A Mother's Worries

"What should we do? What should we do?" Wang Xiyue stamped her feet and paced nonstop around the living room. Wang Xigui called Tong Haojing, but he could not get through either.

"Come on. Things have come to this; we can only go over and see what exactly happened!" Wang Xigui said.

To reach the police station as quickly as possible, Wang Xiyue hailed a taxi. Along the way, she wondered whether her older brother had gone to ask someone for favors and somehow implicated her son. Oh! My poor, unlucky son!

By the time Wang Xiyue and Wang Xigui arrived at the police station, it was already eight in the morning.

Uncle Mumu was waiting outside the police station. When he saw Wang Xiyue arrive, her hair in disarray, he feared she would not be able to withstand such a sudden blow. He hurried over and supported her. Wang Xiyue forced herself to appear strong. "I'm fine. Where is Tongtong?"

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

Wang Xiyue wanted to know why her son had been arrested, yet she could not even see him. Her emotions began to spiral out of control, and she shouted outside the police station, "Tongtong! Tongtong! What on earth did you do?!"

Two auxiliary police officers came out and sternly rebuked her. "No shouting!"

Wang Xiyue believed that her son's trouble must be connected to her older brother seeking favors from the leaders, so she did not ask Uncle Mumu why her son had been arrested. But then it suddenly occurred to her: why was Uncle Mumu with her son? Hadn't her son gone to the Civil Affairs Bureau? Wang Xiyue found the whole matter even more suspicious.

"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 run into kidnappers by the river? Tongtong went after them, and the criminal jumped into the river. Whether he's alive or dead is unknown."

"Oh, right, they called me in for questioning too. I said Tongtong was the one who caught the criminal, and the criminal jumped into the river himself. It had nothing to do with either of us." Uncle Mumu spoke with a wronged expression.

The moment Wang Xiyue heard this, her face changed from worry to joy. She was glad that her son had not done anything bad, and that this was not because her older brother's attempt to seek favors had been exposed. Now that her son had been arrested, there had to be some mistake. Wang Xiyue suddenly felt as though a light had appeared before her eyes. She saw hope for her son.

The auxiliary police officers kept trying to persuade Wang Xiyue to leave the gate.

A police car with its lights flashing was about to leave the police station, carrying Middle-parted Hair under escort by Officer Lan and Lu Tong. Uncle Mumu had gotten himself a pair of reading glasses and recognized Officer Lan and Lu Tong in the car at once. Excitedly, he told Wang Xiyue, "Those are the two officers who took Tongtong away. They've already caught Middle-parted Hair. They questioned him at the police station all day without getting any results, and they're about to transfer him to the Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Brigade."

Wang Xiyue blocked the police car.

The police car screeched to a halt. Officer Lan got out, greeting them with a smile. "Are you Tong Haojing's relatives?"

"I'm his mother! Why did you arrest my son?" Wang Xiyue demanded angrily.

"I'm sorry, but your son is a hero!" Officer Lan said with certainty.

"What did you say?" Wang Xiyue asked, unable to believe her ears.

"Your son is a true hero!" Wang Xiyue heard it clearly. Wang Xigui heard it clearly. Uncle Mumu, standing nearby, heard it clearly too. They looked at one another, smiled, and wept with joy.

"I told you! How could a soldier's boy do anything bad? How could a good heart grow rotten bean sprouts? Wang Xiyue, you've got a wonderful son!" Uncle Mumu looked happier than anyone, as though Tongtong were his own son. That day, he had experienced what it felt like when others said Tongtong was his son—only then, he had been in the depths of grief and fury.

Officer Lan and Lu Tong left the police station and swiftly escorted Middle-parted Hair to the Criminal Investigation Brigade.

Just then, Director Tang came downstairs, all smiles. From a distance, he extended his hand and clasped Tong Haojing's mother Wang Xiyue's hand. "Congratulations, mother of a hero. Director Gao will be coming to see you shortly! Your son has already been arranged to stay at a hotel."

