N-M Chapter 77 A child drowned, and Xu Liang did another good deed.
Chapter 77 A child drowned, and Xu Liang did another good deed.
On a weekend morning in 1995, the wind was already warm.
Wild grass grew wildly on the riverbank and field ridges, the river water turned blackish-green, and the water temperature slowly rose.
The water may appear calm on the surface, but the dangers lurking beneath are truly unfathomable.
For some, the date of their death is drawing ever closer.
Xu Liang has been extremely busy lately.
Finally, he got to rest on the weekend.
The long-term supply chain for selenium-rich potatoes in Tongchuan has just been finalized.
Boss Qing keeps his word.
The first batch of goods sold smoothly, payments were received promptly, and a good reputation was established.
The neighbors watched as he made a name for himself selling unremarkable potatoes.
Many people came to him, wanting to lend a hand and find a way out, and Xu Liang helped them as much as he could.
Make the rules clear and leave room for maneuver.
Xu Liang never hides anything.
On the other end of the phone back home, my maternal grandfather told me the story in person.
Their production team's orchard has also reached a critical moment.
Xu Liang repeatedly contacted the other side, emphasizing this point repeatedly during the calls.
From budding and fruit setting to pest control, every step of fruit tree care must be done meticulously.
Having suffered from a lack of technical knowledge in his previous life, Xu Liang made a point of inquiring about and preparing in advance in this life.
Let them spend money to hire technicians if necessary, and let those who can stay up all night tending the garden stay up all night.
The purpose of doing this is to hope for a good harvest in the fall and to solidify the foundation of our family's livelihood.
However, Xu Liang's night market business is booming day by day.
Aunt Lu's cooking is consistently excellent; her rice in the iron pot is crispy and not burnt, and when paired with freshly stir-fried toppings, long queues form every evening.
Chen Yang and Sun Zhonglei were responsible for purchasing goods, tending the stall, and greeting customers.
He can handle all sorts of random people on the street with ease; he's no longer the lazy kid who just drifted through life.
Stall, source of goods, sales channels.
These three things are secure.
Life at home is getting better and better every day.
Mother Zhao Hongzhi and father Xu Guisheng smiled more often.
Having gone through a rebirth, Xu Liang went from having nothing to slowly building up his life.
It's never about taking shortcuts or being opportunistic; it's simply about having a little more foresight than others and having a strong sense of conscience.
He always remembered how miserable he felt after being laid off from the hotel in his previous life.
He watched helplessly as his family suffered injustice and his brothers went through hardships.
One after another, lives were lost because of accidents and poverty, and no one was willing to lend a helping hand.
A vibrant life was lost just like that.
At that time, he was powerless and couldn't even save himself.
In this life, he has a second chance and the ability to make up for all his regrets. Of course, he will never hold back when he can reach out.
After being busy for half a month, I finally made it to the next weekend.
They closed up early the night before, and Xu Liang and his team checked the accounts and arranged the ingredients for the next day.
I took a walk around the area and saw that the crops in the town's farms were growing well.
The weight that had been pressing on my heart finally lifted.
Since Xu Liang opened his small restaurant, Zhao Hongzhi's attitude has undergone a complete 360-degree change. Now, seeing how hard he is working, she feels a little sorry for him.
Moreover, Zhao Hongzhi kept repeating it several times throughout the night.
He told Xu Liang not to go anywhere the next day, but to stay home, sleep, and rest to recharge.
Xu Liang agreed.
But he was never the type to lie still.
The next morning, just as dawn broke.
Xu Liang got up early.
He slept until he naturally woke up and ate the porridge and pickled vegetables his mother had cooked.
He changed into a slightly worn blue short-sleeved shirt and trousers, and put on a pair of clean cloth shoes.
I didn't bring much with me, and just leisurely went out the door.
When I went out, I said I was going for a walk and maybe a morning run.
It seems there was really no other purpose; I just wanted to take a walk along the river to clear my head.
I'll temporarily clear my mind of all the business matters and interpersonal relationships that have been on my mind these past few days.
This river flows around Xiaotian and is the mother river of the local town.
Its name is Changhe.
Although the name sounds rustic, it is indeed the only river in Huaikou Town.
The river appeared wide and calm, with crystal-clear water and soft, shallow beaches along the banks.
Adults usually come here to do laundry, wash vegetables, and herd cattle.
Only the older generation knows that the section of the river bend has been eroded by the water flow year after year.
