During these three months of fighting the pandemic,
with the absence of four standing committee mbers, Chen Fang and the remaining mbers almost shouldered everything themselves, and most of them ate and slept in their offices.
On the 23rd day of the lunar new year,
specifically chosen for this day before the Lunar New Year's Eve.
Chen Fang once again delivered a televised address.
On television, he tearfully inford all citizens of Jindu City that after a lengthy hundred-day battle, as of today, the bat cases in Jindu City have officially cleared to zero.
In other words, from today onwards,
all life and production can return to normal.
After finishing this sentence,
Chen Fang let out a long sigh of relief.
During these hundred days,
he was truly exhausted.
Not only was his body tired, but his mind was also weary.
Seeing those frontline dical staff collapsing onto beds, seeing volunteers maintaining order being wronged, and the insults toward the governnt online, all these negative emotions intertwined together, finally caused him to let a few tears slip from his eyes.
After the televised speech ended,
the streets and alleys of Jindu City resounded with fireworks.
The crackling noise was even more lively than the New Year.
However, Chen Fang had disappeared.
Everyone searched the City Committee Courtyard thoroughly but couldn't find his whereabouts.
Where did he go?
He took a taxi by himself and went to the anti-pandemic heroes' cetery not far from Taijiang Hospital.
This cetery was specifically established before the end of the pandemic, and it was the resting place for more than a hundred "heroes who walked against the tide" who sacrificed their lives in the fight.
Jiang Feng's grave was among them.
He neither prepared paper money nor bought flowers.
He only brought a bottle of wine and a pack of cigarettes when he left his office.
He sat cross-legged in front of Jiang Feng's grave.
First, he poured a full glass of wine for "him," then lit a cigarette and placed it in front of the tombstone.
He sat in front of Jiang Feng's grave for the entire afternoon.
During that afternoon,
he "reported" on so recent work, discussed plans after the end of the pandemic, and even ntioned the weather today. In short, he talked about a lot of things...
Not until the sky outside started to darken,
did he stagger up from the ground.
He sighed and said, "Alright, I should go back now. I'll co to see you when I have ti."
For so reason,
as Chen Fang descended the mountain, the previously clear sky suddenly grew overcast.
Then, a fine drizzle began to fall.
At that mont, Chen Fang's mood turned gloomy again.
On the way back,
sitting in a taxi,
looking at the bustling streets that hadn't been seen for more than a hundred days,
Chen Fang's mood lightened a bit.
At that mont,
Chen Fang's phone suddenly rang.
When he checked the number, it was from Xiaxiang City.
Although he found it strange,
he still answered.
As soon as he said "Hello,"
a sobbing sound ca from the other end of the phone.
"Is... is this Secretary Chen Fang?"
A woman's voice asked.
"I am Chen Fang. Who are you?"
Chen Fang inquired.
The woman on the phone stifled her sobs and said, "Secretary Chen, I am... I am Tian Xiao'e."
Tian Xiao'e?
Wasn't she Jiang Feng's wife?
Chen Fang was startled and quickly asked, "Xiao'e, don't cry. Tell slowly, what's happened?"
Tian Xiao'e's emotions finally cald down a bit as she said, "Yaya, Yaya got into trouble..."
The Yaya she ntioned,
was Jiang Feng's daughter, five years old this year.
Three days ago,
her grandparents took Yaya to play in the small park in their community.
At that ti, she was playing on the swing.
Her grandparents didn't notice.
A little boy ca over and wanted to play on the swing too, telling Yaya to get off. Yaya said she would let the little boy play once she was done.
This was a very normal act.
Unexpectedly, the little boy's grandmother got upset.
She directly pulled Yaya off the swing, resulting in Yaya chipping a front tooth.
Yaya's grandparents heard her crying and rushed over, arguing with the little boy's grandmother.
The little boy's grandmother was not soone to be trifled with.
She directly made a phone call, bringing the little boy's parents over.
As soon as the little boy's father arrived, he kicked Yaya's grandfather to the ground, causing multiple fractures, and Yaya's grandmother got a cup of hot water thrown on her face by the little boy's mother, leading to burns.
Tian Xiao'e was at work at the ti.
Upon learning about the situation, she rushed to the scene imdiately.
Seeing that the negotiations between both parties were fruitless,
she called the police.
When the police arrived, they controlled the scene and reprimanded the little boy's whole family, but they still held a grudge in their hearts.
Before parting,
the little boy's father told Tian Xiao'e to look after her daughter, as sothing bad might happen eventually.
Back then, Tian Xiao'e thought it was just a threat and didn't take it seriously.
Yesterday evening,
Tian Xiao'e, as usual, took Yaya downstairs for so activities in their community.
The little boy's father ca down, walking a large wolfdog.
He let the wolfdog loose directly at Yaya,
causing her to be bitten in several places.
After calling the police this ti,
they paid little attention to it, evading responsibility, only asking the little boy's father to pay so dical bills.
That night,
the little boy's father announced in the community that this was just the beginning, things would get worse, and he would drive Yaya's family out of the community.
Tian Xiao'e felt helpless,
so she called Chen Fang for help.
Chen Fang was silent for a mont.
He asked, "Do you know the na of the little boy's father?"
Tian Xiao'e replied with a hum, "His na is Li Xiaoyi. I heard he works in a governnt office, but I don't know his exact position."
Chen Fang let out a long sigh,
and said, "Xiao'e, don't worry about anything now, just focus on taking care of Yaya in the hospital. I'll handle the rest."
"Secretary Chen, won't it be too much trouble for you?"
Tian Xiao'e asked.
At that mont, Chen Fang felt a pang of sourness in his heart.
He shook his head and said, "When you visited Ah Feng, I told you Yaya would also be my daughter from now on. I am her godfather, and I must deal with her being hard."
After saying that,
he hung up the phone.
He instructed the taxi driver, "Driver, head straight to the airport."
At midnight,
Chen Fang reached Xiaxiang City Children's Hospital.
Yaya was already asleep on the hospital bed,
but the traces left by the wolfdog's bites were still clearly visible on her face.
Tian Xiao'e told Chen Fang,
the doctors said Yaya is still young, and her wounds will heal, but she will inevitably suffer so psychological trauma.
Chen Fang felt a twinge of pain as he watched.
He pulled out a bank card and slipped it into Tian Xiao'e's hands, saying, "Keep this money first..."
"Secretary Chen, I can't take your money, I can't..."
Tian Xiao'e imdiately pushed the bank card back when she saw this.
Chen Fang handed it over again and said, "This money isn't for you, it's for Yaya. I am Yaya's godfather, and with the New Year coming, consider it my New Year's gift for her..."
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