Wang Xiyue was completely bewildered, as if shrouded in fog, unable to make sense of what had happened. But she clearly heard that the police station staff had said, "Your son is a hero, and Director Gao is coming." In fact, under Director Gao's orders, Tong Haojing had been released that very night. Director Tang had then arranged for him to stay the night at the Xinglong Hotel.

Early that morning, Tong Haojing left the hotel. He had no appetite for breakfast and headed toward the police station. From far away, he saw his mother and Uncle Mumu emotionally arguing with the officers at the station gate. He ran over in a few strides, both delighted and surprised. Why was his uncle here too? Perplexed, he said, "Mom, Uncle, Uncle Mumu, you're all here!"

"Son, you scared us to death! Why didn't you even make one phone call?" Wang Xiyue said, embracing Tong Haojing as they wept.

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

"Right, let me ask you. Didn't you say you were going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to ask about your assignment? Why were you with Uncle Mumu instead?"

"I went fishing with Uncle Mumu and forgot all about it." Tong Haojing's face immediately reddened. In truth, he knew he had wanted to see Mei Tingyu. His mother was beginning to realize that too. Her son had grown up, after all.

"Come on, let's go upstairs and talk in the meeting room. The director will be here shortly," Director Tang urged.

Perhaps Wang Xiyue's family had never seen such a grand occasion before, but the meeting room was exceptionally quiet. Tong Haojing, Wang Xiyue, Wang Xigui, and Uncle Mumu went to the meeting room with Director Tang to await the director's arrival.

At nine in the morning, several police sirens sounded at the police station gate. Director Gao Weimin had arrived, along with Director Zheng.

All the officers lined up to welcome them.

Director Tang wanted to step forward and open Director Gao Weimin's car door, but his age made his movements somewhat clumsy, and the director's driver beat him to it with nimble speed. Old Jiang, one of the officers, noticed the embarrassed expression on Director Tang's face and could not help finding it amusing. Yet Director Tang was experienced and quick-witted. With a ceremonial handshake and a greeting of "Hello, Director," he immediately dissolved the awkwardness.

Director Gao introduced Director Zheng from the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Director Gao's expression was stern as he cast Director Tang a cold glance. "Old Tang, why make it so elaborate?" Director Gao always traveled with minimal escort; it had always been his style.

"All right, as you say, Director!" Director Tang said this every time. He understood some leaders' minds best: they said one thing on the surface while secretly enjoying another. But regarding the newly arrived Director Gao Weimin, he had been wrong. Director Tang had already clearly sensed that this director, who had not been in office long, was vastly different from his predecessors, and his former resistance had faded.

"Where is he?" Director Gao Weimin asked directly.

"Upstairs," Director Tang said.

"Let's go upstairs directly," Director Gao said.

The meeting room was on the third floor, right beside the director's office. Director Gao Weimin led Director Zheng in front.

At a glance, he saw Tong Haojing seated in the center of the meeting room. "Director Zheng, look, that's him. Such a tall fellow—I want him!" Director Gao Weimin said excitedly.

Director Zheng merely chuckled to himself. How could I dare refuse someone the Director of Public Security wants? Director Zheng clearly felt that although he and the Director of Public Security were nominally equals, the latter's influence far overshadowed that of many other bureau directors. That was an undeniable fact.

Tong Haojing saw Director Gao Weimin as well. He signaled to 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 looked slightly restrained, with a faint smile on his face as he looked directly at the two directors.

At the same time, Wang Xigui saw Director Zheng. He lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes. Why is Director Zheng from the Civil Affairs Bureau here? My old comrade—is he here to hold me accountable, to announce the disciplinary decision? Now I can't hide it anymore. What will Tong Haojing do once he learns the truth? Wang Xigui looked utterly lost, his body trembling nonstop.

Wang Xiyue found it strange and whispered, "Why is Big Brother shaking?"

"It's... it's nothing!" Wang Xigui said.

Tong Haojing said, "Don't be afraid. We should be happier!"

As they spoke, the two directors had already taken seats in the center of the meeting room. Director Tang sat beside Director Gao Weimin and introduced the four of them to the directors.

Only then did Wang Xiyue understand why her older brother had been trembling. One of the visitors was Zheng Benli, his old comrade. Her own heart began to race as she worried about her son's situation.