Hidden beneath are several deep pools, the deepest of which can reach the height of two adults. The moss along the pool edges is so thick it's slippery, and the silt underwater is sticky and heavy.
Once a person steps in, the more they struggle, the deeper they sink, and if they are swept away by the undercurrents, they will most likely not be able to get out.
The village officials remind and emphasize this every year.
It's getting hot, so children are not allowed to swim in the river, wade in the water, catch fish, or go near deep pools without permission.
But children don't listen to reason.
The more forbidden a place is, the more curious I become.
The more dangerous the place, the more thrilled they feel.
On weekends, adults either go to work in the fields, go to the market, or do housework at home.
They simply couldn't keep an eye on a bunch of runaway kids.
In groups of three or five, or seven or eight, they would sneak off to the riverbank to splash in the water, have water fights, collect snails, and gather seashells, playing so engrossed that they completely forgot the warnings from adults.
Xu Liang walked slowly along the riverbank.
The road was a dirt road worn down by people, full of potholes, and overgrown with weeds and unknown wildflowers on both sides.
The butterflies flew slowly, and in the distance, one could hear the mooing of cows, the chirping of cicadas, and the barking of dogs from the village—a peaceful and tranquil rural scene.
He walked slowly, his mind blank, simply gazing at the riverbank, the fields, and the distant mountains.
In his previous life, he rarely had such a leisurely time.
I've never been like this before: either I'm so poor I'm worried, or I'm so busy I'm exhausted, or I'm living a muddled life.
Having been reborn, he did not seek great wealth or status.
I only ask for the safety of my family and my own well-being, then I can have a clear conscience.
The more good deeds you do, the more peace of mind you have; the more lives you save, the fewer human tragedies you will witness.
He walked along the riverbank for about ten minutes.
We gradually moved further away from the village, until we reached the widest and most dangerous section of the river bend.
Just then, a cry that sounded like a sob broke the peace of the place.
"Help!"
"Someone has fallen into the water! Help!"
"The baby is sinking! Help!"
The sound came from a group of children.
The sobbing voice was filled with helplessness and fear, and it was so shrill that it sent chills down your spine.
Xu Liang's steps froze instantly.
The next second, all the nerves in his body tensed up.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by a hand.
I had a very ominous premonition.
It's by the river.
The baby has fallen into the water.
Without a second's hesitation, he immediately turned around and ran wildly in the direction from which the sound came.
Xu Liang ran very fast on the dirt road, with only one thought in his mind.
Hurry, faster! We absolutely cannot have any accidents.
When rescuing someone from drowning, every few minutes counts.
One step too late, and a life is lost, a family is shattered.
In the rural areas of the 1990s, there were no lifeguards, no rescue teams, and no cell phones to make calls at any time.
If something happens by the river, you either need to rely on passersby who are familiar with the area and can swim to save you, or you can only watch helplessly as the person drowns.
Xu Liang ran breathlessly and quickly reached the riverbank.
The sight before him made his heart sink.
There were four or five children standing on the shore, the oldest being no more than eleven or twelve years old, and the youngest only seven or eight.
Their faces were deathly pale, and they were trembling all over.
Some stood there crying, some were panicking and running around in circles, some stretched out their hands and shouted into the river, but no one dared to take another step forward.
They were all terrified.
On the river, the once calm surface was now churning violently.
A small figure bobbed up and down in the deep water.
It was a little boy who looked only five or six years old, wearing a red short-sleeved shirt and blue shorts, with short hair and a pitifully thin body.
He was completely out of control in the water, his little hands and feet flailing and struggling wildly. But the more he struggled, the deeper his body sank. Occasionally, his head would surface for a second, only to be swallowed up by the murky river water again. He couldn't even let out a complete cry.
River water kept pouring into his mouth and nose, causing him to choke and convulse. His struggles became weaker and weaker.
When a person is drowning, they don't scream and struggle desperately like they do on TV.
True drowning is often silent; a person in the water cannot make a sound at all.
They could only sink little by little until they completely lost consciousness.
At this moment, the little boy has reached his limit.
His face had begun to turn blue, his lips turned white, his eyes were unfocused, and his struggling strength was waning.
My body is slowly sliding towards the center of the deep pool.
I can only hold on for another minute or two at most.
He would sink completely to the bottom of the water and could never be saved.
More and more people gradually gathered around the shore.
