

Tang Changan watched Director Gao Weimin's departing figure and finally let out a long sigh of relief. He had been worried about how to face Director Gao because the drug addict Dong Guapi, whom Director Gao had apprehended, was proving difficult to find a victim for. Now, this matter had finally been resolved. However, he still felt he had lost face with Gao Weimin; the case of Dong Guapi the drug addict committing fraud was ultimately Gao Weimin's achievement. He didn't know what impression he had left on Gao Weimin this time and felt uncertain.

Tang Changan returned to his office and remained silent for a good few minutes before composing himself. He immediately summoned Officer Lan and Lu Tong and instructed them: "Go to the rehabilitation center immediately to interrogate Dong Guapi. You must get him to talk and find out all the details of his fraud. Make sure he is brought to justice!"

Officer Lan and Lu Tong accepted the mission and immediately set off for the rehabilitation center.

Tang Changan walked to the office window and watched Director Gao's car drive away in the distance. He sighed, "Ah, in the past, I would have definitely accompanied the leader for a meal or two, and a few local chickens and ducks would have been indispensable."

At this moment, Tang Changan saw Director Gao Weimin's actions and truly felt they were different. A hint of admiration and relief appeared on his face, accompanied by a smile.