Director Gao Weimin spoke first. "First, we must recognize and congratulate our demobilized serviceman, young Tong Haojing, for courageously doing what was right and earning the title of hero—though the formalities are still underway. Second, we must thank Director Zheng for assigning us such an outstanding demobilized officer, Tong Haojing. Third, we must thank his mother for raising a hero..."

Director Gao Weimin's voice was resonant, his thoughts clear, and his words concise.

When Zheng Benli saw Wang Xigui among them, he was originally full of anger. But out of respect for Director Gao, he still offered a few polite remarks.

"Comrade Tong Haojing possessed excellent military skills and strong political theory in the army. He is a rare and outstanding cadre returning from the military. Being recognized by Director Gao is Tong Haojing's good fortune, and also the good fortune of our Civil Affairs placement office..."

The words of the two directors finally soothed Tong Haojing's aggrieved heart. After waiting for so long, he had finally received an answer. He kept repeating two words: "Thank you! Thank you!"

Everything had come too suddenly. Wang Xiyue felt as though she were dreaming. She took her older brother's hand and her son's hand, happily clapped twice, and tears of excitement filled her eyes.

Just then, Gao Weimin pointed at Wang Xiyue, who was seated across from him, and suddenly said, "The mole on your forehead is very beautiful. Could you be the woman who was swindled that day?" Gao Weimin immediately remembered Dong Guapi, the con man and drug user he had captured that day. He turned to look at Director Tang Changan beside him.

"What is her name?"

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

Director Tang looked utterly blank, having no idea what was going on. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly understood. Could the woman who had been swindled be Wang Xiyue? He had searched high and low only to find her without effort. He had been worried that if they could not find the victim, they would have to release Dong Guapi without charge, leaving him unable to account to Director Gao Weimin. But now things were perfect—the victim was right before his eyes. Tang Changan had a flash of inspiration and quickly called Ke Qian upstairs.

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

Ke Qian understood the situation as soon as she saw it. She hurried downstairs, then hurried back up, holding a neat stack of one-hundred-yuan bills. She handed it to Wang Xiyue, then asked in astonishment.

"She's his mother?!"

Everyone present erupted in an uproar. They looked at Director Gao Weimin, then at Wang Xiyue, their faces filled with disbelief and surprise. What exactly was going on?

Tong Haojing looked at his mother and asked softly, "Mom, is this true?" He was afraid his mother might recklessly make a claim. If she falsely claimed the money, it would lead to serious trouble.

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

The visit took an unexpected turn and gained a minor episode that Director Tang had never anticipated. He had originally planned to privately tell Director Gao Weimin that he had arranged a table of fine food and wine at the West Street Local Products Restaurant. But Wang Xiyue's swindling case had suddenly emerged, and Director Gao Weimin had no such intention anyway, so the matter was dropped. The whole event could be called a complete success. The two directors rose and left the meeting room while Wang Xiyue thanked them profusely.

Tang Changan watched Director Gao Weimin depart and finally let out a long breath. He had been worried because Dong Guapi, whom Director Gao had arrested, had no victim to be found, leaving him ashamed to face Gao Weimin. Now, at last, the matter had an explanation. Still, he had no face before Gao Weimin. In the end, Gao Weimin deserved the credit for the drug user Dong Guapi's fraud case. Tang Changan had no idea what kind of impression he had left on Gao Weimin this time, and he felt uncertain.

Tang Changan returned to his office. He remained silent for several minutes before pulling himself together. He immediately summoned Officer Lan and Lu Tong and instructed them, "Go to the drug rehabilitation center at once and interrogate Dong Guapi. You must pry open his mouth and get every detail of his fraud. Make sure he is brought to justice!"

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

Tang Changan walked to the office window and watched Director Gao's car disappear in the distance. He sighed. "Ah, in the past, I would have had to treat the leader to a meal and drinks. A few local chickens and ducks would have been indispensable."

But now, having seen Director Gao Weimin's way of doing things, Tang Changan truly found him different from the rest. A faint smile of admiration and relief appeared on his face.