161: Chapter 161: The Deep Bond Between the Army and the People

The moment the eight people knelt in unison, the clamor in front of the ancestral hall came to a sudden halt.

The gongs and drums stopped, the smoke from the firecrackers still lingered in the air, and everyone's eyes focused on those eight figures—

There were gray-haired elderly people, mothers holding children, and middle-aged men leaning on crutches; the burn scars on their faces were exceptionally clear in the sunlight, yet they could not hide the gratitude in their eyes.

"This won't do!" Su Han stepped forward quickly, reaching out to support the elderly man in the lead. "Quickly, get up. At your age, this is too much for me to bear."

But the old man stubbornly refused to rise, tears welling in his cloudy eyes. "If my benefactor doesn't agree to accept this bow, I won't get up! If you hadn't dragged this old body of mine out of the fire, I would have turned to ash long ago!"

The woman holding the child beside him also choked up. "Major Su, my daughter was already unconscious at the time. You braved such a huge fire to carry her out... This kindness is something we can never repay in this lifetime!"

The surrounding crowd was moved by the scene and began to whisper among themselves:

"These are the families who were rescued, right? It's truly heartbreaking to see them like this."

"I heard the fire had already reached the third floor back then. Major Su Han rushed in three times to save everyone!"

"If it were me, my legs would have probably turned to jelly. I wouldn't have dared to go in..."

Wang Yuanchao stood at the entrance of the ancestral hall, watching the touching scene. He whispered to Zhou Mo beside him, "You see, this is the meaning of being a soldier. No matter how hard the training or how dangerous the missions, it's all worth it at this moment."

Zhou Mo nodded, his gaze falling on Su Han—who was clumsily trying to persuade everyone to stand up, with a helpless but sincere expression, showing no hint of a "hero's" ego.

This appearance was a world away from the sharp-eyed Chief Instructor who defeated enemies in a single move on the training grounds, yet it felt even more approachable.

"Third Uncle, just accept their bow," Su Bowen said as he walked over to Su Han. "This isn't just common etiquette; it's their heartfelt gratitude."

Only then did Su Han stop. Looking at the eight people before him, he spoke solemnly, "I saved you because I wear this uniform; it is my duty. If you want to give thanks, thank this uniform and the people who trust us."

He paused, then bent down to help the old man up. "But I accept your sentiment. Please, stand up. The ground is cold."

Only then did the group stand up one after another. The middle-aged man immediately directed the people behind him to come forward: "Quick! Bring up the things we prepared!"

Over a dozen young people came forward carrying gift boxes and fruit baskets. Someone even held a thick red cloth bundle, which looked like it contained money.

"Major Su, this is a small token of appreciation from our eight families." The man handed over the red bundle. "Please don't think it's too little. You must accept this money for supplements!"

Su Han quickly waved his hands. "I cannot accept these things, truly."

"If you don't accept it, you're looking down on our modest gift!" The old man grew anxious. "We know you don't lack money, but this is a small token of our gratitude!"

While both sides were at a stalemate, Su Wu suddenly spoke up: "We appreciate everyone's kindness, but you might not know Third Grandpa's character—he never saves people for rewards. Besides, the military has its rules. If he accepts these things, he'll be disciplined upon returning to the unit."

After a pause, Su Wu continued, "How about this: we'll accept the Silk Banners, but please take back the money and valuables, alright?"

He pointed to two Silk Banners. "We will hang these 'Deep Bond Between the Military and the People' banners in the most prominent place in the ancestral hall, so the descendants of the Su Family will remember that the recognition of the people is more precious than anything."

Everyone exchanged glances. Seeing Su Han's firm attitude, they had no choice but to give up.

The middle-aged man held the Silk Banner and personally hung it on the lintel of the ancestral hall. The red silk fluttered in the breeze, looking particularly striking.

At this moment, some quick-witted reporters swarmed around, holding microphones toward the survivors: "May we ask what the situation was at the fire scene? Can you tell us about how Major Su saved you?"

Mentioning the fire, the middle-aged man's face instantly turned solemn. "It was terrifying! That day, I was having hotpot on the second or third floor with these three friends of mine. Suddenly, thick smoke billowed up. We couldn't get out and eventually fell unconscious. Vaguely, I heard someone telling us to hold on, constantly dragging and carrying us, keeping us moving."

"As for what happened after that, we don't know. It wasn't until we were being treated in the hospital and saw the videos online that we realized it was Major Su alone on the third floor, dragging the three of us—adults who weighed significantly more than him—to the restroom of the neighboring private room."

"If it were not for his life-risking rescue, we might have already perished in that sea of fire."

"A gas cylinder exploded!" The woman on the other side was still trembling. "The fire surged up instantly, with thick smoke everywhere! The windows on the second floor were warped from the heat! My daughter was so scared she kept crying. I couldn't run at all while holding her, and it looked like the fire was about to reach us..."

She looked at Su Han, her eyes full of lingering fear. "It was Major Su who rushed in! He was already on fire then, yet he grabbed my daughter and wrapped her in his clothes to rush out! When he came back a second time to save me, a beam collapsed, nearly hitting him!"

"And this doggy!" a teenage girl suddenly shouted, pointing at Heibao, who was wagging its tail nearby. "That doggy is so amazing! It bit my clothes and dragged me out from under the table!"

"And then it was also the one that led us along a safe path, allowing us to leave the fire scene safely."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's attention focused on Heibao.

Another man also nodded in agreement. "That's right! After Major Su rushed into the fire for the first time and saved two people, his stamina was already exhausted. It was Heibao who helped him find people in the thick smoke! I saw it with my own eyes using its paws to clear away burnt tables and chairs, dragging an unconscious auntie to Major Su's side!"

The reporters immediately pointed their cameras at Heibao. The little fellow seemed to know it was being praised, wagging its tail proudly and even giving a "woof" at the camera, making everyone burst into laughter.

The live stream comments instantly flooded the screen:

"A dog actually participated in the rescue? This dog must be a spirit!"

"What do you guys know? This doggy is a military dog!"

"No wonder it looked so close to Major Su just now; it's a retired military dog! It really is intelligent!"

"Rushed into the fire three times! Saved four on the second floor and another four on the third! He was literally putting his life on the line!"

"How powerful is a gas cylinder explosion? Just thinking about it is terrifying. Major Su definitely didn't think twice back then!"

Silence fell over the front of the ancestral hall once more, and even the most mischievous children quieted down.

Sunlight spilled through the clouds onto Su Han. The major's insignia on his shoulder glittered, and the wound on his back throbbed from the earlier jostling. But as he looked at the vibrant faces before him, he suddenly felt it was all worth it.

In his past life on the battlefield, he was used to hiding his emotions. But now, looking at these sincere smiling faces and hearing these simple words of thanks, a hard corner of his heart seemed to quietly melt.

"Alright, it's all in the past." Su Han patted the man's shoulder and said in a light tone, "Next time you go to a Hotpot Restaurant, remember to stay away from the kitchen."

This sudden joke instantly lightened the heavy atmosphere, and everyone began to laugh.