Chapter 53 Liu Debao, it's Liu Debao!

Across major chat rooms nationwide, the atmosphere had already been completely ignited by Ye Yuan’s words.

"The 6th Company, 177th Regiment, 59th Division, 20th Army—isn’t that one of the companies of the Frozen Sculpture Company!"

"Peng Dahai... could he be Peng Liang's grandfather?"

"He clearly comes from a family of martyrs; how could he do such a thing!"

"This despicable and shameless villain, born into such a family, is an absolute insult to it!"

All the netizens were filled with righteous indignation, itching with hatred toward Peng Liang.

Inside the broadcasting studio, Sun Ting finally snapped back to her senses.

Covering her mouth with her hand, she looked at Ye Yuan in shock, "Grandpa Ye, so... this Peng Dahai was also a member of the Frozen Sculpture Company?"

"That's right."

Ye Yuan slowly nodded, "Peng Dahai is one of countless monuments; he is a hero in every sense of the word!"

"Then... how did you come to know Peng Dahai?" Sun Ting asked again.

"Peng Dahai used to be my bodyguard."

Ye Yuan revealed something that shocked everyone present. "Even after I retired and returned to my hometown, Peng Dahai remained in the army. When the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea broke out, he resolutely chose to join the People's Volunteer Army."

A bodyguard!

Everyone's heart skipped a beat.

In the past, those who could serve as bodyguards were far from ordinary. First, they bore the crucial responsibility of protecting their commanding officers; second, they needed to harbor lofty revolutionary ideals. Not just anyone could qualify.

These bodyguards stayed by the commander's side day and night, knowing almost everything the commander said and everyone the commander met. Once they were bought off by the enemy, it would spell a devastating blow to the entire unit.

The fact that Peng Dahai had once been Ye Yuan's bodyguard spoke volumes about the kind of person he was.

Down in the audience, Xiao Bo could no longer sit still and subconsciously blurted out, "Old Hero, how... how do you know so much?"

Ye Yuan lowered his gaze, his eyes falling upon Xiao Bo. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly into a weak smile before he spoke softly, "Because... my second son was in the same company as Peng Dahai."

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire audience erupted in uproar.

Finally, everyone understood why Ye Yuan had worn such a sorrowful expression earlier when the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was mentioned.

Ye Yuan's second son...

Turned out to also be a member of the Frozen Sculpture Company!

Sun Ting's shock did not fade in the slightest. She tentatively asked, "What was your second son's... name?"

"Ye Jia," Ye Yuan said slowly.

Ye Jia?

Cong Gui was stunned.

Ye Yuan's eldest son was named Ye Bao, and his second son was named Ye Jia. Put together, they clearly formed the two characters meaning "Protect the Homeland" (Bao Jia).

If reasoned this way...

Ye Yuan had a total of six children, and their names combined should form a complete sentence.

Meanwhile, Political Commissar Liu Ping considered an even more significant point.

Ye Yuan was a veteran of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. By the end of that war, his military rank must have reached a very high level. Even though Ye Yuan chose to retire and return to his hometown in 1949, his former subordinates were still spread far and wide throughout the military. With just a single word, Ye Yuan's second son, Ye Jia, could undoubtedly have secured a smooth and rapid rise through the ranks. How could he possibly have been just an ordinary company soldier?

During that era, anyone with discernment could see that the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was exceptionally arduous. Those who went were almost certainly doomed never to return.

Yet, Ye Yuan's second son had gone without wearing any of the halo of his father's prestige, heading off simply as a thoroughly ordinary soldier.

To say that Ye Yuan's influence had nothing to do with this was something Liu Ping simply could not believe.

Inside the chat rooms:

"Grandpa Ye is too tragic... His eldest son died in the Battle of Western Hunan, and his second son turned into a frozen sculpture, never able to return to his homeland..."

"This is the breadth of vision of an old hero!"

"It is precisely because our country has never lacked such people since ancient times that our nation has been able to remain strong!"

"I just want to know... does Grandpa Ye still have any children alive?"

...

In the broadcasting studio, Ye Yuan continued, "Before the army set out, my second son once brought Peng Dahai to see me."

"Peng Dahai said he knew he might not make it back alive from this journey, but he had no regrets. He originally wanted to entrust his son to my care, but in the end, he voluntarily gave up on the idea."

"Why?" Sun Ting asked instinctively.

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Ye Yuan's mouth. "Entrusting an orphan... the implication isn't auspicious."

Sun Ting fell silent for a few seconds before continuing, "So you were the one who told Peng Liang about his grandfather while in the detention center, which made Peng Liang repent and step forward to tell the truth?"

"More or less," Ye Yuan said slowly.

"He was originally the grandson of a hero, just led astray by bad choices. Therefore, I also hope everyone can give him another chance to live life with a completely new identity."

"Of course, he has done wrong in the past. If he wants a fresh start, he must first atone for all his past misdeeds."

With these words, Ye Yuan stood up. Facing the people in the audience and facing the camera, he bowed deeply. "I beg all you young friends to grant me this request."

Ye Yuan's actions directly stunned everyone present and everyone watching in front of their televisions.

Peng Liang had almost ruined Ye Yuan's reputation, yet Ye Yuan harbored no resentment and chose to plead with the crowd to give Peng Liang another chance.

How many people could possibly practice such returning of kindness for grievance?

"Grandpa!!"

A figure rushed out from backstage.

It was none other than Peng Liang.

He rushed onto the stage and dropped heavily to his knees in front of Ye Yuan.

With tears streaming down his face, he kowtowed repeatedly to Ye Yuan. After just a few strikes, his forehead was already bruised and swollen red.

"Grandpa!! I'm not worth your doing this! I'm a sinner! I'm guilty! You don't need to beg others for me! This is all I deserve!!"

Peng Liang wept bitterly, his head continuing to slam against the ground.

The head of the county public security bureau followed him out, looking extremely embarrassed. "Old Hero Ye, I'm truly sorry... After you left, he kept crying and insisting on seeing you, threatening to kill himself if he couldn't. I had no other choice, so I brought him backstage. Who could have imagined..."

"It's fine," Ye Yuan waved his hand, then reached down to help Peng Liang back to his feet.

"To err is human. Who among us makes no mistakes? As long as you haven't committed an unforgivable crime, you always have a chance for a fresh start. As long as you are willing, there is no path that cannot be walked."

Peng Liang nodded repeatedly, crying uncontrollably.

Ye Yuan gently patted Peng Liang's head with a paternal warmth. "Work hard, and in the future, become a person whose life has meaning."

With an embarrassed expression, the public security bureau chief led Peng Liang back to the backstage area.

Just as Peng Liang was about to be led away, a thought suddenly struck him. He whipped his head around and shouted at the top of his lungs toward Ye Yuan:

"Grandpa! It was Liu Debao!"

"Liu Debao is the one who made me do all this!"