Chapter 1366: Exaggeration

The next day

Hongxing Rolling Mill

As soon as the workers started their shift, they heard explosive news and gathered in groups of three or five, talking with great excitement.

"Did you hear! Last night, Director Cao and Section Chief Zhao were ambushed on their way home!"

"It seems a gang of pickpockets sought revenge on Director Cao!"

"I heard the police station and the Security Section mobilized hundreds of people, bringing machine guns and cannons to catch dozens of pickpockets!"

"Machine guns and cannons! Is that true or not!"

"How could that be fake? My cousin is in the Security Section; he participated in the operation last night. Those pickpockets were fierce; they even kept guns under their pillows..."

"My god, this is Jingcheng!"

I also heard that the leader of those thieves is named Suo San, a ruthless character. Under his command, there isn't just a group of pickpockets, but also a gang of desperate men who ran rampant before liberation, committed all sorts of evils, and have several lives on their hands.

"How did Director Cao provoke Suo San?"

A clerk from the Security Section walked over and smiled: "Hey, Director Cao acted bravely for a just cause; he caught a thief by the river. That thief was Suo San's relative. How could a desperate man like Suo San not retaliate once he found out? But he underestimated Director Cao. The group of thugs he sent were taken down in three moves and five steps by Director Cao and Section Chief Zhao. After being subjected to severe torture by the Security Section, they confessed the location of Suo San's hideout. Then Director Cao led the Security Section and the police station to wipe them out in one sweep."

An old worker raised his thumb: "Director Cao is the best!"

Yi Yi Zhonghai listened to his coworkers' conversation, gripping his file tightly, thinking those thieves were truly useless; why couldn't they have taken down Cao Cao Weiguo? A bunch of good-for-nothings, they deserved to be caught.

Hearing that the factory and the police station were going to award Cao Cao Weiguo, Yi Yi Zhonghai felt even more angry and stifled, as if he had eaten a basket of lemons. Why was he the one who received punishment and criticism, while Cao Cao Weiguo, that beast, got the spotlight and rewards?

Yi Yi Zhonghai looked up at the sky: Heaven, you are blind!

The events of last night spread rapidly through word of mouth; one told two, two told four... the more it spread, the wider it went, the more exaggerated it became. By the time it reached Nanluoguxiang, the story had it that Cao Cao Weiguo, wielding dual guns, charged into battle and single-handedly shot dozens of villains... The rumors made Cao Cao Weiguo sound almost like a combat hero, nearly catching up to the Dual-Gun Hero Xiang Yang.

For a moment, Cao Cao Weiguo became the center of attention, with neighbors and friends vying to praise him, but at home, this "combat hero" who bravely captured the villains was about to be forced to kneel on a washboard.

Upon learning that Cao Cao Weiguo had gone to catch pickpockets last night and even used a gun, Song Song Yulan was terrified. Holding the child with tear-filled eyes, she scolded him while wiping away tears: "How can your heart be so big? If something had happened to you, what would my child and I do? Do you have us mother and son in your heart..."

Cao Cao Weiguo was not afraid of villains holding knives or guns, but he was truly afraid of Song Song Yulan's tears.

"Song Yulan, I know I was wrong. This is the first and last time; it won't happen again. I dare not do it again. Please don't cry..."

Cao Cao Weiguo sat on the bed, embracing Song Song Yulan, constantly admitting his faults and making promises, short of swearing an oath to heaven.

Song Song Yulan glared fiercely at Cao Cao Weiguo: "Remember your words. If there is a next time, don't even think about getting into bed again."

Cao Cao Weiguo quickly kissed Song Song Yulan's cheek: "Good wife, I'll listen to you. Let's not be angry anymore. The factory gave me the day off today; let's take our son and go shopping."

Song Song Yulan said in a bad mood: "What shopping? You were up all night causing a fuss; aren't you tired? Today, you must stay home and rest properly. You are not allowed to go anywhere."

Although Cao Cao Weiguo was locked inside by Song Song Yulan, it was impossible for him to rest quietly.

Director Wang from the Street Office burst into the house with great fanfare, smiling broadly as he presented a certificate of merit to Cao Cao Weiguo.

Shortly after, Deputy Factory Director Xue, Police Station Chief Zhang, and Industrial Bureau Secretary Han also came to the door one after another; anyone who came to the house did not come empty-handed.

The items might not have been many, but they absolutely gave Cao Cao Weiguo enough face.

The neighbors of Nanluoguxiang and the old neighbors of Hongxing Sihe Academy were incredibly envious and jealous.

How many neighbors regretted being blind back then, failing to introduce their own daughters to Cao Cao Weiguo.

Seeing Seeing Shazhu stood in the alley, watching the Cao family's bustling scene, with two cars parked outside. Hearing the neighbors' envy and praise, he was so jealous that he scratched the wall with his hands, almost digging the bricks out: "Cao Wei is a despicable villain; what kind of advanced model is he! Acting bravely for a just cause? I spit! He is just a villain! A degenerate! A beast! Those thieves just didn't meet me! If they met me, I would punch one by one until they cried for their mothers and fathers!"

Thinking of how he, eager to help others, bore a punishment, how he, with superior culinary skills, did the work of a general laborer, and how his full heart of justice was met with ridicule and mockery, while Cao Wei, that sycophant, money-grubber, traitor to righteousness, and despicable, sinister villain, enjoyed a smooth official career and great success, Seeing Seeing Shazhu's heart was filled with a desire to point at the sky and curse his mother.

Why must I, a good person, suffer so much!

Why must Cao Wei, that villain, have one good thing after another!

Damn Heaven, you are unjust!

This damn world is unfair!

Think of me, He He Yuzhu, helping orphans and widows year after year, working tirelessly without complaint, rain or shine... How enthusiastic I was, how noble, persistently carrying forward the spirit of helping others. Why don't you give me a certificate for Living Lei Feng!

This is how you treat good people!

You are all blind!

Just wait!

I, He He Yuzhu, will sooner or later prove to you who the real "hero" is!

Holding his arm wrapped in plaster, Seeing Seeing Shazhu turned around with red eyes and walked back to Sihe Academy.

Walking into the old deaf woman's room with tear-blurred eyes, he threw himself into her arms and wailed in grievance: "Old woman! I feel terrible! Old woman! I have done so many good deeds, supporting neighbors for so many years. Why can't everyone see it? Cao Wei just happened to catch a thief, yet he is praised by so many people... Waaah... They bully me; I won't accept it, I won't accept it... Waaah... Old woman, give me some advice. What should I do to surpass Cao Wei? I am not a degenerate! I am not a thief! I did not dig a hole in the state's wall! I did not shear the collective's wool! What should I do to make everyone stop misunderstanding me? I am a good person! I really am a good person!"

The old deaf woman, heartbroken, stroked Seeing Seeing Shazhu's large head and sighed with deep affection: "Sha Sha Zhuzi! You must learn tolerance! You must learn strength! Your perspective must be broad! You cannot focus your gaze only on Cao Wei; you must look further, you must see more. This world is vast, boundless. You are a promising good child. As long as you stick to your original heart and do your best, you will surely achieve success in the future and live happily. You really have no need to compare yourself with Cao Wei. You are you; do not care about others' opinions. Whether others misunderstand you or praise you, for you, those are just floating clouds. You must understand what is real. Life is firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea. Life is about food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Life is about family harmony and happiness, not others' praise, nor others' mockery. Sha Sha Zhuzi, you are a good child; you must be practical. Listen to grandma's advice: from now on, just work hard, make achievements in your work, earn more money and save more money, then marry a good wife and have several big, fat sons. That is what you should do. Grandma only hopes you live happily."