50s: Starting with a storage ring

Chapter 392 A Profound and Unforgettable Patriotic Education

Around 3 a.m. on March 6, night shift workers and cleaners passing by Yongdingmen saw a strange sight.

A tall, burly man in military uniform was whipping three young men with a tree branch, making them run ahead.

Not far behind, there was a tall young man with a bicycle on his left shoulder and another one being pushed with his right hand, sweating profusely as he followed behind the man in military uniform.

If the three young men at the front slowed down, the burly men in military uniforms would whip them with tree branches, and after a series of howls, they would immediately speed up again.

The three guys did consider splitting up and escaping along the way.

Unfortunately, Sun Zhiwei was incredibly fast; he caught up with the man in no time and then unleashed a brutal beating, leaving afterimages as he swung the tree branches around.

They didn't stop until they cried out and begged for mercy, and returned to Yongwai Street to continue running.

Sun Zhiwei was determined to give these four kids a severe psychological trauma and teach them a lesson they would never forget.

To start robbing people before the age of twenty? He's got a death wish.

Sun Zhiwei, who couldn't stand them, got angry just thinking about it. "I'm on the front lines, enduring gunfire, so you can wreak havoc in the rear. You deserve to be hit!" *smack*

Anyway, it's still early, and if he goes home too early, he'll disturb his wife and kids' sleep. It's good to have something to do.

Once they reached Yongding Gate, even though they had entered the city, he didn't allow them to change course and drove them straight towards the city center.

After passing the Temple of Heaven, the flow of people along Qianmen Street began to increase. People at the morning market started preparing to set up their stalls, and the four young men were watched by onlookers.

Some concerned citizens even ran to report to the street office. By the time they arrived at Zhushikou, the street officials behind them were already panting as they caught up.

"Comrade, I'm an officer from Qianmen Subdistrict. What brings you here? Do you need help tying them up?"

The street officials these days are really serious about their work; they came up and immediately tried to tie people up, scaring the four young men so much they turned pale.

As they jogged along, they kept glancing at Sun Zhiwei and told him a few things he'd mumbled about their robbery, which would land them in jail.

Now they are not only suffering excruciating physical pain, but also experiencing immense mental anguish, filled with profound regret.

Sun Zhiwei followed slowly behind them, a half-smile playing on his lips as he looked at the group, but then turned to thank the street official, saying:
"Alas, what a misfortune for our family! Several of the younger generation have gone astray, and I am currently disciplining them."

As he spoke, he waved the branch in his hand a few times before continuing:

"If we can't get them back today, we might as well just beat them to death, so they won't live to cause trouble for their families and bring shame to the old man."

He said that last sentence with such fierceness, as if he were disappointed in his son.

Anyone who gets a job on the street is a shrewd and capable person.

Judging from Sun Zhiwei's posture, it's obvious that an elder is disciplining a younger generation.

Unfortunately, there are no rank insignia on military uniforms nowadays, so we don't know what rank this person holds in the military.

If we can establish a connection, it might become a valuable resource in the future.

And that old man, he must be a very important leader, so I shouldn't interfere and cause trouble for him.

Then, the street official changed the subject: "Yes, young people these days are restless, and our work is several times busier than in previous years."

"However, please don't hurt them too badly. After all, they are still young. Give them a chance to make amends, and they will get better in the future."

Hearing that the clerk had pleaded for them, the four young men almost wanted to kneel down and kowtow to him.

The guy behind us is really ruthless. They feel like they have no good skin left on their bodies, and they still have to run here. They don't know when it will end.

As they ran, the group sighed inwardly. What a terrible day! Their first major undertaking had ended up with such a jinx. Were they truly unsuitable for this line of work?
Once a person begins to doubt themselves, the seeds of doubt will continue to grow until they overturn their previous choices and can even provide a logically consistent reason.

"Thank you for your advice. It depends on whether they will truly change their ways. If they do, then it's not impossible to forgive them."

"It can be changed," the third brother replied immediately.

"I really will change." The second son was afraid he wouldn't believe him, so he almost swore an oath.

"Uncle, we really changed." This time, the eldest brother truly gave in, running and replying at the same time, his voice trembling with tears.

"Bang! Keep running! Nobody is allowed to stop!"

"What's your name for this one?"

"Oh, I'm Officer Liu from Qianmen Subdistrict. You can come to me if you need anything. I know quite a few people in this Qianmen area."

"Okay, my surname is Sun. Let's have tea together sometime. Sorry to bother you today."

"No need to bother you. This is a family matter, about educating your child, it's normal."

"That's all for today. I need to take the children back. See you later."

"You're busy."

After saying goodbye to Officer Liu on Qianmen Street, Sun Zhiwei continued to urge the group toward Zhengyangmen.

After turning past Zhengyangmen and passing the memorial hall, the five of them finally arrived at the square.

The solemn monument stood tall and imposing in the center of the square. Sun Zhiwei urged them to come to the monument and made the three of them kneel down in front of it.

Behind them, the fourth brother, who was carrying two bicycles, was also panting heavily, and he hurriedly caught up with Sun Zhiwei.

Sun Zhiwei then turned to him and said, "You go and kneel down too."

"Hey."

The fourth brother, this simpleton, does things entirely based on intuition. Right now, his intuition tells him that he should back down.

So he didn't resist. He set up the supports for the two cars, ran to his three older brothers, and knelt down in a row with them.

About 100 meters behind them was the national flagpole, and two soldiers were watching them curiously from the flag-raising post inside the white jade railing.

Once they were kneeling properly, Sun Zhiwei began his long speech.

He began by recounting the founding of the D organization, the successive generations of its members who sacrificed themselves, and then recounted the heroes who died on the revolutionary path.

Then, the number of people who sacrificed their lives in the War of Resistance Against Japan, the War of Liberation, the Korean War, the Soviet War, the Indian War, the Vietnam War, and other major wars will be listed one by one.

Finally, ask them: "Now, standing before the martyrs' monument, tell yourselves, are you worthy of these martyrs?"

What could the four young men say? They were cold, hungry, and in excruciating pain all over their bodies. The worst part was that there was a menacing figure standing behind them.

Overwhelmed with grief, they collapsed to the ground and wept uncontrollably.

Sun Zhiwei watched them cry their hearts out but ignored them. Instead, he checked his watch. It was 6 o'clock, and the flag-raising team of the national flag guard would be coming out soon.

Today, he's going to bring four people with him to greet them.

(End of this chapter)