“Hmm, it looks like you really are fine now.” Richard Brooks said, “When the crowd just carried you over, we couldn’t even feel your heartbeat. You were resuscitated for several hours at the commune health clinic. Strangely enough, all of a sudden, you just got better—it’s truly a miracle.”

“Uh, it really is a miracle.” David Clark replied with an awkward smile. He naturally knew that this “all of a sudden” meant the original David Clark had left and the new David Clark had appeared. Back in those days, that would indeed be considered a miracle, but by the 21st century, when everyone was transmigrating, it would be nothing but a cliché.

“Xiao Lin, how are you feeling now? If you’re up to it, let’s get your statement done.” Richard Brooks said.

“No problem, I can get up.” David Clark sat up from the bed, took a moment to steady himself, and then followed Richard Brooks out of the makeshift hospital room to Richard Brooks’s office.

The Hongshan Police Station was just a commune-level station, very small, without a dedicated interrogation room. Richard Brooks simply took David Clark’s statement in his own office. To call it a statement was a stretch—it was really just Richard Brooks talking, David Clark nodding, and then signing his name. Richard Brooks was just completing a formality, since all the criminals in this case had already been caught, and the passengers on the bus had all described what happened. David Clark felt more like he was listening to a story. Still, the story was inspiring: several young men on the bus had fought the bandits, but David Clark was the bravest, taking down three of them in just a few moves.

“All right, Comrade David Clark, you’re all set now. We’ll write you a certificate later, recognizing your heroic act in fighting the criminals. By the way, the little girl you saved and her father are still waiting outside—they want to thank you in person.” Richard Brooks said.

“No need to thank me, haha, it’s what I should do.” David Clark replied politely.

“Please let Comrade He in.” Richard Brooks called out to the hallway.

A moment later, a young policeman opened the door, and a father and daughter walked in. The father looked to be in his thirties, of average build, wearing a Zhongshan suit, and seemed somewhat educated. The daughter was about ten years old, wearing a dress, with a pointed chin and big eyes—she had the makings of a little beauty. David Clark vaguely remembered her; she had been sitting next to him on the bus. When the bandit lit the homemade bomb, the previous him had immediately shielded the girl with his own body, saving her life.

“You’re Xiao Lin, right? Thank you so much for what you did yesterday.” The father hurried over and shook David Clark’s hand.

Richard Brooks introduced them: “This is Comrade Henry Foster from the Hunan Provincial Light Industry Department.”

“…Uh, He…” David Clark was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to address him. Richard Brooks had only introduced Henry Foster’s workplace, not his position, so David Clark didn’t know what to call him. In modern times, he could have called him Mr. He, but that wasn’t common back then. Calling him Comrade He felt a bit odd, and David Clark just couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Just call me by my name, no need to be formal.” Henry Foster quickly said. He pulled his daughter over and said to David Clark, “This is my daughter, Laura Foster. Yesterday, thanks to you shielding her with your body, she wasn’t hurt by the bomb. Come on, Lanlan, thank your uncle.”

Laura Foster stared at David Clark with her big, bright eyes, hesitated for a moment, then turned to Henry Foster and said, “Daddy, he’s not an uncle, he’s a big brother.”

“Nonsense, he’s a PLA uncle.” Henry Foster insisted.

“He’s a PLA big brother.” Laura Foster was even more determined.

“Big brother it is, then.” David Clark quickly agreed. He was only eighteen now, so being called uncle by a little girl did feel a bit awkward. But if he was the big brother, didn’t that make Henry Foster his uncle?

“Thank you, PLA big brother.” Laura Foster won the battle of titles and said sweetly.

“This child, so cheeky.” Henry Foster laughed, patting Laura Foster on the head, then apologized to David Clark, “Xiao Lin, please don’t mind her.”

“Um… well, He…” David Clark stammered, still unsure how to address him.

Henry Foster understood David Clark’s predicament and laughed, “You could just call me He Dage, but that would mess up the seniority. How about this—just call me Old Foster.”

“That works too. Old Foster, where’s our car?” David Clark asked.

Richard Brooks said, “The car you were riding in was damaged in the explosion. The driver is fixing it now, so you probably won’t be able to leave until tomorrow. But don’t worry, you can stay here at the police station, all free of charge.”

“How about this, let’s go have a meal first.” Henry Foster suggested. “Xiao Lin saved Lanlan, I have to show my gratitude no matter what. Director Brooks, would you join us as well?”

Chapter 002: Family Background