There were villagers passing by, people working in the nearby fields, and women and elderly people returning from the fields.
They saw the situation in the river from afar and all ran over, standing on the bank to watch, their hearts filled with anxiety.
"My God! Whose child is this? How did they fall into this deep pool!"
"This water is dangerous! You mustn't go in!"
"Quickly, call for help! Go to the village and get an adult! Get someone who can swim!"
"It's too late! If we delay any longer, the person will be gone!"
There was a murmur of discussion, everyone was anxious, but no one dared to take a step forward.
In this river bend, people have died in the village.
more than one.
Rescuing someone from the water is no easy task.
When a drowning person is in a state of extreme panic, they will unleash extraordinary strength and cling tightly to anything that comes near them.
If a person gets entangled in the water, whether it's their hands, feet, or neck, they won't be able to break free and will be dragged into the water and drown along with the person in distress.
Moreover, the water is deep, with undercurrents and thick silt; going down is easy, but coming back up is difficult.
The less trouble, the better.
Even when it comes to matters of life and death, many people still value their own safety more than anything else.
More and more people gathered on the shore, some sighing and some anxious.
Those who offer advice are mostly giving bad ideas.
No one dared to jump.
The little boy in the water struggled a couple more times before his head completely disappeared into the water.
The water surface gradually returned to calm, leaving only ripples spreading outwards.
The person sank.
"Oh no... the baby sank to the bottom..."
"What are we going to do! This is terrible! Such a young child!"
"His parents would probably go crazy if they found out!"
A sound of despair filled the air on the shore.
At that critical moment, when everyone thought it was too late...
Xu Liang made a move.
He didn't speak to anyone, nor did he utter a single "I'll do it."
They didn't even have time to take off their clothes and shoes.
He rushed to the shore closest to where he had fallen into the water, pushed off with his feet, and jumped in.
"thump-"
A heavy splash silenced everyone on the shore.
The icy river water instantly swallowed him whole.
The river water in early summer was warm on the surface, but still bone-chillingly cold in the depths. The cold air pierced through his clothes and into his bones, causing Xu Liang to shudder violently and catch his breath for a moment.
But he didn't even pause.
My swimming skills were honed in this river since I was a child.
Where it's deep, where it's shallow, where there are undercurrents, where there's silt.
Xu Liang knew this better than anyone else.
He knew all too well that the worst thing you can do when rescuing someone from drowning is to approach them from the front.
Once they get close enough, the child in the water will grab onto them tightly as if they were grasping at a straw.
If they drag them underwater, neither of them will survive.
Xu Liang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the chill and resistance of the river water, and kicked his legs hard.
He moved his arms quickly, and at top speed, circled around to the side where the little boy had sunk, then plunged into the water.
The underwater area was murky, with churning mud and sand, making visibility extremely poor and impossible to see anything clearly.
I could only rely on my senses to explore that tiny body.
In just a moment, his hand touched the child's cold, limp arm.
The little boy had lost consciousness and his body was sinking straight to the bottom of the pool.
Xu Liang's heart tightened, and he immediately reached out and slipped his arm through the child's back, firmly locking the child under his armpit.
Hold his chest firmly in the crook of your arm, making sure his head is brought to the surface.
With his other hand, he paddled hard, swimming upwards with all his might.
Just as he lifted the child out of the water, the little boy seemed to suddenly regain a survival instinct, his previously limp body...
The little hands and feet moved wildly, clinging tightly to Xu Liang.
Despite his slender build, he possesses considerable strength.
That was the last struggle of a dying person.
Regardless of anything else, all I want is to drag everyone around me down with me so I can breathe a sigh of relief.
Xu Liang was prepared; he firmly pressed his knee against the child's back, preventing him from turning around and hugging his neck and chest.
At the same time, he exerted all his strength in his arms to hold the child firmly in place, preventing him from slipping back into the water.
"Don't move! I'll get you up there! Don't move!"
He whispered something in the water, but the child couldn't hear or understand it.
It was just an instinctive struggle, scratching, and falling.
Xu Liang instantly felt double the weight.
The soaked clothes clung heavily to my body, and each stroke required several times more effort than usual.
The undercurrent kept rushing towards him, pulling him towards the center of the deep pool. The silt at the bottom of the river also tangled his trouser legs, making each ascent extremely difficult.
His chest soon began to ache, his breathing became increasingly rapid, and his arms started to ache.
