Chapter 22: Ye Yuan is nothing but a deserter!

"What is going on?" Xiao Bo’s face was etched with a grave expression.

In their eyes, Ye Yuan was a veteran through and through. They would never allow anyone to drag his name through the mud.

"They are calling Grandpa Ye a deserter, saying his medals are fakes, and some are even claiming that he used a pseudonym to enlist because he committed some heinous crime in the past," Sun Ting said, grinding her teeth, her young face flushed with fury. "Grandpa Ye’s situation is trending heavily on the internet right now. Almost every forum is discussing him!"

"It’s gotten so widespread that it has spilled over from the internet into real life. When I was buying water at a corner store, I even heard the owner discussing Grandpa Ye with someone else!"

"When did this start?"

"There wasn't much going on before, but within the last few days, these posts suddenly appeared, all of them smearing Grandpa Ye to steer public opinion."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bo and the others exchanged grim looks.

"This is likely someone with an ulterior motive stirring the pot behind the scenes," Liu Ping said solemnly. "The goal is to sow misunderstanding among the public and completely stigmatize the old hero."

"The public perception of the old hero online has plummeted to rock bottom. People are saying all sorts of things; the abuse and curses are endless!"

"A bunch of ungrateful ingrates!" Xiao Bo couldn't help but curse. "If it weren't for these revolutionary martyrs, would these people even have the comfortable lives they enjoy today? They eat from the bowl and then spit in it. We should track every one of them down and let the whole country see their ugly faces!"

Cong Gui looked at Sun Ting with expectation. "Can you find out who they are?"

Sun Ting offered a bitter smile and shook her head helplessly. "We can't. Our country's internet oversight is loose; it’s too difficult to track those people down through the network." She continued, "I suspect someone is behind this, hiring internet trolls to maliciously smear Grandpa Ye."

"Can't we use the same tactics to fight back?" Xiao Bo asked in a deep voice.

"No," Ye Yuan interjected without hesitation. "Black is black, and white is white. I have never been fraudulent in my life, and I will not set such a precedent now."

"Then there’s nothing to be done..." Sun Ting sighed, looking at Ye Yuan. "Grandpa Ye, what do you plan to do? If we let this continue, the truth will be buried forever."

"Then let's move the broadcast of the program up," Ye Yuan said suddenly.

***

Under the current circumstances, the best approach was to air the program early. Because of Ye Yuan’s unique background, the public was deeply curious and eager to learn more about the veteran. When news broke that a program titled "Retracing the Red Path" would be aired, many were filled with anticipation.

"Move the broadcast up..." Sun Ting frowned. "Our provincial television station shouldn't be a problem, but... other provincial stations were all planning to rebroadcast this program."

"It’s hard to say if we can coordinate with the others or if they’ll agree. Changing plans at the last minute makes us look unreliable."

"It doesn't matter," Xiao Bo said firmly. "Go talk to your station first. It’s only morning, and since the show is scheduled for the evening, there should still be time."

"Alright," Sun Ting nodded. "I’ll go discuss it with the station leadership."

With that, she stepped aside to make a call. Meanwhile, Xiao Bo and the others watched Ye Yuan with deep concern. They could not bear to see an old hero, who had survived the enemy's artillery fire, fall to the vicious verbal attacks of his own people.

Even Ye Yan’an sensed the oppressive, storm-brewing atmosphere. She looked at Ye Yuan worriedly. "Grandpa..."

"Don't worry," Ye Yuan replied with a bright smile. "What kind of storms haven't I weathered in my life?"

Ye Yan’an nodded weakly.

A while later, Sun Ting returned. Her face wore a smile. "The station manager agreed. He’s going to handle the communication with the other stations. If it doesn't work out, our provincial station will air it live early, and the others can record and broadcast it later."

"That’s good," Ye Yuan nodded, smiling at Sun Ting. "Thank you for your hard work."

Sun Ting shook her head without hesitation. She was only doing what she felt was right. Furthermore, she found this task deeply meaningful. She felt as though she had finally discovered her purpose in life: to bring long-forgotten truths back into the light of day.

***

Evening. 7:40 PM.

This was the undisputed golden hour. Generally, by this time, families had finished their meals and watched the evening news, settling down for some leisure time in front of the television. Because of the early promotion by multiple stations, many people knew that the first episode of "Retracing the Red Path" had been moved up to today. Consequently, many had finished their chores early and were waiting by their screens.

At the county television station, they had cleared their schedule, canceling numerous original programs to dedicate their airwaves entirely to this broadcast. The county understood the gravity of the situation. This was not just the poignant story of an anti-Japanese war hero; it was a major event for the entire Hehe County.

"Grandpa Ye, don't be nervous," Sun Ting said, though her own voice trembled. It was her first time hosting such a program live in front of the camera. There was no rehearsal, no script; everything depended on her ability to improvise.

Ye Yuan was still wearing the military uniform she regarded as a treasure. Cong Gui had once offered to gift him a modern military uniform, but Ye Yuan had declined.

Hearing Sun Ting, Ye Yuan smiled at her. "Very well, I won't be nervous."

Sun Ting’s smile was stiff; she felt as if her heart were about to jump out of her throat. She was deeply anxious about whether she could successfully complete this mission.

Just then, the voice of the floor director came from nearby.

"Sun Ting, it's your turn!"