Training the Heavens

Chapter 376: Zhang's Death
"Ahem, Ah Tu, just give me a cigarette!" In Shanghai, in the ward of the Affiliated Hospital of Aurora University, Ah Zhang was lying on the bed coughing continuously. His face was extremely haggard.

Zhang Xingjiu, who was sitting next to him, had a sad face, because the attending physician had told him that Zhang's illness was too serious. He had smoked for more than 30 years, an average of more than 50 cigarettes a day, which caused problems in his lungs. He didn't have much time left.

Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Zhang urged again, "A Tu, I also studied medicine, I know my situation. It's already this time, what's the point of being so taboo? I've already written a suicide note, you can help to be a witness!"

"Oh, if I had known earlier, I should have advised you better." Zhang Xingjiu was also very helpless. He had advised Ah Zhang many times, but unfortunately Ah Zhang never changed this habit. Not long ago, when he heard that he was sick, he took him to the Affiliated Hospital of Aurora University as soon as possible. Unfortunately, his illness was too serious. Even in the future, there would be no way to help him, let alone now?

He could only take a cigarette and light it for Zhang. He took the will from Zhang and flipped through it. There were seven clauses in total:
Do not accept a penny from anyone for the funeral; quickly collect the body and bury it, and that's it; don't do anything related to commemoration; forget me and take care of your own life, otherwise, you would be a fool; when the children grow up, if they have no talent, they can find some small things to make a living, but they must not become writers or artists; do not take seriously what others promise you; never get close to people who hurt others but oppose revenge and advocate tolerance.

This will is not for the public, but a family will for the family. Zhang Xingjiu thought about it and proposed some amendments, "You may not accept a penny from anyone for the funeral, but old friends are not included in this exception" and "You may not accept a penny from anyone for the funeral."

Then he explained, "Given our friendship, it would be rude not to charge me anything. As for Haiying, leave his future studies to me. I will do my best to train him to be a useful person. As long as he has talent, he can become a writer or an artist."

Ah Zhang was very satisfied and added to the manuscript. He lay back on his bed and said with a smile, "'Short-handed' is a good addition. Just two words bring these people to life. This is the advantage of living in Shanghai. I saw so many short-sellers like this that I could come up with these two words."

"Cough, cough, cough, cough." He coughed violently a few times, then took out a stack of manuscript paper and handed it over. The title at the top of the manuscript paper was written - "My Friend Zhang Xingjiu". "That's it, then. Fortunately, I have finished writing this article, otherwise I would not be willing to die."

Zhang Xingjiu quickly glanced through it. In this article, Ah Zhang reviewed how the two of them met, starting from playing in Baicao Garden during the Spring Festival, to studying together at Sanwei Bookstore after the Spring Festival, and all the way to Zhang Xingjiu's return to Shanghai from the southwest. The words were full of praise for him, praising him as a great patriot, scientist, and educator.
"I really don't deserve it. I really wanted to do a lot of things over the years, but unfortunately..." Putting down the manuscript paper, Zhang Xingjiu couldn't help shaking his head.

"A quarter of a century has passed since the founding of the Republic of China, but it is still in ruins. Now the Japanese pirates are eyeing us covetously. What will the future of China be like?" Ah Zhang can face death calmly, but he is still worried about the fate of China.

"I am full of confidence in the future of China. Your writings have enlightened countless passionate young people and made their bones as hard as yours. With them around, China will not perish! Even if it will suffer some hardships in the future, it will eventually be reborn from the ashes one day and give birth to an independent, prosperous, and civilized new China!" Zhang Xingjiu couldn't help but reveal some information to A Zhang.

"It would be great if such a day really came. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see it. Ah Tu, if you see it in the future, don't forget to come to my grave and tell me." Ah Zhang looked at the ceiling, lost in beautiful fantasy.

"sure!"

"A Tu, tell me more, what does an independent, prosperous, and strong China look like? When will it be realized?" "Within ten years, we will be able to completely drive the Japanese out of China; within twenty years, we will be able to defeat the European and American powers on the battlefield; within thirty years, we will have established a basic industrial system, an educational system, and a national defense system, laying the foundation for national development; within forty years, we can try to catch up with developed countries in many fields such as business, technology, and culture."

"Within a hundred years, China will definitely become the world's most powerful nation. Whether in science and technology, education, culture, or military, it will be number one in the world. I have no doubt about this!"

"I really want to see China a hundred years from now. Is it as beautiful as you say? What will life be like for ordinary people then?"

"An ordinary young man wakes up in the morning and drives his child to school in a Huaxia car. Now this car is sold all over the world, and even the British and Germans are rushing to buy it."

"The school's classrooms are clean and tidy. All children in the country, as long as they are old enough, will go to school. The country does not allow any student to drop out of school. Even orphans have the opportunity to study. They study your articles and my formulas in classrooms like this."

"After sending the child to school, the young man sent his wife to work at a company not far away. By that time, gender equality had long been achieved, and women could receive education and support themselves through their own labor."

"Finally, the young man arrived at the factory where he worked. He was an engineer, working at a Chinese shipyard. This shipyard was the largest in the world, with the highest production capacity and technological capabilities. The passenger and cargo ships it produced were distributed all over the world. Shipyards in countries like Japan, Britain, and the United States had been repeatedly defeated by this shipyard in the international commercial market, and now they had completely fallen on hard times."

"At the same time, this shipyard is also responsible for manufacturing warships for the country. The warships they produce are also the most advanced in the world. These warships cruise in China's territorial waters, making no country dare to infringe on China's territorial dignity."

"What a wonderful country!" Zhang couldn't help but smile as he listened. "Tell me more about this. I love to hear it!"

In this way, Zhang Xingjiu stayed by A Zhang's bedside and slowly told him all the details of the future of China. A Zhang lay on the bed and listened quietly, occasionally responding a word or two.

As he was talking, Zhang Xingjiu realized that there had been no response from A Zhang for more than 20 minutes. He quickly got up to check and found that A Zhang had passed away.

(End of this chapter)