Physical strength is being depleted at an alarming rate.
Everyone on the shore held their breath.
They saw it clearly.
It was Xu Liang who jumped in to save people.
This young man in the village is currently very popular, hardworking, and kind-hearted.
No one expected that, when everyone was too afraid to move and was just watching, he would be the first to jump down without hesitation.
"It's Xu Liang! Xu Liang jumped!"
"Quick! Call for help! Get ready to pull them up!"
"Please, please don't let anything happen! Both of you have to come up here safely!"
The sounds from the shore were kept very low.
The once noisy riverbank is now only filled with the sound of flowing water and Xu Liang paddling in the water.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the river.
Xu Liang led the child, slowly approaching the shore.
Every meter I swam felt like a brush with death.
The child was still struggling unconsciously, continuing to fall, and Xu Liang's strength was almost exhausted.
His arms were shaking violently, and his vision was starting to go black, but he gritted his teeth and refused to loosen his grip even slightly.
He cannot let go.
If you loosen your grip, the child will be gone.
Not only that, he will also lose his life in this river today.
He already had enough regrets in his past life.
In this lifetime, he absolutely cannot stand by and watch a little life disappear before his very eyes.
"Come on, Xu Liang! Almost there! Give it your all!"
"Come this way! It's shallow here! We'll reach out and help you!"
Several strong young men were on the shore.
Finally realizing what was happening, they rushed to the front of the shore, bent down, and stretched out their hands to help them.
Upon hearing the sound, Xu Liang used his last bit of strength to adjust his direction and swim towards the shallow waters near the shore.
Finally, my feet touched solid ground.
Although it was still slippery mud, at least we had something to hold onto.
"Quick! Reach out!"
Several large hands reached out from the shore at the same time and grabbed Xu Liang's arm tightly.
Several people exerted their strength at the same time and pulled upwards sharply.
"Splash, splash."
A splash of water.
Xu Liang, carrying the unconscious little boy, was finally pulled ashore by the combined efforts of everyone.
The moment the two landed, Xu Liang felt as if all his strength had been drained away.
He collapsed heavily onto the soft, wet ground, panting heavily.
He was soaked to the bone, his hair plastered to his face, and water droplets dripping down his cheeks, chin, and the hem of his clothes.
His face was frighteningly pale, his lips were frozen purple, and he was shivering uncontrollably.
Those few minutes underwater were more tiring than a whole day of heavy work or staying up all night.
That's risking your life.
But he couldn't care less about himself at that moment.
His gaze immediately fell on the little boy in his arms.
The child was pulled ashore, his eyes still closed, his face pale, his lips purplish, and he remained motionless.
Muddy river water kept gushing from its mouth and nose, its belly was swollen and distended, its chest was not rising or falling at all, and even its breathing could not be seen.
The person is still unconscious.
They are not out of danger yet.
The people on the shore panicked again when they saw this.
"The child is dead!"
"Quick! Drain the water! Pour it out!"
"Pat him on the back! Shake him! Hurry!"
Immediately, several women and elderly people surrounded the child, hurriedly trying to pick him up, shake him, and pat his back.
These are traditional methods that have been passed down in the countryside for many years.
It looks like they're rescuing someone.
In fact, this will only worsen the child's lung damage, push the water that was swallowed deeper, and delay the most precious rescue time.
Seeing this, Xu Liang mustered his strength and spoke sharply.
"Don't touch it! Don't shake it! Don't take pictures!"
His voice was hoarse from panting, yet it carried an undeniable strength.
The group of people who had been frantically working suddenly stopped and looked at him.
Xu Liang had no time to explain, nor did he have time to talk to anyone.
The golden rescue time after drowning is only a few minutes.
He immediately laid the child flat on the ground.
First, reach out and carefully clean the mud, weeds, and dirty water from the child's mouth and nose, ensuring that the airway is clear.
Then, he turned the child over, laid him face down on his lap, with the child's head down.
Gently press on his back to slowly drain the water from his stomach and trachea.
Several mouthfuls of murky river water flowed from the corner of the child's mouth.
But the child still wasn't breathing and didn't wake up.
Xu Liang immediately laid the child flat on his back on the ground, untied his soaked collar, and folded his hands together.
Place the hand precisely in the center of the child's chest and begin performing chest compressions in a standardized, even, and forceful manner.
a bit!
Two!
Three times!
……
Thirty strokes!
