Chapter 52: National Anthem

Translated by: kevin1782

Edited by: Isalee

The man who didn’t immediately speak provided physical support for Gao Yang and remarked in Mandarin, “Are you Chinese?”

Gao Yang nodded instinctively. Before he could speak any further, the Chinese person who spoke earlier said, “Pa.s.sport, lemme see your pa.s.sport!”

Gao Yang’s brain was totally addled. He shook his head and replied, “Nope, I lost my pa.s.sport long ago.”

Gao Yang’s ‘dreadful condition’ attracted everybody’s attention. Many Chinese people surrounded him. A woman even shouted, “I’m a doctor, let me have a look at him. Those with any medicinal drugs hand them over quickly, he’s gotta have an emergency rescue!”

The Chinese men supporting Gao Yang turned around and asked anxiously, “Old Xia, he lost his pa.s.sport, what do we do?”

The one that was called Old Xia hurriedly told Gao Yang, “Whether pa.s.sport you have doesn’t matter, prove to us that you’re Chinese! Sing the national anthem!”

Gao Yang of course knew what Abdullah’s method was by now. But when he saw the two uneasy and perspiring Chinese fellows with their faces full of concern, he felt that was a bad thing to do. A very bad thing to do.

Hesitating for a while, Gao Yang mumbled, “Actually I’m alright, no need to worry.”

The man who was supporting Gao Yang pressed on even more hurriedly, “It’s so urgent and you’re still saying that? Are you Chinese or not? Prove it by singing the anthem!”

“Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves…”

Gao Yang had just sung the opening and hadn’t even finished the first line. The person who supported him nodded eagerly. “Okay, stop singing. I’m getting you in there quick.”

Gao Yang was half dragged and half pulled by the man in the black suit through the checkpoint. He turned back without anybody prompting him, only to see Abdullah waving back with sorrow and reluctance with this parting. The Chinese also stood up and looked at him with concern. Then somebody started singing the national anthem [1]. The rest soon followed.

They started singing in unison, as one body. Due to s.p.a.ce and time constraints, the few hundred people who sang weren’t loud, but their voices were very powerful.

When anthem reached his ears, Gao Yang was pulled onto the hangar. The runway was empty, not a plane in sight. There were many armed personnel ready for emergencies with loaded rifles, however. There were a few Chinese standing there too.

Gao Yang was helped to the side of the runway. Four Chinese men rushed over. A man in his fifties spoke anxiously. “What’s going on? What’s going on? Something happened at the departure terminal?”

The guy supporting Gao Yang shook his head before replying, “Nope, nothing in there. This dude just arrived at the airport. He was attacked outside. Old w.a.n.g, I’m handing this guy over to you. I’m going in.”

After saying that, the guy nodded and ran back. Gao Yang faced the guy and thanked him.

Middle-aged Old w.a.n.g supported Gao Yang and said, “No need to thank us, that’s what we’re supposed to do. Lad, where did you get attacked? Any other Chinese people out there?”

It was hard to describe how Gao Yang was feeling in his heart right now. He replied, “Nope, just me. I stayed with the locals. I was mugged by a gang of people when I was hurrying here today. The wound looks horrendous, but it’s actually not a big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

Old w.a.n.g was getting angsty. “It’s already like that and you still say you’re alright. Lad, your heart’s pretty big[2] you know! You can just call me Old w.a.n.g. Just speak if there’s anything bothering you, keep it up man, our plane’s arriving already.”

Gao Yang nodded and asked, “All of our people are evacuating right?”

Old w.a.n.g nodded with determination and proudly replied, “Rest a.s.sured, as long as there’s one man left, our evac’ op won’t end. It’s just a matter of time. Right now military s.h.i.+ps are on the way, along with planes and frigates too. In a nutsh.e.l.l, we’re not gonna leave a single man or woman behind.”

Gao Yang heaved a long sigh of relief and nodded before saying, “Our country’s really getting strong. I didn’t even imagine this in my dream. I’m going back on a Citizenry Evacuation plane.”

Old w.a.n.g also expressed his wonder and blimy by saying, “Yeah man, we amba.s.sador officials and people who are overseas like you are clearest on what it means for China to be strong. I’ve  stayed in several countries and I’ve noticed that our central power has been getting stronger and ‘thicker’ these few years. Our words are now more significant and heavier in weight. If something really happens, there won’t just be only ‘glaring around’ [3]  like last time. Okay, lad, wait here for a moment, plane’s arriving. Aiyo, speak of the devil.”

A plane landed on the runway and decelerated. It finally stopped just in front of Gao Yang.

The plane was an Ilyus.h.i.+n IL 76 [4]. There were insignias of the Chinese flag and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) flag. One could tell that it was Chinese just at a glance. Old w.a.n.g grinned in joy. He pointed at the plane and said to Gao Yang, “See that? That’s our plane. Army Airlifter. Sitting in it ain’t as comfortable as a pa.s.senger liner, but it can get you back to the mainland without stopping at other airports. Also, you see that technique? Not a single meter of deviation, just stop right in front of us.”

Gao Yang nodded. He originally felt nothing from the country’s flag. But at this moment when he looked up at it, he didn’t know why but two streaks of tears flowed down his cheeks.

When the plane stabilized, Old w.a.n.g tapped Gao Yang’s shoulders and shouted, “Lad, don’t be so excited, you’ll be back home in no time at all! Go, get up, time to go home!”

IL 76 was originally an airlifter plane; there weren’t any seats in the cabin area. But for the sudden and urgent Citizenry Evacuation, the cabin was filled with seats. When the plane’s cabin tail opened its door, Old w.a.n.g helped Gao Yang up into the plane immediately.

After helping him sit at the seat at the utmost front, two middle-aged men in white clothes took over. Old w.a.n.g just waved at Gao Yang before leaving. Those two in white took off his upper s.h.i.+rt to check his wounds.

Gao Yang embarra.s.sedly took his upper garments off. One of the white men nervously looked at the wound before sighing heavily. He wiped sweat from himself before saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Young man, rest a.s.sured. Your wounds aren’t grave nor serious. It seemed serious but the wound’s actually very light. No need for st.i.tches, just some antiseptic medicine will do. That dent on your rib near the heart is more serious though. Not much of a problem, however, let me handle the injuries for you, and then I’m gonna give you food and water. After you eat, take a good rest. When you wake up, you’ll be back home.”

Translator’s note(s):

        Anyways, the PRC’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7EKl0cOlJA