Wang Jianguo and Zhao Shuzhuo stood silently by the hospital bed, their eyes fixed on Secretary Dong. Every subtle change in his expression and every labored movement felt like a heavy hammer blow against their hearts.
The Secretary Dong of the past—that tall, sturdy figure—was now confined to a hospital bed. He lay half-propped against the stark white sheets, his disheveled hair falling weakly over his forehead, making his formerly vibrant face appear even more haggard and pale. One side of his body seemed trapped by an invisible force, unable to move freely; he trembled slightly, struggling in vain to find control. His lips parted and closed intermittently, as if he were trying to speak, but he could only produce garbled, fragmented sounds. His eyes were filled with anxiety and helplessness.
Watching Secretary Dong in such a state, Wang Jianguo felt a sharp, wrenching pain, and his eyes instantly grew red. He recalled the countless moments he had shared with the Secretary in the village—whether it was leading everyone to harvest crops under the scorching sun or traveling everywhere in the bitter wind to improve village conditions, he had always been so high-spirited and decisive. That inherent toughness and sense of responsibility, typical of a veteran, had earned him the trust and respect of the entire village. But now, to see him tortured by illness like this—how could anyone not feel heartbroken?
Chapter 555