Prologue

The acting deputy county party secretary died in the line of duty 17 days after taking office while fighting a fire.

Binhai Morning News, November 16, 2009 (Reporter Liam Carter): Andrew Brooks, acting deputy county party secretary and executive deputy county magistrate of Hengtai County, who had been in office for only 16 days as part of a temporary assignment, unfortunately died in the line of duty while leading cadres and the masses to save farmhouses from a fire. He was only 33 years old.

According to Caleb Thompson, the party secretary of Qingshan Township who participated in the entire firefighting effort, at around 4:30 p.m. on November 16, the township party and government office received a call from the deputy party secretary of Luchang Village, informing them that a major fire had broken out in the Shangyuan group of Luchang Village and requesting the township to organize rescue efforts. Upon learning of the fire, Andrew Brooks, who had been in office for only 16 days and was conducting research in the township, immediately led more than ten township cadres and college student “village officials” to rush to the scene by car.

Upon arrival, they saw that the six rooms of the seven-bay, through-beam structure house belonging to villager Brian Harris in the Shangyuan group had already been engulfed in flames. Andrew Brooks and the others didn’t even have time to catch their breath before immediately starting to fight the fire.

During the firefighting, the slippery ground caused the fearless Andrew Brooks to fall three or four times... A gust of cold wind carried thick smoke and fire straight at him. Andrew Brooks choked several times and collapsed to the ground. The cadres and villagers at the scene hurried to help him up, but Andrew Brooks was already unconscious. Everyone quickly called Qingshan Township Health Center for emergency help, and followed the doctor’s instructions over the phone to pinch his philtrum and perform artificial respiration, but to no avail. When the ambulance arrived at full speed, the doctors tried oxygen therapy and cardiac pacing, but ultimately, the rescue failed and Andrew Brooks died in the line of duty.

On the afternoon of the 18th, a memorial service for comrade Andrew Brooks was held at the Hengtai County auditorium. Thousands of leaders, cadres, and citizens from Binhai City and Hengtai County attended.

Cadres and citizens familiar with Andrew Brooks said he was an honest, upright, and selfless person.

Hengtai County Party Secretary Logan Thompson said: In the short 16 days that Andrew Brooks served as deputy county party secretary and executive deputy county magistrate of Hengtai County, he had already visited all nine administrative townships in the county, working eleven or twelve hours a day for the safety and warmth of the people during winter, industrial development, social stability, and other matters, earning high praise from cadres and citizens throughout the county.

The fire victim Brian Harris said: Secretary An was an outstanding Communist Party member, the most trustworthy good public servant and good cadre in the hearts of the people.

Character Sketch: Andrew Brooks, male, 33 years old. Graduated from the Department of Journalism at Yanshan University in 1998. He served as a reporter in the news department of Binhai Morning News, editorial board member and deputy director of the editorial center, editorial board member and director of the editor-in-chief’s office, deputy editor-in-chief and labor union chairman (deputy division level) of Binhai Morning News Group, deputy director of the Binhai Municipal Party Committee Office. On November 1, 2009, he was assigned to Hengtai County as acting deputy county party secretary and executive deputy county magistrate.

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The raging flames burned wildly before Andrew Brooks, and he fell straight to the ground.

In that instant, the fire swept over his entire body, including his flesh and soul. His breathing became rapid, his gaze grew dazed: Is this what it feels like to die?

His fists clenched tightly, and the joys and sorrows of 33 years surged up with the searing pain, like a volcanic eruption. He twisted in agony, struggling, standing up and falling again in the dazzling blaze. The fierce flames scoured his flesh and bones. With all his strength, he struck forward with a punch, letting out an angry roar.

No, no, I’m not willing!

The fire grew even fiercer, scorching the air with crackling sounds. The flames before his eyes gradually turned into dazzling illusions.

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A lonely soul sings in the night, trembles in the flames. He felt the fire sweeping across the sky, leaving him nowhere to escape, and he felt endless fear. He could only hide in a corner of the world, plucking the strings of a lonely heart. He once wanted to hide there forever, to stay until the end of time. But the dancing flames carried a bewitching power, making him want to stand up, gently walk into the fire, move forward, and never look back.

Such desire grew wildly, unstoppable.

He slowly stood up, glanced back at that peaceful corner. Then, with endless longing for life, he walked out. Let the flames cleanse his soul, wash away the filth, strip away the vanity, and then be reborn.

Life as pure as death, death as heroic as life. Even if reduced to ashes, it would be so beautiful as to shake the heavens and earth with envy. Andrew Brooks pointed at the phoenix reborn in the flames before him, murmuring to himself.

Volume One: Reversal

Chapter 001: Dawn Snow

It was as if a door opened before his eyes, crystal clear and filled with illusory light and shadow, yet tangible to the touch.

Without hesitation, Andrew Brooks took a step forward.