52: Chapter 52 National Anthem 52: Chapter 52 National Anthem The Huaxia people who didn’t speak immediately supported Gao Yang and asked in Chinese, “Are you Huaxia people?”
Gao Yang nodded subconsciously, and before he could speak, the Huaxia person who had spoken demanded, “Passport, let me see your passport!”
Gao Yang was completely bewildered now and shook his head, saying, “I don’t have it, my passport was lost long ago.”
Gao Yang’s plight drew everyone’s attention, and many Huaxia people gathered around, one woman even shouted, “I’m a doctor, let me take a look at him, whoever has medical supplies, bring them out quickly, he needs first aid!”
The Huaxia person supporting Gao Yang became so anxious that he was sweating profusely and yelled to the crowd that gathered, “Please don’t worry, our next flight will arrive soon, and there will be doctors and medical supplies on board.”
After shouting, the Huaxia person supporting Gao Yang turned his head and urgently asked, “Old Xia, he’s lost his passport, what do we do?”
The person called Old Xia urgently said to Gao Yang, “It doesn’t matter whether you have a passport or not, just prove you’re a Huaxian; sing the national anthem, sing the national anthem!”
By now, Gao yang certainly knew what Abdul’s method was, but looking at the two Huaxia people anxious and drenched in sweat, looking at the crowd that was full of concern, he felt that his behavior was very bad, terribly bad.
After hesitating for a moment, Gao Yang said haltingly, “Actually, I’m not really hurt, you don’t need to worry.”
The Huaxia person holding Gao Yang urged him, “Why are you still saying that now, if you’re a Huaxian, then sing the national anthem.”
“Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves …”
Gao Yang had only sung the opening and hadn’t even finished the first line when the Huaxia person supporting him nodded vigorously and said, “Enough, don’t sing anymore, I’ll help you inside quickly.”
Gao Yang was half-dragged, half-pulled by the Huaxia person in a black suit past the boarding gate, and at that moment, he couldn’t help but look back.
To his surmised, he saw Abdul waving goodbye with a face filled with sorrow and reluctance, while those Huaxia people also stood up, all looking at him with concern, and then Gao Yang heard someone start to sing the national anthem, which quickly grew into a chorus.
Soon after one person began to sing the national anthem, it turned into a grand collective chorus; given the time and place, the sound of a couple of hundred people singing was not very loud, but it was powerful.
With the sound of the national anthem echoing in his ears, Gao Yang was pulled directly onto the runway after leaving the boarding gate.
The runway was empty, not a single plane in sight, but there were many armed people with guns at the ready, and a few other Huaxia people standing there.
Once Gao Yang was brought to the side of the runway, four Huaxia people immediately ran over.
A middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties urgently asked, “What’s going on, what happened?
Is there trouble in the waiting area?”
The Huaxia person holding Gao Yang shook his head, “No, there’s no issue inside; this young man just arrived at the airport and was attacked outside, Old Wang, I’ll leave him with you, I’m heading back in.”
After speaking, the Huaxia person who had escorted Gao Yang gave him a nod and then turned and jogged away.
Gao Yang called out to the retreating figure, “Thank you!”
The middle-aged man known as Old Wang took hold of Gao Yang and said, “No thanks needed, it’s what we should do, where were you attacked, are there any other Huaxia people?”
Gao Yang couldn’t quite express how he felt inside but responded to Old Wang, who looked worried, “No, it was only me; I was with some locals when I came to the airport today.
We were surrounded and robbed by a group of people.
But though my injuries look serious, they’re actually not, so don’t worry about it.”
Old Wang was insistent, “Even so, you say it’s nothing.
You’re brave, lad.
Just call me Old Wang, if anything’s wrong, just speak up, hang in there, our plane will arrive soon.”
Gao Yang nodded, “Can all of us be evacuated?”
Old Wang nodded resolutely and said with pride, “Rest assured, as long as there’s even one person left, our operation won’t end.
It’s just a matter of time.
Now our warships have come, military planes, along with passenger jets and cruise ships, in short, we’re not leaving anyone behind.”
Gao Yang let out a long sigh and nodded, “Our country has really become strong.
I never dreamed I’d be going home on an evacuation flight.”
Old Wang also sighed, “Yes, those of us serving as diplomats and you, the wanderers in foreign lands, know best what the strength of the motherland means to us.
I’ve been in several countries over the years, my backbone has grown stronger, and my words carry more weight than before.
If something really happens, we don’t have to just stare blankly anymore, alright lad, wait here for a moment.
The plane will arrive soon, look, here it comes.”
A plane landed on the runway, slowing down until it came to a stop right in front of Gao Yang and the others.
The plane was an Il-76, adorned on its nose with the Huaxia national and military flags.
It was plainly a Huaxia plane.
Old Wang, smiling broadly, pointed at the plane and said to Gao Yang, “See that?
It’s our plane, a military transport.
It’s not as comfortable as a passenger jet, but it’ll take you straight home without transferring.
And look at this precision, stopped right in front of us to the meter.”
Gao Yang nodded, and at that moment, looking at the national and military flags on the nose of the plane, for some reason he couldn’t explain, tears streamed down his face.
Once the plane had come to a complete halt, Old Wang patted Gao Yang’s shoulder and loudly said, “Young man, don’t get excited, you’ll be home soon, come on, board the plane, time to go back to the motherland!”
The Il-76 was originally a cargo plane, and the cabin didn’t have any seats, but for the evacuation, temporary seats had been installed, packing the space full.
As soon as the plane’s tail hatch opened, Old Wang led Gao Yang onto the plane.
After seating Gao Yang in one of the front seats, two middle-aged men in white coats took over, and Old Wang simply waved at Gao Yang before leaving immediately, while the two in white coats started examining his wounds after having him take off his shirt.
Gao Yang sheepishly took off his shirt, and one of the men in white coats anxiously examined the wound, only to let out a long sigh of relief and wiped his sweat, “It’s alright, it’s alright, young man, relax, your wound’s not serious.
It looks bad, but it’s shallow and doesn’t need stitching, just some disinfection and medicine is enough.
It’s actually this bruise over your heart that’s more severe, but it’s not a big problem either.
I’ll treat your wounds first, then give you something to eat and drink.
Have a bite, rest a bit, and get a good sleep—by the time you wake up, you’ll be back home.”