Maintain a consistent rhythm, depth, and frequency of pressing.
After pressing 30 times, he immediately bent down, pinched the child's nose, and began artificial respiration.
After blowing, continue pressing.
It goes on and on, without stopping.
His arms were shaking so badly he could barely hold on; he had long since exhausted all his strength.
Every time I press, my arm feels numb and painful.
But his hands remained steady without the slightest tremor.
can't stop.
We absolutely cannot stop.
If we stop, the child will really be gone.
The shore was surrounded by layers of people, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone watched as Xu Liang pressed and blew air again and again, watching his face turn pale and his whole body tremble, yet he still refused to stop.
No one spoke, no one disturbed them; everyone waited silently in their hearts.
Time passed by, second by second.
Just as Xu Liang finished another round of chest compressions and was preparing to give artificial respiration again.
Sudden.
"Cough cough! Cough cough cough cough!"
A violent cough erupted from the child's throat.
Immediately afterwards, the child convulsed violently, and large gulps of river water gushed from his mouth and nose, vomiting all over the ground.
Her belly gradually shrank.
The next second, the child's chest rose and fell slightly.
Breathing has returned.
His tightly closed eyes slowly opened a crack, though his gaze remained unfocused.
Although her face was still pale, she burst into tears the next second.
But this crying sounded perfectly normal at that moment.
Alive.
They've been saved.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and many people's eyes immediately welled up with tears, feeling a mix of fear, relief, and emotion.
Xu Liang remained in the pressing position, stunned for two seconds.
Then, my whole body relaxed, and I let go completely at that moment.
He also went limp and sat down on the ground, panting heavily, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
The lingering fear suddenly overwhelmed me at that moment.
Just now in the water, if he had slowed down even a step...
The child was entangled, and if he slipped and sank into the mud, there would be two lives lost at the bottom of the water.
But he didn't regret it, not at all.
The child woke up crying his heart out, his body was ice cold, and he was trembling with fear.
Xu Liang recovered and gently touched the child's head. He took off his own short-sleeved shirt, which was soaked but still warm, and wrapped it around the child, soothing him in a low voice.
"It's alright now, don't be afraid, you're safe."
The child couldn't understand, but just clung to his arm and cried even harder.
The way the surrounding villagers looked at Xu Liang had completely changed.
That wasn't the way you look at an ordinary young person; it was genuine admiration followed by heartfelt respect.
No one dared to move.
Everyone was afraid of getting into trouble or losing their lives.
Without saying a word, the young man jumped.
He risked his life to pull someone else's child back from the brink of death.
This is not a good person.
Who is the good person?
Just then, footsteps could be heard on the village road in the distance.
Some people have already run all the way back to the village to report the news.
The parents of the drowning child went insane upon receiving the news.
The first to rush over was the child's mother.
Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red, and she was running and crying.
She didn't even care that she had lost a shoe while running away, and kept calling out her child's nickname, as if she had lost her soul.
Upon seeing her son lying on the ground, crying, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to her knees in the mud with a thud. She scrambled over, grabbed her child tightly, and burst into tears.
"My son! My little one! You scared your mother to death! If you were gone, I wouldn't want to live anymore!"
She held the child, touching his face and body to see if he was alright, feeling the warmth of his embrace, and listening to his cries.
My whole body was trembling, I was so scared that my whole body was convulsing, and tears were streaming down my face, I couldn't stop them.
Immediately afterward, the child's father rushed over as well.
A tall, dark-skinned rural man, who usually appears taciturn and upright.
Her lips trembled as she looked at her crying son in her arms, then at the person sitting on the ground.
Xu Liang was soaking wet and his face was covered in white hair.
The man didn't say a word.
He walked directly up to Xu Liang.
With a "thump," he knelt down heavily.
He kowtowed deeply to Xu Liang.
His forehead hit the muddy ground with a dull thud.
Xu Liang was startled and quickly braced his limp body, trying to help him up.
"Big brother! What are you doing?"
"Get up! This won't do!"
The man raised his head, his voice choked with emotion, speaking with immense weight.
"Xu Liang, you saved my child's life."
"You saved him, which means you saved our whole family."
"You are our family's greatest benefactor, a benefactor for life."
"You must be able to bear it."
After he finished speaking, he was about to kowtow again.
Xu Liang quickly grabbed him and pulled him up.
"Brother, don't do this, it's what I should do."
"The child is alright, that's more important than anything else, there's no need to mention anything else."
