These simple folk couldn’t possibly guess Mr. Liu’s thoughts – a single brief camera shot was enough to send them into ecstasy.

“Sister-in-law is something else!”

Kang Wei thought to himself that he’d never have a chance to be part of such an occasion in his lifetime. How often did grand National Day celebrations come around anyway?

As before, even if he were there, the camera might not catch him among the tens of thousands of people.

If Xia Xiaolan hadn’t been a new Hua Qing student this year and hadn’t performed excellently during military training, she wouldn’t have appeared in that position no matter how beautiful she was…

The National Day holiday was three days long, both for work units and schools.

However, some schools organized students to watch the Tiananmen celebration before starting their holiday – Anqing County First High School was one of them.

When Xia Xiaolan wrote to Principal Sun, it was before military training. She didn’t even know she would be selected for the honor guard, so how could she have mentioned it in her letter?

When she suddenly appeared on television, one can imagine the impact it had on the teachers and students of County First High.

Principal Sun thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. After the camera shot had passed, he finally grabbed Old Wang: “Was that Student Xiaolan just now?”

Old Wang wasn’t quite sure. “…I think so?”

Young people did have better eyesight – Teacher Sun Tian rushed over in one breath: “Second Uncle, Xiaolan appeared on TV!”

Well, in her excitement, she had forgotten to address him as Principal.

Who could pay attention to such minor details? Principal Sun excitedly called out “Great!” three times in succession.

“Student Xiaolan truly excels wherever she goes!”

She was their Anqing student, a graduate of Anqing First High! Principal Sun almost wanted to embrace Old Wang and cry again… but no, they were organizing so many students to watch the celebration broadcast. As the dignified principal of County First High, how could he keep crying and wailing? Didn’t he need to maintain some face?

Liang Huan felt like she was in a dream.

This nightmare had stretched on for so long, starting from the day the college entrance exam results were announced, and even now, the nightmare hadn’t ended!

Just the day before yesterday, Principal Sun had gathered everyone on the playground to read Xia Xiaolan’s letter with great emotion, calling on all students to learn from her – and today was even worse, Xia Xiaolan appeared directly on television!

Among tens of thousands of people at the celebration, why did she get camera time?

The current third-year students, who were previously second-years, definitely knew Xia Xiaolan.

There were also repeating students who had taken the college entrance exam in the same year as Xia Xiaolan.

After someone recognized her, everyone became excited, asking each other and seeking confirmation that they hadn’t mistaken her identity.

“That’s Senior Xia, right?”

“Her photo is still on the wall of honor!”

“I’ve seen her interview on the provincial TV station, I couldn’t mistake her!”

“She’s amazing!”

“Exceptional people are exceptional wherever they go. The principal read Senior Xia’s letter the day before yesterday… It must be wonderful to attend Hua Qing University!”

Liang Huan’s lips quivered repeatedly, but ultimately, she couldn’t utter a single word.

She wasn’t Deputy Director Liang’s daughter here.

This was Anqing First High, where all teachers and students regarded Xia Xiaolan as a role model.

If she publicly criticized Xia Xiaolan, she would become the target of public criticism.

Cheers filled the playground, and before anyone realized it, the celebration broadcast had ended.

Principal Sun, who had promised himself to maintain his dignity and not cry, stood at the microphone, his voice already choking up. He was crying for the prosperity and strength the motherland had displayed during the celebration, and also because, in his lifetime, he had managed to teach such an outstanding student.

Old Wang thought that after working together for so many years, he’d just realized Principal Sun was made of water.

Why was he so prone to crying?

Oh? Why was his vision becoming blurry?

“Director Wang, please wipe your glasses.”

Sun Tian handed Old Wang a handkerchief. If you’re going to cry, just cry, but tears and mucus were flying everywhere, making his glasses foggy.

“You punk, what are you looking at? The boss called us to unload!”

What was so interesting about the National Day celebration?

For people like them who lived on the edge, what use were such formalities? Even though the country had grown stronger, they still had to survive in the shadows. Someone was mesmerized by a black-and-white television.

The muscular man with iron-like muscles on his arms was good at loading and unloading cargo, could fight well, and most importantly, never tried to steal credit!

After being patted on the shoulder, the man turned around, his eyes wider than a bull’s:

“Brother Hui, I… I saw my daughter on TV… right in the front row, wearing white clothes.”

The close-up shot was long gone, now showing only distant views. The man’s thick finger pointed at the edge of the honor guard on the TV screen, where individual faces were indistinguishable.

Brother Hui paused, looking at the grand military parade on TV.

Suddenly, he slapped the man’s head, “Your mother! This is the National Day military parade! It’s Tiananmen Square, you idiot!”

How could a student appearing in the Tiananmen celebration have any connection to lowlifes like them? Brother Hui berated everyone and told them to prepare for receiving cargo.

“Be careful, Master Kun is coming personally tonight!”

These people all followed Brother Hui’s orders, taking work from him and receiving payment from him.

Master Kun was a big shot they had never encountered up close.

Tonight he would come to the dock personally, and everyone became alert.

If Master Kun noticed them and took them under his wing, they wouldn’t be at the bottom anymore.

The man cast a lingering glance at the small TV screen, thinking that the earlier camera shot must have been momentary. Whatever Brother Hui called them to do, he would listen to Brother Hui. As for Master Kun, he had only seen him once from afar and didn’t even know what he looked like, but tonight he would finally see clearly.

He had no idea that another group would emerge tonight.

The fighting broke out without warning, and Brother Hui was the first to be cut down. He tried to escape while carrying Brother Hui, but someone grabbed his ankle.

“Listen up! Hui is already dead. If you get the young master out of here, you’ll make it big!”

The person who grabbed him was Master Kun.

The previously impressive Master Kun was now covered in blood, pushing a young man toward him.

“…Alright.”

Brother Hui on his back was indeed lifeless. The man hoisted the young man onto his back and charged through the encirclement like a wild bull. He didn’t know how he broke through or how many knife wounds he received, but he made it out, and the “Young Master” on his back hadn’t died.

The Young Master panted heavily, “Damn… brother, what’s your name?”