The child's mother, holding the child, also came over.
She cried and kept thanking Xu Liang, over and over again, her words barely audible, only gratitude remaining.
They knew very well that if it weren't for Xu Liang, their son would be gone forever.
A family, just like that, is broken.
The days to come.
Even if they live, they will forever live in pain.
The surrounding villagers watched this scene with sighs of regret.
"Xu Liang is such a kind-hearted kid."
"Most people wouldn't trade their own life for someone else's child's life."
"Good people get good rewards; his little restaurant is sure to become incredibly popular."
Just then, another series of hurried footsteps came running over.
Xu Liang's parents also arrived.
It was a neighbor who ran to report that Xu Liang jumped into the river to save someone and almost didn't make it back up.
Zhao Hongzhi was overjoyed upon hearing the news.
Her legs went weak on the spot, and she cried and ran all the way to the river.
I immediately spotted my son sitting on the muddy ground, soaking wet, shivering, and pale.
She instantly got angry.
"What did I tell you before? I told you not to get involved, not to try to save them, and to use your brain when you try to save them."
Xu Liang retorted.
"Mom, look, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
"You're alright, you're alright! My heart was pounding!"
Although she said she would punish Xu Liang, his mother was a hypocrite.
He rushed over and hugged Xu Liang tightly.
Tears immediately streamed down my face; I felt both heartbroken and angry.
"You silly boy! Are you out of your mind?"
"That river is so treacherous and so deep, you just jump in like that? If anything happens to you, how are your father and I supposed to live?"
"Mom doesn't ask you to be rich or powerful, nor does she ask you to be a good person."
"Mom just wants you to be safe and sound!"
She cried as she reached out and gently touched Xu Liang's head.
I checked him to see if he was injured or in pain anywhere; his hands were shaking.
It wasn't that she wasn't grateful to her son for saving the person; she was afraid of losing her son.
Mothers all over the world.
They're all the same, actually.
You can praise other people's children for being brave, and you can commend other people's children for being kind.
But when it came to her own son risking his life, she felt only endless heartache and fear.
Seeing his mother crying like this, Xu Liang felt a pang of sadness and immediately reached out to gently pat her back, whispering words of comfort.
The father stood to the side, his face solemn, looking at his son without uttering a single word of reproach.
He simply walked over and nodded slightly to Xu Liang.
The son did the right thing.
Even if you're scared or worried.
That was the right thing to do.
The surrounding villagers, seeing the mother and child, also tried to persuade them.
"Sister, don't worry, Xu Liang is a lucky man, he'll be fine."
"Yes, this is a great act of merit. Xu Liang is lucky and blessed."
The mother hugged Xu Liang and cried for a while before she gradually calmed down and quickly took off her coat.
They wrapped Xu Liang up tightly, keeping him completely covered, afraid that a draft might cause him to fall ill.
The child's parents, watching from the sidelines, were filled with immeasurable gratitude.
Other people's mothers are crying like this because they're so heartbroken.
The other person's son was willing to give his own life to save their child's.
This debt of gratitude can never be repaid in this lifetime.
That afternoon, the news spread throughout the entire village, and even to several neighboring villages.
Xu Liang bravely rescued a child who had fallen into the river over the weekend, almost losing his own life in the process.
They pulled a five- or six-year-old boy back from the brink of death.
The news spread far and wide.
Everyone is praising Xu Liang.
They say he's righteous, kind-hearted, brave, and a truly good person.
People had been praising him before.
He rescued Jiang Wan from the fire before, and now he has saved a drowning child.
Moreover, his small restaurant business is honest and upright; he doesn't cheat or harm anyone.
They're rescuing people now.
It's not difficult for a person to do one good deed in their lifetime; what's difficult is to uphold one's conscience at all times.
They are all willing to lend a helping hand when others are going through the toughest times.
They were even willing to risk their own lives.
That day, the family of the drowned child arrived at Xu Liang's house carrying a large basket full of things.
Eggs, cured meat, rice, lard, fresh vegetables and fruits—everything they could grab was brought over, piling up half the room.
They also took a stack of cash.
The fortress was given to Xu Liang as a token of gratitude for saving his life.
Xu Liang refused to accept it no matter what.
On the one hand, he is not short of money now, and on the other hand, he feels that this is something that should be done quietly and without fanfare.
He wouldn't take a single penny of the money.
There was something else, but only a little bit was left.
They took most of them back.
"Take the money back. I saved people, not for the money."
"The child is safe and sound, growing up healthy and strong, which is better than anything else for me."
"We'll run into each other all the time. Just keep a close eye on the kid from now on and make sure he doesn't run near the river again. That's more important than anything else."
He spoke the truth.
The child's parents were even more moved to see him like this.
I didn't know what to say, so I could only thank them again and again, and give my child repeated instructions.
I will always remember Uncle Xu Liang's life-saving grace. When I grow up, I will be a good person and repay kindness.
The little child, though not quite understanding, firmly remembered the person who had saved his life.
Xu Liang rested at home for the next few days.
That day, I jumped into the water to save someone, and I was so exhausted that I was in the cold water for so long.
Although I wasn't injured, I caught a slight chill, developed a low-grade fever, and had body aches for several days.
His mother took care of him every step of the way, making him ginger soup, boiled brown sugar eggs, and stewed warm and nourishing soups every day.
They watched him while he slept and rested, forbidding him from getting out of bed to work or going to work at the small restaurant.
She would occasionally grumble at him, blaming him for being too impulsive and for not taking care of himself.
Despite her constant nagging, her eyes were filled with undisguised pride when she looked at her son.
She tells everyone she meets that although her son is simple-minded and reckless, he is doing the right thing.
It's a good thing, and she doesn't regret it.
The two members of the small restaurant team heard about Xu Liang's rescue.
They were all terrified and felt extremely scared. Every day after closing up shop, they would come over to check on him and make sure he was alright before they could relax.
Sun Zhonglei sighed at him, "Brother Liang, you're really daring! I'm impressed. But please don't do that again. What will we do if anything happens to you?"
The words were reproachful, but the tone was full of worry and admiration.
When the town officials heard about this act of bravery, they brought people to the village to visit Xu Liang and praise him in person.
They said he was a role model for the town's youth and a prime example of positive energy, and that his deeds should be reported to higher authorities.
This must be publicized.
Praise should be given via radio broadcast.
Xu Liangdu accepted calmly, without being arrogant or conceited.
He never saved people for the sake of praise, fame, or face.
He just did what he was supposed to do.
I simply followed my conscience.
Life gradually returned to normal.
The rescued little boy has fully recovered and is now lively and energetic, never daring to go near the river again.
His parents kept a close eye on him at all times, strictly disciplining him, and dared not neglect him in the slightest.
Every few days, they would bring their children to Xu Liang's house for a visit, bringing some vegetables they had grown themselves and food they had made at home.
They didn't say much, but they showed their gratitude through their actions.
The people in the village.
He held Xu Liang in even higher esteem.
I used to admire his business acumen and ability to make money; now it's from the bottom of my heart.
At the same time, I admire his character, his conscience, and his sense of responsibility.
A person with strong abilities can move quickly.
Only those with good character can go far.
Xu Liang's business also became increasingly smooth because of this incident.
More and more people are seeking cooperation with him, getting goods from him, and wanting to work with him.
Everyone trusts him, trusts his character, trusts his conscience, and believes that following him will not lead to losses or being cheated.
Good fortune is something that cannot be seen or touched, yet it is truly present in our daily lives.
That evening, Xu Liang had fully recovered and went to help out at the small restaurant again.
The stove was burning brightly, and the aroma of crispy rice wafted far and wide. The room was packed with guests, creating a lively yet peaceful atmosphere.
After a busy period, he stood in the small restaurant during a break, looking at the lively atmosphere, his reliable partners, and the increasingly better days ahead.
A gentle breeze was blowing, and it felt warm.
He remembered that day in the river, the icy water, and his almost exhausted strength.
The small, struggling body in my arms.
I don't regret it at all.
In this life, he protected his family, ran a successful business, and upheld his conscience.
Saving one more person, doing one more good deed, preventing a family from breaking apart, and allowing a little life to grow up safely.
It's worth it, no matter how much money I make.
Aunt Lu saw him standing there in a daze and called out to him with a smile.
"Liangwa, what are you daydreaming about? Come over and lend a hand."
Xu Liang snapped out of his daze, smiled, responded, and walked over.
The lights were bright, and the air was filled with fragrance.
When the world is at peace, people's hearts are open and honest.
Good people will be rewarded.
Kindness will eventually bring blessings.
All he ever wanted in his life was a clear conscience and peace and tranquility.